be easy.

take your time.

you are coming home.

to yourself.

~Nayyirah Waheed

In our fast-paced culture, oftentimes, the last thing we have time to think about is our personal home – ourself.  Ourself consists of our body, our mind, our emotions, and our spirit.  Every part of us that interacts and responds to the natural world.  It is the vehicle we travel in.   Yet, for many of us – myself included – appreciating and embracing who we are is a work in progress.  How can we become whole if we don’t first embrace ourselves?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines wholeness as the quality of being or feeling complete and not divided or damaged.   Becoming whole, to me, means feeling at home in my own skin.  Feeling comfortable, relaxed, and at peace with who I am in every aspect.   It doesn’t mean that I am perfect.  Rather, it means I embrace who I am and who I am becoming in mind, body, and spirit.

You might be thinking, “How do I build a sense of wholeness into my every day, busy life?”  Well, back in 2016, when I was developing the GEN2050 program model, a friend suggested that I add Mindfulness to the curriculum.  I wasn’t familiar mindfulness practices but what I learned from my friend convinced me that it should not only become an integral part of the GEN2050 program, but also a part of what I started to practice for myself.  Practicing mindfulness has helped me to learn how to feel at home in myself and embrace who I truly am.

Here is a brief video created by Happify that describes some mindfulness basics:

I recently presented a mindfulness session at Trinity Church’s Girlfriends Conference 2021 as part of a Master Class aimed at starting the New Year 2021 with energy, enthusiasm, and a renewed sense of purpose.  One of the ideas I shared with this wonderful group of women was:

“Intentionally focusing on our personal health and wholeness will enhance our ability to activate our personal vision and mission.”

Embracing Wholeness Connect Group