I took this photo in our rain garden on an early summer day. The rain garden is a beautiful mess, with an abundance of native plants, each sending up blossoms in its own time. It is a place of buzzing and flittering, as various bees, butterflies, wasps, goldfinch, and other pollinators make their way through its bounty.

Every day, every moment, there is something to see. But the act of seeing takes time and attention.

In the photo, the eye is caught by the golden yellow of evening primrose blossoms. A green insect gleams against the yellow: a small bee, a member of the Agapostemon genus. These metallic marvels are native pollinators here in Connecticut.

The green bee on the yellow background is a reminder of how our attention improves with focus. When our attention is being pulled in too many directions, we may not see the flower, let alone the bee. As focus improves, we sit with the sight of the bright flowers long enough to notice this tiny insect glittering in the sunlight, a reminder of how remarkable and varied the world around us is.

The picture itself is full of beautiful details, each one a story in its own right. I see the blade of grass in the foreground and the leaves in the background. I think of my friend Bridget, who gave me these flowers from her own spectacular gardens. I think of the roots running deep beneath my garden and I think of evening primrose oil’s benefits for skin health. And then my mind returns to the bee, simple and beautiful.

Mindfulness meditation grows our capacity for focus and attention.

It also gives us the gift of wide perspective.

Through gentle and repeated application, mindfulness meditation grows our capacity for focus and attention. We sit, we breathe, we pay attention. Over and over again, we return to the breath (or to the mantra, or the bee, or whatever point of focus we have chosen). Repeated practice also gives us the gift of wide perspective, a view that holds the flower, the grass, the dirt, and ourselves in the midst of it all. We can allow each of these things to enter our field of view, and never lose sight of the bee.

Mindfulness meditation has helped me during some of the most stressful times of my life.

I was very lucky to be introduced to mindfulness meditation in my early 20s. I have come back to it again and again over the years. It has helped me find quiet in some of the most stressful times of my life.

I taught my first class more than 15 years ago. I love to teach this practice; it feels good to sit in a group and be quiet and focused together.

Mindfulness is a tool that opens up a little bit of space in our brains

In a time when so many of us are feeling scattered, stressed, and pressured, mindfulness is a tool that opens up a little bit of space in our brains. It helps us regain our ability to choose where we place our attention. It helps us remember that each moment is precious and worthy of attention.

Practice mindfulness with me this fall.

If you are interested in learning this practice for the first time; or if you would like to return to this practice; or if you already have a regular practice, but would like to practice with a group, I have two options for you this fall:

Mindfulness Meditation Course, live online, Wednesdays 7:00-8:00 pm. EDT, September 4-25. $60 for the full course. There are limited spaces available.

The 30 Day Meditation Challenge, with daily prompts and reminders, will kick off September 1. Access is just $15.