Spring is here, and all around the classroom there is a renewed energy. Just outside our window, in a little corner of our playground, the bulbs the children planted in the fall are starting to show their leaves. Ever since the snow melted on our playground, the children have been carefully tending to these growing plants. They are also being very careful to not step into the garden as they run or let the ball bounce on the saplings as they play. They are also encouraging their friends and siblings to be mindful of the garden when they visit our playground.

Mindfulness is the buzz word in the classroom this spring. As warmer days breathe new energy into the classroom, we have been talking more about being mindful in our movements and interactions. While mindfulness can mean many different things, in our community, it refers to an awareness of oneself in the present time and space. It means that we think of who we are and what we are doing in each individual moment. It also means that we try to become aware of our actions and thoughts in those moments. We also try to become aware of what is around us in each moment.

We speak of gathering mindfully as a group, which means we pay attention to the way we walk to and sit down on our gathering rug so that the friends sitting around us have adequate space to position their bodies comfortably. We try to use only as much space as we need, sitting with our legs folded, so that everyone has a space to sit. When we stand up or move our bodies we try to think about taking care to not hurt another person’s body. When we sing, we try and think about using voices and words that will not hurt another person’s ears or feelings. We also accept whoever comes to sit beside us when we gather.

We work mindfully, by taking care of each piece of material we use, returning it to its proper spot so that others may avail of it, utilizing only as much space as we really need so that others may have a place to work and by using a soft voice in our conversations so that the others who are working around us may continue to concentrate on their work without disruption. We also try to be mindful in the way we speak to others, so that we are thinking about their feelings and ours in the present moment and without judgment. Feelings are neither good nor bad, but are an expression of our self in the moment. We try to speak using “I” messages and facts as opposed to making assumptions and accusations.

Our community journey towards mindfulness is just taking flight. It will take patience and practice. But it is the goal we are striving towards.

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”

― Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step

Happy Spring!

Archana