enjoying each bite of a really good sandwich

[GoodTaste]

Does "enjoying each bite of a really good sandwich" imply "enjoying each bite of a really good sandwich and ignoring each bite of a really bad sandwich"?

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The concept of mindfulness involves focusing on your present situation and state of mind. This can mean awareness of your surroundings, emotions and breathing—or, more simply, enjoying each bite of a really good sandwich. Research in recent decades has linked mindfulness practices to a staggering collection of possible health benefits.


Source: Scientific American

 

[SoothingDave]

No. The point is to be present and mindful of what it is that you are experiencing.

 

[GoodTaste]

No. The point is to be present and mindful of what it is that you are experiencing.

Yes, a technically correct definition. But what you are experiencing now is always really good sandwich? Supposed that your car is being stolen and the boy next door has been unreasonably tortured by school bullies, will you enjoy the "bites" of the "good sandwich"?

 

[GoodTaste]

That is a question about mindfulness rather than about language.

Okay. Linguistically speaking, in the author's opinion, each unpleasant event is a bite of a really good sandwich?[h=2][/h]

 

[GoesStation]

Okay. Linguistically speaking, in the author's opinion, each unpleasant event is a bite of a really good sandwich?

No! Enjoying each bite of the sandwich is an example of mindfulness because it means that you're focusing on your present situation.

 

[Barb_D]

It is not a metaphor.

I will be happier and healthier (suggests the author) if I am emotionally and intellectually fully engaged in whatever I am physically doing at that moment. If I am driving my car, instead of thinking of the 20 things on my to-do list, I can be MINDFUL of my drive, enjoy the scenery as I drive by, appreciate how my car handles so smoothly, notice the beautiful sky.

If I am eating a sandwich - a very tasty sandwich - I can either be shoving it in my mouth as I focus on my conversation, or on the book I'm reading, or the news stories scrolling on my phone... of I can be MINDFUL, and pause to appreciate each bite, the flavor combination, the flakiness of the crust, the nice breeze as I eat my lunch. Even if there are not other things in your life that are not great, you can still appreciate the good qualities of what is good in your life. I don't have to ignore how good my sandwich is just because I'm worried about my sister's medical issues. (That is fictional - my sister runs marathons and is incredibly healthy.)

Whatever you are doing, engage in it fully. That's what mindfulness means.

 

[teechar]

Okay. Linguistically speaking, in the author's opinion, is each unpleasant event [STRIKE]is[/STRIKE] a bite of a really good sandwich?

No.

enjoying each bite of a really good sandwich.

The author is saying that one should enjoy each moment of one's life.
The metaphorical "sandwich" is used to say that life can have all sorts of things in it, just like a sandwich. But the author is trying to put a positive spin on it by saying that it's still a really good sandwich. In other words, one should try to be positive about life.

 

[teechar]

Barb's interpretation above is, of course, valid too.

 

[SoothingDave]

The sandwich is an example, not a metaphor. As Barb said, be mindful of whatever it is you are doing.

 

[GoodTaste]

It is not a metaphor.

I will be happier and healthier (suggests the author) if I am emotionally and intellectually fully engaged in whatever I am physically doing at that moment. If I am driving my car, instead of thinking of the 20 things on my to-do list, I can be MINDFUL of my drive, enjoy the scenery as I drive by, appreciate how my car handles so smoothly, notice the beautiful sky.
......
Whatever you are doing, engage in it fully. That's what mindfulness means.

Yeah, that is great. That is because both your mind and your car are in perfect state. But supposed that your car dealer has cheated on you and your BMW breaks down on the halfway (BMW car is luxury in China and here I'm taking a real example: a man bought a new BMW and in less a week the new car broke down -The angered man used a buffalo to pull the car to the BMW dealer in China to protest - see the pic below) and you are stranded on the country road and the nearest town is 100 miles away. Will you still enjoy the scenery which is indeed wonderful?

 

[GoesStation]

Yeah, that is great. That is because both your mind and your car are in perfect state. But supposed that your car dealer has cheated on you and your BMW breaks down on the halfway (BMW car is luxury in China and here I'm taking a real example: a man bought a new BMW and in less a week the new car broke down -The angered man used a buffalo to pull the car to the BMW dealer in China to protest - see the pic below) and you are stranded on the country road and the nearest town is 100 miles away. Will you still enjoy the scenery which is indeed wonderful?

If you practice what the author preaches, yes.

 

[Barb_D]

And again, you are no longer asking about English. You're asking about the subject.
Somethings things suck. It's still your choice to ignore anything that is good around you, or to appreciate it, isolated from the things that suck.

The author is right in that it's better for your mental health to do that.

Being mindful is also about being fully aware of your situation, aware of the dangers and risks. It's not about paying attention to only the good things.