History: How mindful are you?
Breathe in… Breathe out… Focus only on your breathing…. Breathe in… Breathe out... But your mind is somewhere else! You’re thinking about a test or an argument with a friend. You’re wondering if you have any messages. Maybe you’re hungry for a snack or imagining your afternoon routine. LOTS of things can distract us— regrets about the past or worries about the future—and we forget to see and feel and listen. Mindfulness is the opposite of that.

When you’re mindful, you actively focus on the present moment. Mindfulness is experiencing the world in high-definition! What is your body doing? What are your thoughts? What is happening around you? And when you’re mindful, you suspend criticism. Be aware of your thoughts. Observe them.

Mindfulness has its origins in ancient Buddhism, but it isn’t necessary to be Buddhist to practice mindfulness. In fact, many schools offer classes in mindfulness and meditation. It improves your health and memory. It reduces stress, too. Do you want to try it? Here’s a technique to practice: Observe a raisin. Look at it carefully. Look at every detail. How does it feel in your hand? Notice its weight. Try to observe everything about the raisin. Then eat the raisin as slowly as possible. What do you notice? What sensations do you experience?

Now, imagine if you eat everything in this way. Imagine that in a conversation, you notice the details in a person’s expression. Every time you go outside, you feel the air touch your face and notice the sound of your footsteps. It is a simple exercise, but it can improve your life!

- Read the article again and answer the questions.

a) Which examples of things that can distract us are given in the text?
b) What is mindfulness?
c) What is the origin of mindfulness?
d) What are the benefits of mindfulness?
e)What technique is suggested in the text? Summarize it.