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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.
A white electrical outlet with two sockets is centered on a bright green wall. The outlet cover is simple and clean, contrasting with the vibrant background color. The image has a minimalist aesthetic with no other objects visible.
Focus & Attention
Is it Time to Unplug? 

"So there I was driving," writes Elisha Goldstein, "only to look up and find that I was three exits past where I needed to get off. Talk about being on auto-pilot. Sound familiar?" Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • May 6, 2011
A person wearing a straw hat, a gray tank top, and jeans is sitting on a cart being pulled by two horses. They are in a lush, green field with trees and hills in the background, and the person is looking back and smiling.
Magazine
Sustainability: Just What Is It? 

Bridget Hildreth looks for the true meaning of a common but sometimes misunderstood term and finds it at Oregon's Flora Valley Farms. Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • April 15, 2011
A yellow school bus is driving down a rural road surrounded by grass and trees. The scene is illuminated by soft morning light and the bus is moving away from the camera, heading towards a bend in the road.
Kids & Teens
Rollie’s Vision 

As Tom Preble drives a noisy school bus to its destination, he befriends a nine-year-old blind boy named Rollie. Over time, the pair come to help each other better appreciate the world around them. Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • April 4, 2011
Whimsical illustration of a quaint village surrounded by a floral border. Houses with colored rooftops, a meandering road, and trees are depicted. Musical notes float above, adding a sense of melody and charm to the scene.
Magazine
Welcome to Wedgwood 

Charles Johnson's new neighbor had hardly settled in when all hell broke loose—or so it seemed. Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • March 18, 2011
frog in rainforest
Loving-Kindness & Compassion
Compassion in the Rainforest 

When Ira Rifkin traveled to the jungles of Ecuador years ago, he discovered that though he was far from home, he had come closer to experiencing an authentic human connection. Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • March 16, 2011
Barbed wire and fencing atop a stone wall, symbolizing serving a sentence under a clear blue sky.
Magazine
Serving a Sentence, yet Renewing Life 

"This essay began as a letter to my wife. She suggested I share it with others, and so I am sending it to you in hopes it can be of use."- In Peace, Mario Easevoli Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • March 4, 2011
A swimmer in a dark swimsuit and goggles is seen underwater, performing a streamlined dive with arms extended forward. Bubbles can be seen around her as she moves through the clear blue water.
Focus & Attention
Mindful Swimming 

Jump into the pool with Tonya Nascimento. Experience the rhythm of your stroke, the comfort of the water holding you up, the rush of the water past your ears, the craziness of hundreds of people swimming in circles and spaced just so. Competitive swimmers, like all athletes, can benefit from practicing in the moment. Read More 

  • Line Goguen-Hughes
  • March 4, 2011
A few pink magnolia flowers bloom on thin, leafless branches extending from the right side of the image against a textured, gray concrete wall background, casting eerie shadows that evoke a subtle sense of horror.
Magazine
Horror. Beauty. 

Walk with Ronlyn Domingue as she takes in the sights one cool day in February, the natural surroundings offering insight and valuable opportunities for introspection.   Read More 

  • Mindful Staff
  • March 1, 2011
A person lying prone on a white wooden floor, with arms stretched out forward and head turned to the left, resting on the surface. The person has brown hair tied back. The imagery conveys a sense of relaxation or stretching.
Getting Started
What does it mean to just be? 

What does it mean, 'to just be?' Jonathan Rowson explores this topic with support from thinkers from the past. Read More 

  • Jonathan Rowson
  • February 23, 2011
Ad for a mindfulness app with meditations, articles, and a section sidebar, shown on a phone held in hand.