Every morning, I spend some solitude on a meditation cushion. This has been an on and off again routine for many years. Over the past 6 months, I've been diligent. The rewards have been palatable:

I sleep better
I eat better
I notice things
I'm calmer
I'm much kinder and more tolerant
I'm less critical of myself
I've mended fences

I add a minute to my practice each week. I'm working up to 30 minutes. I'm currently at 22. If back in October someone would have told me that I could sit calmly for 22 minutes by mid-January, I would've dismissed them.

I certainly don't mean to imply that I bliss-out each morning. Some sessions are a train wreck. My mind resembles a trapeze act. But even on those spastic dawns, I benefit. Perhaps, I need my mind to perform its gymnastics routine in a safe place and then I can move on with my day in a more present fashion.

Recently, I was presenting at a local school district's professional development day. After my presentation, I had some free time so I thought I'd duck into some breakout sessions. One, in particular, intrigued me. Monica Lewis is a 4th-grade gifted teacher in Pickerington, Ohio. Her session on Mindfulness in the Classroom was at the top of my dance card. After Monica's fine session, I introduced myself and invited her on my podcast. This episode will mirror her presentation and give me the opportunity to ask questions that many of you may have merely based on the title.