My 15 Year Journey

Transitioning from a victim to a survivor was a solitary journey. Life presented overwhelming challenges, and I found myself giving up. Seeking professional assistance, I consulted therapists, doctors, and was prescribed various medications. However, the physical and emotional pain persisted, and the medications caused severe side effects, leading to a state of uncertainty and hopelessness. During this difficult time, I found comfort in the support of love ones and the serenity of nature, providing me the strength to persevere.

My life’s most fortunate encounter was a Vipassana meditation course, learning to meditate 10 hours a day for 10 days. It was my first exposure to meditation and noble silence for 9 days making it extremely difficult. The meditation facility provided the means and techniques to help me turn inward and self examine; this direct experience was life changing. I’ve learned to accept life “as it is for what it is” render profound meaning to my new beginning. A journey inward revealing wisdom and clarity giving me faith and devotion to move forward with more compassion for myself and others.

Overtime I’ve learned to observe and paid attention to my daily motions: brushing teeth, walking, cooking, eating, housework, yoga, zumba - learning to be in the present moment with an equanimous mind. I started to understand the connection between body sensations, thoughts, and emotions. Learning to be self-aware leads to self-realization to help me cultivate and overcome challenges. It became clear to me that I hold the power to transform myself, I just need to quiet the outer noises to feel this inner knowledge.

Self knowledge arise as I practice to be mindful in my daily thoughts, words and actions. It took PTSD, ADD, stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and severe side effects from medications for me to discover a natural way to heal. Out of curiosity to examine who I am, I was able to see the light and shadow of my own being, leading me to explore a more meaningful path. Learning to quiet the mind gave me clarity to understand that we are here alongside ourselves, learning and elevating each other to grow as a whole. I left the corporate world, simplifying my life, devoting myself to practice mindfulness, and sharing these direct experiences with those who are open to practice mindfulness through daily motions.