Hi, I'm Maree
I am a mother,
yoga and spiritual teacher,
secondary teacher and health professional
with over thirty years experience working with people
in the areas of rehabilitation and education.
I have been studying the Indian spiritual traditions, including,
Buddhism and yoga for over ten years.
I certainly have not always been in the position
to help others find happiness and meaning in their lives.
At many times in my life I have been unhappy and unsure.
It is thanks to
Wonderful wise teachers,
in many areas in my life,
who committed so generously to
teach, support and guide me in this fun,
and at times challenging, transformative process
And thanks also to,
my family and friends (including you)
for their love, support and encouragement.
It is funny how, in so many ways,
all the spiritual training I have done has
lead me right back to where I was ten years ago.
I remain a mother, wife, teacher, friend and community member.
However one thing is thankfully different,
my mindset.
I am so grateful to have been able to take the
wisdom I have fortunate to receive
and apply it to my life
in simple, practical, and heartfelt ways
to serve my family, friends and community.
This makes me truly happy.
It has allowed me to
get over many negative, unhelpful habits and
be a more positive, helpful, happy force in the world. (An ongoing job :)).
A story I like to tell, related to
simple practical wisdom is my
Slapdash Sock Story
Meet my socks!
I love colourful, happy socks,
they have become my trademark
One of my children taught me how to find
the joy in helping others many years ago.
Like most of us I tend to spend
a lot of time in the laundry.
In the past most of this time was spent
without much joy or care.
I would be in there huffing and puffing with
a negative, resentful soundtrack going on in my mind.
"Why was it my job? Why didn't anyone seem to care or appreciate my efforts?
I have better things to be doing with my time,
I spend half my life in the laundry,
I just want to get it done as quick as possible and get out of there".
The service rendered in this case lacked joy and care too!
I tended to be slapdash,
pairing the socks any which way, hanging and folding haphazardly and hastily
in a desperate effort to finish and move on.
I did not realise the unhelpful habits I was creating.
I was building up resentment and unhappiness.
I did not know I had a choice to make it agony or fun.
One day one of my boys announced with joy
"don't you love it w hen you open your socks and they are the right way around".
"Really!" I thought, "
it makes a difference if I take the time to turn the sock the right way around!"
My slapdash resentment in the laundry
was not helpful to me or my family.
No joy for me or them.
I made a decision that day,
I would make the laundry somewhere I could serve with joy.
No more resentment and negativity there.
I would also do my best to be mindful and take care as I paired, folded and hung.
It has truly become a favourite place of mine.
Complete with the Dalai Lama
'The True Meaning of Life' poster hanging there to remind me
When I am aware of unhelpful habits
and understand that I can choose
to create more helpful ones,
I can do my best to benefit others with joy.
So that, as Gandhi says,
"The server and those served
have the opportunity for joy".
the joy in helping others many years ago.
Like most of us I tend to spend
a lot of time in the laundry.
In the past most of this time was spent
without much joy or care.
I would be in there huffing and puffing with
a negative, resentful soundtrack going on in my mind.
"Why was it my job? Why didn't anyone seem to care or appreciate my efforts?
I have better things to be doing with my time,
I spend half my life in the laundry,
I just want to get it done as quick as possible and get out of there".
The service rendered in this case lacked joy and care too!
I tended to be slapdash,
pairing the socks any which way, hanging and folding haphazardly and hastily
in a desperate effort to finish and move on.
I did not realise the unhelpful habits I was creating.
I was building up resentment and unhappiness.
I did not know I had a choice to make it agony or fun.
One day one of my boys announced with joy
"don't you love it w hen you open your socks and they are the right way around".
"Really!" I thought, "
it makes a difference if I take the time to turn the sock the right way around!"
My slapdash resentment in the laundry
was not helpful to me or my family.
No joy for me or them.
I made a decision that day,
I would make the laundry somewhere I could serve with joy.
No more resentment and negativity there.
I would also do my best to be mindful and take care as I paired, folded and hung.
It has truly become a favourite place of mine.
Complete with the Dalai Lama
'The True Meaning of Life' poster hanging there to remind me
When I am aware of unhelpful habits
and understand that I can choose
to create more helpful ones,
I can do my best to benefit others with joy.
So that, as Gandhi says,
"The server and those served
have the opportunity for joy".
I have had fun putting these wise teachings
into practice, in my life as a wife, mother, teacher, friend,
facilitator, public speaker and organiser of events and workshops,
to promote
happiness, peace of mind and confidence
I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and wisdom
I would love you to join me in
leaning simple, practical wisdom tools
to promote peace of mind, mindfulness, confidence and connection.
It would be
fun to share this wisdom with you
Click here for some ways we can
connect