Mindful July/August 2021

JOIN US We’re bringing our content to life with Mindful Live—a series of in-depth, online conversations, and events featuring mindfulness experts on how we can enjoy better health, cultivate more caring relationships, and create a more compassionate society. Sign up to learn more at mindful.org/mindful-live Heather Hurlock is the editor-in-chief of Mindful magazine and mindful.org. She’s a longtime editor, musician, and meditator with deep roots in service journalism. Connect with Heather at heather.hurlock@mindful.org. Lately, I’ve been spending time contemplating what it means to be safe. My answers change all the time: a home for my family, a reliable income, a mask, a vaccine. For women, safety sometimes requires silence or lack of eye contact. Safety can mean freedom from oppression. Sometimes safety, not just for yourself, but for the people…

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How has the meaning of connection changed for you? “Connection has taken on a deeper meaning. It’s so valuable to connect with those we can’t see on a regular basis. I do miss hugging and look forward to those hugs. They’ll be sweeter when it’s safe again.” Robin R. “The more I started to connect, discover, and accept my inner self, I discovered I wanted more company. Then I forgave any misalignments with my family and friends. At some point I realized true connection meant connection to the entire world, just as it was.” Tiffany P. “1. Being present when connecting with family and friends. 2. Taking a genuine interest in what makes others happy and showing that you care about what matters most to them.” Lisa C. “Normally, connection…

CALMTAINMENT An awkward portmanteau of calm and entertainment, “Calmtainment” made the Wunder-man Thompson Agency’s list of trends that will define 2021, which means mindful play is on the rise and brands are beginning to take note. None other than LEGO released an adult line they describe as therapeutic, immersive, and relaxing. There’s a flower bouquet and a bonsai set that are meant to help you focus mindfully as you play, experiment, and decompress. There’s even a relaxing Spotify playlist featuring white-noise soundscapes made using LEGO bricks. LEGO wants you to toss the instruction book and “enjoy the sheer pleasure of creation, just like the kid you used to be.” RECIPES MATTER Staff at Bon Appétit and the home-cooking website Epicurious spoke out about racism in the workplace after a photo…

BIKIN’ BISCUITS A 13-year-old from Maidenhead, England, is bringing joy to people and pooches alike during COVID quarantine by hand-making and delivering dog treats. His name is Josh and the business is called Mustard’s Miracle Services. He makes the dog treats in his family’s kitchen and delivers them by bicycle to be eco-friendly. Last winter, he donated half of his proceeds to a food charity in his area. TEAM PLAYER Bonnie O’Reilly, the mom of two professional hockey players, Ryan and Cal O’Reilly, donated one of her kidneys to the rink manager who let her boys get extra time on the ice when they were young. The former arena manager, Graham Nesbitt, would open up the rink on snow days and after hours so kids could skate and “stay out…

GETTING ANGRY Cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) are frequently used to ease social anxiety. We know little about whether anger—expressing or holding it back—affects how well these therapies work. In this study, 108 adults with social anxiety disorder were randomly assigned to either a CBGT group, an MBSR group, or a waitlist. Their levels of anger expression and social anxiety were assessed before treatment, and social anxiety symptoms were measured following the intervention and every three months for a year’s follow-up. Both MBSR and CBGT sessions ran for 12 weeks in 2.5 hour sessions. CBGT included psycho-education, skills for examining thoughts, and gradual exposure to social situations, while MBSR included standard MBSR instruction. Neither intervention explicitly addressed anger. After treatment, CBGT group members who coped with…