The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Mindfulness

Finding Peace, Love & Unity in Divisive Times

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Holidays are supposed to be a festive time of year, but with all the political divisiveness, natural disasters and even terrorism in downtown Manhattan yet again, it has become difficult to maintain a sense of calm or contentment. The endless news cycles and social media frenzies have us outraged, but at the same time, desensitized us to the horrors that occur in the world. How do we set aside the screens, and engage in productive and constructive conversations with our family and friends when we are so divided? And, how can we find peace and happiness in such stressful times?

Find Common Ground

Focusing on things we can agree on, make it easier to come to an understanding on the issues in which we don’t see eye to eye. Everything is not black and white; there are plenty of grey areas. The idea is to find those areas where you may overlap. If you ask good questions, you will discover common values. Don’t approach the dialogue as being all or nothing; you don’t have to be “with someone” or “against them.” Don’t think us versus them. Have an open mind.

Be Curious, Pause and Observe

Mindfulness can help by increasing our awareness of how stress affects us. When we are stressed, we become reactive and quick to respond, especially with our families. Take time to pause when you are triggered by something or someone; then focus on the thoughts that accompany those feelings. Ask yourself: am I putting my own judgments on top of this experience? Am I making assumptions or jumping to conclusions? Drop into your body and notice where you are feeling the stress, anxiety or anger. Is it in your chest, throat, or belly? If you get out of your head and into your body, the feeling will shift. Pause before you respond. Give yourself some space.

Cultivate Compassion

My famous line is that we are all doing the best we can. Some friends give me a lot of grief for that line, but I truly believe we are doing our best with the information and experience we have. When others act out with anger and hurtful behavior, it usually comes from a place of pain. What did that person experience to make them act a certain way? Rarely is it personal. You don’t need to condone the hurtful behavior, but at least try and understand from where it is coming. When our anger turns to compassion and understanding, we become more peaceful. We actually can empathize with their pain, and realize it’s not about us.

Another way to build your empathy muscle is to try and send positive thoughts to those you don’t particularly care for, or with whom you are angry. This is not an easy task, but will also cultivate compassionate and allow you to become a more peaceful person. After all, if they suffer less, so will you. This does not mean we don’t fight for what we believe, and allow others to walk all over us, we are just in a better place to be able to respond appropriately.

See the Good

The holiday season can be busy and stressful, but take time to find the joy. See the good in people. We are all inextricably connected, and have moments of shared joy and shared pain, which unite us. Many of us felt the collective pain after Hillary lost the election, but also participated in the shared, fun experiences at the various community events in town. The way people helped each other around the country after the hurricanes regardless of political beliefs was incredible, and the way we rally around people in need in this community is just as heartening.

Just scroll through Chappaqua Moms, to see the compassion of the community helping those in need, (despite some of the other posts on there). Noticing moments like this bring us together as a nation and as a community, regardless of political beliefs and election results. So, this holiday season, whether you’re shopping at ICD or Squires, eating lunch at Le Jardin du Roi or having coffee at Tazza; look up from your phone and really notice the people around you. See the good, and have faith in humanity. Even though we may disagree, we are still very much connected.

Happy holidays!

Graceful Gratitude

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By Grace Bennett

I recently started a “Mindfulness Boot Camp” with Jodi Baretz, whose etcetera column in this edition is an excellent reflection on gratitude. I’m not sure I can add more value on the subject than Jodi, but interesting to note: Jodi explained to our group that feeling grateful may not come naturally at all.

In fact, she said that us humans harbor a “negativity bias,” meaning we’re more likely to focus on the one negative aspect of say, a vacation, than on the many positive aspects of the experience. Similarly, in relationships, one negative experience can cast a shadow on an overall positive pairing, or one annoying personality trait might be your obsessive focus on an otherwise wonderful person.

