There are moments in my life when I am bored.  Yesterday, I noticed that I had nothing exciting to do but I was not bored.  Then I asked if I had nothing exciting to do, why did I not feel bored?  I just know that I was in the present, yesterday.

What does this mean, you may ask.  Well, many people have said that religion is boring and that they would rather choose the secular life.  The secular life seems to me that it is a life where anything goes – anything that will activate the reward center in the brain.  I chose instead to practise the art of mindfulness with religion in my daily life.

I practise the art of mindfulness by selecting a form of prayer daily.  In Catholic life, there are many forms of prayer.  Sometimes, I pray the Rosary.  Sometimes, I pray the Liturgy of the Hours.  Sometimes, I read prayer cards.  Sometimes, I pray by reading scripture.  Oftentimes, I go to Mass in-person or online.  Sometimes, I go to do Eucharistic Adoration.  Sometimes, I pray with my bible study group.  With all these choices, I would fulfill a whole hour (or more) of prayer each day.

Religion has taught me the art of mindfulness by choosing to be grateful for every hour, minute, or second in my day.  Yesterday, I was thankful for my car ride to the Michaels art store; I was thankful for my restaurant and homecooked meals; I was thankful for good thoughts; I was thankful for my nap; I was thankful for my walk; I was thankful for reading my book; and, I was thankful for my conversation with loved ones.  All of these required me to mindful and to be present in the moment as the day happened.

Yesterday, there was no reason to be bored even though I had nothing exciting to do.  So, when you are bored in your mental illness disorder, you may have been addicted to secular pleasure and just need to refocus on gratefulness, mindfulness, and a higher power.  Maybe then you will notice the goodness in your day.  May every day be filled with gratefulness, mindfulness, and a higher power.