A Moment of Mindfulness

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One of the main reasons people say a blessing before eating their food is to take a moment of mindfulness. It’s important to take breaks and be thankful and grateful for what you have. 

It doesn’t have to be a religious blessing to pause and be thankful for your life. I was recently at a sporting event on campus and they played the National Anthem before the game started. I thought that this could also be interpreted as a moment of mindfulness. Everyone is silent and calm. There is no way to tell if everyone is thinking the same thing, but even just taking the moment of peacefulness allows the mind to rest and be still. 

Taking a pause before the game allowed to players to gather their thoughts and mentally prepare before the game started. Mindfulness before the game starting probably allowed the players to perform better during the game, just like how eating the food would’ve felt and tasted better after pausing. 

Mindfulness can enhance the experience an individual has during an event or ceremony, whether it is religion or sports. The National Anthem does not have to have a lot of meaning for people to sing or listen to it. Some people may truly believe in the blessings they say, but they might also just say them to stop and be grateful. It is taking the time to stop your conversations and stop thinking about everything else that is happening around you.

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