I have spent more time jumping on a trampoline in the last three months than I have in the previous sixty-four years of my life. The gift of all these visits to an indoor trampoline park has come via my grandchildren. I cannot thank them enough for both the uncontrollable laughter we have experienced, as well as introducing me to such a wild place where I have relearned an essential lesson during all the hours we have spent bouncing together.
In the midst of our fun, I have discovered that when you are bouncing on a trampoline, you cannot possibly think about anything else other than, well, bouncing on a trampoline. It takes every ounce of my concentration to be sure that I do not lose my balance, drift too close to the edge, or stumble over my grandchildren. There is not a care or worry I could possibly think about when I am so focussed on what is happening during that exact moment. The closest things to this that I have previously experienced are downhill skiing and road biking, as they all require the same complete focus of attention.
And the crucial lesson I have once again learned, this time at the trampoline park—is that there is nothing quite like the joy and freedom of living entirely in the present moment.
It has been said that, “When the student is ready, the teacher will arise.” The rise in popularity of mindfulness practices over the last ten years or so is proof that there are millions of “students” who are seeking help to quiet their busy minds and live more fully in the moment.
One mindfulness app called Headspace has been used by over 31 million people worldwide. This app, along with all mindfulness practices, assists people in letting go of worries and other distractions as they focus their full attention on the “eternal now.”
I am a regular user of Headspace and other meditation apps such as Insight Timer and find them to be very helpful. I have to say, though, that trampolining is now my favorite new way of letting go of all of my worries and concerns. Perhaps the best part of the full mind and body workout of trampolining is that it cannot ever be duplicated or replaced by any electronic device.
What helps you to let go of worry and “be all there” as the quote at the top of the column says? Common practices are prayer, knitting, walking, yoga, running, biking, other forms of exercise, journaling, cooking, gardening, and playing or listening to music. If you are looking for a new practice to add to your life on a regular basis, check out one of the apps I have mentioned, or better yet, I highly recommend visiting your local trampoline park.
Article by The Rev. Dr. D. Scott Stoner, Living Compass
