Dear friends,
As the year draws to a close, we are grateful for what we have done together and we take some time to reflect on our mission and commitment. DCMC was created by a group of like-minded teachers who wanted to bring an organized force for good in North Texas and beyond. Before coming together in 2020, each teacher was offering their own classes and courses. We realized that our reach and impact would be greatly enhanced by joining force.
Thus, Dallas Center for Mindfulness and Compassion was born and incorporated in the state of Texas in June of 2020. We received nonprofit status in early 2021. The initial core of 3 teachers has grown to 6 teachers to-date and growing.
WHO we are
Just like you, we are people with jobs, families, home mortgages, quirks, likes and dislikes. We live amongst you. We do this work out of a calling. We have committed ourselves to ongoing training so we can be better teachers. And we have committed ourselves to offering a robust year-round program.
WHAT we offer
For a few years now, we have offered low-cost and/or no cost programs, attempting to accommodate each person’s or organization’s ability to pay. We have used community-supported locations to move our programs toward those we serve. To-date we have offered drop-in programs in the Dallas County jail, at a DISD school, at Dallas community college. We have also offered structured courses within a business office building and a Dallas church.
WHY we do it
Most of us, human beings on this planet, have to face challenges at times, with regard to our sense of self, our significant relationships, and our sense of meaning and purpose in life. Many will seek out meditation and mindfulness practices to help move through the challenges of each life stage. We may begin a meditation practice for relief from a too busy life and its associated stress, for relief from mental health challenges, or for help in coping with ill health. We may also seek greater engagement with life and cooperation with others, and a deepening of our spiritual life.
Often, we start on our own with the help of a phone or computer app. We join online classes or courses. These are all welcome helpers on the way.
But we also know that maintaining such practice is a challenge as motivation dwindles over time.
At DCMC, we believe that mindfulness and meditation practices are bolstered when done in the same space/room with others. To maintain motivation and commitment and to grow in practice, we all need a community of teachers and peers where we can engage in fully embodied practice. This is in such a safe and welcoming environment that we can grow our personal and collective wellbeing, healing, development and whole life satisfaction.
Whether you are just starting out, trying to maintain a fledging practice, or deepening a stable practice, we want to provide a space to experience reflection, imagination, and contemplation. We want to make it easy by offering our program at low-cost and/or by donation. We also want to remain non-religious based so that you don’t have to change your belief system.
We are providing companionship, a possibility of accountability, a sense that there are people just like you right here who are going through the same thing – who really want to calm down, we really want to feel more grounded rather than overwhelmed and puzzled by the chaos of life.
Together, we aim to create a tissue, a web, of connectivity for the greater good.
We look forward to seeing you in the new year.
Blessings to you and yours,
The teachers at DCMC – Alfie, Christiane, Janet, Michael, Tracy, and Tyler