The university where I work is at the top of a small mountain with spectacular views of the mountains, the city, and the sea. There have been many new developments of condominiums and townhomes with incredible views, in walking distance from the university. When I was going for lunch the other day, I noticed a large advertisement for one of the newer condo developments. On this advertisement, there was a photograph of the condo’s penthouse suite, with a lovely, large patio. On the patio, a woman was standing facing the breathtaking view of the mountains and sea. She did not, however, appear to be looking at the view. Rather, she appeared to be looking at the smart phone cradled in her hand. At the risk of coming across as a luddite, I would like to say that I was a little disturbed by this image. This kind of image seems to be an example of a widespread change in how people interact with the world these days. When given the option to experience and take in incredible natural beauty, do we choose instead to devote our attention to our electronic devices? This might not seem like that big of a deal. After all, people should be able to choose what to focus on. What we pay attention to, however, can have incredibly far-reaching consequences. There have been many news stories lately about how distracted driving may be more lethal then intoxicated driving. There also has been a growing concern that children are paying less attention to the natural world, as they devote more hours to interactions with screens of various sorts, both during school and at home. Where we turn our attention is related to the skill of mindfulness. Mindfulness can help us control where and how we focus our attention. While smart phones and other electronic devices can be incredibly captivating, even addicting, regular mindfulness practice can help us cultivate the freedom to choose what to attend to. When we are travelling at high speeds in a heavy, lethal weapon, mindfulness can help us step back from our smart phones and fully engage in the act of driving. Mindfulness can also help us look away from our phones when we are presented with important things, such as the people we are spending time with and the natural beauty surrounding us. Consider practising mindfulness regularly. If you do, try to use the skill of mindfulness to decide, according to your own values, what to do with your attention. ~ Alexander L. Chapman, Ph.D., R.Psych.