This column highlights some of the benefits of practicing mindfulness, not the least of which is learning to enjoy life more. Curious? Read on, and consider coming to "Here and Now," a mindfulness series at the Lexington Depot March 28 to 30. Although they did not have scientific proof, mindfulness practitioners have known for centuries that meditation can transform lives. People simply knew by virtue of personal experience, which by the way is how we come to know lots of things. In my experience, there really is no substitute for, well, experience. Today, we have hard evidence to support …

 “She loves me, she loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not … “ Maybe you remember this from grade school or perhaps you hear your own children reciting this now. Although I understand the playful nature of this game, I think it highlights something of how we view love in our culture. That is, as an entity. As something we either have or don’t have. And here’s one problem with that view. When we don’t have it, we want it. And when we have it, we want more.  It’s natural to desire more of what’s pleasant and to want less of what isn’t. I think there’s no way out of that (except to have …

Columnist Mary Ann Christie Burnside is a Lexington resident and developmental psychologist who founded Hearts and Minds in 2008 to bring mindfulness education to adults and children in the Lexington community. Her last mindfulness workshop was held in December, and focused on mindfulness training for parents. In “Twelve Things Mindfulness Is Not,” which was my first column, I wrote that mindfulness is about “paying attention in a particular way – to your present moment experience with curiosity and kindness, rather than with judgment (the way our minds usually work). It's about cultivating …

Columnist Mary Ann Christie Burnside is hosting a workshop Thursday, Dec. 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Church of Our Redeemer on Meriam Street. The workshop is titled, "An Evening of Mindfulness For Lexington Parents." Read more about the topic in the following column:  "Mommy?" "Yes, baby?" "Is this real?" "Is what real?" "Right now. Is now real?" "Yes, sweetheart. Now is real." I don't know why my 4 ½-year-old daughter asked me these questions as I was driving her to preschool the other morning. And I don't need to know why. It's enough for me to simply sit with her words and notice that I'm as …

Last month, I mentioned that I would be sharing a few simple ways that you could begin to cultivate a mindfulness practice. I'll start by saying that simple does not mean easy, so be prepared to struggle a bit and to work with that struggle. Life itself is not without some struggle, so we really have nothing to lose and so much to gain. Mindfulness is a practice that pays dividends in a number of ways, many of which we can't even imagine when we begin. It's as if the possibilities are endless (which I think they are). In my experience, this is a struggle worth having. Perhaps your mind has …

I'll begin by way of introduction. I'm a Lexington resident, parent, practitioner and developmental psychologist. A dozen or so years ago, my research and scholarship focused on the power of beliefs. What we believe about ourselves affects the way we are in the world and how we relate to ourselves. What we believe about others affects the ways in which we interact with or care for one another.  In the last several years, as a mindfulness practitioner, I've learned not to believe everything I think (I'll say more on this later). Authentic power resides not in thought, but in awareness, which …