running to my senses.

I confess, I struggle with being present.

I've been blessed with one of those Type A brains that just goes a mile a minute, frequently either in fast-forward or rewind mode, but with an iffy pause button — sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and it's often difficult to locate, probably from lack of use during its developmental stage.

So though the concept of being present, being here now, makes perfect sense and seems right to me, practicing at it is about the best I can do.

I've discovered (through the wisdom of many others) one sure-fire way to make myself tune in to the moment: take stock of my senses — what am I seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, feeling??

I went for a run this morning, trying to absorb the cool, dry, spring air before the early Texas heat rears its hot and humid head for the duration (or December, whichever comes last), and found myself tuning in to my fab five:

sight: The late bloomers of the wildflower crowd — black-eyed susans, pretty pink primroses, mexican hat, indian blanket, vibrantly violet verbena — plus two redbirds swooping across my path.

sound: A slice of my "so much happy" ipod mix — "Back in Love Again" by L.T.D., "Graceland" by Paul Simon, "Somebody to Love" by Queen, "Stomp" by The Hit Crew, "Love Shack" by the B-52s, "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, "If I Had $1,000,000" by Barenaked Ladies.

smell: Freshly mown grass (spied the safety-vested riding mower man three times).

taste: Cotton mouth — I was way ready for my liter bottle of cold water once I got home. Gulpgulpgulp, ahhhhhhhh.

touch: Sweaty, sure, but mostly the slight breeze blowing its subtle magic to cool me down.

So, how does your here-and-now sense look/sound/smell/taste/feel??