Art of Mindfulness Foundation
(AMFF)
- Sarah, Harvard College student
I once thought that meditation was inherently connected to Buddhism and also had to be not only a practice but a complete way of life. However, I recently read a book by Elise Hancock, a science writer and former editor of the Johns Hopkins Magazine, that shared her approach to writing as being "serious lightly." By this, she means that she writes every single day, without fail. The routine and discipline of sitting down at her computer to write is the serious part.
However, the lightness comes from the work within each writing session - some days her mind wanders and she manages to scribble down a few sentences, and others she can produce thousands of words in an hour. All this is to say, the practice of mindfulness can be achieved without an intense study of religion, goals of enlightenmnet, attendance at week-long retreats, or hours of practice each day. The narrator instead reminded me that even a light routine of daily meditation can bring change to your life and your relationships. As I continue, I hope to start off my meditation practice with the discipline of showing up every day but the lightness of appreciating that I am a beginner and even 3 minutes a day can help.