Mindful Monday #7 Square Breathing 20190929_131851.mp4

Mindful Monday #6 20190922_154243.mp4

Mindful Monday #5 20190915_193040.mp4

Think Aloud: Connection, Relationships, and Happiness

Think Aloud: Connection, Relationships, and Happiness: “Ground yourself” - This expression reminds me of connecting with the earth and the soil.  My recent mini-gardening experiences...

Connection, Relationships, and Happiness

“Ground yourself” - This expression reminds me of connecting with the earth and the soil.  My recent mini-gardening experiences have made me think about the benefits of these connections.  

A newly planted flower is not yet sturdy.  But, as it gets water, fertilizer, and sun, its root becomes stronger and it displays beautiful colors.  This sounds like a metaphor of ourselves: we are the plant, just grounded. As we learn and apply self-care tools such as good nutrition, exercise, and meditation, we empower ourselves and grow.  We become keenly aware of our strength and beauty. We connect with ourselves. When we are connected with ourselves, we feel peaceful.

What about our connections with others?

Yes, indeed, human connection is the key to happiness. A 30 year Harvard study concluded, “....people who are more socially connected to family, to friends, to community are happier, they’re physically healthier and they live longer than people who are less well connected.”  Thus, it makes sense the building relationships is important in our lives, especially in the education field. Students will become happy by making connections with teachers and each other in their learning community.  

Do these connections have to be with humans?  

Here is one example of a connection with a non-human: I remember the movie Cast Away starring Tom Hanks.  In an extremely isolated situation, the main character, Chuck, makes a connection with a volleyball, Wilson.  Although Wilson is just a ball, he brings Chuck emotions and sanity. The foundation for Chuck’s heroic survival is clear: his relationship with Wilson.  Yes, you can make connections with things other than human beings if you want to.

I go outside to water my flowers and think of what our plants do.  The green provides us oxygen while we provide carbon dioxide. We depend on each other.  Without our relationship, both of us couldn’t survive on our planet. When I recognize this connection, I feel grateful.  It is important for me to keep reminding myself of my gratitude for our connection with plants. When I feel down from the daily hustle, I can look at the small plants. With a few deep breaths, I ground myself at the moment. When I am connected with myself, I am ready to connect with others. Being connected is a beautiful feeling. It leads to a sense of belonging and comfort in the community.  

Extending connections in as many directions as possible gives us a more global view of peace, gratitude, and happiness.  All children and adults deserve to know that.

Mindful Monday #4 20190909_203554.mp4

Think Aloud: Mindfulness in Swimming

Think Aloud: Mindfulness in Swimming: Mens sana in corpore sano ….. A healthy mind in a healthy body. As a whole, both physical and mental exercise are essential.  Mindf...

Mindfulness in Swimming

Mens sana in corpore sano….. A healthy mind in a healthy body. As a whole, both physical and mental exercise are essential.  Mindfulness meditation helps me create a peaceful and calm space in my busy life.  But, mindfulness doesn’t have to be just sitting still.  We can find various forms of mindfulness in life.  Recently, while I was at the gym, I noticed a moment of mindfulness when I thought, “What’s going on at the moment?”

            If you are a swimmer and swim regularly, forget about your lap times for a while.  Instead, pay attention to your body.  How do your arms feel?  When your right elbow leaves the water, which part feels the air first?  Does the temperature change?  How do your fingertips feel when they touch the new water?   How do you feel when your straightened arm and hand are about to grab the water to push towards your belly?  Do you feel the water’s weight?  Observe your left arm just as you did on the right side.  Is the sensation in each side different to each other or is it the same?  

            In the meantime, extend your curiosity to your belly and bottom.  Is your belly tighten or relaxed?  Is your bottom under the water or above the water?  What happens when you shift your torso to slightly different positions?  Does your tummy feel the wave or not?  

            Remember to observe your legs.  They kick like the motor in a boat.  Are your legs straight or bent?  When your legs are straight, do they feel heavier?  Do your big toes touch each other every kick?  And notice the rhythm of your arm strokes and kicks.  It is as if you were practicing to fit a triplet into a two-beat piano piece.  What a unique and satisfying experience!  

            At the other side of the pool side, you touch the wall, curl your body, kick the wall, and glide your body freely in the opposite direction you came from.  This is when you will feel great appreciation for your healthy body and mind, no matter how hard the week has been.  Time and space are daily gifts for our mind and body.  It doesn’t matter if you sit or not.  It does matter that you feel the connection between your body and your mind.           

Mens sana in corpore sano….. A healthy mind in a healthy body. As a whole, both physical and mental exercise are essential.  Mindfulness meditation helps me create a peaceful and calm space in my busy life.  But, mindfulness doesn’t have to be just sitting still.  We can find various forms of mindfulness in life.  Recently, while I was at the gym, I noticed a moment of mindfulness when I thought, “What’s going on at the moment?”

            If you are a swimmer and swim regularly, forget about your lap times for a while.  Instead, pay attention to your body.  How do your arms feel?  When your right elbow leaves the water, which part feels the air first?  Does the temperature change?  How do your fingertips feel when they touch the new water?   How do you feel when your straightened arm and hand are about to grab the water to push towards your belly?  Do you feel the water’s weight?  Observe your left arm just as you did on the right side.  Is the sensation in each side different to each other or is it the same?  

            In the meantime, extend your curiosity to your belly and bottom.  Is your belly tighten or relaxed?  Is your bottom under the water or above the water?  What happens when you shift your torso to slightly different positions?  Does your tummy feel the wave or not?  

            Remember to observe your legs.  They kick like the motor in a boat.  Are your legs straight or bent?  When your legs are straight, do they feel heavier?  Do your big toes touch each other every kick?  And notice the rhythm of your arm strokes and kicks.  It is as if you were practicing to fit a triplet into a two-beat piano piece.  What a unique and satisfying experience!  

            At the other side of the pool side, you touch the wall, curl your body, kick the wall, and glide your body freely in the opposite direction you came from.  This is when you will feel great appreciation for your healthy body and mind, no matter how hard the week has been.  Time and space are daily gifts for our mind and body.  It doesn’t matter if you sit or not.  It does matter that you feel the connection between your body and your mind.           

Mindful Monday #3 20190902_172712.mp4