This month, our fourth- and fifth-grade class at Love Elementary continued our Happiness Project by exploring a new theme: mindfulness. After spending September spreading kindness, we turned our focus inside ourselves to learn how slowing down and paying attention can help people feel calmer and happier.
Mindfulness means being aware of the present moment without any judgment. We have been noticing our thoughts, feelings and surroundings just as they are and trying not to judge them. Scientists say that practicing mindfulness can help people handle stress, improve focus, and increase happiness by training your brain to stay in the moment instead of worrying about the past or future. It can be difficult at times, but it feels good, too.
To learn more, our class invited two very special guests. The first was Shawnte, a local yoga instructor and parent at our school. She shared how mindfulness and movement work together to create calm. We learned some simple breathing exercises and stretching techniques we can use anytime we feel stressed or distracted. She was very knowledgeable and shared so much with us, and she wanted us to remember the no-judgement part of being mindful. Her podcast episode was very informative and calming. You should check it out.
The second guest was Tyler Jacobson, an award-winning illustrator who spoke about how creating art can be a form of mindfulness. In his podcast episode, he described how drawing helps him focus, express emotions and even enter a state of flow. That’s where time seems to disappear and creativity takes over. We talked about how art, like mindfulness, can help people find peace and joy in everyday life. Even if you don’t enjoy art, you can find other things that cause you to lose track of time and find some joy.
We have been learning so much about how mindfulness connects to happiness. “When I’m mindful, I feel calmer and don’t get frustrated as easily,” one student said. Another added, “Ahhh, my brain feels quiet.”
Our class has started deep breathing every morning. We just try to focus only on our breath. Our first time doing it, we only lasted 20 seconds, but we have a goal of five minutes. We are confident we can achieve that by the end of the school year.
Before closing out the month, we want to offer a community challenge: Try being mindful for just one minute a day. Take a few deep breaths, listen carefully to the sounds around you or focus on something you’re thankful for. Also, try not to judge yourself or anything else. Just be there and notice. It doesn’t seem like much, but it will really help. Trust us, we’re mindfulness experts now!
Mindfulness was a great stop on our journey. Next month, we will learn all about gratitude and how being grateful can add to our happiness. We will be talking to a local fire fighter and the CEO of a peace organization.
We hope you’ll join us on this journey. In our class, we believe, little hearts can make a big difference. And together, we can make our city a kinder, happier place.
Ryan Brazil and Love Elementary Fourth and Fifth Graders.
