I’ve just returned from Vegetarian Summerfest (now officially renamed Vegan Summerfest!) in Johnstown, PA.

It was there that I had four occasions to present and speak about mindfulness, and the abilities that mindfulness practices bring us for being more effective and at ease in a busy, often troubled world.

The response was overwhelmingly positive.  I spoke with so many women and men who are trying to find a way to meet the challenges of being veg in an omnivorous world.  This was the theme of my Plenary talk (picture snapped at that event, above). At that talk, I shared with everyone my Open Letter to Oprah. And the earnest turnout for my mindful eating session tells me that, well, all the diet advice in the world doesn't help if you don't have the presence of mind to implement it.

Between you and me, my coaching and teaching dance card this past year has increasingly been filled by people who not only want to be healthy and fit, but also are deeply desirous of finding a more joyful relationship with food, eating, and their body.  Many of them have tried very restrictive food plans that have either resurfaced an old war with their bodies or even, in some circumstances, launched an eating disorder.  Upon reading The Mindful Vegan, and learning that I teach and practice another way, it has been a joy to work with so many of these people and with them open the door to mindful living which leads to mindful eating and a healthy, happy relationship with food, eating, and your body.

Which brings us to today's quick, 3 question survey.  We can always work one-on-one with these issues, but what about a group approach?  This is from where my idea of a Virtual Retreat emerged.  We could do this together, over the course of perhaps a month, with live video presentations, conferencing, and Q and A, going through the steps of The Mindful Vegan together...and any other splendid ideas about all of this we can come up with.  Please fill out this short survey and tell me your thoughts about this idea.  I'm thinking early Fall as a time for this should we move forward.

Fawn Rescue!  My husband Greg and I ride our bikes just about every day along the flumes in the mountains here in northern California. Two days ago on our ride, we encountered a fawn that had fallen into the rushing water and couldn't escape!  We could hear the fawn's mother upslope, snorting in distress.  The good news is that Greg jumped in the water and rescued the fawn, and I caught it all on video here!

Does letting go of things from the past bring you more into the present? This morning I filled over an hour with the task of sorting through some of the detritus of life that has been waiting patiently in the attic to be processed. I find that going through things is also a measure of our willingness to be present with our lives today, rather than being bolstered by past achievements or too deep awash in memories. If we cannot let go of these things today, when will we ever? I share my thoughts and invite you to share yours in the article here.