A (Very) Brief History of Mindfulness

Mindfulness has been practiced for thousands of years. It originated in the Far East where Hinduism and Buddhism originated, but they aren't the only religion who have practiced Mindfulness. But the Mindfulness that came from Hinduism and Buddhism were based more on religion. The mindfulness movement that has been sweeping the Western part of the globe has been more secular in nature. One reason that the Mindfulness movement came to the United States is because of Jon Kabatt-Zinn who founded the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He is also the developer of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, which is an 8 week program for anyone who wants to reduce their stress. This program has sparked numerous other programs around the county, like the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy which can be used to treat Major Depressive Disorder and other issues.

This has really caught on as more and more people are diagnosed with depression issues and other issues, such as anxiety. I know that as I have had the "opportunity" to deal with depression and anxiety that my recent experimenting with Mindfulness has really helped my overcome the "funks" that I seem to get into. I also like to use Mindfulness when I am experiencing something new, so that I can get the most out of the experience. My favorite time for Mindfulness has been when I am in nature. It connects me to the World around me and helps me relax and renew. This is why I think that Mindfulness and Farming could be a great combination.

Mindfulness in Farming...Really?

What is MINDFULNESS? What does it have to do with FARMING? Honestly, I don't know yet! That's what I plan to find out and share on this blog. I am in an English class this semester that focuses on the Farm in Literature. This past week we read some of Henry David Thoreau's work. I really enjoyed the way that he wrote about his bean field in Walden. Now that's a man who practiced mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of focusing on the awareness of the present moment and making decisions based on this awareness. Thoreau has a way of focusing on the present, as shown in his writing about the Bean Field. This has inspired me to seek a connection between farming and mindfulness. Please stay tuned and follow my progress...