Forever is composed of Nows.– Emily Dickinson

When I first heard the word mindfulness, there were references to a process that seem to offer world changing results. But it seemed the process only worked if you could find the right steps and diligently followed the procedure as set out by an “expert”. I’ve always been curious about words and their derivations. In college I learned about etymology – the chronological derivation of a word. The word mindful (purpose, intention, consciously aware) has been around for hundreds of years. But the modern day concepts of “practicing mindfulness” are derived from Zen Buddhism and Hindu Sanskrit texts. So what pared down version of those deeply philosophical beliefs are being packaged as “mindfulness”? Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let’s start with the etymology of the word. Mindfulness is…