My mindfulness journey began more than two decades ago, when I discovered the power of being present. At the time, I was experiencing burnout from working as an engineer at a multinational company. My dream had come true, but I couldn’t cope with the 12-hour workdays, anxiety, and the fast-paced, high-stress environment. One day, staring at the pile of papers on my desk, I felt like I was drowning in a tower of files. Hopeless and disillusioned, I thought: “I can’t believe this is what I worked so hard for. There has to be another way.”
And there was. I quit my job and began my path as an educator. I also started my spiritual and inner discovery. For the first time, I experienced what it meant to “listen to the silence” instead of being caught in the nonstop flow of thoughts. I became aware of how debilitating thoughts can be and began to observe them mindfully. Meditation became a vital part of my life. I regained my joy and a renewed sense of purpose.
Years later, I fell in love with the idea of teaching mindfulness to children and couldn’t wait to share the tools that had transformed my life. I completed training with Mindful Schools and learned about Calmer Choice, a local organization teaching mindfulness in Cape Cod schools. I was thrilled! I became a certified mindfulness instructor, Mindfulness teacher and a TSM Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness practitioner.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to teach hundreds of children, often seeing myself reflected in their young faces—overwhelmed, anxious, unable to sleep, and unsure how to cope. I was pleased to offer them tools: they could find refuge in their breath, relate to thoughts differently, recognize their emotions as a natural part of being human, and understand their impermanence. Seeds of resilience were planted.
During my years working in schools, I wrote the mindfulness children’s books Sky the Skunk Is Not Invited to the Party, and Millie the Elephant Forgets Her Lines.
I’ve also worked with teachers and Hispanic adults in the Boston area.
I want to teach you because I’ve been there. I’ve felt overwhelmed, hopeless, heartbroken, and stressed. But through mindfulness, I’ve cultivated resilience that continues to guide me through life’s many phases—and the journey is still unfolding.