Excerpt:
Have you ever arrived at work, only to realize that you do not remember any scenery or landmarks during your drive? At the end of your shower, have you ever realized that you are not sure whether you washed your hair? Or more important, think back to your last conversation with a loved one: Do you remember the details of what you talked about? For many, these examples highlight the fact that we live much of our days in automatic-pilot mode. We have our routines at home and at work, and we go through the motions, not truly paying attention to what we are doing. Our minds wander elsewhere, and we end up eating without tasting, looking without seeing, and talking without knowing what we are saying.
Human beings are blessed with the ability to think about the past, present, and future. We spend time thinking about the past: yesterday’s meeting at work, last week’s argument with a friend, or even more fondly about a happy memory from years ago. We also spend time thinking about the future: worrying about tomorrow’s presentation, making a mental list of what to buy at the grocery store tonight, or, more favorably, thinking about an upcoming vacation or an evening out with friends. Yet, many of us do not spend a significant amount of time thinking about the present.
Human beings are blessed with the ability to think about the past, present, and future. We spend time thinking about the past: yesterday’s meeting at work, last week’s argument with a friend, or even more fondly about a happy memory from years ago. We also spend time thinking about the future: worrying about tomorrow’s presentation, making a mental list of what to buy at the grocery store tonight, or, more favorably, thinking about an upcoming vacation or an evening out with friends. Yet, many of us do not spend a significant amount of time thinking about the present.
Click to read the rest of "Teaching Mindfulness to Children" (Gestalt Review) [pdf]. The exercises described in this article work just as well for adults. Why mindfulness?
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