Meditation has been a part of Michelle Maros’ life for as long as she can remember. Her mother, Barb Schmidt, has been practicing meditation for decades, and she had a feelings board in her room that even as a toddler helped her identify her happiness, anger and sadness.
Born and raised in Boca Raton, Maros and her mother co-founded the nonprofit Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life in 2012, helping clients learn more about meditation, self care and mental health wellness. Maros has a “Love Notes” Substack, and the duo also hosts the “Life Happens” podcast.
In November, her book “Dear Friend” was published, with a passage for each day of the year (including Leap Day!) for readers to contemplate.
“This book was really kind of came from growing up with my mom, reading passages from books before setting off for school to set the tone for the day,” Maros says. “It’s kind of a compilation of just everything that I’ve learned and been through and the practices and teachings that I’ve accumulated along the way into these little bite-sized daily messages.”
While Maros saw her mother meditate and practice mindfulness, it wasn’t until her late 20s that she incorporated it into her own life. She says she was going through a bad breakup and other life struggles when she tried yoga and took more of an interest in slowing down her racing thoughts though meditation. When working with students, she emphasizes that meditation and mindfulness looks different for everyone.
“I hear so often from people—they don’t have time to meditate or their schedules are already so busy,” she says.
“My mom likes to teach that it’s all about finding the practice that works for you and what you will actually do and that’s sustainable. We share what works for us. I do meditate in the morning, sitting before I start the day, but it can be in your car before you get out, closing your eyes before going into work and taking some deep breaths or yoga or movement.
And contrary to popular belief—yoga instructors and meditation coaches aren’t perfect people who never fall victim to anger, frustration, anxiety or sadness. For Maros, she says “It doesn’t make life easier, but I find it helps me to manage life or handle things better than I might have in a former version of myself.
“Maybe I’m a little more patient on the road or I’m not so quick to knee jerk react to something that’s angered me, or I have more grace for my mom when she’s irritating me,” she laughs. “It’s in those little moments that I find the most benefit but certainly those moments add up.”
As for her new book, “Dear Friend,” she hopes readers find it to be exactly that, a daily note from a friend cheering them on, making them think, or helping them take a few minutes to slow down. There are entries that align with a holiday or certain months, but Maros says that readers can also flip to a random page and still learn.
“I wanted anyone who felt lonely or disconnected or unsure in any part of their lives, that they needed a friendly voice or a gentle nudge or a bit of inspiration, that they could go to the book and get whatever they might be needing or looking for in that moment,” she says. “I hope that anyone, no matter how they’re feeling, can use it as a guide or a reminder or a source of inspiration to help them better foster the relationship ultimately that they have with themselves.”
