Upcoming Meeting Topics & Prior

Meeting Notes

    Over the next several meetings, we will be using the book Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn to guide our meeting conversations regarding Mindful Living in Everyday Life.

    The book may be purchased at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or picked up at the meeting for a $20 tax deductible donation. 

Wherever You Go There You Are Schedule

  • Overview of book to be studied until March 4.

  • What Is mindfulness? pages 1-8

  • It is simple. But not easy. pages 8-17

G r o u p   M e e t i n g s

  Beginning Tuesday, January 7, 2025 PTSD Insights.. a private Veteran support and education entity.. will begin weekly meetings offering a series of conversations on lingering challenges related to having experienced Traumatic Stress events.

Meetings will start at 6:30 pm at weekly at the Johnson Building, 225 East 11th Street (corner of 2nd Avenue and 11th Street) Suite 215.   Meetings start at 6:30 pm.

Parking is in the rear (south) of the building with entrance off 2nd Avenue.  The building entrance is at the north end of the parking lot, on the south side of the building.

Call or text me at 605-201-5803 if the door is locked.

The conversations are open to all individuals that have experienced trauma in their lives, veterans.. family members.. and interested individuals. 

Grant Dorothy.. an injured Vietnam Combat Veteran will moderate the conversations.. and participation of attendees.. will be welcomed.. and encouraged.  Your story is an important part of the conversation and healing process.

Meeting Notes

  • One way to accomplish this is to share various books that I have found insightfulHopefully, you will find them helpful in your own journeys.

  • REMEMBER There is not a single way.. We each need to find our own unique path.

    • I share the path that I have found best for me.. with hope that you will find something useful in it…hat will enrich your journey. description

    • It is my hope that each of you will feel free to offer those things in your life that you have found helpful.

    • In that way with our shared knowledge..we can all find our best possible way to live a wholesome and productive life.

  • Wherever You Go .. There You Are.

    Jon Kabat-Zinn

    Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life description

January 7

January 14

What is Mindfulness

January 21

It Is Simple, But Not Easy. This is it?

  • It is an ancient Buddhist practice that has profound relevance for our present day life.

  • Has everything to do with waking up.. and living in harmony with oneself., and with the world in which we find ourselves.

  • Meditation helps us to wake up from this state of automaticity and unconsciousness – Allowing us to appreciate the fullness of each moment we are alive.

  • “Paying attention. to what is happening in the present moment. without judgement”.

    • Going, going,….

    • Thinking about the past

    • Focusing on the future

    • Ignoring the reality of “The Present Moment”.

    • Feeling stuck

    Sadly it leads to a lack of awareness.. of the expansive web of life in which we are embedded..

    • Appreciate being alive

    • Experience the fullness of your beings; self-observation.. self inquiry.. and mindful action.

    • It is the direct opposite of taking life for granted.

  • Just watch the present moment..

    (don’t try to change it  -   just observe)

    What is happening?

    What do you see?

    What do you hear?

    What do you smell?

    What do you feel?

January 28, 2025

Where do I go from here?

  • Practice regularly

    “Paying attention..

     to what is happening..

     in the present moment..

    without judgement”.

  • Beginner’s Mind – Being curious ..and.. open.. to learning something new..

     Non-Judgmental  –  accept what is.. Try not to compare..  label.. or find fault.

     Patience  - Letting things happen as they need to.. and in their own time.

    Non-striving – Mindful awareness is about being.. not doing.

     Acceptance -   Accept the present moment for what it is.  “It is what it is”.

     Letting Go - Not having a set agenda for what “should” happen. Be open to all possibilities and outcomes.

     Trust – As awareness grows.. so does trust in one’s self.. trust what you learn from your experiences.

  • Slow Down Yielding to an impulse.. without time to see things clearly.. can set us up for guilt or regret. It is not always easy.. but it is wise.

    Stay in the Moment There is only a single moment in which        we can truly be alive …and that is the present moment.

    Receive Each Day with GratitudeEvery day is a tremendous gift to us.… and Live with Mindful Awareness

    Being present in the here and now ..

     is the practice of mindfulness..

    and should become our “way of life”.