Last night . . . at some point, I shut my phone off.  I have no memory of doing that.

I woke up at 5:36 with a dog and cat staring me down.  Why didn't they wake me up?  They always wake me up . . . 

My discovery was they get me up when the first alarm goes off.  They hear the little vibrating buzz and nuzzle and meow.  When they don't get that cue, they won't.  I found that to be kind of interesting.

Waking up late put me into a bit of a frazzle.  I felt discombobulated, it took me way to long to figure out who needed a lunch packed, who needed what for breakfast, I didn't get my outfit ready for the day . . . what just happened last night that all of these things didn't get done and has left me scrambling?

Then, we had the time wrong on when to drive to the final exam.  Luckily we did not miss it.  Drop off then a quick pick up.

I made coffee without putting the carafe back . . . the day after I mop the floor I have a coffee river flowing through my kitchen. 

Meanwhile, I nearly missed all of the Skyped in music lesson.  What else could go wrong?

I've checked and double checked where I need to be for the rest of the day and made a very short list of things that I must get done:  fold the clothes, walk the dog, make dinner, and write for 30 minutes without interuption, and helping my kid study for a Honors World History final.  

Life is busy, period.  I meet each moment, knowing it will be my last--of that moment.  I will never help him study for World History again, I will never make this particular dinner again, I will never fold this combination of clothes again, when I walk the dog--each step will be completely different than the previous step.  My writing may or may not be inspired. This is what it means to be mindful.

Yesterday I published a story on Medium entitled Beware of the Naked Man.  You can read it --> here.  

I was a bit scared about publishing a story that was a bit man bashing and Gen X bashing.  You know, being mindful and all I have this idea that I should be loving and kind.  How can I have an opinion yet still be loving?

I honor the feelings that I have based on the precept that I strive to be curious, compassionate and loving without being judgemental.  There is more to it than just that.

When I wrote the words "privileged old man" and "wet behind the ears 30 something" I am being descriptive, not dismissive.  

Mom, this is the most chill Christmas ever.

My son is correct.  I'm not driving everyone crazy.  In 2017 I figured out what is important in this life and have left the rest fall away.

I imagine that all our Christmas celebrations will be "chill" from now on.  It's just more fun.

Do you ever ask God or the Divine for a sign?

I do.  All.the.time. 

Once I asked for a sign if I should have another baby . . . and I was already pregnant.  Then I asked for a sign if this should be my last one and . . . I nearly died in childbirth!  That's a pretty good sign!

The past few years I keep asking for signs that don't require me to get last rights.  The Divine and I have a pretty good gig going right now.  

Tonight on my way to church I was thinking about things I started but didn't finish because I didn't believe in myself.  Naturally my thoughts came to this blog, how it started just by listening to the voice in my head, how it all seemed to work.  I love the idea of being the 5 Minute Mindfulness Momma but really . . . does anyone care?  Will it make a difference?

During the Homily he ended with suggesting that people take 5 minutes a day to be silent, to be still and just leave all the distractions behind.  I smiled and my eyes filled with tears.  And I thought--dang that was a quick response.

I'll see you Monday on Facebook for another 5 minutes!

I'm loving the nickname Five Minute Mindfulness Mom! Let's call it 5MMM for short.  

This week we began our 5 minutes of quiet time each day and I've had some great feedback.  In today's session I read a prayer and I wanted to share it here too.  It is simple.  It is beautiful.  It is exactly what we need.

Feel free to print it out, add it to the background of your phone . . . take a screenshot--what ever it takes to bring yourself back to center and remember to begin with mindfulness.