We all have so many things in our mind right now, dealing with work, family, college, and now COVID- 19. “Will I get sick?”, “Will my family get sick?” “What if I lose my job?” or “I lost my job and don’t know what to do”. It is very difficult for people to slow it down and be present in the moment. Have you ever wondered why sometimes on your way home, you forgot how you got there? That’s because you are not in the present moment! You are thinking about 20 different things. When practicing mindfulness, you must be aware of all your senses. For example, I love to practice mindfulness when I am in the shower. I get to feel the warm water on my skin, then I think about how it feels, how it sounds, the things I can see; I grab the soap, I get to observe the bubbles, how it feels on my hand, how the lather feels on my skin, how the soap smells. Showering can be more than just getting clean; it can be a relaxing self-care experience. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am not here just to paint a pretty picture, I am not here to tell you “oh relax, it’s all in your head, get over it.” No, I am here to tell you, ‘be present”, do you feel sad, angry, scared? Feel it, embrace it, cry, scream, let it go and then look inside yourself. Like everything in life, these feelings are temporary, it’ll pass, it’s going to hurt, but it’ll pass, you’ll be ok, I’ll be ok, we’ll all be ok.

Now that we are safe at home, take this time to look inside yourself, think, feel, be grateful for everything and everyone in your life, take care of yourself, do yoga, read a book, write down your thoughts, cook, meditate, pray, whatever feels good for your mental health. 

Stay safe! Stay sane!