Mindful ~ Def: (1) aware (of); paying attention (to). (2) deliberately aware of your body, mind, and feelings in the present moment, in order to create a feeling of calm.
When we are not mindful we drift through the day without grasping what is occurring around us. For example, a parent comes home from work not mindful of what is happening. The parent doesn’t connect with the sullen expression on his/her child’s face. The parent is not aware of the desperate look on his/her partner’s face. If the parent is mindful, conversations begin where listening without judging is often more therapeutic than a prescription. When we are mindful, we are aware of what is happening around us. We know when other people need us, and when other’s want their distance. I think being mindful is more about love and connection, love for the other and connection to all aspects of our environment.