Thanksgiving is on the hearts and minds of everyone as we head into the month of November; it’s an opportunity to truly take pause and find the calm within the chaos. When I center myself and focus on what is of utmost importance, when I really consider the things that make my heart soar with gratitude, it is always my family that is squarely on my mind. My experience as a mother and a grandmother is invaluable to me. I believe that the role of the parent is sacred and this is why I wanted to collectively center our gratitude-filled spirits around the subject of “amplifying the voice of the parent” for the month of November.
The philosophy of empowering children is a pillar of our Urban Zen mission. I believe that children are our future and that parents are their guiding light. It is because of these beliefs that I am extraordinarily honored to have two champions of children’s empowerment as our ambassadors this month: Deborra Lee-Furness and Goldie Hawn. I have admired the work of both of these women for a long time; they are my friends and my inspirations. Goldie is blazing a trail of innovative, holistic education for children through the Hawn Foundation and Deb has turned her passion for adoption advocacy into a platform that propels forward informed solutions for families in transition. Both women have a deep understanding of the importance of the parent/child relationship and I invite you to read more about them here.
Along with my focus on empowering children, my November calendar is filled with many exciting happenings. The Urban Zen Center will open its doors to Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Frank Lipman, Dr. Gil Chimes, New York Yankee Mark Teixiera and Deborra Lee-Furness for engaging programming — so be sure to check out our events page so that you can join us in person. I’m looking forward to returning to Haiti to refuel my connections with Haitian artisans and continuing the development of our beautiful artisan wares. A definite highlight of my month will be my return trip to LA where I’ll reconnect with our partners at UCLA and continue the celebration of our newest Urban Zen location in West Hollywood. Be sure to visit my blog, where I’ll share my experiences with you.
It is certainly a month of abundance befitting our Thanksgiving holiday – the perfect opportunity to be reminded of the value of family. And so, it is with this spirit of gratitude and humility that I invite each and every one of us to come together and amplify the voice of parents so that all children everywhere have the opportunity to discover their own sense of empowerment.