Mindfulness

Best tools and resources for practicing mindfulness in everyday life.

Pema Chodron Wrote That Your Courage Is ‘Always Waiting to Be Discovered,’ and That Made Me Think About How Much of My Social Life I’ve Spent Rehearsing Instead of Interacting

by

The train car was doing its usual rhythmic swaying, the morning light cutting through the glass in predictable geometric shapes, when I looked down at the dog-eared page of Pema Chodron’s “Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears.” I was on my way to host my weekly English speaking club, a casual … Read more

I Drank a Warm Cup of Tea Every Morning to Fix My Morning Dread. Here’s What I Learned

by

There was a time when my mornings started the same way: Before my eyes had adjusted to the gray light filtering through the blinds, my thoughts were already filling with tomorrow’s obligations, each one quietly draining the small reserve of ease I had carried out of sleep. To cope, I would lie still beneath the … Read more

When People You Care About Are Merely Going Through the Motions During a Subtle Emotional Downturn, They Often Retreat From the Small Relational Rituals That Hold Their Closest Bonds Together

by

The subway car was unusually empty for a Sunday morning, bathed in that pale, underground light as we rattled toward the museum to see the new Van Gogh exhibit. Jane sat next to me, her coat neatly buttoned, her eyes tracking the digital stop announcements with perfect regularity. When the train lurched, she adjusted her … Read more

Eckhart Tolle Said That We Live Under an ‘Assumption That the Now Needs to Be Filled with Something All the Time,’ and That Made Me Think About How Much of My Free Time I’ve Spent Choosing Distraction Instead of Cultivating Attention

by

Twelve years ago, I deleted every tweet I had ever written and walked away from my account, leaving behind a blank profile. I did it because I was worn down by the constant chatter of a platform that demanded my attention every hour. Yet, even now, the urge to log back in visits me during … Read more