Jessica Barnett

Passionate to Grow.  Passionate to Learn.  Passionate to Serve.

As I reflect on my life some of my earliest memories are of a busy mind, a lot of worry, and many anxious thoughts.  I grew from a kid who thought so deeply to an adult who thinks so deeply.  My ability to really think and evaluate has served me well at many points in my life.  At other points it has been terribly destructive to my emotional, spiritual and even physical wellbeing.    Think, fix, control, project, worry - this is where my untreated mind takes me.  

My introduction to mindfulness happened in 1999.  I was a young single mom with a lot of anxiety and worry.  I do not remember specifics about that class.  I do remember being very aware that when I moved with my breath from posture to posture I felt different in my body and my mind slowed down.  It was during these years that I began to practice a little meditation.  As fate would have it, I got busy and decided to stick with the way of worry and anxiety.  Although meditation and yoga did not become a regular part of my life, I always knew that whenever I was ready, it would be there as a peaceful solution.

In 2007 some very difficult, life changing events took place.  I came to a place where I knew I had to do something different.  I craved peace and serenity, but all the things I had done to try and achieve peace and serenity brought me sadness and despair.  It was then that I became fully committed to living a healthy life.  It was all of the sudden not enough to just survive, I wanted peace, I wanted joy and I wanted love. 

Yoga, meditation and running became my very best companions.  They taught me to show up in life grateful, full of love, full of peace and ready to serve others. 

My commitment to living a serene life still remains.  It is a journey.  Some days I am a wild woman, running from here to there, busy, worried, stressed, the list goes on.  But I have the answer and I know that it works.  These things have brought joy, peace and serenity to my life – I absolutely love sharing them with others.  To love, to grow spiritually, and to serve is where it’s at!  

Run, Sit, Move, Breathe