I DID NOT SET OUT to accomplish professional or business goals but I did set meaningful intentions for myself. From these heartful intentions opportunities and new beginnings arose naturally like the lotus flower making its way through muddy water until breaking through the surface and blossoming in the sun.
LOOKING BACK, I realize how early life experiences set me on an inner journey seeking direction and a formula for living from wise, skilled, and compassionate teachers. This yearning took me on a pilgrimage down a long and circuitous path beginning with Transcendental Meditation (TM) while living in San Francisco in the 1970’s to many inspired teachers which included, among others, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Ram Dass, Jack Kornfield, MBSR pioneers Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ferris Buck Urbanowski, Saki Santorelli, Florence Melo-Meyer, Elana Rosenbaum, and Melissa Blacker, Venerable Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, MBCT co-founders Drs. Segal, Teasdale, and Williams, Daniel Rechtschaffen and Chris McKenna, and Susan Woods from UC San Diego’s Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute (MBPTI).
Over years of practicing, learning, and teaching, I have come to realize more deeply how cornerstones of mindfulness, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and daily mindfulness-based meditation practices have molded me to become more aware, open, curious, and willing.
ALONG THE WAY I began to see suffering, needs, and challenges as trail markers and cairns for travelers on the road. The struggles of students and teachers in schools and difficulties of nonprofit organizations not being met appeared and took shape. While the practice of mindfulness and MBSR had not yet been applied in these areas, it became apparent that they could offer life-transforming benefits. Even in the face of my own limitations, which were many, the pillars of mindfulness delivered insights, discoveries, and important new beginnings.
I AM GRATEFUL for the gift of trail markers and cairns along my walk illuminating and charting new directions. I share highlights of my personal journey with you to offer testimony to the power of stillness, mindfulness meditation practice, and inspired reflections which have guided me toward living a more awakened life filled with fruitful new beginnings.
Being interconnected in a large circle of students, teachers, counselors, friends, seekers, and compassionate community leaders in the Miami community and the world is truly a blessing.
With love and deep gratitude,
Valerie
