James’s Reviews > Mindfulness on the Go: Simple Meditation Practices You Can Do Anywhere > Status Update

Since this is the final practice I've decided to read the entire remainder of the book.
I intended to stick with the smile practice longer than a week anyway, turning it into a lifelong practice, as I'm known to have "resting a-hole face". Part of my aversion to smiling and showing teeth is a missing tooth, however, that shouldn't inhibit me from continually smiling without showing teeth.

Again I mostly forgot to do this practice, it doesn't help that it is monotonous. Even the deeper lessons point to the vast multitudes of life/beings necessary to create a single raisin.
Asking a practitioner to think about the entire process of each ingredient in each food one consumes at each meal is a big ask. To do this effectively, you'll still be thinking about the process and not eaten by next the mealtime...

Another mindfulness practice involving food. These are wonderful because they present so many opportunities to do so, but often it's easy to forget and just mindlessly eat, especially when hungry rather than just due to appetite.
Eating while writing this has made me realize just how ignorant I am to the different processes of how processed foods are created.
Also how connected things are, without a beginning or end.

Mindful driving or being a passenger didn't go so well, even trying to be mindful while walking/running didn't make much change, because I already focus a lot on my posture, form, technique, and etc. while walking and running.

I do have a disagreement with the deeper lessons. Being a dedicated student and shoshin are great, however, I draw the line at unsolicited advice, especially if from immoral/unhealthy persons.

These deeper lessons regarding mindful driving don't completely translate to my mindful walking or running, but some do.
I am unsure if I am being "properly" mindful, but I pay attention to my posture, breathing, muscles, foot stability and ground contact, technique, and so on. As well as sidewalk and grass, elevation, temperature, and brightness. I usually am listening to an audiobook or music, but look for wildlife

I don't drive, I am rarely a passenger, and do not take the bus very often (maybe 2 - 4 times a week). I'll probably just turn this into mindful walking/running, which is something I already do most times to work on posture, technique, and form, since I basically walk or run everywhere. I'll often run instead of waiting for a bus, and beat it to my destination. I also do multiple 5km- 20km runs weekly.

The extra week for appreciation definitely helped as I remembered to do it at least once daily. I did stop writing in my gratitude journal, but I'll get back to it today.
Regardless of if one can feel joy from others' joy, even if they dislike or are jealous of them, the practice of being less negative in one's thoughts is definitely worthwhile. I have really noticed and lost patience for others' constant negativity.

As with previous exercises remembering to do this one is presenting difficulty.
Reading the deeper lessons has definitely shown me that I can make what I appreciate more simple than I what I was trying to do. Just being clothed, warm, and fed or not at war or sick.
I'll give this one an extra week to work on, just because I only remembered 3 times over the past week.

I've not been in an appreciative mood or state of mind the past several days, but I'll give it my best going forward.

I barely remembered to do this, as it's hard to remember to absorptive listen to others when going through one's own life feeling either constantly criticized, unheard, or completely ignored.

It also proved to be easier with some than others.