Week One: the Mindful in May ripple spreads…
“A great human revolution in just a single individual will help enable a change in the destiny of all humankind.”
~Daisaku Ikeda
It’s been an absolutely inspiring first week of Mindful in May. The mindful ripple has truly spread far and wide with people infusing their own sense of community spirit, creativity and fun to the challenge.
We have people from all over the world including Australia, New Zealand, America, Canada, Indonesia, Argentina, Ireland, Singapore, Spain, Belgium, Scotland, Romania, Israel, Thailand, Vienna, China and…..drum roll…..Mongolia!
The response to Mindful in May highlights the power of our hyper-connected world in facilitating the creation of like minded community across oceans and borders. It also speaks to the thirst we have as a society to find ways to connect to ourselves, take a pause, and bring more calm and clarity into our daily lives amidst the frenetic pace of day to day life.
As a community , in only three weeks we have raised nearly $70,000 to help bring the people of Rwanda better access to clean, safe drinking water.
Here are a few highlights from social media channels of our MIM community, don’t miss this it’s BEAUTIFUL!
Some other highlights from the MIM community:
Ilana Laps, our most committed and enthusiastic individual fundraising MIMster , has raised an incredible $2160 through an innovative idea and challenge to her own sponsors:
“The more you donate, the more I’ll meditate”
This has landed her a 40-minute-a-day challenge, which she’s reflecting with a twist of humor, insight and wisdom at her blog HERE. Take a look, its engaging reading. You can sponsor her challenge HERE hopefully she’ll have the time to keep meditating with all those donations flooding in!
On a creative note Paige Keene has set up her own Mandala fundraising page on Facebook a brilliant idea where she offered her first sponsors a Mandala poster that she was making especially for the cause. You can sponsor her challenge HERE
On the MIM team front, GOOGLE DEVELOPERS are leading the mindful fundraising effort with the EMILY LUBITZ team (lead singer of the adored Australian band TIN PAN ORANGE) coming in a close second.
The WE LOVE TO MEDITATE ‘s led by Gil Korman have started their own weekly offline meditation group for Mindful in May where they meet, eat, meditate, and discuss ideas. A true community spirit supporting one another in the challenge.
Bek Barson, introduced MIM to her workplace PANDA, a lifesaving organisation offering support to Mothers in need, and so team PANDA was born. They are starting their day with a mindful meeting that begins with a short meditation. If only all workplaces could be so MINDFUL.
Our adored Australian actor and comedian, MAGDA SZUBANSKI is part of the community and is a proud Mindful in May Ambassasdor. You can sponsor her challenge HERE and look out for some special prizes she’s going to announce soon for people who donate to her cause.
If you’ve come up with some creative ways to make Mindful in May more meaningful or communal, please let us know on FACEBOOK so we can share your creativity and passion.
It’s exciting to see some conscious companies joining the meditation challenge, including:
The Divine DUMBO FEATHER (our supporters) who are kindly opening their HQ’s for this Mindful Music event .
The Luscious LULULEMON that can be sponsored HERE.
The Fabulous FIVE AM ORGANIC YOGHURT that can be sponsored HERE
Watch the clip below by Charity Water to see how our donations and fundraising will be making a difference in the lives of so many people in need of clean, safe drinking water.
Sponsorship and fundraising will continue throughout the month of May so there is time to put on your creative hats and work out ways of collectively making the biggest impact possible this May!
If you’re fundraising this year here are some ideas that you could adapt to inspire people to donate to your MIM challenge and bring clean water to more people in need:
- Host a Mindful Meal (you can use the Mindful Meals Guide in Day 5 Newsletter Day) where you can cook dinner for friends and invite them to make a donation to your cause in exchange. You can introduce them to mindful eating and meditation. Try putting on blindfolds and really experiencing the flavours of your food!
- Offer incentives for your potential sponsors or donors eg. what service or product could you offer in exchange for a donation?
- Invite people to sponsor you a dollar a day for each day you meditate in May.
- Introduce your workplace to the Mindful in May challenge
Happy Meditating,
We are moving into the second week of MIM with inspiration…literally. We’re going to focus on mindfulness of breath.
Be Mindful,
Elise Bialylew
Founder of Mindful in May
Follow twitter @mindfulinmay (#mim2013)
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"If we wish to be healthy, happy and clear-minded, we need to upgrade our “inner technology”of attention to meet the demands of our increasingly complex world. That's where mindfulness comes in.."
- DR ELISE BIALYLEW
about the HOST AND FOUNDER OF
MINDFUL IN MAY:
DR ELISE BIALYLEW
Elise Bialylew is the author of the bestselling book, The Happiness Plan, and founder of Mindful in May, the world’s largest online global mindfulness fundraising campaign.
A doctor trained in psychiatry, turned social entrepreneur and mindfulness expert, she’s passionate about supporting individuals and organisations to develop inner tools for greater wellbeing and flourishing, and offers workshops and training at The Mind Life Project.
Her work has been featured in the Huffington Post, New York Times and on Australian Television. She was recently recognised by the Australian Financial Review as a 2019 AFR Women of Influence.
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