Way back in time when I was first married, my husband Andy gave me a beautiful watch as a wedding present.

On the back was an inscription written in Latin. Basically, it said, “Time flies. Be aware of the moment.”

He loved Latin, Greek and philosophy, so it wasn’t strange that the inscription was in Latin.

I never wondered why someone as young as he was at the time chose that inscription and I never asked. Being head over heels in love, I thought everything he did was priceless, and I never questioned it.

By choosing to emphasize being aware of the moment, he was way ahead of his time.

Today, we call it “mindfulness” and entire movements have grown to instruct us about being mindful.

So, what does mindfulness mean?

Being mindful simply boils down to paying attention.

It’s paying attention to our thoughts, feelings and actions.

In other words, we are acutely tuned into each thing we do.

I don’t know about you, but much of what I do is done on what I call automatic pilot. It’s mindless action without being aware.

I think that’s why I can do a simple action like taking my morning pill then wondering a short while later if I really took it.

It’s spending an entire day searching frantically for an important income tax statement but not being able to find it because I mindlessly put it somewhere.

I sometimes joke by saying when I die if I have to give an accounting of how I spent my time on earth the Good Lord would note how much of my time was spent looking for things I lost or mindlessly misplaced.

I am trying hard to break that habit but I am far from successful.

I just read that for most of us, our mind is not often in the present moment for extended periods of time. Research shows we spend more time thinking about the past or worrying about the future.

Scientists tell us being mindful reduces stress, improves our memory skills and adds up to a greater appreciation of life.

Yet so many of us go through a day trapped by constant mind clutter.

Take the simple act of going for a walk. Many walkers put on headphones, listen to music and remain oblivious to surroundings.

Scientist Dacher Keltner suggests a different approach. He advises students of all ages to find wonder and inspiration through a simple stroll.

He calls it an “awe walk.”

“Experiencing awe can jolt us out of a self-focused mindset and improve our mental and physical well-being,” he says.

I can attest that scientists are right when they say spending time in nature decreases anxiety and increases contentment.

Keltner explains that a simple walk can turn into an awe walk by learning to see how something simple becomes extraordinary when we pay close attention to it.

While I never used the term “awe walk” until now, I can honestly say that for the past year or two I have found increased joy and gratitude by taking an early morning walk each day, paying close attention to the world around me.

As soon as I step outdoors I use all my senses to delight in the new day.

This morning I laughed at a little blue heron that kept prancing on the pavement in front of me, looking around each yard.

Seeing the new osprey chicks and a black and white duck decked out in mating plumage added to my visual pleasure.

The more I learn to see, hear and feel, the more I am awed with the beautiful gift we call “a new day.”

So that part of being mindful is working for me. The same is true in my being mindful of what I am eating, savoring the taste instead of rushing through a meal while reading a newspaper.

Now, if only I can learn to unclutter my mind so I can mindfully pay attention to what I am doing.

Our woman’s group has one session teaching us how to meditate. I can’t do it for long without having my mind gallop off in different directions.

There are so many other ways we can learn to be more mindful of how our actions affect our feelings.

Several of my friends have found themselves drowning in sadness and worry. Some of that is caused by concern about the price of gas and groceries while another part of that sadness is watching the atrocities going on in Ukraine. It tears at your heart.

Clinical psychologist Natalie Dattilo advises people to be mindful of how much time they spend exposing themselves to stressful information.

I am mindful that we can do little to help those poor Ukrainians but we can give to organizations that are there feeding the refugees. They need all the help they can get.

I am gladdened by all the groups and individuals working here to help Ukrainians. We can’t be there but we can send monetary support.

I didn’t understand much about “being mindful” when my husband’s message was “be aware of the moment.”

But I’m learning.

The older I grow the more I realize we must be aware of every moment. Make the most of it because in reality, the present moment is all we have.

Spend it mindfully.

Contact Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net.