Mindfulness: You know what it is, now here’s why it matters.

Jor-El talked about mindfulness and what it is here, in a post where even I learned something! Shocking, of course, since I know everything.

That was a joke, don’t worry.

I get most of my blog inspiration while running. I try not to stop mid-run, since once I do, it’s hard to get going again. But every once in a while, I have to pull over and write myself a note about an idea for a post. This one in particular was inspired by the realization that no one in Central Park ever looks left.

“What?”, you’re probably asking me right now.

So for those of you not as intimately familiar with the park as I am, there is a big, six plus mile loop that circles the entire park. It’s hilly, amazing, and why I will never leave my neighborhood. Throughout the drive, there are crosswalks for people to move from one side of the drive to the other.

In theory, you’re supposed to look both ways before you cross the street. They taught us that in kindergarten, and it’s good advice. That’s true even if the street you’re trying to cross isn’t full of cars, but rather runners, bikers, and walkers.

And yet… no one looks left.

They’ll look right, and then cross the street. But if you’re one of those aforementioned runners who is running the loop “backwards”, or counter clockwise, it becomes a serious problem. People run into you, or more accurately, you yell furiously trying to not run into them. This could be avoided if they just looked left, like their kindergarten teacher taught them. So why does this matter? I promise I’m not just venting. Well, maybe a little.

In our world of staring at our smart phones, social media, and a million distractions, it’s easy to get lost in our own thoughts and reality. Most of us have so much going on and so much to think about that there often isn’t room for how we are impacting other people and the world around us. It’s human nature to forget that we don’t exist in a bubble, and that our actions affect the lives of others.

Enter mindfulness.

Mindfulness is being mentally present. It’s paying attention to what you’re doing in the moment that you’re doing it. Mindfulness is what stops you from hitting that nice woman with your purse when you exit the train. It’s what reminds you to thank the Seamless delivery guy who just brought you sushi in the snowstorm. It helps you remember your friend’s birthday, to pick up the dry cleaning you promised your wife you would get, and the name of your son’s favorite classmate that shared her pudding with him. It helps you remember to look left. Mindfulness tells you that your Lyft driver is a person, and that saying “Hello” when you enter their car is a good idea.

Are any of those things life changing? Probably not. But when they add up, they make the world a better place. Imagine if everyone was aware of their own personal space on the train. What if people drove with the idea that their poor driving could put someone else at risk for an accident? Think of the smile on your son’s face when he realizes you actually listened when you asked him what he did at school that day. Picture yourself strolling through Central Park and not having to scream in fear because a determined runner is going to keep her goal pace regardless of if you’re in her way.

We don’t live to please others. Doing so is a quick way to use up all your mental energy, and then you’re no good to anyone. But as your mom probably once told you, the world doesn’t revolve around you. Each of us is a small piece of society, and our actions matter. If we were all a little more mindful, maybe we could save those around us some annoyance in what otherwise might be a difficult day. Life is hard sometimes. If you could make someone’s day even a little easier, wouldn’t you want to? Most of us aren’t trying to inconvenience, annoy, or hurt other people. We just aren’t thinking about it.

So be aware. Take a minute as you go through the day to think about how your actions impact others. Listen to people when they talk to you. Notice if someone is trying to enter a door behind you, and hold it open for them if they are. Don’t manspread. Say thank you. Don’t ruin someone’s zen nail salon vibe by loudly talking on your cell phone. If a sign says “Please use the revolving door”, then use the revolving door. It’s probably there for a reason.

And most importantly, look left.