I initially heard of mindfulness in 1979. I was 16 and attended a lecture on TM (Transcendental Meditation). Back then, talking about mindfulness would have baffled most people - even scared them.

Yet, on marched the "Mindfulness Movement". From Jon Kabat-Zinn, to sitting zazen in a Buddhist dojo, to seeing classes offered on Mindfulness, many that are extremely costly, to - yes! - mindfulness classes and group meetings free for war veterans at the Veteran's Admin. Mindfulness has become the top-of-the-charts #1 song sung by mental health providers everywhere. It's all "mindfulness and Seroquel" nowadays.

If I hear one more therapist tell me to practice "mindfulness" I will puke on his/her shoes. (In fact, I asked my wonderfully understanding current therapist not to mention mindfulness in our sessions.)

I do believe that I understand the concept of mindfulness. My problem with the mindfulness philosophy is that, since I was a young child, I have been too mindful . Hyper-aware of every minute moment within each moment.

Apparently, there are whole crowds of people who have suddenly had epiphanies of "the moment" by practicing mindfulness. Good for them, I say! Sadly, I am not one of those people; what I need is an anti-mindfulness method. I need a method to stop thinking about being in the here and now...I desperately need an escape from the sharp edge of every moment.