This summer, our bathroom was undergoing some construction. The toilet was out of order, but the sink and shower were fully functional. As a result, everyone had to share the one downstairs toilet for a few days. There's nothing wrong with the downstairs bathroom, but we all preferred the upstairs one. There is always that one bathroom in the house that faces unnecessary scrutiny. With no other option, we grudgingly used the unpopular bathroom.
After complaining about the minor hassle, my dad exercised his handyman skills and fixed the toilet. He repaired it in the morning. Everyone knew the toilet was functioning again except my sister because she had been out of the house. I convinced everyone to not tell her it was fixed as a prank.
This prank did not last a few hours as I thought it would. We did not conceal the fact we were using the upstairs toilet. Nonetheless, my sister continued to complain and avoid the upstairs bathroom for a few days. She would be excited to go to my grandma's because she would be able to use the toilet there instead. We laughed at her annoyance at having to walk downstairs to relieve herself. Finally, my dad took sympathy on her and told her she could use the upstairs toilet again.
Overjoyed that my prank proved to be entertaining, I also realized that the reason it had worked out successfully was because my sister was absorbed with her own doings. She always walks around the house with the phone in her hand. Her phone constantly lights up with notifications, even at night. This isn't another rant about how phones are leading society's demise. I use my phone as much as the next person, but it concerned me how my sister missed obvious signs before her. How much was I missing in my own life?
I try to practice mindfulness in my daily life. Mindfulness is applicable while one eats, works, and even sitting with nothing to do. I felt odd at first because when I wasn't on my phone, I noticed that everyone else had their attention on a screen. I would be walking on campus and almost everyone I crossed paths with was looking down. Sometimes, myself included. When I looked up and watched what happened around me, it increased the small actions that I witnessed that made my day more enjoyable.
Mindfulness isn't always observing the light filtering through the trees, but it's being aware that it is sunny and nice spring day. It's being conscious of how fast or slow time is passing. It's asking, "Why am I doing this?" and knowing the answer. Being mindful is a difficult art to master. We love our lives running from one place to another. We refresh pages and switch apps again and again until we are bored of it. Once in a while, we remark on how fast time has passed.
Meditation isn't required, but being mindful will bring a sense of calmness in our busy lives. Otherwise, you might find yourself complaining about the broken toilet that has been working all week.
