It all began…
That time I was hit by a bus.
Yup, a bus. Like a real, actual bus. Hit me. While crossing the street.
In 2013, I was hit by a bus, fracturing my skull in a few places and resulting in some pretty significant brain swelling.
Oh and then I coded and was rushed into the O.R. for my first neurosurgery.
Over the next 18 months I would undergo 4 neurosurgeries, have one bone infection, one chronic non-healing wound on my incision line, have a prosthesis implanted in my skull and I was left with a traumatic brain injury.
To say that I had anxiety and depression would be an understatement.
I had NO idea what my future would look like and when I would be able to return to “normal” life.
It was during this time that…
I first heard about mindfulness
I’ll be honest, at this point I would have tried anything that might be helpful. I was pretty desperate and would have done anything.
My social worker recommended the 8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program and in the spring of 2014 I had my first session. And I was hooked.
Within weeks I could feel a shift taking place inside me. I realized that this was something that everybody needed to learn about – and that I wanted to teach it.
I can’t forget when…
I turned to a complete stranger and struck up a conversation
My mom thought she was going to fall off her chair.
For all of my life I had been painfully shy. I wouldn’t even raise my hand to answer a question in class. Speaking in public? Forget about it!
With time, I learned how to quiet that voice that is constantly chatting away with doubts, limiting self-beliefs and of course all of the “what ifs”.
I realized, if I could learn how to do this, surely other people could learn how to do it as well. And I want to be the one to teach them how.
And so began…
My Mindfulness Journey.
In 2016, I headed to the US to attended the MBSR teacher training pathways that was offered by the Centre For Mindfulness at The University of Massachusetts. As I wrapped up my training the initial seeds of The Mindfulness Journey were planted.
The Mindfulness Journey was created to help you to learn how to get out of your head and into your life. Stop letting doubts and fears keep you from moving forward. Learn how to be – one moment at a time.
And now I’m here to help you…
Hi! I’m Charlene, the Founder of The Mindfulness Journey.
I’m a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Teacher & mindfulness coach, a motivational speaker and a therapist.
Now that you know my story:
This freckled face, mocha latte loving lady, is ready to help you to quiet that inner voice so that you too can feel more ease and less overwhelm.
