When I wake up in the morning — 

Quickly my brain brings out its chains! 

Thoughts and worries appear out of the darkness — 

Constricting me and binding me! 

Roads that leads to a thicket of old habits, 

Down the slides of endless worries. 

And just like that my precious day is gone — 

Living life in an undergrowth of worry. 

Captured by slides of busy activities, 

Living a sad life of self-captivity. 

Even within — a society of many freedoms, 

Even within — an easy life of material plenty — 

I am caught and bound — within two steps, 

Cocooned —  by silken threads of the mind. 

Once in a while — I have had a chance to stop — 

To pause and reflect on life’s strange lottery, 

To think about what is good and healthy for me, 

To really listen to my pain — and misery. 

And as I sit down and plan —  

my escape from my own prison, 

I come to consider — 

Who or what can help me? 

Which side of me — can help me? 

Which side of me — will hinder and block me? 

Which side of me — will inflame things? 

Which side of me — can save me? 

Who in this life — can assist me? 

And I come to the conclusion — 

That it’s tough — distractions are too many! 

Everyone is wrapped up in their own troubles, 

They don’t have much time to help me. 

I have to rely on something — 

that can stay with me, 

Something that can —  

help me in all situations, 

That won’t abandon me —  

when the going gets tough, 

That won’t make hard situations —  

even harder! 

That won’t add misery —  

to other’s misery, 

That can be a good friend — 

for all occasions. 

And that is why I have chosen my guardian — 

A guardian of love and compassion, 

A guardian of great joy and freedom, 

A guardian of dismantling discrimination, 

A guardian of insights of happiness, 

A guardian to help everyone — 

I choose my guardian of today — 

I choose my guardian of yesterday — 

I choose my guardian of tomorrow — 

I choose Mindfulness as my guardian! 

Mindfulness of the sacred breath given to me by my parents, 

Mindfulness of the life forces bestowed to me by Mother Earth, 

Mindfulness of the hopes of all people and animals, 

Mindfulness of the great joy and treasures that lay within me, 

Mindfulness of the heart of love and non-discrimination, 

Mindfulness of the great gift to help that I have been given, 

Mindfulness of cultivating kindness and happiness, 

Mindfulness of the joy in everyday actions, 

Mindfulness of the solid steps of peace and freedom. 

All distilled in this thing — called mindful breathing, 

These steps of mindful walking, 

These families and friends of mindfulness, 

This kind and supportive community, 

These connection that runs deep through me. 

They all go into this treasured breathing — 

Breathing in, I calm my body — 

Breathing out, I calm my mind — 

Breathing in, I am home — 

Breathing out, I smile — 

So chains and ropes to my happiness — 

Your binds will not easily bind me. 

I have a friend that is skilful and dependable — 

I have a mindful and loving community. 

I walk straight and breathe easily — 

I am my own great guardian — 

I am — mindfulness. 

— Luan V Dinh

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