Distraction is a constant presence in our busy lives.
"I have three young boys. I was working, running the household and I was really looking for something to help with the stress," says Deidre Galbo of West Hartford, who often felt like she was on "auto-pilot." "I knew that physically, I was being depleted and really worn down."
She discovered a concept that's become a buzz word in our culture: mindfulness. A Connecticut institute asserts mindfulness is a way of life that can help anyone — including moms and dads — become more grounded.
"Mindfulness has certainly exploded in our popular awareness," says Dr. Brandon Nappi, founder and executive director of the Copper Beech Institute in West Hartford (copperbeechinstitute.org), opened two years ago. "We might look at this as the golden era of mindfulness, particularly because of the velocity and pace of our life. We are over-programmed and being bombarded with information."
Mindfulness — the practice of paying attention in the present without judgment —- is thousands of years old, rooted in Buddhist tradition. Nappi, who teaches mindfulness in classrooms, prisons and businesses, can help moms and dads apply mindfulness skills to the joys and challenges of parenting, in order for them to stay connected to their children during frenetic days.
"Shutting off the phone, taking a breath before responding, limiting screen time, [are] important not only for kids but also for adults," he says.
The institute offers day and weekend retreats, as well as non-residential programs. Galbo signed up for the eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course. She learned meditation, which doesn't have to take-up 30 silent minutes each day. It can be squeezed into unexpected moments, such as driving during errands.
"If you're at a red light, just take three breaths and notice where you are," she says, now more in tune to small gestures. "Like if my 13-year-old grabs my hand for a second and gives it a squeeze."
Galbo and her husband, who also took the course, are sharing their newfound tools with their kids. "When they start to get a little heated, we're teaching them to take a deep breath and step away," she said. The institute's annual Mindful Mothering Retreat is scheduled for spring of 2017.
CBI is on the campus of the Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, a historic monastery located on 50 serene acres, which includes a labyrinth used for walking meditation. "We have Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and Jews — and people from no particular religious background — who all have a common commitment to fostering compassion in their lives," says Nappi, who believes mindfulness resonates after tragic events, such as the mass shooting in Orlando. "If we're going to have peace in our world and peace in our country and peace in our streets and peace in our families, we first need to have peace in our hearts."
Change begins within … and at home. Galbo says she's learned practical skills that have improved her daily outlook. "This is something anybody can use," she said.
http://www.courant.com/features/hc-current-parent-0618-20160616-story.html
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