Several weeks ago, before spring's arrival, I had a lot on my mind. Planning an extensive home improvement project. Financing said home improvement project. I was preparing for every possible catastrophe, living in a supposed future — not in the present moment. "What if" this. "What if" that. My head was a worry wheel of anxiety. And we all know what they say about worry. Well ... if you don't, here are some observations:

• Researchers at the University of Cincinnati say that 85 percent of what we worry about never happens. 

• “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom

• Worrying does not take away tomorrow's trouble, it takes away today's peace." 

• "Worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere." ~ Van Wilder

At any rate, this post isn't about the foibles and futility of worry. It's about some ways to cure it by practicing the art of mindfulness and living in the present.

On that worry-racked Sunday, my husband and I took a short drive down the Natchez Trace Parkway, chose a trail and headed into the woods. It's amazing how fresh air, the crunch of dried leaves and the sound of trickling water can sooth your soul. An hour or so later as we returned to the car, I was relaxed and my mind was at ease. 

Last weekend, a camping trip to The Smokies had the same effect. Spending a couple of days thinking only about food, clothing, warmth and shelter (and searching for nature photo ops!) has a way of helping you forget about your troubles. 

A little time in the woods may not cure all of life's ills, but it can definitely help you put things in perspective and stay in the present. Here are a few more suggestions to practice mindfulness in your life:

• Practice yoga (it's hard to think about anything else while trying to maintain tree pose)
• Meditate (even 10 minutes a day offers great benefits)
• Play your favorite music (loud is even better)
• Get lost in a good book
• Go for a drive (with your favorite music playing)
• Practice hobbies you enjoy (knit, sew, write, photograph, play guitar, cook).

I find myself most mindful when I'm creating. Whether I'm photographing, writing or redesigning my website, I get lost in the moment. The challenge is to maintain that mindset — even when you aren't focused intently on a hobby or other activity. Some activities, by their very nature, demand more of our attention, but I find that the more I'm able to concentrate on a task for a short period of time, the easier it is to stretch those mindful periods so that they encompass more of my day. And the easier it is to be mindful during mundane activities like eating or washing dishes.

Give it a try! Choose a task and focus on it. Try a few mindful activities and let me know what works for you! 

How do you relax and stay mindful? Do you practice regular habits that help you stay in the present? I'm always eager to hear your thoughts and observations. 

Walking across my patio recently, I noticed a bright spot of yellow. One tiny pansy had somehow found a way to survive the bitter cold of a harsh winter and push its way to bloom again. It made me smile and gave me hope with its resilience. And I saw a lesson there.

We need to recognize the traits we share with that pansy. We need to see that we, too, are strong and able to survive. When battered by the storms and difficulties of life, we may feel hopeless and ready to give up, but if we muster the strength to press on and push forward, we can make it through.

If you're struggling with a storm in your life, if you feel like you just can't take one more thing going wrong, if you're ready to sit down and cry or curl up and die — just think of the pansy. That tiny flower's will to survive and strength to keep going are not traits reserved for our "natural" world; they are traits that exist in every one of us. And I am convinced that we're much more resilient than we think.

Some trials in life are more difficult than others. The aggravation of a cracked water pipe can't compare to the trauma of battling cancer, but all of our struggles require perseverance and determination. Whether it's a life-threatening illness, overwhelming grief or a series of setbacks, frustrations and disappointments, keep pushing. Keep going — and growing! — until you break through to find the sunshine on the other side.

Have you been awed by the resilience reflected in the natural world? Is there someone whose resilient spirit you admire? Is that someone you?