As my mom might have put it, people like to kvetch…a lot. Seems we have to practice being more mindful about feeling grateful!  So I’m going to share just a few things I’m feeling grateful for today:

  • To fresh starts, professionally speaking. Like the redesign of this magazine. Chappaqua’s Lisa Samkoff came on board to give our Inside pubs a more contemporary look. We hope you agree that it has been a successful effort. Grateful for other key support from Caroline Rosengarden and Andrew Vitelli, and for all our contributors and of course, sponsors, to each edition.
  • The exciting new theatre productions underway at the Horace Greeley Theater Company. Rehearsals are underway for ‘Into the Woods,” directed by Jonathan Gellert. Tickets are on sale for the Nov. 17-19 performances. For more information, visit
    Cast members of "Into the Woods"
    Cast members of “Into the Woods”

    http://www.greeleytheater.tix.com

  • To the power of the written word. I’m thrilled that seven courageous girls took time out this summer to express to the community at large their smart and passionate thoughts about the election while pondering their neighbor’s incredible journey. I’m grateful to Dr. Keri Walsh, who brought her writing program at the Greeley House this past summer to my attention.
  • My ‘get fit’ journey at the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco. I announced on Facebook recently that I’d gained too much weight over the last year. I’m grateful for the opportunity to train twice a week with a wonderfully engaging personal trainer, Sarah Eichorn. She’s making a huge difference in how I feel both physically and mentally in these empty nest years. The changes in how I look and feel are showing in little increments, and I’m embracing Sarah’s belief that a positive journey is as important to my well-being and long term success as any weight loss I experience. I’ll be writing more about this special experience in the next edition, too!

So, tell me. What are you grateful for? Maybe it too could be a story in a future edition of Inside Chappaqua. Write to editor@insidechappaqua.com.

Mindfulness in a Crazy World

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image001-2By Jodi Baretz, LCSW, CHHC

Lately, it seems like on a weekly basis we are hearing about some awful terrorist attack, or act of gun violence. Our flags are constantly at half mast, and we barely mourn one tragedy before another one hits. This is a constant reminder of how intolerance, hate and racism are still present around the world. This unrest adds to the chronic anxiety many of us already feel on a daily basis.

The tragedies we hear about are real, but we have to be mindful of the stories we tell ourselves. It is easy to get carried away with doomsday scenarios, because our hyperactive brains are programmed for survival.

The 24-hour media coverage of shootings, killings and terrorist events perpetuates worry, and creates anxiety. The media often seems to thrive on fear because they know you will tune in. The reality is that “we didn’t start the fire, it was always burning since the world’s been turning.” It just seems that the Armageddon is closer now than ever before.

“If every eight year old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.” –Dalai Lama

While we are so down on the events of the day, we must remember that our current society is much better off than in the past. For example, look at the changes in the LGBT community. It is much safer now for teens and adults alike to be proud and embrace who they are, without tremendous fear of persecution. Additionally, in the past, children with Down’s Syndrome would be institutionalized, and now they are often mainstreamed and have become valued members of society. Remarkably, there is a black President in the White House, which had been unthinkable just a short time ago. We certainly have come a long way, and hopefully can continue along this path.

Nonetheless, the recent awful news has an effect on us, especially those of us with children. We worry about them growing up in a world that is volatile. We worry when they travel overseas. We worry about them being exposed to hate and violence at such a young age. How do we cope with the weight of the world on our shoulders?

Mindfulness practices are not only ways that we can improve focus and be present, but also ways to cultivate love, compassion and bring peace to ourselves and others. When we practice meditation and mindfulness, we open our hearts and realize that although we have different beliefs, races, and religions, we all share a common thing–humanity. We can begin to notice our judgments and biases. Look at your own life and be curious if there are others you have unfairly judged or rejected because they are different than you.

Listen to your self-talk, and notice without judging yourself how your biases and beliefs have affected you. We each have to do our part to be more understanding of others and accept those who are different than ourselves.

A story I heard at a seminar about a soldier returning from Iraq can speak to compassion and non-judgment. He was having difficulty managing his stress and anger, and enrolled in a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction class. He was at a supermarket behind a woman that was handing over her baby to the cashier and delaying his check out. He would normally have said something, but waited and felt the frustration course through his body. When he got to the front of the line, he asked the cashier about the baby, and she revealed that her husband was killed in Iraq, that was her baby, and her mother was watching her because she couldn’t afford child care.

So, what can we do to protect ourselves from sadness, depression and anxiety that the world puts on our shoulders? Shutting off the news every so often, as well as turning off social media, can give our minds a break from the onslaught of negativity. Noticing when your mind races and when you are creating stories that are not facts, help to work with the brains negativity bias. Learning to sit with sadness and grief, without letting it take over our whole beings can be a helpful practice for coping. When compassion and kindness win out we have less hate, anger and intolerance. In addition, being good role models for our children is crucial, because they are watching us all the time. What we say matters. When we engage in these behaviors daily, hopefully, person-by-person, we can change the world, and make a difference.

