Soy, a member of the pea family, is a subtropical plant that originated in Southeast Asian. For at least 5,000 years it has been a dietary staple in Asian countries. In the 1700 and 1800s soy spread to Europe and America. Now half of all soybean production takes place in the Midwestern United States. (Mayo Clinic)

Seeing the devastation of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan reminds us how important it is to practice gratitude, mindfulness, and savor each moment, as Thich Nhat Hanh writes in this letter:

As we contemplate the great number of people who have died in this tragedy, we may feel very strongly that we ourselves, in some part or manner, also have died.

This is one of my favorites. Every time I watch and listen to this video, my heart opens and is filled with wonder over our universe.  My spirit soars with inspiration and joy!

We often jump to conclusions—at work, at home, with our family and friends, or even with people we walk by on the street or encounter at the supermarket.  We all have our own sensitivities and shadows that we’ve accumulated over the years. And these sensitivities and shadows can lead our minds to leap to a conjecture that is just plain wrong. Some examples:

This photo is by Filomena Scalise, from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Why is practicing mindfulness so important?

This photo is by Dan, from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Remember when you were young, creating music with friends, classmates or family members? Were you more likely then, to spontaneously write a song, sing along or listen intently? Maybe you found yourself dancing along the sidewalk, in the park or at home, enjoying your internal rhythm along with the music?