A Moment per Day.
September 29, 2020
by Veronica Minervino
Just like Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither are we. We are built piece by piece, day by day. That is why everyday counts and how you use those hours in your day matter. We aren’t robots. We aren’t wired to work all day and to have no time for ourselves- yet still be emotionally stable. We as humans need time to relax. We yearn for personal time that allows us to engage in hobbies and pursuits we enjoy that bring us feelings of peace and content. The activities we personally find the most fulfilling to ourselves are what we should strive to include in our daily routines, and extensively prioritize.
It is critical to prioritize our mental health. That’s why I personally spare no effort in incorporating mindfulness as an essential activity in my daily life. As a Master’s student with two jobs, I find it even more crucial to set aside time to focus on gratitude and being present. I need that time- even brief moments- to take a break from class readings or work assignments. The most regrettable mistake I made was prioritizing work and school before my own wellbeing. If I am not mentally stable how am I supposed to excel in my work and school life?
After joining the Alaia team, I learned more about myself than I could have expected. We are not physically present on this Earth for a very long time, and that’s why it is so important to practice gratitude and remember to be present in our everyday lives. A couple of months before joining Alaia, I was full of anxiety- a position too many of us find ourselves in. All of my days became monotonous. I found that I was waking up, having my coffee, and getting straight to work without taking a moment for myself. I wasn’t allowing myself to simply live in the moment and genuinely live my life. There was no “me time.” I carried an immense amount of unnecessary stress on my shoulders. I threw myself into this constant cycle, which led to the deterioration of both my mental and emotional state.
When I was introduced to Alaia and this entire concept of mindfulness, I had my own ‘a-ha moment.’ All of the pieces of the puzzle finally clicked together for me. I realized that this is MY life, and I- only I- have complete control! I have the privilege of living each and every moment, and it is truly up to me on how I choose to spend these precious moments. I can allow myself to be patient, aware, and accepting of my own emotions. Now I find that when I am feeling stressed, I stop what I am doing to pinpoint my stress triggers, and pick an exercise from Alaia’s mindfulness library. Alaia’s mindfulness exercises are, and have been, incredibly beneficial. My journey towards mindfulness is still a work in progress, but I am grateful to have Alaia as a resource to help me achieve my goals.
