Seeing her
''The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers''. Thich Nhat Hanh
A few years ago I watched a powerful video that demonstrated how we simply choose not to see the homeless (I have added the link below). But it is not only people we feel may challenge us that we don't see, many times it is the very person in front of us as we wake in the morning, or our children or the person at the checkout at Tesco. We look past them. We are there in body, but our minds belong somewhere else. One of the greatest gifts we can give each other, is our full presence and awareness. 'Being there' for the person you are sharing that moment with, however brief it may be.
Some of the most powerful conversations we can have, are done without a word being spoken. Knowing your partner is completely present with you, gazing into each other's eyes, seeing them. The vulnerability of knowing they can together with the power knowing they are. The amazing feeling of your heart opening when you do. A pretty powerful aphrodisiac come to think of it. When we are present and connect, it is almost like this beautiful symphony and our breath and heartbeat begin to synchronise. It is a pretty amazing feeling and I am not sure why so many of us are scared of such exquisite intimacy. When we gaze into another's eyes, barriers break down, our hearts open and our energy begins to flow a little freer as we begin to experience a deep sense of connection that can even be more intense than physical contact.
I invite you to linger on your partners gaze a little longer when you can. When they are talking, be there, listen and find yourself falling in love again. Lift your head up from your newspaper, the tv, your phone, and see this beautiful being in front of you. They offer so much more excitement than a phone could ever give! If you are really feeling brave, sit opposite each other and simply gaze into each other's eyes. Not a stare, not a judgement, just a gentle gaze, seeing beyond their face and allowing yourself to be seen. And stay there a while. Remember the first time you saw them. The time you realised you loved them. And feel what it is like to be loved through another's gaze. Drink it all in. Gazing into your lovers eyes can open the channels to a deeper understanding and appreciation of them and take your relationship to a delicious, deeper, new level. Enjoy.
Seeing the homeless experiment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bel3vITdnGE