Friends, things continue to be strange and stressful for a lot of us. The pandemic has impacted almost every aspect of “normal” life, including conservation work. Events and field projects have been canceled, and a lot of policy work has been put on hold as politicians deal with the COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. For me, it’s been a really frustrated few months, and I just haven’t felt like I’ve had any control over what’s happening.

That’s why I thought now was the perfect time to get some perspective and talk to my friend, Kiel, who has recently started practicing mindfulness meditation. Now, I’m a pretty type-A person, so the idea of just sitting and breathing makes me anxious. I typically feel like I need to be doing something. But, as Kiel and I talk about, mindfulness is just like exercise (which I also don’t make enough time for, but that’s a different topic) and training your brain to let go of the things you can’t control, focus your efforts on what you can control, and recognize that you are one piece of a much bigger puzzle.

And while I wanted to talk to Kiel because I was personally needing some tips for how to chill out, Kiel also reminded me that mindfulness can help the environmental movement. Not only can those of us who work in conservation learn how and where to focus our energies, but it also encourages people to rethink their sense of self. Mindfulness really encourages you to be aware of all that is around you and how it all fits together. It’s a shift in perspective that may help conservationists be more effective at their jobs and help others feel more connected to the natural world.

So pour yourself a glass of whisky, take a nice, deep breath, and enjoy this conversation about mindfulness.

Cheers!