Dec 25/Jan26 Aspire Magazine FULL Issue | Page 86

We know life can be demanding, so let’ s be gentle with ourselves.

Mindfulness offers more than a momentary pause— it’ s a steady practice that helps us hear our own wisdom; it awakens us to the beauty of this one precious life, not someday in the future, but right here and now. It is not just a tool or practice— it is a way of being in the world and living on purpose.

MINDFULNESS IS NOT JUST A PRACTICE; IT IS A WAY OF BEING

Start 2026 not with thoughts of reinventing yourself but by remembering yourself – aware of your thoughts, emotions, and daily actions – present to what is, with curiosity and compassion. Spend more time being and less time doing.

However, you choose to begin, may 2026 be a year of steady presence, open-hearted awareness, and deep alignment with what matters most to you.

JESSICA BANE ROBERT – Jessica Bane Robert is a professor of mindfulness at Clark University and the founder of the Barred Owl Retreat, in Central Massachusetts. With over 20 years of experience, Jessica has honed her gits to become a transformational mindfulness coach, sound healer, forest bathing guide, NLP coach, writer, and speaker. She offers nurturing workshops and retreats focused on holistic mindfulness-based practices, creative expression, and nature connection. She supports women in navigating transition, reconnecting with their inner wisdom, and creating lives fueled by clarity, purpose, and peace. Learn more at www. BarredOwlRetreat. com