10 Mindful Minutes: Finding Our Way Back to Each Other

10 Mindful Minutes: Finding Our Way Back to Each Other

As I begin this second post, I’m reminded that long before we were in lockdown because of COVID, families and friends were already often seen with some type of electronic device in their hands. There was no eye contact with each other, no conversation, and no obvious interaction. I found this disheartening, especially because I spend my days trying to encourage healthy interactions with folks, whether they are at work, at school, at home with family members, or out having a meal together. No eye contact. No conversation. And honestly—yikes.

And yet, I also have to say how absolutely wonderful it was to have electronics during the shutdown. They gave us a way to see each other’s faces, hear each other’s voices, continue working, keep learning, worship together, celebrate milestones, and stay connected when we could not safely be in the same room. For that, I am truly grateful. But now that we have moved beyond the shutdown, it seems as though not only kids, but parents too, are having a difficult time finding their way back to quality, heartfelt interactions. Not just with each other at home, but also with outside folks like people at work, at school, in the community, and around the table. It makes me wonder how we can keep the gift of technology without allowing it to quietly replace the gift of being fully present with one another.

“Maude was my teacher long before she became a character. She taught me to simply be here — without agenda.”

This is one of the reasons I am so excited about Mindful Moments with Maude. Through the characters and the ways they interact with one another, the book creates an opportunity for families during reading time, and for students in school, to slow down and really notice the simple things that help build healthy inner awareness and stronger relationships with others. Sometimes those simple things are the very things we overlook: a facial expression, the tone in someone’s voice, a pause before responding, or the gift of steady eye contact. Helping young readers begin to recognize these cues is so vital because these are the small but powerful pieces that teach children how to understand one another, care for one another, and be truly present. And goodness, don’t we all need more of that?

In Mindful Moments with Maude, we begin with the very first Mindfulness Day: a day without electronics. The hope is not to make electronics seem bad, because they certainly have a place and a purpose, but to gently help us return to more face-to-face interactions. Even ten minutes, or half an hour, without an electronic device while out to dinner, during a meal at home, or in the morning before school can be such a healthy beginning. Researchers at the Center for Healthy Minds remind us that our brains are shaped by what we repeatedly give our attention to.

Electronic devices are designed to keep pulling us back through stimulation, novelty, and the promise of one more thing to see. That helps explain why it can be so hard to put the device down, even when we truly want to be present. And maybe that is where the real invitation begins. Small electronics-free moments give children and adults a chance to notice each other again, listen more fully, read the expression on someone’s face, and remember the simple joy of being together.

And so, maybe this is the place to begin: ten minutes without an electronic device. Put the phone down, turn the screen away, and simply notice your breath, the sounds around you, and whatever thoughts may be moving through your mind. The beginning is not about doing this perfectly; it is simply setting an intention to give it a try. Ten mindful minutes can open the door to seeing and hearing each other more clearly, and to remembering the gift of being present.

Social Media Summary

What would happen if we put down our electronic devices for just ten mindful minutes? In my latest post, “10 Mindful Minutes: Finding Our Way Back to Each Other,” I reflect on the gift technology gave us during the shutdown, the challenge of reconnecting face-to-face afterward, and how small screen-free moments can help families notice, listen, and be present with one another again.

If this message speaks to you, please share it with a friend, family member, teacher, or parent who may also be looking for simple ways to reconnect. And maybe today is the day to try ten mindful minutes together—no screens, no pressure, just a gentle intention to be present.

“Savor the Moments”

Dr. Pamm