Title: Gratitude Yo

Gender: Female

Age: 40

Location: BARRE, MA

It's hard to narrow ones Self down to this little box. I feel box-less….. I have been informally studying Buddhism and practicing Vipassana (Insight Buddhist meditation) since I was about 19, while also interested in many philosophies.

I grew up in southern California, raised by loving, aware, wise folks who also happened to be Transpersonal & Humanistic Psychotherapists (it's nice to have a web community where I can say that and you may actually know what that is). Am ENFP (Myers Briggs; extroverted, intuitive, feeling, perceptive)….but am on the border of being introverted, really….

I began studying, informally and formally, natural health and healing when I was 21. While a broker for the natural products industry, I drove 3,000 miles a month, covering a large terrritory in the south/southeast, working with dozens of natural food stores. I managed a large natural food store for many years in KY and then moved to the mountains of NC, by myself, in 2000.

Part of the inspiration for my move came from reading 'Choosing Simplicity' several years ago. I then worked for a non-profit art organization - Penland School of Crafts. I was the registrar for six years and managed the office. I also learned to make handmade books and worked with clay. I discovered that we are all artists. I also went back to school, working toward a B.A in Special Education….I worked hard, got good grades and became a junior at Mars Hill College before moving to central MA.

Nov. 2008 update: Took yet another Leap of Faith and followed by Deepest Intention and moved to central MA, where I now live and work at a Buddhist meditation retreat center (Theravada tradition).

I'm a member of MoveOn.org, and have been since its inception. Am also a member of the ACLU and International Campaign for Tibet.