Welcome to the new Everyday Mindfulness blog from Jackie; it’s quite a short one this time. I have known Jackie since the start of Everyday Mindfulness; it has been fascinating to see her going through the same revelations that I experienced as I walked this path. I hope that Jackie will join us at Everyday Mindfulness; our simple aim is to tell others about this wonderful, life-affirming practice. I still find it hard to believe that something this simple can be so utterly life-changing. I hope that Jackie’s words might help some others to believe it too. If you want to follow Jackie on Twitter, her username is @larorra08

My Mindfulness Story by Jackie

I was introduced to mindfulness earlier this year, at a time in my life when I was at my wits end for solutions. I was off work due to stress; I think I had let things get on top of me for a long time, and one day an incident happened in work which was for me “the last straw” and something seemed to just snap.

I thought if I was off for a few days, I would feel better, but the longer I was off, the worse it got. I ended up being off work for 5 months. During this time, I was referred for therapy to a conditional management programme, and it was my therapist that suggested I look for videos on youtube about meditation. I decided anything was worth a go, as I did not want to go on feeling the way I did. I first did 3 minute meditations to music by Deepak Chopra (hope his name is spelt right) Anyway, I found them helpful, and I researched more and came across books by Jon Kabat Zinn. I read his book: “Wherever You Go There You Are.” This helped me a lot. A combination of my therapy and mindfulness got me back into work in July and I can truthfully say mindfulness has been my salvation.

I see life differently now. I appreciate what I have, and although I am a worrier by nature, I am trying to just take each day and enjoy what I have. Mindfulness can be practiced anywhere really, if even for just a few moments. Thanks to mindfulness, I am not impatient now when I have to stand in queues; I use the time for mindfulness . I hate going to the dentists and tense up when I have treatment. On my last visit for fillings, I did my breaths and found it went much smoother than usual. I could go on and on. I just want to get it across to people that it doesn’t cost anything, you don’t even have to give up your time. Do it as you clean your teeth, in the shower, doing housework – just be mindful of the moment. My best time is walking and appreciating the morning sounds of birds and the shape of  leaves on the ground with the wind on my face, looking at the sky in all its moods. Or being with my baby grandson, aged 7 weeks, watching the expressions on his face and listening to his breathing. Priceless. Don’t expect miracles and don’t give up. I won’t. What have I got to lose?

Jackie