My #OneWord for 2016: Mindfulness

In my mind it seems like a buzzword right now.

I've seen it on Twitter so often I am surprised I haven't yet seen it in the One Word universe.

mind·ful·ness

ˈmīn(d)f(ə)lnəs/

noun

1. 1.

   the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.

   "their mindfulness of the chaos of the kindergarten classroom"
2. 2.

   a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

I learned about it...can it really be 2 years ago now... (WOW)... from my therapist. Yep. I had one. And truth be told, many of you need one. Let's face it...life is hard. Throw in a couple traumatic events, add all the fallout, mix in a toddler, don't forget to add in the broken relationship, and you need one. 

Having a therapist doesn't make you weak. In actuality, it shows you care enough about yourself to seek the advice of others. And even if you have a great mom like me, you know you need someone who is unbiased (who doesn't know just how great I really am :). 

So I went.

My mind is the one they made that meme for, you know...this one

It's true you know. Talk to me at any given time and the conversation goes from teaching, to archaeology, to family history, to the bird at the the bird feeder in a matter of nanoseconds. I can be hard to follow.

Mindfulness is taking hold of that process and shutting down the browser...literally. Mindfulness causes you to focus on the air, your body, your breathing, outside noises and then...letting things go.

I liked the analogy shared with me: It's like you have a puppy and the puppy is jumping here, and jumping there, and wants to do this and that...all at once, and you have to stop and redirect the puppy to what it needs to pay attention to: nothing but the very being of being. 

So why is it my One Word? It calms me. It reminds me to breath deeply and helps me to focus. So on the days when I wonder if I am meant to teach, if anyone likes me, and if my clothes even match, I need to remember to breathe. I am fantastic. I am perfect. Because I am me and I am alive and well.

That said mindfulness has a second meaning which is basically: being present. So when I go to the park with Sierra...I am at the park with Sierra. When I go to the movies...I enjoy the movie. I enjoy the little things before they are no longer there.

Which reminds me about talking to my grandma last week...she is 95 and lived life to the fullest. I was telling her how I wish she could come visit for Christmas (she still resides where I grew up in SoCal). She mentioned she hadn't been on any trips lately, but that she has a big one coming up. "Really?" I said. Dumbfounded. Then I realized what she was talking about...the trip after life. The one we all have to make. Good one, Grandma. I am sure I get my great sense of humor from you.

Be Mindful, my friends. 

The end comes too quickly.