Mindfulness

By far, one of the best tools that I have in my kit is mindfulness. No fancy anything, nice and straightforward, taking in the moment. With mindfulness, you are “Not meditating upon anything, simply being present.” My favorite quote by Hang, my certified counselor and Mindfulness coach, is, “Nonjudgement of the moment.”

I started reading a little about mindfulness and learning about it via books and the local yoga place in Carlisle, PA in 2014. I found it highly intriguing and started going through more books. Still not fully grasping it and so wanting to.

One of the best books that I initially came across in 2018, as I was starting the training plan for my 50-miler, was “Running with the Mind of Meditation” by Sakyong Mipham. That book helped enable me to run that 50-miler without music, books, or anything else besides my brain for the next nine hours.

I’ve been reading and learning about it and practicing it for the last decade. It has only been the last few months that I have been able to put it all together with Hang’s help!

I think one of the first and best things to do is have you meet Hang. Here, take a three-minute listen and try to follow your breath. Don’t be judgmental of yourself! Be kind to yourself! You never would have heard me say these things a year or more ago. Grounding exercises coming up

Also, don’t try being like me and everyone else who wants to be more efficient, and add mindfulness to sitting in the doctor’s office waiting and counting that as part of your formal practice. Your formal practice is your bedrock, which means sitting and being present and following your training.

I’m not knocking using mindfulness in the doctor’s office. I use it in the doctor’s office (lobby and when in a room awaiting a doctor) before I eat certain foods (sugary stuff) and before I have a drink of alcohol, and the list keeps growing. I am in awe at how much my brain craves quietness and rest. Neither my brain nor I desire to be distracted from life anymore.

I spent decades allowing myself to not be present with my family. I was always focusing on something in the future because, at that moment, I was getting the crown jewels crushed either at work, home, or both. I also allowed myself to drink in an attempt to slow my mind and thoughts up so that I could have some quiet.

I had no idea that just closing my eyes and focusing on my breath for three minutes would make such a difference. Take a shot at it and enjoy life!