Caloosahatchee Mindfulness |
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Ten thousand joys and ten thousand sorrows. It's human nature to try and hold on to the 10,000 joys and push away the 10,000 sorrows. However, in our times of hardship, suffering, and grief, we may learn to accept life just as it is. As Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us, "No mud, no lotus." Everyone you cross paths with today has their own suffering that you may or may not see. Our practice reminds us to open our hearts to compassion and be gentle with others and ourselves. Caloosahatchee Mindfulness has several upcoming offerings to encourage compassion.
May you be held in compassion.
May your suffering and sorrows be eased.
Much Metta,
Maggie
Caloosahatchee Mindfulness Chair
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April 17 - How to Change Your Mind: Anxiety Hacks, with Maggie Stevens
Online, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
May 1 - Mindful Art with Vicki Durso,
Behind the Buddha Studio; 7 pm to 9 pm.
May 11 - Mindful Walking with Valarie Olsen
Lakes Park; gather at 8:45, 9 to 9:30 am
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We count on your membership to help us offer programs to the community.
Members receive a 25% discount on all events.
Please consider joining as a member and keeping your membership current.
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Mindfulness Practice Opportunities |
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How to Change Your Mind: Anxiety Hacks - ONLINE
April 17, 6:30-8:30 pm
Research suggests that over 70% of our thoughts are automatic and habitual. This is great when making the bed or tying our shoes, but not so helpful in our relationships with ourselves and others. This class will be an online class of the previously offered workshop. We will learn to identify ways our brains attempt to keep us safe and often create habits that lead to self-criticism, stress, or anxiety. We will practice a number of informal practices that one can use in daily settings and situations. Handouts and recorded meditations will be provided electronically to participants.
Maggie Stevens, meditation teacher and Caloosahatchee Mindfulness Board Chair will facilitate this session on ZOOM. After registration, the ZOOM link will be sent to participants. Maggie received her Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification in 2021 with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach as her primary teachers. She is a member of the International Mindfulness Teacher Association.
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Mindful Art
May 1, 7-9 pm
Free-flowing meditative art practice with mindful drawing using Neurographic Art is a beautiful meditative process based in mindfulness.
It is a simple drawing technique that bypasses the rational thinking mind and reaches deeply into the mind. Your unconscious, ordinarily inaccessible, is opened up. New neural networks are formed in the brain.
This is a 2-hour mindful drawing session; all supplies are included to complete one drawing. You may bring a journal for thoughts that come up during the practice.
This course is taught by Vicki Durso. Vicki is certified in yoga and the art processes of Neurographica and Zentangles. She holds a Master's degree in psychology.
This workshop will be held at the Behind the Buddha (BTB) Artists' Studio located at 9290-1 College Parkway which is in the shopping center on the corner of McGregor and College Parkway.
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Walking Meditation
May 11, 8:45-9:30 am
Walking in nature is a way to bring awareness to the present moment and all the beauty surrounding you, and can be a form of walking meditation. Thich Nhat Hanh says that the practice of mindful walking is a profound and pleasurable way to deepen our connection with our body and the earth.
Our May walk will occur at Lakes Park in Fort Myers on Saturday, May 11 at 9:00 a.m. Join us at 8:45 a.m. for warm-up and orientation, and the walk will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. We will walk through the park on the walking paths.
The park has some shade and restrooms. Be sure to bring sun protection and water.
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Mindfulness Book Club
Our small group studies and shares books on mindfulness practices to create a happier and healthier life. For information on joining the group by Zoom and the next book to be discussed, call or text (941) 888-0116 or email caloosahatcheemindfulness16@gmail.com
We are currently reading Lighter by young pueblo for the book club! We'll soon be choosing a new book to read. If you have any suggestions, please email them to us at caloosahatcheemindfulness16@gmail.com
In Lighter, yung pueblo demonstrates how we can all move forward in our healing, from learning self-compassion to letting go to becoming emotionally mature. As the heaviness falls away, our minds will finally stop feeling overburdened with tension and we’ll be able to reconnect with the present. And the world around us will hopefully become more inviting in crisp and newly vibrant ways. But these are just the first steps. As we grow stronger and expand our self-awareness, it’s our responsibility—and also part of the healing journey—to take action to support the health and harmony of all people. The final section of Lighter shows how we can and must contribute to building a world that is no longer structurally harmful but, instead, structurally compassionate.
Discussion is focused on understanding how the author’s words and concepts
are relevant to our daily lives.
The book club is free to all Caloosahatchee Mindfulness members.
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Friday Time Out
Every Friday morning and evening at 10:00 am and 5 pm, meditation sessions include a 20-minute meditation with initial guidance and then silent sitting. After the meditation, there is a group discussion, a 5-minute silent reflection, and then a thought for the week and check out. These meditations are offered at no cost and no experience is necessary.
For information on joining the group by Zoom, call or text (941) 888-0116,
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With Gratitude to our Community Partners |
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We are so grateful to our Community Partners for their support of mindfulness! |
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Valarie Olsen Counseling & Wellness |
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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society |
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Become a Caloosahatchee Mindfulness Member! |
We invite you to join us in our practice of mindfulness. We welcome you to check out our new and improved website at
You can join us directly from the website,
We look forward to practicing with you. 🙏🏼
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Mindfulness on the Go!
Can't make Midweek Mindfulness?
Need a few minutes to quiet the mind?
Join us on Insight Timer! 📿
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