B a r b a r a s h e r I l L u s t r a t I o n s b y r a L p h

V
A R I A T I O N S
⽧ Suggest that while she is waiting for her body to breath in or out,
she stay in control of her mind by using that millisecond to notice
what her senses are experiencing. Hear the sounds. Feel the tempera-
ture. Notice the air movements. Bringing in sensory awareness will
give her the feeling that she is very much in the scene and not separate
from it.
⽧ Instead of breaths, count steps. If your teen is feeling too anxious to sit
still but wants to get in a centered mental state, suggest that she take a
small walk and count each step. Suggest that she be aware of the sensa-
tions her feet are having as they push off from the ground with each
forward step. Focusing and concentrating on her steps is calming
because it helps her stay present with the walking experience.
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Attention Games
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W
H A T
’
S
B
E I N G
L
E A R N E D
Teens are practicing focusing their attention deliberately so that they are
consciously aware of being present in each moment. These short bursts of
deliberate focusing have a cumulative affect. The more experience
teenagers have, the more familiar that state of mind becomes and the eas-
ier it is to return to.
If they do the first variation, they are also experiencing being fluid
between focused and open attention. They are focusing their attention on
the breath, and in between breaths they are scanning the environment for
sensory information.
This game also helps teens become aware of how easy it is to get dis-
tracted, and they gain a sense of the level of awareness that is needed to get
back on track.
The Home Videographer
We don’t have to see reality shows only on television; we can make our own.
In this activity, your teen gets the opportunity to make a family archive for
posterity.