Jodi Baretz, LCSW, CHHC is a psychotherapist, mindfulness and holistic health coach at The Center for Health and Healing in Mount Kisco. She is the founder of the program and upcoming book, “Mindful is the New Skinny.”

Visit jodibaretz.com for more info or FB group @mindful moms.

 

Greyston Bakery Implementing Mindful Business Strategies

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Making a Difference Since 1982

“I’ve been on the production floor at Greyston and met many of the employees there. I can tell you, there’s no better organization than Greyston in fighting poverty. Please join me in support of this extraordinary organization.” –Ben Stiller, Chappaqua Resident, pictured (right) with Greyston Employee Bernard Anderson
“I’ve been on the production floor at Greyston and met many of the employees there. I can tell you, there’s no better organization than Greyston in fighting poverty. Please join me in support of this extraordinary organization.” –Ben Stiller, Chappaqua resident, pictured (right) with Greyston employee Bernard Anderson

By Janine Crowley Haynes

Here in Northern Westchester, you may not know of Greyston Bakery by name, but, perhaps, you know Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream. Based in Southwest Yonkers, Greyston Bakery delivers 35,000 pounds of brownies per day to Ben & Jerry’s. Greyston’s decadent, mouthwatering baked goods are also sold at Whole Foods and available on their website at Greyston.com. On the packaging of their products is the Greyston mission statement: Bakers on a Mission. We Change Lives. That’s one weighty claim. How could a bakery have the audacity to make such a declaration?

Mindfulness seems to be the buzzword of late, but mindfulness is an age-old concept to describe zen-like philosophical principles. Most of us associate mindfulness with yoga and meditation. Today, the word is being used extensively–mindful living, mindful eating, mindful parenting, mindful shopping, mindful business practices, etc. But…what does it actually mean? Mindfulness is derived from, but not limited to, Buddhist philosophy. It’s about being self-aware of the choices made in the present and how the decision-making process affects the outcome of the future. Philosophically speaking, mindfulness has the potential to change one’s trajectory, path, and eventual outcome in the future. Making mindful decisions is not limited to caring for one’s own wellbeing and prosperity. It also includes feeling a deep sense of responsibility and moral obligation to give back, serve, and uplift those in our communities and beyond for the greater good of humanity.

However, when a company decides to implement mindful principles as part of its business model, how exactly does that translate in the real world? What’s the impact on its success? In addition to turning a profit, is it possible for companies to uplift and enhance the lives of its employees and extend its reach into the community to effect positive change?

That’s one tall order. Yet, Greyston Bakery has been fulfilling that order since its inception in 1982. This is NOT your ordinary bakery. Founder and Buddhist Monk Bernie Glassman opened Greyston Bakery 34 years ago. His intention was to solve the serious social issues of high poverty and unemployment rates in Southwest Yonkers by employing the so-called unemployable. Glassman believed that business success and social justice are two sides of the same coin.

One key principle the Greyston business model is based on is Open Hiring. It benefits those who would not be considered employable by most companies’ standards. In Greyston’s 2015 Fast Facts – Mapping a Solution to Poverty pamphlet, it reads, “…The Bakery has a fundamental commitment to social justice through our Open Hiring policy in which individuals are offered employment regardless of educational attainment, work history, incarceration or past social barriers. Anyone with a positive attitude and strong work ethic is given a chance to transform their life for the better….” Basically, there’s no box to be checked on the application that delves into the applicant’s past. A prospective employee is put on a waiting list, and, when a position opens up, Greyston interviews the next person on the list.

To be clear, Greyston Bakery is a for-profit company. However, all the proceeds go to the Greyston Foundation which, in turn, provides various social programs offered to its employees as well as the community it serves. To say the least, Greyston is a multidimensional, nationally-recognized social enterprise. Since 2008, Greyston became a Certified B Corp, meaning it has to meet “…rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency…B Corp certification evaluates an entire company (e.g. worker engagement, community involvement, environmental footprint and governance structure) rather than looking at just one aspect of a company…”* In addition, Greyston has achieved Level 3 SQF Certification–the highest level in food safety and quality.

