Ever since I could read independently, I have been attracted to literature that challenges me and allows me to experience different cultures and travel to different countries in my mind. Non-fiction is also a big passion of mine, especially science, history, health and spiritual topics. For over 40 years I have been a journaler but I never saw myself as a writer until I started taking classes from Valley Haggard and Cindy Cunningham at Life in 10 Minutes. Some of what I will share in this blog is what I share with students in those classes. Some is just my personal practice. If any of it is helpful to you, then please use it!

Introduction to me and the purpose of this blog

As a life long educator and learner, I am always reading and trying new things. I have developed my own personal mindfulness, yoga and meditation practice that has helped me to navigate stormy times I have faced, especially in the pandemic. I am hoping some of the ideas I pull together here will be useful to others on a similar journey.

For nearly 30 years I have been a high school teacher. For 25 of those years, I have been a parent and have juggled career, kids, marriage, divorce, single parenting, remarriage and a myriad of family health issues. Like all people, my life has been filled with great challenges and great joys. This blog will chronical some of the tools and techniques I have learned to stay sane and mostly positive.

Throughout my life, I have been a lover of nature, reading and writing. I found solace and escape in reading about other cultures, lifestyles and places. I am happiest when I get to walk on the beach or wander on a path near a river or stream. For over 40 years I have kept a journal and I have been an active member of a 12 step program for 28. My faith and experiences as a camper and counselor at a summer camp in Maryland led me to become a Quaker. There, in the woods I first learned to find God in the silence. As a 12 year old camper, I learned to meditate.

In high school I became a runner and learned that physical exercise both tired me out and calmed my nerves. As an adult, I switched to walking multiple times per week as part of my stress management arsenal. Later, after I had children, continued to teach full time, and my first marriage became extremely challenging, I started to practice yoga. More recently, I became curious about mindfulness and started taking classes and reading about mindfulness, meditation and methods to calm the central nervous system. All of these are tools are a vital part of my on going self care.

I have loved all that I have learned about Mindfulness and am excited to share with others. For 6 years I have taught drop in mindfulness classes to students at the high school where I am a librarian. I am super lucky that my principal has supported my endeavors. In the past year I have completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training and have started to incorporate yoga asana into my weekly Mindful Monday lessons. Perhaps one day I will teach Mindfulness or yoga professionally?

Why start this blog?

It is giving me a creative outlet to organize my thoughts about mindfulness.
I am hoping it will give me clarity about tools and techniques I can share with my students and other folks who are also on a journey to a happier, more centered life.
My short term goal is to share tips and techniques for people who want to develop their own mindfulness practice.
Later, that want to explore the possibility of teaching yoga and mindfulness to adults and other people outside of my school.
From time to time, I may also share some non-fiction, memoir or fictional pieces via this blog as well.