lol nowhere of course its ok that you asked Sky! I clearly don't have all the answers or I wouldn't have posted in the first place!

I emailed my prof about this, and this is how she explained it:

Mindfulness is practicing the ability to be aware (and mindful) of our experiences, our thoughts, our emotions without judgment. You are correct that when practicing
mindfulness your goal is to simply observe without judgment - however, you are not avoiding the thought or experience, just not engaging in the usual thought patterns that
surround it. Experiential avoidance is the inability to tolerate particular thoughts and feelings and the attempt to avoid the experience of them. Those who are experiential
avoiders may not be able tolerate "tuning in" to the present or would find the process uncomfortable - even when not fully engaging in the thought. I think it's the difference
between looking at something and being observant and thoughtful about something that makes you uncomfortable and running the opposite direction when you encounter something
uncomfortable