Greyston’s commitment to sustainability utilizes rooftop solar panels as well as creating a rooftop garden for employees to tend to and reap its rewards.
Greyston’s commitment to sustainability utilizes rooftop solar panels as well as creating a rooftop garden for employees to tend to and reap its rewards.

There are several philosophical plaques that hang along one of the walls in The Bakery’s environmentally conscious architectural structure. In addition to mindfulness, Greyston implements another important principle known as PathMaking. The plaque reads, “PathMaking…is both a guiding philosophy and a program at Greyston. The PathMaking philosophy is our belief that individuals can be supported to achieve wholeness (self-sufficiency) that comes from having a well-balanced, satisfying and integrated personal, spiritual and professional life. The PathMaking program at Greyston provides direction, support and referrals to all members of the Greyston Mandala–employees, clients and the board in the areas of personal and professional development and organizational success.”

Once hired, Greyston maps out a tailored-made path for the employee. Greyston mindfully considers all the aspects and challenges facing the individual–both in their work environment as well as in their personal life. Then, the new employee is placed in a nine-month apprenticeship program and provided support through various social programs offered by the Greyston Foundation.

Greyston’s Workforce and Development programs offer educational support, training, and business skills. The Greyston Childcare Center provides childcare and youth services for employees with children. Affordable housing is also available for those in need. What’s important to note here is that everything offered through the Greyston Foundation is within walking distance of the Bakery and/or accessible via public transportation. There are countless examples of the great works Greyston is doing for its community.

One example is, in collaboration with the City of Yonkers, Mayor Mike Spano, and New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, there are now 441 plots of community gardens scattered throughout Southwest Yonkers. In 2014, these gardens produced 27,200 pounds of produce.

So, up here living in Northern Westchester, why should we care about Greyston’s efforts in Southwest Yonkers?

Greyston bakers making their famous Blondies.
Greyston bakers making their famous Blondies.

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President and CEO Mike Brady wants to extend its reach and share Greyston’s successful, prosperous and inspirational story beyond Southwest Yonkers. Clearly, Greyston is making a positive impact on its community by providing real, substantive solutions for the difficult problems of poverty and unemployment. And…it all leads back to the road of implementing mindful business strategies–a path worthy of following. Just don’t forget to stop and savor the brownies along the way. For more information, visit www.greyston.com

Janine Crowley Haynes, Chappaqua resident, freelance writer & author of My Kind of Crazy: Living in a Bipolar World.

*triplepundit.com

Greyston Employees on a Path to a Prosperous Future

IMG_7869Employee: Celia Robertson
Age: 35
Years employed: 15
Position: Line Staff
Her inspirational story: At the age of 20, Celia Robertson was hired by Greyston Bakery. It was her first job. She knew of The Bakery because her brother was a mixer at the time. To describe Robertson as an enthusiastic employee is an understatement. “I just love what Greyston stands for and the opportunities it provides,” Robertson states. She is a mother of two children–Khaliyah, 12, and Joseph, 8. “My daughter is already a great baker,” says Robertson, beaming with pride. As a single mother, she is grateful to have access to the child and youth services offered through the Greyston Foundation. Her aspirations beyond Greyston Bakery include opening a restaurant in Southwest Yonkers offering Jamaican and Creole cuisine.
IMG_7876Employee: Curtis Savage
Age: 24
Years employed: 3
Position: Quality Assurance Technician
His inspirational story: “When I was a teen, I was going down a dark path, cutting class, hanging out with the wrong crowd…It wasn’t good,” says Savage. His employment options were limited because he did not complete high school. Savage is one of many employees who have and are benefitting from Greyston’s Open Hiring policy. “My life changed when I was hired by Greyston,” he states. Savage is a father of three children: Samantha, 6; Nicholas, 3; and Curtis, 2. After having children, Savage’s perspective shifted. “I want my kids to have the best of everything,” says Savage. He is grateful for the support offered through the Greyston Foundation including childcare as well as taking advantage of the business and training programs through Greyston’s Workforce and Development Center. Savage is working on getting his GED and certification in food safety. When asked what his aspirations are for his future beyond Greyston Bakery, Savage confidently replied, “I plan on going to college, focusing on healthcare…then work towards becoming an RN.”

Save the Date: June 15

A key fundraiser benefitting the Greyston Foundation will be held on June 15 at Chef/Owner Peter Kelly’s Xaviars X2O on the Hudson in Downtown Yonkers. For additional info, please contact karent@greyston.org.