Join me as I talk with Gretchen Miura, a mindfulness meditation teacher, grief care facilitator, and dear friend.  We discuss what originally led each of us to mindfulness meditation, the role grief played in our paths to it, and how our paths intersected in the first place.  Gretchen shares what led to creating the grief support group she co-facilitates with Sarah Furuya, Lighthouse Circle. Joining the first iteration of Lighthouse Circle in 2021 was an instrumental step in dealing with my own grief after losing my mom and second child.  We also talk about how important and useful meditation has become in our lives and the value it has for us on many levels. We explore how it can be a vital tool in learning to slow down, get curious, be kind (to ourselves!), appreciate the little things, manage stress, and deal with anxiety.  Gretchen shares information about the upcoming annual Zen Mindfulness Retreat she runs with her husband at Dairyuji Temple in Akita prefecture, which is a wonderful way to get a taste of mindfulness meditation, get away from the stresses of life, get in touch with yourself, and/or simply relax and connect.  For today’s take-away, Gretchen leads us on a brief five minute meditation. The next round of Lighthouse Circle starts in October More information about the Zen Mindfulness Retreat at Dairyuji Temple (Oct 25 - Oct 27) Follow me on social: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠ Visit my ⁠website⁠ Music credit: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/belonging⁠ License code: SEX8P9CEYVUGA9UJ #mindfulmeditation #mindfulness #zentemple #dairyujitempleakita #zenretreat #dairyujiretreat #lighthousecircle #griefsupport #griefsupport group #selfcompassion #lifeinjapan #healingyourself #innerstrength #innerwork #radicalacceptance