Personal Essays

First-person stories about what mindfulness looks like in real, messy, everyday life. These essays are honest, personal, and often funny - written by people who've found that paying attention changes everything.
Kids & Teens
All in the Same Boat 

Teenagers leave the comforts of home and phone, live together on a tiny boat, and discover how to be alone and how to pull together. It’s not easy, but it’s unforgettable. Read More 

  • Carsten Knox
  • October 31, 2016
Black Body
Magazine
Fear and the Black Body 

The heart-wrenching conflict between police and black America, and how mindfulness offers a solution for fostering understanding and inviting transformation. Read More 

  • Marisela Gomez and Richard Goerling
  • September 26, 2016
illustration women walking around forest landscape
Gratitude
The Upside of Envy 

Depending upon how we use it, envy can either feed dissatisfaction or help us aspire to bring the goodness we desire into our own lives. Read More 

  • Elaine Smookler
  • September 14, 2016
beautiful cottage deck on sunny day
Magazine
Space to Breathe 

When it comes to designing the perfect home, architect Sarah Susanka focuses less on size, and more on creating beauty and meaning with every square foot. She reveals how little spaces can do big things. Read More 

  • Sam Littlefair
  • August 24, 2016
Protesters holding hands to show their stance against racism. Black and white person holding hands during protest.
Loving-Kindness & Compassion
Healing Racial Fault Lines 

How the simple act of sharing personal stories can help uncover divisive thoughts buried deep within ourselves. Read More 

  • Barry Yeoman
  • August 11, 2016
illustration hands holding
Learn
How to Stop the Racist in You 

The new science of bias suggests that we all carry prejudices within ourselves—and we all have the tools to keep them in check. Read More 

  • Jeremy Adam Smith and Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton
  • August 3, 2016
Ad for a mindfulness app with meditations, articles, and a section sidebar, shown on a phone held in hand.