Confession: I’ve received hundreds of mindfulness books and how-to journaling guides over the last decade—the time that I’ve been working for Healing Lifestyles & Spas.
I’ve skimmed all of them, read many and enjoyed a few. So when I Am Here Now: A Creative Mindfulness Guide and Journal (A TarcherPerigee Paperback), arrived on my desk I was more than skeptical. That’s not to suggest that I don’t need more mindfulness in my life—I’m married, have two kids and own my own business. But oftentimes I find the journaling exercises kind of blah and uninspiring so I don’t even get started.
In I am Here Now, you’ll instantly recognize the less-than-serious tone.
Cute illustrations abound as can be seen on the opening page which says, “This Book Belongs to…” You fill out your information, which is then followed with: If found, please:
- Read
- Use
- Return
- Sell
OR
- Burn
**It is what it is…
There are no rules with this book. It asks for you to be creative, inspired and willing to break free of any molds you may perceive. Exercises include Gratitude A to Z, Scrapbooking of Positive Headlines, Aging Meditations, and pages devoted to helping you release rage, complete with stabbing your pencil on the paper. (Remember doing that as a kid?) But I particularly enjoyed Daily Variety:
Complete this list of ways you could change your daily routine:
- Wear your watch on the other wrist
- Take a different path to work
- Eat lunch at a different time
- Brush your teeth with the opposite hand
- Read a different newspaper
- Sleep on the opposite side of the bed.
- Choose one. Try it.
“The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” —Jon Kabat-Zinn
You could procrastinate feeling better and finding quiet, but with such fun experiences and journaling exercises as “Think of all the cool places you could meditate. Now, use the key to create your own map of mindful places in your town or world,”— why wait?
I was intrigued, motivated and above-all mostly joyous as I read through this book and yes, although I’ve only skimmed it thus far, I envision this will be one of the few I read cover to cover.
With her love of health and writing, Melissa has written for such publications as Shape, Natural Solutions, Yoga Journal, Self and Pilates Style, and has created recipes and food-oriented stories for such publications as Delicious Living and Cooking Light.
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