From an early age, I worried if I was doing enough. Growing up in a city where there’s much societal pressure to always be productive, I wanted to do well, which brought much ____1____.
I started to practice mindfulness in 2012. It helped me to find calm in this fast-paced life. That was what ____2____ me to the Space-Out Competition—a 90-minute contest about doing nothing and “spacing out”.
I entered the competition last October. About 100 people took part, each sitting on a yoga mat (瑜伽垫) on the square. We had to sit there for 90 minutes without any ____3____ movement: We could not sleep, make any noise or check our phones.
After the time was up, the final ten participants were selected by the judges based on our performance during the competition. And these finalists’ heart rates were ____4____ throughout — the one with the most stable was the winner.
Every 15 minutes the judges came to measure our heart rates, which made me ____5____. I could feel my heart beating faster, but I tried to see it as a way to practice acceptance — to notice those feelings of tenseness.
We all have wandering minds — my thoughts ____6____ from my family to the fan buzzing around us. I just ____7____ them. I observed them, like seeing the clouds in the sky and how they came and went. Though it was a “space out” competition, I was doing the ____8____: actively observing my breath and sensation.
When the judges announced the competition was over, I wanted to sit longer. I have a busy life and having this space is a(n) ____9____ — often we get through a day with our mind not settled for even a second.
I was surprised to be announced as the winner. Although the event was only for 90 minutes, it gave us a way to just be ourselves or have the space to do nothing. And I hope it reminds people that ____10____ isn’t always the most important.