An Interlude to Mindfulness…

Fragmented thoughts sound amidst the alleged silence of the mind. Complicated to read, and even more impossible to understand, if we aren’t careful, we risk drowning in our own sorrow.

All clichés aside, the horrific structure of the above prose, an excerpt from my own life, illustrates the turmoil of a mind unkept, filled with brilliant concepts gasping for air.

Our past, however dismal, demands reconciliation if we are to allow ourselves to flourish in the present moment, rather than wither at the mercy of a blunt knife drawn from a kitchen counter, aimed at pruning our present self and serving it to us on a silver platter in the future. 

Have I mastered these techniques? Given my lacking presence in this space, certainly not.

Am I getting better? Well, if this is published, it's certainly a landmark--and a step in a promising direction. 

Consider this my interlude to mindfulness, my predeceasing thoughts shaping the future of our discussions. 

In a short list, let me share part of who I am, and the why behind mindful-body:

• Born in the late days of August, I’m a Virgo, for my astrology fanatics who feel our paths are now aligned.
• A daughter of a single father, my mother left when I was seven.
• A musician by heart, but a 9/5 business woman by trade–When I’m not crafting internet prose, I’m shamelessly articulating lyrics on my ukulele, guitar, keyboard, clarinet, or digital music production.
• A glassblower, painter, and multi-media creator.
• A former Division 1 athlete, although be it Fencing, I proudly celebrate UNC Chapel Hill where I began my journey in mindfulness.
• A future graduate student at Columbia University in NYC and Aga Khan (in London) working towards a double masters in Islamic Studies & Muslim Civilization and Cultures.

But why mindful-body?

• Born through the individual that emerged at the edge of my comfort zone at eighteen, I’m a traveler.
• A woman forged in the fire of domestic violence in an abusive relationship.
• A scholar shaped by the demands of a 24/7 school schedule.
• An aspiring writer, who found peace in grappling with questions of the unknown, refuge in the wake of waters of uncertainty.
• A dreamer, envisioning a world filled with those who are unapologetically true to themselves, and eager to re-shape the world around them.

I am a mosaic of my experiences but most importantly, I’m a survivor, a swashbuckler, and an individual yearning to learn and share life with the rest of the world.

As the Pandemic draws to an end, this is where our greatest stories begin, and where it is more important than ever that we remind ourselves to be mindful of who we are, who we can be and who we aspire to become.

I’m not sure where this journey will take us, or if you’ll tag along, but if you’ve ever had thoughts like mine, silence is the most dangerous form of violence.

You are not alone, you are nothing less than extraordinary, and what lies in you is a masterpiece crafted by experiences so rich, no commodity of exchange can measure your worth.

Craft a list, the who‘s and whys that shape you, take a deep breath, and write what you aspire to create and fill the silence with noise.