Why I Started Writing Gathas@Work

The meeting ended. I opened a new tab.
Then another.
Then I checked email, stood up, and forgot why.

That’s when I realized I wasn’t tired.
I was disconnected.

I get pulled in a dozen directions every day. Maybe you do too.

There are Slack pings, browser tabs, to-do lists, and the occasional moment of standing in front of the fridge, wondering what I was looking for.

Work today is fast.
And full.
And often scattered.

And somewhere in that stream of switching, I lose something.

Focus. Clarity. Connection.
Myself.

Where Gathas Came In

A few years ago, I came across the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Zen master and poet. His book Present Moment Wonderful Moment introduced me to gathas — short, mindful verses to bring awareness into everyday actions.

Washing your hands. Drinking tea. Turning on the faucet.

“This moment is full of joy and happiness.
If you are attentive, you will see it.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh

That landed.

I didn’t need to sit in lotus position for an hour.
I just needed something small to bring me back to the moment — even in the middle of a meeting, or in the space between tasks.

So I started writing my own gathas.
Little reminders I could carry with me into the day.
A sentence to return to when I was about to disappear into the noise.

What Is Gathas@Work

Gathas@Work is a collection of short reflections for real moments in your workday.

Opening your laptop.
Switching tasks.
Joining a video call.
Ending the day.

They're for people who want to work with more presence — not perfection.
For educators, leaders, teammates, and anyone who’s doing meaningful work in a messy world.

No incense. No rituals.
Just a sentence. A pause. A breath to come back.

Why I’m Sharing These

Because I still need them. Every day.
And maybe you do too.

Some days I finish the day exhausted but unsure what I actually did.
Like I was productive, but not present.
I don’t want to live like that.

Presence doesn’t happen at the end of the to-do list.
It shows up in the middle of everything.
Right when you're about to forget what matters.

If even one gatha helps you come back to your breath, your body, or your purpose — even for a few seconds — then it’s done its job.

Want More?

You can read the full collection of Gathas@Work here:
👉 https://learn.agileclassrooms.com/blog/categories/mindful-gathas-at-work

Or just save that link and return whenever the day gets noisy.