Greetings from France

[Tilleulais]

Hello,
I have been studying Mindfulness and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for some time now. I have a Mindful meditation practise with my wife and children who are somewhat indifferent but try to humour me. We are using mindfulness as an alternative to medication in the treatment of my long-standing severe depression, and the journey is a bumpy one. I have avoided medication for two years, despite a major depressive episode earlier this year. Mindfulness practise supported me through this, and I have emerged more aware, better balanced and embracing the moment. English by origin we live in France where we are planning to open a mindfulness retreat centre in 2016, near to Le Havre. For the moment I am in an executive job where the culture is the antithesis of mindfulness. Accepting it for what it is would test the resolve of the deepest meditator, but I meet it as best I can moment by moment. We want to meet other practitioners and to share our experiences as we move from the traditional western way of living to something better.

[JonW]

Hi Tilleulais,
A very warm welcome to you. Please feel free to make yourself at home here in the Everyday Mindfulness community. I think you'll find us to be a very friendly bunch.
I'm fascinated to hear about your plans for a mindfulness retreat centre over there in France and would love to hear more, as I'm sure all the members of this forum would.
In the meantime, I hope mindfulness is keeping Churchill's black dog away from your door. In my own experience, mindfulness has been hugely beneficial in terms of enabling me to live a life virtually free of anxiety and depression.
All best wishes to you & your family.
Cheers,
Jon,
Hove, UK

[Gareth]

Yes, yours does sound like a very interesting journey. I'd love to hear more.

Good luck in trying to persuade your wife about the benefits of meditation. I've been trying for five years and counting.

[JonW]

Maybe you should treat your missus to an 8-week course voucher for Xmas, Gareth…Or a meditation bench and a copy of Full Catastrophe Living.
Imagine the delight around the Xmas tree in the Gareth household…
JW

[FeeHutch]

Hello and welcome!