STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
It would have been apropos for the Washington, D.C., crowd before insurgents stormed the U.S. Capitol Building last week. But, as they always say, better late than never!
Ryan Redman will present “Before the Spark Becomes a Flame” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, via Zoom. The presentation is part of the Hailey Public Library’s series Mindful Living in Challenging Times. RSVP to Kristin.fletcher@haileypubliclibrary.org
Redman will explore how parents, grandparents and others can use mindfulness and compassion to help keep conflicts from escalating.
The evening will also include a broad view of mindfulness practice by psychologist Dr. Paula Seikel. Seikel co-teaches classes at Idaho State University exploring the uses of mindfulness and self-compassion in the health professions. In February, 2019, she entered a two-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program led by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach.
“Because of COVIG-19 restrictions, our lives are often stressful and tempers can quickly flare,” said Kristin Fletcher, the library’s programs and community engagement coordinator. “Ryan will share his personal experiences as a parent to illustrate ways all of us can create space around potentially regrettable episodes in our lives that could damage relationships with our kids, family and friends.”
Redman, co-founder of the Flourish Foundation, has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies at the University of California-Santa Barbara. After graduation he traveled to India and spent three years deepening his personal practice and furthering his understanding of various contemplative traditions. He received a master’s degree in Contemplative Education from Naropa University in Boulder, Colo.
His Flourish Foundation, a social-profit based in Hailey, is dedicated to inspiring systemic change through promoting personal well-being, social action, and environmental stewardship. He has been teaching meditation in the schools and community for the past 20 years and is a devoted husband and father of two growing boys.