Caloosahatchee Mindfulness |
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The Winter Solstice, the day with the least hours of daylight, will soon be upon us. Is it any wonder that we humans overload this season with lights and activities to ward off the darkness? Perhaps we can carve out some time for silence and solitude. We can listen to our bodies and slow down with a warm cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. We can feel gratitude for all that we have and all we've been through. We can take a few deep breaths. Holidays are filled with memories - some good, some not so good. We can acknowledge our past and be present in our today. We can gift people with smiles or give up a good parking place. We help a neighbor or share a child's wonder. Each day provides us with opportunities to savor the present - which is why the present is called a gift.
Wishing you the joy and comfort of the season!
Maggie
Caloosahatchee Mindfulness Chair
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January 10 - Mindful Art - Vision Board to Manifest Intentions with
Vicki Durso, 7 pm to 9 pm - Behind the Buddha Studio
January 13 - Walking Meditation at Lakes Park with
Valarie Olsen, 8:45 to 9:30 am
January 18 to 21 - Ding Darling's Wellness in Nature The Friends of the Wildlife Refuge is a collaborative partner with Caloosahatchee Mindfulness. They sponsor an annual wellness in nature event. You can check out their many offerings on their website.
January 20 - Second Annual Membership Meeting - Six Mile Cypress Slough - Community Room 10:30 am to 2:30 pm
KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR MORE INFORMATION on our
February-March MIND CALMING Toolbox! We will provide a series of four workshops to increase relaxation and decrease stress. The workshops can be taken individually or you can sign up for the series at a discount.
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Mindfulness Practice Opportunities |
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Mindful Art: Vision Board to Manifest Intentions |
Vision Boards can be a great way to focus on what you want to achieve in life, the intentions you want to set, and the goals you want to reach.
Vision boards are amazing tools as they serve as a daily reminder and a guide to working towards your goal; they are a great way to help you visualize your dream life every day. Vision Boards are a tool to help you cultivate a positive mindset, create mindfulness, set intentions for the new year, and to help you live your life with purpose to achieve goals.
All supplies are included to create your unique vision board. Bring along any special items that you want to attach to your board to further personalize your intentions. The workshop will begin with a meditation and examples of different boards to create.
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. The cost for members is $30 and $40 for non-members.
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Walking Meditation
Walking in nature is a way to bring awareness to the present moment and all the beauty that surrounds 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.
January's walk will occur at Lakes Park in Fort Myers on Saturday, January 13 at 9:00 a.m. We will meet near the parking lot and restrooms. 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 parks chosen have some shade and restrooms. Be sure to bring sun protection and water.
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Annual Membership Meeting
Caloosahatchee Mindfulness is excited to announce our second annual membership gathering at Six Mile Cypress Slough on January 20, 2024, from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Activities include mindful movement, guided and walking meditation, a light lunch on the deck, and fellowship.
Parking is limited, and there is a $5-a-day charge. It is recommended that people meet at a nearby shopping center and carpool to the Slough. The gathering will be held in the Interpretive Center, the building you see when entering the driveway. This is a members-only event. Not a member? Now's the chance to join us!
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Caloosahatchee Rising Tide Sangha's
Midweek Mindfulness
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Sangha is the Pali word for community.
You are invited to join us each Wednesday evening for Sangha as we meet on Zoom for meditation and deep sharing. This is a great opportunity to check in with yourself and the sangha during the week. So come relax and calm the mind and body, and practice meditation and deep listening together with us.
Did you know that Caloosahatchee Rising Tide Sangha is listed in Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village Global Sangha Directory?
Join us and see how Sangha can support your practice.
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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
New Book for the book club! Lighter by yung pueblo
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.
For more information about membership see the membership information below.
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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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