I don’t know that I am the one to be giving advice on this to someone
who doesn’t like their job or for someone who is ill. Those are both
very different situations with a myriad of different circumstances
shading each person’s experiences. I can only answer for myself, if I were facing these things.

For me, it is the little things in life that make it worth living. If I
am having a bad day, week, month, or year, those little things help get
me through it. Truthfully, I have the job I always wanted. But, if I
didn’t, I would have to chose to make a change. That might not be easy,
but being able to take a walk and breathe in mountain air would help me
to see the things I want for my life, and the sunshine on my face,
making me feel alive, would be cherished while finding my way out of
darkness.

If I had an illness I knew I was not going to have forever, which could
be anything from the flu to something more serious and long lived, I
would probably only have the energy to focus on the present, not knowing
what the future would bring. Taking into account pain management, I
would hope that I could enjoy the things that are important to me like
the company of friends, children, and family, listening to music,
reading , or looking at art.

I have not been around many people who have a terminal illness or
debilitating accident, and I have to say I would be scared, in pain, and
probably not able to focus for awhile. After that, I would probably
follow the example of my grandfather, who was a very healthy man for 89
years but in the last 6 months of his life he was very sick. I was only
able to see him once during that time, when he took the exhausting trip
to a family reunion so he could be with his family. I learned from that
day and from talking with him a lot on the phone until his death, that
the only things that were even important to him anymore were the little
things. The things with no prestige, monetary value, or pressure. Things
like taking a short walk in the sunshine, listening to birds sing,
holding the hand of a loved one and talking, smelling a flower, reading
or writing a letter, praising a small child for their drawing, eating
his favourite thing. Living in the moment was all that was left.

As I write this, my 2.5 year old daughter has brought me not one, not
two, but 15 little tea cups, pots, sugar bowls, and creamers, filled
with this clay that is a sticky version of those styrofoam pellets in
beanbag chairs. They are colourful little cups ofbubbling tea and hot
chocolate, which she has proudly set up next to me, beaming and giggling
each time I stop typing, and enjoy a cup. This is one of those little
moments where I am able to enjoy her, between moments filled with work
and obligations. Instead of getting frustrated by the constant
interruptions, today, I am able to enjoy them. Maybe it is just a matter
of practice, but I am hoping that the more a person, no matter what
their situation, takes the time to relax, breathe, smile, and break away
from their obligations even just for a few minutes at a time, the more
they will continue to decide to live in and for these moments.

Does anyone else have thoughts to share on this? Please do!!

They would probably benefit from the mindfulness you tout here, but I’d imagine that it’s tough for such people to experience the present moment with gratitude.