Amazing Hands – An Exercise in Body Gratitude

A space for quiet reflection leads to a period of mindfulness meditation encouraging a sense of gratitude for your body especially your taken for granted hands. This moment of mindfulness will conclude with a suggested exercise to generate a feeling of gratitude for the body

Transcript

Music Dear friends, Welcome to this short escape from the rush of the day. Welcome to this moment of mindfulness which will conclude with a suggested exercise to generate a feeling of gratitude for your body. An opening reflection. I cannot change the past but the present is my opportunity to change the future. Welcome to the wonderful present moment. Can we begin by seeing if we can relax and come into an awareness of our existence in this present moment? You might like to close your eyes or simply look down and just notice your breath. You're breathing in in awareness and you're breathing out in awareness. Breathing in and breathing out. Just leave aside for a few minutes the concerns of the day. The list of jobs to be done, Any worries about the past, Any fears about the future. Leave them to one side. This is your time, Here and now. Your time of regeneration. Let's have a pause to allow you to enjoy being here just now. If in those few moments you felt yourself drifting off into thought, Don't let that worry you. At least you became aware of it. Noticing the drift is itself an act of mindfulness and in future just see if you can gently bring yourself back. Notice how difficult it is to stay focused. That's why we call this a practice. It's a practice for everyday mindfulness. And now for our follow-up action for today, Our exercising gratitude. Just try this on your next day of work. Bandage your dominant hand and put it in a sling. Go very carefully about your business because you will be one-handed during this exercise. See if you can get yourself dressed. Unscrew a jar. Unlock a door. No need to remind you that while doing this you shouldn't attempt driving or cycling. But with this handicap prepare your food. Eat your meals. See if you can have a shower while all the time keeping the bandaged arm totally dry. Try to attempt a little one-handed typing. Read a book. Turn the pages. Peel an apple. Sign a letter. Put on a jacket and go out to buy the paper. Late in the same day undo the bandage. Look afresh for a few minutes at your taken-for-granted hand. Express real gratitude. Think of all the everyday blessings of a functioning body which we so seldom notice. Let's pause to give you an opportunity to reflect on the wonder of the human body. Just work your way up from your feet to your head. A body scan of your own. See your body for the marvellous piece of engineering that it is. And of course your brain for being able to contemplate all this. A closing thought. During the course of any day you will hear various bells and alarms. Phones ringing, Bells on TV or the radio, Alarm bells, Reminders, And a few other things that you may not have heard before. Phones ringing, Bells on TV or the radio, Alarm bells, Reminders, Church bells, Horns and beeps in traffic. May every bell you hear be a reminder to you to take a mindful break, Just a second or two, While you bring your attention back to the now, And where you give thanks for the life that you enjoy in that present moment. May you practise enjoying the peace that can be found in each present moment. Namaste. .

Reviews

The bell reminder to “ be here now” is brilliant! Thank you🙏🏼😌

Tony, thank you for this body amazement/appreciation contemplation. It made me chuckle to myself because this has been the beauty and smorgasbord that complements the discomforts and insecurities of getting older and being retired. I now have all the time in the world to appreciate my body, to turn my mind to what I value, to read and listen to resources of all kinds that encourage me to stretch my mind into the universe and marvel at how it is and what may be happening in it that we can neither perceive nor comprehend.
I have all kinds of stuff going wrong on any given day. Arthritis in my hands interferes with many activities I like to do. My memory and ability to focus are not what they were when I worked in the molecular biology labs and deciphered data or wrote papers about the results—and the growing unreliability of my mental abilities is frightening and unsettling. And of course, my knees, my back, and now my feet may be stiff and achy and slow down whatever I’m trying to do.
All of this is a terrific reminder to appreciate and care for my body and brain to whatever extent I can. So I exercise to maintain joint mobility in the face of arthritis. Cook and eat healthy food—which, luckily is the most delicious food there is. Walk a lot, every day, someplace beautiful, in nature or in the neighborhood. Find activities where I can meet new people…. While I can…while I can!
So, all the disadvantages and problems of aging are a tremendous inspiration to appreciate and work to maintain my body and all its failing parts, my increasingly dubious mental faculties, and the world around.
Sorry for the long blah-blah, and I hope it’s a little entertaining! But that’s what came to mind when I listened to this meditation!
Thanks again, Tony! Have a great rest of your day, and thank you for your work, as always.
Donna

It’s sobering to imagine even a few hours of inconvenience in this way - thank you, Tony, for the reminder of the wonder that is our body (as I type with my dominant hand!) 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Another compelling reflection, beautifully delivered. Thank you.

Loved this meditation! I have learned the hard way to appreciate all my body parts. Injuries have given me that opportunity to do so. Your idea is a much healthier way to learn and appreciate yourself.
I hope it’s a beautiful day for you. Blessings 🙏🏻💕