An Origin Story
by Sara Flitner
Some of you have heard me tell the origin story of Becoming Jackson Whole—our vision to bring science-based mindfulness tools to the community at scale as a response to the growing mental health and wellness needs of an anxious, distracted society. Our scientist friends provide evidence for the benefits of focused attention training - sharper insight, reduced conflict, deeper impact – and you, our community, bear it out in your stories.
When I first embraced this vision, I found myself—somewhat accidentally—in start-up mode, struggling to find balance while running my own consultancy and raising two teenage sons. At the time, they seemed determined to punish me for whatever I had done to my own parents, insisting I ride shotgun while they drove, with minimal focus on safety—at least from my perspective.
I’ll never forget one early moment. Dr. Amishi Jha, our Chief Science Advisor and an internationally acclaimed mindfulness researcher, had just spoken at a public event here in Jackson. My 16-year-old son was driving us to the reception for Dr. Jha when we ran out of gas—right on Broadway. As a parade of educators, scientists, and mindfulness enthusiasts passed us with puzzled looks, I may have had a minor meltdown. The focus of my attention was on swearing.
My son, exasperated, turned to me and said,
“Mom, this mindfulness sh$% is really stressing you out.”
The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
Now here we are, mid-August, in the full buzz of summer—when schedules are maxed out and no one’s really thinking they can keep it all in the road until Labor Day. Just this week, while planning for our annual community event, as my blood pressure was headed for the top floor, I realized I was working the wrong agenda. I was wasting energy on the weather, the pace of August, the exhaustion and over-commitment we’re all swimming in. Familiar mental patterns. Consistently useless.
Tonight, we host the annual TRYathlon—doors open at 4:30 on the Jackson Elementary lawn. Free yoga, mindfulness practice, qi gong, live music from Vale, cool vendors, and wellness practitioners. The details have been dealt with, thanks to our incredible team.
Whether you’re joining us tonight, have in the past, or are simply reading this—thank you. Your support, your courage to imagine how things could be better, has made possible more things than I imagined five short years ago. In some essential way, we’ve already finished the most important race: the one that gets us to the starting line.
This week, amid the busyness, I was struck again by the unique energy of this community. I saw it in people suspended in complete stillness, witnessing a dancer’s body paint a giant backdrop, and in the murmuration of a crowd of many individuals becoming indistinguishable from one another under the spell of summer air and live music. And yet again, walking down the riverbank, dotted with the few silhouettes pausing to witness this water spilling downstream.
When my mind locks onto a to-do list or lets tension fester, I recall these other data points and shift my focus to where it can be more powerful. Thanks to this work, I have the tools to do that. And without swearing.