Brad Lauster

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:16:19 -0700

It’s been nearly two decades since I worked at Stanford. I used to pass through the main quad regularly. It’s usually bustling with students and tourists, so I was thrilled to capture this people-free shot of the cloister that encircles the Inner Quad courtyard.

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 19:51:00 -0700

I need to replace my old Synology NAS, and I’m thinking of trying HexOS or Unraid. The Synology’s been running without issue for 7+ years, so I have no idea what’s good these days. Anyone have recommendations?

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 22:45:05 -0700

Anyone recognize this keyboard? Some helpful keyboard enthusiasts on Reddit have convinced me that I can build one for myself.

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 08:55:00 -0700

Morning coffee at Lower Velma Lake, Desolation Wilderness, Eldorado National Forest, west of Lake Tahoe, California

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 18:39:00 -0700

Tern Lake, Moose Pass, Alaska

Getting Started with Mindfulness Meditation 🧘🏻‍♀️

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 19:47:00 -0700

Interest in meditation has grown a lot since I originally wrote this introduction for Quora back in 2010. There are now thousands of books on various contemplative practices — enough to give anyone beginner’s paralysis.

Luckily, getting started with mindfulness meditation is quite easy. Here’s how:

Sit on the floor with your back straight, but not tense. Use a pillow or chair, if you need one to get comfortable.
Close your eyes and be aware of your breathing.
When you notice thoughts popping into your head, just acknowledge them and then let them go.¹
If you get stuck focusing on a thought, try counting your breaths.²
Do this for as long as you want. Set a timer if you want to meditate for a certain length of time.

That’s really all it takes to get started with mindfulness meditation. Don’t worry if you’re bombarded with thoughts during your first few sessions. The first time I tried meditation, my mind was such a jumble of concerns that I gave up after 20 seconds. You’ll quickly learn to let those thoughts go and in no time you’ll be meditating for 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, and soon, longer than 20 minutes.

As you learn to put your everyday thoughts aside, you may find that new thoughts begin to arise. Those new thoughts may help you learn about yourself, your relationships and your surroundings. With practice, you may even begin to feel a greater sense of peace and connectedness with the universe and everything in it. (As with anything, there are aspects of meditation that seem a little crazy to people who’ve never done it before. Don’t let this stop you from getting started.)

When you’re ready to learn more, I recommend the Introduction to Meditation course taught by Gil Fronsdal of the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California. The sessions from that course are free and available online.

For example, if you notice that you’re hungry, acknowledge it and release the thought from your mind. It you don’t release it, you’ll construct a conversation of follow-up questions in your head about what you’re going to eat, where you’ll get the food, who you’ll eat with, etc. Don’t get stuck in conversations with yourself. ↩︎
Just count “1” while breathing in through your nose, and “2” while exhaling out through your mouth. 1, 2, 1, 2, over and over. This will help you move past thoughts that are stuck in your head. ↩︎

Tue, 21 May 2019 12:43:00 -0700

Thank you, espresso, for keeping me caffeinated today. ☕️

Tue, 21 May 2019 08:34:45 -0700

Just setting up my micro.blog

Wed, 02 May 2018 13:00:00 -0700

833 Market Street, San Francisco

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:00:00 -0700

Subway entrance in the basement of the Chrysler Building, New York City

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 13:00:00 -0700

Bedford Avenue Station, NYC Subway

Tue, 08 Nov 2016 13:00:00 -0700

🇺🇸, Rockefeller Center, New York City

Tue, 01 Nov 2016 13:00:00 -0700

East Broadway Station, NYC Subway

Sat, 01 Oct 2016 13:00:00 -0700

West 4 Street–Washington Square Station, NYC Subway

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 13:00:00 -0700

Crosby Street, New York City

Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:00:00 -0700

3rd Avenue Station, NYC Subway

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 13:00:00 -0700

Christopher Street–Sheridan Square Station, NYC Subway

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 13:00:00 -0700

8th Avenue Station, NYC Subway

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 13:00:00 -0700

50th Street Station, NYC Subway

Sat, 01 Feb 2014 13:00:00 -0700

Chambers Street Station, NYC Subway

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 13:00:00 -0700

Good morning from West 106 St & Central Park West. Strangers Gate, Central Park, New York City

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 13:00:00 -0700

This is a picture of my back. Apparently, I rolled onto my phone while sleeping and somehow posted this picture. (Originally posted to Instagram.)

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 13:00:00 -0700

Just picked black raspberries at my grandmother’s. I think I got more mosquito bites than berries. Savannah, New York

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0700

Perspective from my architect friend: “A building has no back. It has four facades…”

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:00:00 -0700

Morningside Park, Harlem, New York City