"Being Mindful"

     I recently attended a Meditation Retreat on the Duke Medical Campus.  According to the program at Duke, based on Jon Cabot-Zinn's work,  mindfulness is about waking up, "being fully alive, and being present in the richness of each moment of our lives. Within this awakening, we gain access to our deepest inner resources for living, healing, and coping with stress. In our programs, participants practice present moment awareness, deep relaxation, and gentle movement. Through the use of these techniques, a person learns to discover and observe his or her reactions to life's stressors and to choose how to respond. With practice, one can apply these skills to everyday situations and connect more fully with one's self, loved ones, and the life one is living."  

    Choosing how to react to life's stressors is key.  Stress can manifest itself in the body, causing dis-ease.  Confront the stress, acknowledge it.  But keep the body relaxed.