How much do we miss even in one moment? If you are looking for a fun and visual way to start a mindfulness conversation, try this music video from the group OK Go. The song is called "The One Moment" and starts by showing 4.2 seconds in real time. The video then slows those seconds down to show you everything that actually happened. It's really a visual masterpiece. I've watched the video at least 10 times this week and every time it blows me away! This video really illustra

On this chilly Friday, I wanted to take a moment to share a story about something I experienced that warmed me to my core. Think of it as some weekend inspiration. I was sitting at a cafe this morning, working on a mindfulness course I’m taking when I overheard a man next to me. He was on the phone but seemed to be leaving a message. He said, “I know things have been rough recently, but you’re alive. And today, I am celebrating you.” I found myself tearing up thinking of how

A central part of social emotional learning is the “I-Statement" or "I-Message." An I-Statement is a communication tool that helps kids express their feelings during trickier moments. Having a go-to script provides a comfortable foundation that they can use when they may be experiencing difficult emotions. There are many variations of I-Statements, but I’ve always used the following in my 3rd grade classroom: “I feel ____ when you ____ because ____. I would like you to ____.”

The essence of mindfulness is connecting the mind with the body and the easiest way to do that is with our breathing. Now, if you are like many of the kids I’ve taught, you are currently rolling your eyes and thinking, “I already know how to breathe.” And that’s the beauty of it: yes, we all know how to breathe! However, most of the time, we are breathing without thinking about it. So what happens if we start tuning into our breath? We connect our minds and our bodies in the

If you are new to mindfulness and don’t know where to start, I find these activities to be at the root of my practice and great basics with which to begin. All of these can be done in under 5 minutes! Checking In A Check-In is where you take a purposeful moment to pause and reflect on how you are feeling in the here and now. I often say to check in with your head, your heart, your body. HEAD: Where are your thoughts? Are you focused on one thing or juggling many? H

Creating a mindfulness routine can be intimidating, but don’t let that hold you back. You need to experience and discover mindfulness yourself before leading others. Here are my top 5 suggestions for getting started: 1. Commit to a routine. There are so many things going on in a given day, and it’s easy to make excuses to skip your practice. But to really reap the benefits of mindfulness, it needs to become a part of your daily life. That said, each day can be different! Whet