by Guest Contributor, JaeSage

Good Monday to you! Today is MLK Day and when we think of mindfulness and Dr. King, how can we be in the here and now to observe the example of empathy, kindness and active compassion for others and ourselves that he lived and taught?

Here are three possibilities:

• Look around you. Is someone sitting next to you on the bus during your morning commute or in that bleary-eyed Zoom meeting in your respective virtual offices or the person you woke up next to. Really take a look at that person’s face, look.  Look at their eyes, their nose, the way their mouth moves when they talk. Truly see that person, familiar or a complete stranger. Drink in their presence and enjoy being one with humanity sharing this big blue planet floating precariously through space.
• When you have a break today, instead of charging through a meal or pouring a cup of beverage that you will end up not drinking due to your laser-like focus on the everyday job of survival, STOP, take a bite or a sip and experience the fullness of the experience. Taste, smell, feel, listen, and look at it. Then think about how that food or beverage arrived in your hand. Who planted, nurtured, harvested, processed, and delivered it so you could be there to slow down and notice it? Can you summon up a feeling of gratitude for those who brought this sustenance to you?
• Make an attempt to show your gratitude to a fellow human this week. Then show yourself some kindness as well. Part of mindfulness is sharing an act of compassion in the moment with all of your five senses.

Best regards on your mental health Monday today.

Yours in Mindfulness,

JaeSage is the nom de plume of a National Certified Counselor with over 10 years’ experience in learning and teaching mindful methods.