| Everyone's a poet.Of course, everyone's a critic, | | | | if asked to do so a month from now.You can |
| too! This means that | | | | easily and enjoyably boost your word awareness |
| there are plenty of opportunities to heighten our | | | | by1) selecting a particular cue word as a trigger |
| awareness | | | | for mindfulness, or2) focusing on phrases used in |
| of words and how we use them.Words create | | | | specific settings.Better yet, try both!By using a |
| pictures, and just as a painter uses a combination | | | | particular word as a mindfulness trigger, you can |
| of colors and strokes to express a concept, we | | | | watch how others create poetic representations |
| offer an artistic | | | | of the same |
| rendering of thoughts through carefully chosen | | | | element.Ready for your secret food awareness |
| words.Our linguistic intelligence is what allows us to | | | | word? |
| both recognize | | | | Here it is: morsel.Listening for a specific word will |
| and generate vivid word vignettes. Whether you | | | | develop your ability to |
| enjoy novels, | | | | make distinctions in the way it is used and allow |
| biographies, mysteries, sonnets, haiku, song lyrics, | | | | you to |
| conversations, | | | | watch for subtle variations. Does "morsel" refer |
| soliloquies, or newspaper stories, you can develop | | | | to |
| greater word | | | | something creamy or chewy? Is it savory or |
| awareness by focusing on descriptive phrases.In | | | | sweet?To play with poetry and mindfulness at |
| our everyday speech, we tend to speak in | | | | the same time, |
| phrases and | | | | notice phrases used to describe food. Listen to |
| punctuate these with expressions, pauses, | | | | them |
| gestures, or laughter. | | | | with an ear for rhythm, and picture them as lines |
| Although the words themselves convey meaning, | | | | of a poem.Read menu descriptions, food articles |
| the total picture | | | | or cookbooks and |
| we create is a combination of inflection, context, | | | | be aware of the adjectives most likely to get |
| juxtaposition, | | | | your mouth |
| and even eye contact.Don't think you have your | | | | watering. Sensual words like "succulent" and |
| own personal poetry style? Think again. | | | | "luscious" |
| You use words in your own way, and it's likely | | | | elicit physiological responses. Pay attention to |
| that, given an | | | | those, and |
| assignment to express a particular concept, your | | | | listen for the phrases you hear that create |
| version would | | | | especially vivid |
| have recognizable elements.Try this test: describe | | | | sense experiences.Linking word pictures with |
| a birthday cake.There's a good chance that you | | | | taste helps us anchor our |
| would use words to express | | | | linguistic intelligence with our bodily intelligence, and |
| the shape, flavor, color, decoration, ingredients, | | | | this |
| size, and | | | | makes our mouths very happy indeed.Delectable |
| presentation of a cake, and that the precise way | | | | words,Delicious poetry. Mmmm--True taste |
| you do that | | | | sensation.Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse |
| would be unique when compared to others' | | | | in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, |
| descriptions. In | | | | Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun |
| addition, you're likely to come up with a different | | | | and effective eyes-wide-open alternatives to |
| description | | | | meditation. |