I started this blog for a few different reasons. I love to write and decided that if I want to get better at my writing, I need to practice. I also have a strong desire to share, not only all that I have learned and continue to learn about Mindfulness, but also to share parts of my personal journey living with Multiple Sclerosis. We all live with challenges and I find that through my writing, I am able to connect with people from all walks of life in a very meaningful way.
I begin this blog by thanking all of you who take the time to read and share your thoughts and feelings with me. I am deeply touched by the stories and feelings people share and I treasure the way this blog allows me to connect with so many different people.
Tonight is a very significant and special evening for me that I would like to share with you. I am leading an eight week series on Mindfulness Stress Reduction that began tonight. Standing before this group of very special men and women, discussing a topic that I have come to be passionate about, is a gift like no other.
Locking up and walking back to my car, I realize that this is a big moment for me. As I put my car in drive to begin the trip home, an enormous smile fills my face and I realize that I feel incredibly proud of myself and the journey that I have travelled. I have wanted to lead a class like this for close to twelve years, ever since I first participated in Jon Kabot-Zinn's Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program. I realize that all of the steps that I have taken over the years on my quest to heal myself have gotten me to this place in my life, where I can now share the wealth of that knowledge with others.
When I was first hired to work at A Mindfulness Life Center, the executive director said to me, "I see you doing great things at this center. I believe in you and now just have to get you to believe in yourself". It meant so much to hear her say those things to me and I thought to myself, "She is right. I need to believe in myself more". Tonight is one of those nights when I just say, "YES!!!" because I finally believe in myself and am enormously grateful for every challenge and blessing in my life that has shaped me and made me the woman that I am today. I am so excited to see where this next chapter in my life takes me. For now, I am so grateful for this incredible opportunity to lead this special group on this beautiful journey through mindfulness!
