The Social Publication-Sonoma and Mindful Living
Hello there friends,
How are you doing? Has summer been a beautiful time to relax, enjoy and soak up some fun with friends and family? I sure hope so. It’s been so much of that and more for me too. I also decided to pitch myself for writing a Mindful Living column and see if some accountability would support my writing goals, and well it paid off!
I’ve been looking forward to the day I could have a mindful living column published in print and The Sonoma Social Publication has given me that opportunity monthly. It’s been created by one of the loveliest humans I’ve met in Sonoma, Renata Virk. The magazine is all about cultivating a community that is connected through our families, businesses and individuals, highlighting our town of Sonoma. We were one of the lucky families to grace the cover in August 2022 with photos shot by the talented Jodi Lynn Photography. It’s a publication I look forward to receiving monthly in the mail and a joy to learn more about the dynamic people who make up our Sonoma Community.
My first article was an introduction to Mindful Living. If you’ve been here before you know I’m an advocate for all humans thriving and living to their fullest potential. I believe we all could use support, guidance and resources at times to remind us of what we are capable of. Since many of you won’t ever get to read the article in print, I thought it would be fun to share it here as well. I hope you enjoy.
The Social Publication -Sonoma, Aug. 2023
While the slower paced sweetness of small town Sonoma, in itself is quite a sanctuary, there's a fast paced sense of the world designed to keep us feeling overwhelmed. As a lifelong yogi and mother of two young daughters, I'm continuously inspired to bring the mindfulness I've been practicing for more than a decade into the lives of my family and community. My interpretation of Mindful Living is moving through each day with the awareness that cultivates more compassion and meaning to our lives in all that we do. The best place to begin is, right where you are. It's often making small changes that make big differences over a period of time that's ever-evolving. Notable shifts can give us permission to graciously accept things as they are a little easier. Propelling forward in this arena means creating healthy habits and checking in on the things not supporting our mind and body or the essence of the community we wish to live in. Finding moments of stillness and presence has become essential to our well-being. Having gratitude is one of the best ways to create joy, shift from negative energy and improve happiness– not to mention being quite a lovely habit to exercise aloud in our household's and in society. Mindful living offers us a pathway to cultivate a more conscious, intentional and fulfilling existence. As we live more purposefully, we give more meaning and awareness to our thoughts, actions and foster a deeper connection with ourselves and our communities. We can journey through life inwardly and outwardly as kinder human beings. What a priceless concept this is for humanity, eh?
So how do we LIVE mindfully as individuals and as a community– what does this even mean? Being a yoga and mindfulness teacher in the community has truly gifted me the opportunity to witness many lives evolving for the better. My full-bodied glass of goodness is often overflowing due to this and keeps me motivated to expand in my own life. Mindful practices such as meditation, yoga, breath-work, walking and observation provide the invitation to slow down and embody being fully present in each moment. We live with an unbelievable amount of stimulation that pulls us away from how important it is to just BE. My suggestion would be to start with a path that feels the least resistant. A walk without your phone, shared gratitudes at meal time or taking five minutes to sit quietly and breathe deeply. Maintain the things that are already working and enjoy the possibilities of discovering something new. As we become better equipped to navigate challenges and respond with wisdom and clarity we are building our emotional resilience. Bringing forth a non-judgmental awareness to our experiences and feelings so we can savor the richness of life's simple pleasures. With practice and commitment we begin to diffuse the natural reactions to have negative self talk and begin to rewire our brains to trust our inner wisdom. Being curious about who we are with an openness to grow will undoubtedly lead to a heightened place of self-awareness. From this space we can make more conscious choices aligned with our values, leading to a more authentic and abundant life.
While mindfulness can be beautifully transformative as individuals, our communities can equally harness this power. When we are prioritizing practices like; active listening, non-judgement, empathy and supporting one another, we enrich the entire community. There's strength in engaging in meaningful dialogue, being open to diverse perspectives and nurturing an inclusive environment where everyone's well-being is valued. I've personally never lived anywhere that has as much of a well-being and community focus as Sonoma does. While there is always room for more efforts to be made, that's a delightful feeling as I raise children here. Mindfulness has the potential to improve the quality of our relationships, enhance the way we communicate and help foster unity among community members. By having spaces in Sonoma where individuals can truly come together to be present and to build a sense of belonging, we help our community grow stronger connections. Every community needs change makers and leaders who will go beyond just interpersonal relationships to influence organizations and institutions to operate more mindfully– be it sustainability, social justice or the common good.
“Awareness is the greatest agent for change.” Eckhart Tolle
Mindful living offers a profound invitation to experience our lives with greater awareness, authenticity, and connection. By committing to mindfulness as individuals and as a community, we embark on a transformative journey that positively impacts our well-being and the world around us. I cherish the progression of Sonoma being a vibrant and compassionate community where all members can thrive. Let it start with us, as we embrace the power of mindful living, and nurture our inner wisdom, so the ripple effect of our work is pure and vast.
I want to say a big thank you to Renata Virk and the team at The Social Publication- Sonoma, for giving me the opportunity to share about Mindfulness. To all of YOU who continue to support me in all I do, my heart is full of gratitude. If you liked this article please feel free to share it or pay it forward to the person who may really benefit from learning more about this topic. Let’s keep working hard to make the world a more mindful place to share.
With Smiles and Gratitude, I appreciate you being here–
XOXO Andrea