I moved to San Francisco in 2012 where I jumped into a high intensity job with a global advertising agency. I got laid off nearly a year later and leaped into the startup world-marketing high technology software where I went through several jobs in several years, experiencing an acquisition, time as a co-founder, and Head of Growth for VC backed companies. I got burnt out. I became disconnected from nature, a healthy pace of life and most importantly, my heart.

I am grateful for the experiences I have had, and am grateful towards the stress because it led me to meditation. I began with doing a free trail of Headspace where I would struggle to sit with my eyes closed for even a minute. I eventually worked myself up to being able to sit for more than a minute with my eyes closed- I would lay in bed nearly half asleep and then I worked my way up to be able to sit in the chair while being guided by Andy Puddicumb’s soothing British accent. I felt the benefits immediately and could tell that there was something here that intrigued and helped me function in society and to calm down my ever spinning mind.

I heard that it was important to engage the spine when meditating and so I eventually would lean into it in my chair, struggling to stay awake and engaged. I ended up making the leap to a 10 day silent sit and it was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. I struggled to sit on the round poofs that they call Zafu’s, often filled with cotton or buckwheat until the pillow type seat is firm. After 20 minutes my legs go numb and my previously torn ligaments in my right ankle shoot pains up my leg.

Love & Light.

Andy