In the midst of the multitude of pandemics (racial, health, economic, and political) we are facing, Steginus’ work Everyday Mindfulness is good company for the journey. The book explores a practical step-by-step approach to exercise mindfulness and offers appreciated rationale for the practice. The book is broken into 108 days. An easy-to-follow daily practice, with different exercises corresponding with each day. At the end of each day there are a set of reflection questions which allow the reader an opportunity to get present to the impact of the practices of that particular day. What I like about this book is that it progresses overtime. In my view, it asks the reader to engage deeper and deeper into mindfulness as you move through the work.

I don’t know if this was the author’s explicit intention, but this work is something that I would come back to often, repeating the practices throughout my life. As I read, I was reminded that for me, mindfulness is like exercise – it is not something you do once and done, it’s a daily practice. In the same way physical exercise strengthens the body; mindfulness (as an exercise) strengthens our emotional and spiritual body. The book closes nicely, a quote toward the end truly resonated with me, “Trust yourself amid distractions. Trust that you have the capacity for your empowerment, fulfillment, and transformation. And trust that the world will be receptive to what you have to offer.” In a world filled with misgivings, this book, Everyday Mindfulness, and the invitations for growth populated throughout truly make it a friend and centering force in a time of many disruptions.