The Stone in His Pocket

Listen to the audio version.

0:00

Thank you for returning — or for stopping by for the first time. Wherever you are in your day, I invite you to take a moment, hold your stone, and breathe.

Let me tell you a quick story.

---

Mateo had been running late all morning — juggling emails, skipping breakfast, and trying to fix the jammed printer before his first meeting. On his way out the door, he caught a glimpse of the small gray stone on the table — the one he’d picked up on a quiet walk last week.

On a whim, he slipped it into his pocket.

Hours later, sitting in his car at a red light — shoulders tight, breath shallow — his hand brushed against the stone.

(Pause.)

He stopped. No rush. Just sat for a breath.

(Notice.)

Fingers traced the stone’s cool surface, its tiny ridge down the center.

Nothing dramatic. Just noticing.

(Return.)

The light changed. He drove on — a little softer, a little more aware.

That’s the practice.

No rituals, no perfection — just returning. Gently. Again and again.

---

What We Practice.

The Noticing Stone reminds us:

We pause when we remember to.

We notice with kind attention.

We return when the mind wanders.

It only takes a moment to come back to ourselves.

---

This kind of micro-mindfulness — practiced in real life, not on a cushion — actually builds resilience. Neuroscience tells us that each time we shift attention back to the present, we're strengthening our brain’s capacity to manage stress and regulate emotion.

Even a small stone can be a teacher.

---

Thank you for pausing with me today. If your noticing stone is nearby, take a breath and hold it now.

Pause.

Notice.

Return.

Until next time,

— The Noticing Stone