Mindful December 2022

Every now and then, and less often than appropriate, I realize how grateful I am to help produce this beautiful magazine. I’ve been on a healing journey most of my life. It’s been messy. And clarifying. And hard. I joke with my friends that I make the magazine that I need to read at the moment, but that’s not far from the truth. It’s my privilege to humbly call in a community of big, wise hearts—who are out there in the world, illuminating the edges of where the practice of mindfulness meets the sharp points of broken systems and battered spirits—and ask them questions about what they’re learning right now, so we can all learn it, too. As the founders of the Holistic Life Foundation say on page 41, “Learning…

By reading Mindful and sharing it with others, you’re helping to bring mindfulness practices into the world where the benefits can be enjoyed by all. Thank you! Print magazine & special topic publications 30 Day Mindfulness Challenge Mindful at Work • Well-being for modern workplaces Mindfulness video courses Visit online at mindful.org Get More Mindful…

What’s one thing about yourself that you’re grateful for? Definitely my resilience. I get knocked down, but I get up again! sherwalt1 My capacity to hold loving and kind space for others and my willingness to continuously move toward self-acceptance and self-love. That I can see beauty and be grateful even through challenging moments. I love my divine beautiful heart. vioroz01 My capacity to forgive (and my ability to not only see but to genuinely feel joy from the myriad of life’s everyday, perhaps even ordinary, offerings). reticent.grace What’s one thing you tend to under-appreciate? Time pathtoessence Sleep rachelatri Myself. I don't give myself enough credit and recognition. chelseanarsenault How do you express gratitude? What are you most grateful for today? Health, fitness, family, friends, the list goes on… ArcheeDebunker…

GROW WILD Since the 1940s, bird, insect, and small-mammal populations have been in decline, partly due to modern-day farming practices, but a new study shows that farmers can reverse these effects by dedicating small areas of unproductive land to create wildlife-friendly habitats—and that, in turn, creates thriving crops. Researchers at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology monitored for a decade the impact of 1 km x 1 km wildlife habitats on Hillesden Estate, a 1,000-hectare commercial farm. The authors of the study saw dramatic increases in species of seed-eating birds and butterflies, which increased pollination and natural pest control, ultimately increasing crop yield. Marek Nowakowski of the Wildlife Farming Company says, “The Hillesden study shows that it is possible to balance wildlife conservation with efficient food production.” NEW INSIGHTS For…

SEW KIND In celebration of an Ontario quilt shop’s fifth birthday, quilters across Canada are sewing blankets for women transitioning out of homelessness. “Quilts symbolize warmth. They’re like a big hug,” Michaelanne Hathaway, owner of Stache Fabric & Notions, told CBC. The quilts will be given to the women as housewarming gifts. HEALING SPACE Late-stage colorectal cancer patient Aaron Banfield used some of his remaining time to turn an underused hospital chapel into a welcoming, neutral space that supports connection and mindfulness. “Anyone that has spent time in a hospital knows you get into a limbo-state,” he said. His hope for the space is that it will facilitate psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being for patients at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in British Columbia, where Banfield himself spent time. ON TRACK…

GET SMART Researchers at the University of Innsbruck in Austria wanted to study how different meditation styles would affect automatic behaviors. They randomly assigned 73 adults to one of four groups for internally focused meditation, externally focused meditation, open monitoring meditation, or a waitlist control group. All meditation group participants were asked to attend two sessions per week of roughly 30 minutes each for four weeks. The internal meditation group focused on sensations related to breathing. The external meditation group paid attention to a candle flame. The open monitoring group observed sensations that arose while meditating. Before and after the four-week interval, all participants completed two cognitive tasks testing their ability to pay attention and to select an appropriate response. In general, those in the meditation groups were more…