Before I came to meditation in my 50’s, I had already experienced many life events: wins, losses, disappointments, joys, illness, health, sadness, and wonder. I had been engaged in the roles of daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, co-worker and volunteer. With the insight I now have as a result of practicing meditation, I can look back and see how much effort I expended controlling, perfecting, or manipulating my life experiences to turn out a certain way. There was often an underlying sense of not quite making it to some imaginary finish line, and with that came the incessant comparing my life to others.
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On the outside, most things in my life are the same as they were before I started meditating, but internally, the landscape is different because of the practice. I've found a new way to relate to life. Some of the benefits I can report are: more moments of clarity; less striving; less time spent in the mode of auto-pilot; less negative self-talk; the capacity to be more responsive rather than reactive to life situations; I’m more likely to trust my instincts; I’m getting better at letting go of outcomes; I’ve increased my capacity to maintain perspective; I experience a deeper appreciation for the moment in front of me, and I worry less about the future. Of course it’s a work in progress, and the changes come situationally and incrementally, but they do come.
Seeing the benefits for myself, I decided I wanted to share what I’d experienced with others, and I’m now a certified teacher through the Mindfulness Meditation Training Certification Program (MMTCP). I now know that mindfulness meditation isn’t reserved for the individual who seems naturally inclined towards calm and ease. It’s available to everyone, no matter how busy your mind or your life is. I have a particular interest in sharing mindfulness meditation in a way that is accessible, practical, and applicable to everyday life. I enjoy teaching a weekly in-person Mindfulness for Everyday Life class in my local library, and I offer online classes on the topic of gratitude.

​​I’m a native of Scotland and still visit my family there regularly. The thistle is the national flower of Scotland, thus the name Thistle Meditation. I enjoy creative pursuits like rock painting, knitting, coloring, and the maintenance of what’s become a neighborhood fairy garden. I’ve lived with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis for 20+ years.​
Mindfulness Mentoring
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As a graduate of the Mindfulness Mentor Training Program, I offer 1:1 support for your mindfulness meditation practice via zoom. Mentoring sessions are typically 30 minutes long and offered on a donation basis.

​More details here: Mindfulness Mentoring
In-Person Classes

 Wednesday morning, 10:30am - 11:30 am
Mary Riley Styles Library in Falls Church.
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​Click HERE for more details
Please use this form to contact me if you have any questions.