British English and American English are the same language, but it’s amusing to hear the different meanings we apply to the same words. Some of the phrases used by the Brits are corkers. When you’re watching soccer in England, you’re really watching football. Let’s be honest, football makes a lot more sense, since the sport is played with the feet. You may hear a mother yell to her son as he trots off to school on a rainy day, “Don’t forget your rubbers!!” This doesn’t mean that Mum approves of him “skiving” school to get shagged. She may be reminding him to remember his pencil erasers or even galoshes! You know what those are right?! They’re waterproof overshoes made of rubber. See, “Bob’s your Uncle” or as we would say in a bloody boring way in the US, understanding this stuff is not that difficult. By the way, not speaking of sex, please don’t refer to the short hair on your forehead as bangs.“Getting bangs” has a completely different meaning to a Brit. The proper British way of describing a hair style that leaves your hair short and wispy on your forehead is called getting a “fringe”.
You may hear “MIND THE GAP!” if you travel in the Tube in London. The Tube is not some human sized, plastic device that we step into and get vacuumed up into a long dark tunnel. Don’t think of what you would find when you drive through the teller window at a bank in the US. The Tube is London’s metro. There’s a recorded announcement at the metro stations which repeatedly reminds people to “Mind the Gap!!”. In other words- Be Careful! Don’t accidentally step into the opening between the train and the platform.
I love that phrase and I’ve got my own personal translation. For me, “Minding the Gap” means taking time to pause for a few seconds throughout the day to be aware of what is happening in the now. I use it as a gentle reminder to be mindful in everyday life.These momentary spaces and intentional lulls between moving from one activity to the next, help me to remain alert and present. It’s a way to have dozens of micro meditative experiences each day without removing myself physically or needing anything to be different than what is in front of me at any given moment. It’s a great way for me to remain “full of beans” or stay energetic and prevents me from slipping into unconscious existence.
It’s not poppycock! The more you practice mindfulness and meditation, the easier it gets and the gains become much more noticeable. A mindful gap can be triggered by a loud noise like a flock of geese or caw of a crow. Anything that breaks into your head space for a minute can be a perfect time to mind the gap. Suddenly the impatient guy in front of me with a “shirty” attitude in a grocery store line reminds me to have serene detachment or maybe I’m “gobsmacked” by an adorable kid looking at an earthworm with wonder, while spending time with his Dad in the park. Anything that joggles me and makes me aware can create an opportunity for momentary mindfulness and appreciation of this movie called life unfolding every moment. I may take a “butcher’s hook” for a minute or two and “faff”. In other words, I look for a bit and just enjoy the breeze. There’s no need to “over egg the pudding”. Just a few brief moments throughout the day is enough be “quids in” or get massive benefits! Try it. It’s dench.
Written By: Maryrose Mitchell