Beginner’s Mind Retreat 2023 (K.W.)

Thank you so much for leading such an amazing retreat and practice at the Beginner’s Mind Retreat during the weekend of August 25. I had an amazing experience and am grateful for what I’ve learned on a practical level and about myself. Here are some of the gems I’ve taken with me:

1. Be willing to try something new

• I was anxious to do this retreat initially because I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m glad I did!
• Also, the vegetarian diet was new for me and I honestly wasn’t too excited about it, however it was DELICIOUS, and inspired me to continue to eat healthier and more plant based meals. 
• Once I learned I was the female monitor for this retreat I was stressed and anxious about the responsibility of waking everyone up and ringing the bell so everyone could get to Chan Hall on time. I even considered asking for a different role…but I decided to stick it out, give it a try, and step outside my comfort zone. And I’m so glad I did! It gave me the opportunity to prove to myself that I am capable, that I can do it, and by the end of the retreat I took pride in having such an important role in making sure everyone was prompt and punctual. 

2. I am my own safe space

• Being from New York, where there’s a lot of sensory overload, and as someone who deals with OCD and anxiety, I often felt like my environment was a main cause of my anxiety (and in some cases it is), however it occurred to me that I can be my own safe space. I don’t have to rely on my surroundings to dictate how high or low my anxiety gets. Maybe feeling safe within myself and in my own head is the key to feeling safe in whatever setting I’m in.  

3. I learned to be more compassionate and understanding towards myself

• As someone who struggles with OCD it’s easy to look at that part of me and be angry and frustrated with myself. But once I approached that part of me from a place of loving-kindness, and instead tried to understand the root of why it started, I was able to be more compassionate towards myself. 

4. Don’t take things personally

• It’s so easy to be offended or feel slighted, especially by someone close to you. But I need to remember that everyone else has their own worries and life they’re dealing with, and not everything is about me. 

5. Appreciate this moment and all the infinite number of possibilities that had to align for it to exist.