Mindful by accident

[luckysod]

Hello all, I am a fellow who has been practicing mindfulness and experiencing its profound benefits for 4 or so years, though it was less than a month ago that i learned of its label and common practice. I made this discovery via an app that went some way to explaining the process and when I read what was there it dawned that much of it could have been paraphrased from my own journaling.
In fairness there was nothing mystical about the way it happened, it came about after nearly 30yrs of searching, for what I wasnt sure, but I never doubted the need, driven by any emptyness and generalised discontent that I knew wasn't right. Religion, work and wealth, rote learning and practice of self help theories, travel are just some of the paths I searched.
During the time it began I was on a 6 mth wander through India, bearing in mind that serious illness had taken most of what I had gained on the wealth to happiness path, house etc. in the 3yrs prior.
At this point my mind set was more one of self destruction rather than self actualization (i had often moved between the two) so the trip was not a spiritual one. I stayed mostly with local.famalies from the very poor to the well to do with the only spiritual types i met being the accasional Sadi on the street.
I can speculate on some of the catalysts for example for a 2mth period I was unable to communicate in english at all, but still formed bonds and had a great time with the people I was with. Shortly afterward I began to journal, I dont recall the thought behind it, but it has turned out to be critical to my process.
With all these wonderful resourses I look forward to more of the journey with deep unquestioning certainty that being mindfull and self-aware is the well spring of the grail I had sought.

I wish you well,


David