When I was working on the farm yesterday, I noticed the cherry tree was blossoming, very nice! Later in the day when I was watering down in that area, the fragrant smell of the blossoms was drifting through the air and made me stop and be fully aware of the moment. The phrase “stop and smell the roses” is a very appropriate one, especially in our busy lives. For me, this was a Zen moment. I was busy planting, planning, work work work all day yesterday and the smell of the cherry blossoms hit me like a Zen Master’s stick…. “rush, rush, rush… thinking, thinking, thinking… WHACK! empty mind and completely in the present moment!”

Actually, a great many things “down on the farm” bring me into the present moment. The songs of the meadowlark, or red-wing black bird. Raking the beds to get them ready for seeing, planting seeds…