STOP, LOOK, GO

Yesterday I had the good fortune to visit with a dear friend whom I hadn't seen for quite some time.  I arrived at the coffee shop a bit early so that I could purchase one of their divine cinnamon buns.   They sell out quickly and I had promised my family that I would come home with one.  Standing at the counter I ordered my bun to go as well as a coffee.  I watched and made friendly small talk with the woman behind the counter as she carefully placed my treat in a box to go, prepared my coffee and punched the amount into the cash register.  She kindly passed the debit machine over to me and I proceeded to complete the transaction, all the while continuing my polite conversation.  As I passed the machine back to the woman, she gave me a surprised look.  At that moment she and I both realized that I had just spent $13 on a $4.24 bun and coffee!  It was obviously a mistake,  but the point is that neither one of us were really paying any attention to what was right in front of us.  It was a reminder to me that I often go through my day that way.  My mind is clearly not focusing to what my body is doing and I am often spending more time in my head than watching what is going on around me.  When we are children our parents teach us to cross the street by first stopping, looking and then going.  Perhaps we need to do this with every moment that presents itself?  In every moment we have the opportunity to STOP, get quiet and stop the chatter in our minds.  Then LOOK with an open heart and use all our senses to enjoy what that moment is presenting.  Finally, GO and do whatever life is offering at that moment!  Do it fully participating with our mind, body and soul!