YARS experiences a “Mindful Minute” Published Sept. 10, 2018 By Senior Airman Noah J. Tancer 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Dr. Jannell MacAulay, a leadership and performance consultant and retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col., spoke to the 910th Airlift Wing’s Reserve Citizen Airmen about stress management during a commander’s call in Hangar 295, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, September 8, 2018. Col. Dan Sarachene, the commander of the 910th AW, started the ceremony by coining a few deserving Airmen. He then spoke to the Airmen about wingman ship, support programs, and the importance of being mission ready. Before leaving the stage, Sarachene picked up a shovel, and asked the crowd a question. “What can a shovel do?” After being answered he quickly dropped the shovel and commanded it to dig a hole. “My point is a shovel never dug a hole,” said Sarachene. “It’s the person behind the shovel that dug a hole. An airplane never flew itself, a fuel truck never drove itself, a computer never ran itself even a remote piloted airplane doesn’t get to fly itself. What's important is the person behind the shovel, behind the tool, behind the equipment and the better that person is, the better that equipment is going to be. Simply put, you guys in the audience here are the most important resource we have not the equipment, equipment is important but it doesn’t get many things done without people behind it. That equipment and that ability to fly fight and win is only as good as the people behind the mission.” Sarachene set the mood of the commanders call and better explained why he invited MacAulay to the 910th Airlift Wing to strengthen and better the Airmen he already believes are "badass Airmen." MacAulay spoke on stress management and that if you want to be better at what you do or even just be a better you, you have to slow down and be mindful. Take a moment to be aware of your life and what's happening around you, and only then you can speed up and be a better. “At the root of it all we want to be our best and we want to keep up with this, what I call a competitive stress culture that we live in, said MacAulay. “It’s one were we almost wear our stress as a badge of courage on our arm, almost saying well I have more stress in my life than you do there for I must be more successful. That’s really what we are going to talk about how we can battle against this culture we are involved in, the stress that comes upon it, and actually be more badass by slowing down.” Before she finished MacAulay leaded the Airmen in a "Mindful Minute," a minute of time designated to focusing on a specific part of your breathing and leading your mind back to being focused every time it wonders away. MacAulay said that each time your mind is lead back it is a mental pushup that helps train the brain to calm itself and with repeated mental workouts you will be able to just take a moment during a stressful situation to center yourself. “I encourage you to try it, start it out and see what it can do for you,” said MacAulay. “But I would not recommend putting it on your to do list. Because what happens when you get to the end of your day and you didn’t do it, it stresses you out. It’s not meant to stress you out its meant to help you, so make it something you do during the day and when you don’t do it let it go, just move on.”