The Man in the Turban (A Lesson in Mindfulness)

I stood behind him at the bank as he deposited a wad of the twenties into his account. I stood there with really nothing on my mind, thoughts of the day, plans for the weekend and such. Then it hit me. What was he thinking? Or more precisely what was he thinking about what the others about him? Given the apparent divide in this country concerning race and equality, I wondered what he thought about the older white man behind him.

The ability to practice mindfulness is to practice the ability to allow thoughts and curiosities to come into our mind and to not dismiss them immediately. I am constantly assessing my thoughts and feelings and equally, I tend to assess the actions and behaviors of those around me. Without hesitation, I always greet a stranger with a smile. It is often returned in equal. To me, it is important to create a connection with others. From the young woman behind the register to the police officer standing behind me in line, there is always an opportunity to create a conversation.

The conversation may only be a few sentences or develop into something further. But it would never happen without a beginning hello or a simple smile. Below are some simple practices to develop and maintain mindfulness in daily life:

1. As I said in a previous post, a smile is worth your weight in gold. A simple smile is one of the most powerful tools to bring brightness into a person’s day (and your day).
2. Watch the people around you, their behaviors, mannerisms, whether they are appearing to have a good day or not (another reason to smile). This practice gives insight into the world that is right in front of you. It brings your thoughts to the present. Try to be simply aware of the people, try not to judge. If someone is being rude, usually it is because they are having a bad day, or stuck in a life they cannot find a way out of. Considering this brings a presence of peacefulness within you and a deeper understanding of others and their personal struggles.
3. Finding your breath (watch for another article detailing this practice). When you find yourself becoming anxious, upset or angry, find your breath. Usually, we forget to breathe in these moments. If you find yourself in a state of anxiety, realize your breath, is it shallow? Are you breathing only from you upper chest? If so, take a slow deep breath through your nose and expand your lungs and diaphragm (your abdomen should rise with a full breath). Then slowly breathe out through your mouth. Do this slowly and evenly and only a few times (2-3 times usually).
4. Say hello using the name of the store clerk helping you, Say thank you, using their name. It is amazing how a person reacts when they are treated like a real individual. I think of the person working in the grocery store, or in the home improvement store. People come up and ask for help, or check out their groceries, and never say the name of the person helping them, It’s right on their nametag! Again it’s about creating connections and conversation.