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.
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Gratitude
We All Have Something to Give 

Giving doesn't mean buying a gift. There are many ways to tap into the heart of generosity. Founding editor Barry Boyce names a few. Read More 

  • Barry Boyce
  • November 17, 2016
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Gratitude
The Now Addiction 

Proponents of mindfulness meditation repeatedly celebrate living in the now, but being able to forestall gratification to a future time can also be a key element of mindfulness. Read More 

  • Sharon Begley
  • November 8, 2016
A group of people wearing life jackets work together on a sailboat.
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
  • 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
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