Letter From the Editor
The Mindful Iife issue – Winter/Spring 2017-18
Live in the moment. Live mindfully. Such phrases are becoming increasingly prevalent in popular culture—positive messages seem aimed to improve our perspectives and enrich our lives. The meaning of these phrases might seem obvious, initially; however, I believe they are worthy of deeper reflection. Do we fully understand the magical power—the underlying gift of wisdom—found in these few words?
In our current age, there is an abundance of information available to us and we have access to much knowledge—but neither means we are truly aware. The meanings of “knowledge” and “awareness” are often confused, assumed synonymous—they are not. For example, I recycle and I pay attention to world events. I vote and practice random acts of kindness. I teach my children the importance of compassion, the value of travel, and the rewards of hard work and learning. I teach yoga and meditation. While I hope my acts and ethics reveal me as a woman embracing a positive, “knowing” lifestyle, they do not necessarily mean I am living mindfully.
According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, “Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.” Mindfulness is not to be equated with self-improvement, or striving to be a You 2.0. Self-improvement may help pave the way to mindful living, but only if it is aligns with that which leads you to a more authentic version of yourself. As Pema Chödrön asserts, mindfulness, like meditation “…isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending who we are already.”
In this issue, we offer you insights and advice on living a mindful life—on practicing mindfulness, on parenting more mindfully, on engaging in relationships fully—and, mostly, on living mindfully aware of each authentic moment of this precious life.
Namaste,
Jennifer Grubba MA, EdS, 200 RYT
Founder + Editor-in-Chief