3-5 Minutes: Mindfulness

We had our first official snowfall where I live. My son, who is just over 2, has read many books about playing in the snow and was ready to bundle up and make a snowman and do some sledding.

Through the fun that was had doing this, I was reminded how funny my son finds it when my husband or I fall. I pretended to fall backward and listened to his joyful laughter fill the air. I found myself quite comfortable there, lying down on the snow, so decided to stay a minute.

I took a deep breath, what felt like the first one I had taken in a few days due to a busy and full Thanksgiving holiday. I felt the stress I had been carrying slowly chip away as I continued to fill my lungs with the cold, fresh air. I heard my son walking around me and the crunch of the snow beneath his boots. My eyes closed for a minute and I noticed the feel of the cold air on my cheeks. The feel of the blanket of snow beneath me. I opened my eyes again and saw wispy clouds, quickly moving by. My eyes then wandered to a couple of tree branches hanging within my view. A tinge of sorrow was felt as I noticed their bare branches, no longer full of beautiful green or colorful fall leaves. My breath continued to make it further and further down into my lungs as the anxiety from a busy holiday continued to chip away. Joy slowly filled the space the departing anxiety left.

I lay there for maybe three minutes. And then I got up, and I kept playing with my son.

I felt like a whole new person.

When it comes to implementing mindfulness, I continue to find it abundantly effective to do just 3-5 minutes a day. I probably should have done more of it during the holidays. In fact, if I’m honest, I forgot to do it for a few days. But, all it took was 3 minutes today, and I felt the stress and anxiety build up from the past few days dissipate. It took becoming aware of what was around me and nonjudgmentally naming what was going on within me.

I moved through my day much more present, much more at ease, and much more patient. I still got frustrated, I still got flustered, I still got overwhelmed. But the weight of those emotions was significantly lighter and much easier to work through.

I know it may be hard to believe that just 3 minutes can make a difference. So all the more reason to give it a try. May you find the tranquil freedom that comes from being nowhere but the present.