A Road Trip and Mindfulness

Hullo readers,

I'm writing to you from the passenger seat of my boy's 2010 black Mazda. We're driving through Alabama and I'm balancing my iPad on the open glove box, while typing on my wireless keyboard. For me dear readers, this is technology at its finest. 

As I look out the window, I see swaths of green. Lite tinkles of raindrops amass on the windshield before slowly forming rows of water that resemble shooting stars. There's also something lovely and delicate about the grey of the sky that makes me smile. Who knows, maybe it's just because I love road trips?

For me, there's something magical about being a traveler. It happens only every once and a while, but is the perfect time to escape into a new book or magazine. I've just finished July's Wired and wanted to share an article with you (for Guilfordians or fans of Eric Mortensen, this should be particularly intriguing).

July's Wired cover.

"Enlightenment Engineers" by Noah Shachtman brings Zen Buddhist philosophies like mindfulness into practice inside the infamous technological hub that is Silicon Valley. Big business names like Google and Facebook now offer meditation classes and rooms to their employees. Here, individuals can practice breathing exercises and other techniques that help to eliminate smaller, insubstantial stresses to increase overall productivity and happiness. And, as well all know, happy workers make happy companies.

When I first read this article, all I could think about was a class I took my senior year of college called Zen and the Art of Zen. It doubled as a Religious Studies and Art class, and was one of the most interesting classes that I've ever taken. Not only did we learn all about Zen Buddhism, but the practices that can inspire mindfulness in everyday life. I couldn't help but think that it doesn't take big whig companies with gazillions of dollars to inspire their employees. Mindfulness encourages empathy and compassion. Who doesn't need more of that in their life?

I used to meditate more often. It wasn't easy and for a long time I faked that I could feel "something" happening. Then, one day, I did. I felt at ease and time seemed to slow down. Small annoyances melted  away and a weight was lifted. I haven't meditated in almost a year, but this article reminded me of the good that can come from taking chances. 

I'll leave you with a quote from one of my favorite TV characters: Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. As she would say, let's all take chances, get messy and make mistakes.

Ms. Frizzle and Liz the Lizard.

 Until next time dear readers, adieu.