I wouldn't call myself an expert in mindfulness.

However, I have spent eight years reading and learning about mindfulness. And I have probably spent an estimated 800 hours practicing mindfulness in my own life.

Here's how I first got interested in mindfulness:

My first introduction to mindfulness was from a therapist.

I had recently turned 50, I was not feeling good about myself and my career. I was struggling to process all that was going on in my head. I felt out of control, and did not have any tools to really process my thoughts, feelings and emotions.

It was a difficult time.

Fast forward to today through my study and practice of mindfulness, I now have more practical skills to process my thoughts, feelings and emotions.

But it is, and will always be a work in progress. Unlike before finding mindfulness, I now have a framework to lean into when I am feeling out of control. Mindfulness is by no means “Magic,” it does require active participation.

It is a practice that you can use at anytime, anyplace, any circumstance.

So my goal over the next 8 years is:

Continue to leverage mindfulness to gain more awareness of myself and how I process the world around me.