Teaching mindfulness to adolescents is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job as an adolescent medicine specialist. There were three “lightbulb moments,” or key experiences, that gave rise to my work in this area.

While navigating the Toronto airport en route from Ottawa to Rochester, I noticed the thought in my head arise, “I really f’ing hate travelling!”

I’d like to offer another reflection on the “definition” of mindfulness. I don’t believe mindfulness can really be described in words, so I offer this as another possible definition, in the spirit of a question to contemplate.

The long nights of studying, and the culture shock of medicine, had left me feeling exhausted and uncertain as I completed first year of medical school. Had I made the right decision? How am I possibly going to learn everything that I need to know to become a doctor?

There has been a lot of discussion lately in mindfulness in education circles (for example, here, here, and here) about the need for mindfulness programs in educational contexts to be completely secular.

I am feeling very moved by a note that I received from a mindful teen recently. Her note is from the heart. Hearing messages like this is why I wrote The Mindful Teen, and I hope others might feel inspired as I do.

My partner, Ly Hoang, and I have just returned to Vancouver from the beautiful Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, a place where the Pacific Ocean meets the land in a rugged display of cliffs and rainforests, and where orcas and humpback whales dance offshore.

There has been a lot of discussions lately about what the word “mindfulness” really means. I sometimes say trying to describe mindfulness in words without experiencing it directly, is kind of like reading the menu at a restaurant without tasting any of the food.

I hope you’ve enjoyed your summer, spent lots of time outdoors, with family and friends who you feel connected to, and also had plenty of time to relax! If you’re like many teens, you’re realizing that your summer vacation is about to be over, and school is about to start.

Thriving Faculty is a regular column highlighting UBC Faculty who exemplifies integration of health and wellbeing into their classrooms, research, departments and communities. Thriving Faculty support others in their health and wellbeing, in addition to making a commitment to their own self-care.

Mindfulness doesn’t have to be about sitting down to do formal meditation. You can bring mindful awareness to any activity of your daily life. Try and, and see if it helps you to enjoy life more, and let go of stress!

The spirit of mindfulness can be boiled down to just two words: Breathing and smiling. Try it now!

Guest Blog by Manpreet Deol (Grade 12 Student, York House School). As part of an English 12 Independent Project I explored the concept of Mindfulness and the ability for adolescents to be “present in the moment.”