Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally. This kind of attention nurtures greater awareness, clarity, and acceptance of present-moment reality.—Kabat-Zinn
A reader writes why do you write so much about meditation. Who has the time? I understand her feeling, and I certainly have identified with feeling like I never have enough time, certainly time for meditation and mindfulness. I started realizing the benefits of meditation when I was on sabbatical where I certainly had plenty of time. One of the ironies of being on sabbatical is that the thing you lose is the very thing you gain. I’m talking about time. Time is different when you are confined then it is on the outside. In the outside world, time is a whirling blur of forces and temptations, choices and consequences. On the inside time stops. You have time to face who you are. I had no walls to hold me in, but I couldn’t escape from myself.
Mediation and finding ways to handle stress in your life aids in healing both physically and mentally. When you meditate you don’t just reduce stress, but you start to live more fully every minute. ( I am not flexible enough to do Yoga, I have always hoped for a Yoga class geared toward aging ex-jocks. I’d join in a minute.) So I opt for finding a quiet place and a comfortable chair, or a walk in our nearby park. I begin by reading and soon my mind and heart are off to the races not in anxiety, but with unusual clarity. Try being by yourself this weekend and allowing time to stop, if even for only five to ten minutes. You will be surprised.
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