Mindfulness on Demand

Because I got hit by a car, I’m very limited in movement right now. Everything takes longer, requires help, and many activities I enjoy are off-limits for now. Getting through the day takes a lot of patience with myself. Even something as simple as a shower is a slow, careful process. I have to stay aware of my pace, or I risk pushing too hard and setting back my recovery.

Because of my injuries, I have to keep my limitations in my focus all day. But whether I have an injury or not, this is the real work of change—and that’s why it’s so hard for us to do.

Automatic responses in life can be helpful. You wake up, slip into routine, and move through your day without much thought. But if we want to change—and nothing is forcing us—we have to opt into the discomfort of altering our habits, even when no one’s making us.

Injuries or setbacks force us to slow down and adjust. Choosing to change on purpose, though, takes the same tools: patience, practice, and staying present. If I want to change my body, I need to consciously choose new actions, even when there’s no outside push.

So what happens after I heal? What about when there’s no physical pain demanding awareness all day? When life is full of day-to-day irritations that don’t demand immediate attention, it’s easy to let them subtly steer us. Real change needs that same patience and awareness, even when the reason isn’t as obvious.

In the end, this injury is reminding me that patience and mindfulness aren’t only for setbacks—they’re tools I can bring to anything, anytime, whether I’m forced to or not. Whether we’re facing a challenge or choosing change ourselves, this work is always here and always possible.

ACTION: Today, practice mindful pauses throughout your day. Take one minute to sit still and follow your breath before beginning work, eating a meal, or responding to a message. Notice how slowing down feels and observe any changes it brings to your responses.