The Benefits of Practicing Mindfulness One Person’s Journey of Transformation by Brooke J. Justason
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he practice of babies and I stopped to mindfulness take a deep breath. A provides the optranquil moment with portunity to pause and nature—moments we may reclaim the power of the so rarely get to enjoy as we present moment. As we shift into the hustle and are all students, this allows bustle that comes with us the potential to shift adulthood. Flashbacks of the awareness and start playing in the dirt with fresh in any moment. my brother arose, lifting Touching into a space of rock after rock to colpresence, wisdom is at lect worms and running your fingertips along with to the little pond in our love and creativity; there backyard to throw them are so many possibilities. to the abundant fish and The freer one becomes, the seemingly monstrous closer one arrives to their frogs. I felt so grateful to Brooke J. Justason truest self. be able to rediscover this This may all seem like a fairy tale to part of myself and to be able to do this as an some—one you may dance through only occupation. With this drastic change in ocin your dreams. However, dreams really cupation, my mental health flourished, my do have the power to become reality. In physical health was strengthened and my yoga, there is something called the gunas, morals became virtuous. Many moments of Sanskrit for strands or qualities that make bliss followed with gratitude, only to be emup this current life and the universe as we powered through the toughest situations. It know it. There are three gunas: tamas, rajas was a beautiful domino effect on my overall and sattva. Tamas provides us with our well-being that nature helped to initiate. foundation, rajas give it vitality and breath, This state of being is known as sattva. and sattva permeates it with consciousI had been working at the farm for about ness and compassionate awareness. There a month then, coming out of the stressful are certain environments and lifestyles environment of waitressing. As a 19-yearthat help to nurture our reality, cradling it old woman, I made the conscious decision within one of these gunas. to explore uncharted land for someone my Nearly two years ago, I was sheltered age, valuing happiness over money. Little in a greenhouse overlooking the Shelton did I know that this would guide me to a Herb Farm at my transplanting station. I sattvic state of being. Spending long days on was cranking out some Malabar Spinach the farm, outdoors in every sort of condition, I realized where my values, interests and strengths lie. I truly believe if I had not pursued this alternative path from the typical norm today, I would still be residing within the tamas state of being. As my final semester approached at University of North Carolina, Wilmington, I began to think more in depth about what I wanted to get out of my 480-hour internship for my major, Global Public Health. Just the thought of leaving the farm, the place I felt that permeated my being with compassionate awareness, shook me up. As I was guided to Nan Cameron at the 24
Coastal Carolinas
Cameron Clinic of Oriental Medicine, we decided this could be a good fit for us both. As I shifted my external environment, from a full-time farmer to a fulltime intern at the clinic, there were many internal shifts as well. Now I realize what it’s like to find freedom in any moment and rediscover this power that one best sees fit for oneself, and the world at large. I encourage every reader to acknowledge what power they can take back that has caused possible limiting beliefs on their self. Something as simple as going for a walk all by yourself, getting our hands in dirt, buying some ingredients for a week of nourishing smoothies, giving yourself that nurturing environment to reach that sattvic state of being—life has a plethora of possibilities of which you can define. I thank my mentors Margret Shelton, Elizabeth Hewitt and Cameron, who have helped me to reach where I am today and to this frame of mind I have now. Brook J. Justason is currently a student at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, graduating in Spring 2021 majoring in Global Public Health with a minor in Yoga Studies. The Cameron Clinic of Oriental Medicine is located at 1928 S 16th St., in Wilmington. For more information or to make an appointment, call 910-342-0999 or visit CamClinic.com. The Shelton Herb Farm is located at 340 Goodman Rd., in Leland. For more information, call 910253-5964 or visit SheltonHerbFarm.com. See ad, page 4. HealthyLivingCoastalCarolinas.com
