Articles and essays on design, technology, and my POV of the world. For shorter bursts find me on Mastodon.

“This Is My Favorite”

Dreary mountain-scape made mostly of rocky terrain, with a dark cloudy sky behind it.

Tonight I fired up a record I haven’t played in years. While listening, I quietly uttered the words “man, this is my favorite record,” which reminded me of the time when I realized the magnitude mindfulness has had on my life.

I was in Barcelona giving a lecture and a workshop on compassion and empathy in design. I spent part of the day with three new friends, then we had dinner together. My food was brilliant. I said “this is my favorite food.”

One person in our group, Avi, put down his fork, then asked me why I said that all the time; not rhetorically. “Say what?” I asked. He proceeded to inform me that I repeated “this is my favorite” many times throughout the day.

I tried to explain my perspective on mindfulness and happiness, citing that whatever I am doing, eating, listening to…it is my favorite because it is the present moment. The four of us enjoyed a long conversation about mindfulness and happiness.

For a very long time I have been conscious about mindfulness, a concept introduced to me by Thich Nhat Hanh. Yet it wasn’t until that evening in Barcelona that I realized I had been living it subconsciously, every time I uttered the phrase “this is my favorite.”

Now, every time those words cross my lips or pass through my self-talk, I take a moment to be extra mindful of what I am doing at that moment. It’s my reminder to be conscious and happy, enjoying every moment as it is: my favorite.

#Mindfulness

Like this? Find out when I publish new work.





Illustration of me with a content facial expression. I am wearing a wine colored beanie, teal glasses, and my long full beard is brown with gray edges. There is a dreary forest in the background.
I’m Mark Wyner, an activist, dad, husband, Designer, writer, public speaker, and Mastodon moderator. If you want me to write for you or speak at your event please say hello.