It had been a long day, and I was beginning my 90 minute drive home after teaching a mindfulness class. Between meetings, commuting, and teaching, I had been sitting for most of the day. I was driving south on 50. Night quickly falling with the help of cloud cover, and I was aware of my own adjustment process.

As is true for most of us, “awareness that arises from paying attention on purpose in the present moment, as non judgmentally as possible” (Jon Kabat-Zinn) was a part of my life before I knew the word “mindfulness”.

I love this article and the great research referenced from the Harvard Health blog, an example of the burgeoning science supporting interventions that harness the power of the mind body connection. There are many doorways to growth and healing, and each of us must find our way. Research like this validates what some of us know from our own experience, and perhaps cracks the door for these types of interventions to be considered and offered within traditional medical settings.

In my last blog, I wrote about mindfulness as a way I intentionally sew the fabric of my own life. I find that by purposely bringing present moment awareness to the events, emotions, activities, and relationships that are already happening in my life, I enjoy texture, vitality, and engagement with my ordinary, even repetitive day to day living.

There is a lot going on in our world right now. There is always a lot going on in the world. The public health response to the COVID 19 pandemic and the growing racial justice movement have not only captured my attention lately, they have preceded changes in my behavior.