What does it mean to be mindful? It’s the opposite of multitasking. For me it’s staying focused, as much as possible, in the present moment.
For someone who’s lived in anticipation of the next big thing all my life, it’s a hard lesson to learn. There are times when I can’t focus on anything but what isn’t real.
- What my friends will say to me?
- What my boss will dump on me?
- How I will counter the demand for more productivity without the tools with which to accomplish it?
For those of us not raised in the Buddhist or Kriya Yoga tradition, embracing mindfulness can be a very long process. Of course, I’ve since learned that it happen in a moment if I allow it.
I’ve experienced the same with Kriya Yoga meditation as well as prayer (back when I used to pray). My mind would wander and before I knew it, I’d be reacting to things that hadn’t happened at all.
Am I weird? Um, yes. But that’s not the point. 
Three books got my attention about mindfulness. Interestingly, none have the word ‘mindfulness’ in their titles. Loving What Is by Byron Katie taught me that unless I can just accept the reality of the present moment, the present situation, then I’m doomed to suffer via my reaction to it. The Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh taught me that being totally present can be achieved by simply walking across a room and directing my attention to each micro-movement. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle beautifully explained how the present moment - now - is all we really have.
Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is just a dream - the now - this present moment-is all we really have.
As I wrote this post, Justin interrupted me twice. Each interruption gave me an opportunity to give him my total attention. That’s staying in the moment. It’s not excluding him because I’m focused on writing this post. Being mindful is a journey, I’m finding.
It’s an adventure that i think I’m going to like.
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