Well Wisdom Years + Stress Reduction Series - The Day I Accidentally Discovered Meditation

I accidentally found meditation when I was 35 years old.

It happened at a spa (or so I thought it was a spa) because upon arrival we were told the first meeting would be happening in in 10 minutes and to meet in Studio 2 with the title “Loving Kindness / Metta Meditation" on the sign on the entryway door.

I didn’t really know what meditation was, nor had I experienced it before. I just knew this: I was guided into a state of consciousness I had never experienced before, and I liked it.

You don’t have to bother doing the math (I already did it for you): I’m 58 now. And I can honestly say meditation has been a lifeline ever since.

That first experience unlocked something in me. I was so intrigued that I signed up for every class and activity with the words meditation, mindfulness, or presence in the title.

And the clarity, peace of mind, and the sense of embodied presence I felt during each experience was intoxicating! In the high on your own supply kind of way.

I didn’t realize it then, but what I was experiencing wasn’t just relaxation.

It was my rebirth.

I felt different—calmer, more open, more alive. I had been living for so many years all wound up in my ruminating thoughts, and suddenly, I felt the gift (the present) of being present.

I left that spa feeling like I had discovered oxygen—and then something extraordinary happened.

While at the airport heading home from a retreat, I wandered into a small bookstore and was drawn immediately to a book: “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle.

I didn’t know who he was (yet), or what the book was about—but something in me knew I needed it. That book has become a companion on my path. I’ve returned to it year after year, especially during moments when I feel triggered into overthinking, future-tripping, or self-doubt.

Eckhart’s words help me to to recognize it, feel into whatever it is, and then walk through it.

 I Became a Student

I read everything I could get my hands on. I attended workshops, went to retreats, and kept learning. And the more I learned, the more I realized meditation wasn’t just a “nice wellness activity.”

It was a mind-body skill.
A nervous system reset.
A way of living, and being, and showing up as myself, for myself, and for those I love and serve in my work. 

What Mindfulness Really Is

In my understanding:

Mindfulness is the art of being aware of what is happening right now—without judgment.

It’s not about being “zen” all the time. It’s about learning to meet life as it is—whether life is beautiful, messy, uncertain, or wildly inconvenient.

Mindfulness teaches conscious acceptance. Not passive resignation—just the ability to stop fighting reality in the present moment.

And that, my friend, can ease stress instantly.

My Truth: I Was an Olympic-Level Overthinker

Before meditation, I suffered from anxiety regularly.

I’ve always been a sensitive person… Somewhat shy. An outgoing introvert with a very analytical mind (that’s the kind version). I was constantly reviewing the past and rehearsing the future.

Now, I happily refer to myself as a recovering overthinker.

And the truth is it caused me so much unnecessary suffering.

Meditation gave me the ability to step out of that mental hamster wheel. I learned how to return to center. How to witness my thoughts instead of letting them run the entire show.

Over time, I began to surrender. I began to trust life. I developed a knowing that the Universe has our back.
And—most importantly—I developed a deep trust in myself.

That self-trust is a core principle in the work I do.

Because here’s the truth I’ve come to know wholeheartedly:

Nothing can make or break you if you stay grounded and centered.

And I want that for YOU.

Coming Up in Part 2…

In the next blog, I’m going to share all about “the stress response” most people are not taught. How stress impacts the body, the difference between the fight-or-flight and relaxation response, and why I believe the antidote is meditation.

And I’ll also give you a few “instant calm” techniques you can use in seconds.

Because you deserve to feel good. Now.

With love,
Liz 💛