Mindless

"One day, at a nursing home in Connecticut, elderly residents were each given a choice of houseplants to care for and were asked to make a number of small decisions about their daily routines. A year and a half later, not only were these people more cheerful, active and alert than a similar group in the same institution who were not given these choices and responsibilities but many more of them were still alive. In fact, less than half as many of the decision-making, plant-minding residents had died as had those in the other group. This experiment, with its startling results, began over ten years of research into the powerful effects of what my colleagues and I came to call mindfulness and of its counterpart, the equally powerful but destructive state of mindlessness"

This is the opening paragraph in the book Mindfulness by Ellen J. Langer. I am hoping to get insight into the how we think and how to go about activities with fuller engagement. So far the research seems to support the eastern concept of being in the moment and not going about our day without being fully engaged. The side benefit seems to be a longer life and if this is not possible a life with richer experiences.

Tonight, I am performing at Princess Margaret Lodge, a residence for cancer patients undergoing long term treatment in Toronto. It will be my goal to be fully engaged in the music in order to give as musical a performance as possible. I hope that my contribution will add to the quality of life for these residents. It is a privilege to be able to give in this way.