By KASHA WILLIAMSON

When I traded in my corporate suit for a pair of carpenter shorts, baseball cap and work 

gloves, I had no idea how deeply my life would change.

My husband, Kelly, and I got into handywork with my Dad when we moved to Naples in 2016 after both quitting our office jobs. I had worked in corporate communications and organizational development, and Kelly was a chemical engineer.

It was during this transition that I learned the process of working meditation. When I work as a handylady, most of my projects require 100 percent of my attention, particularly when they are on a ladder 12 feet off the ground or assisting my husband in changing out electrical lines.

I have been practicing mindfulness on the cushion and in life for about 10 years after learning about mindfulness through my children’s high school when the school was looking for volunteer mindfulness facilitators. Fast forward to 2016: I jumped into study and deeper practice with the Naples Sangha of FCM when we moved to Naples.

Since then, I have moved to Eustis, FL, but maintained my membership in FCM. During a chat with fellow member John McHarris, I learned about the part-time residency selfless service program at FCM -- a way to help out around the FCM grounds, while also having the luxurious opportunity to live on the campus, meditate and, for me, recharge my spirit while being of service to the Sangha. 

After a few emails to Bill Mac Millen and David Braasch to see what types of projects needed assistance and to coordinate calendars, I set up a few nights, packed up my tools (although the campus has just about every tool needed), and headed to Tampa. 

I stayed at Great Cloud Refuge four days and three nights. My daily schedule was pretty simple: morning meditation, breakfast, mindful service, lunch/rest, a little more mindful service, free time/walking meditation/personal study, dinner, meditation or join a talk if one was available that evening. I was fortunate to be able to join the Tuesday night discussion in the Meditation Hall during my stay.

I fixed door hinges, door closures, repaired drywall from a leak, touched up paint, and repaired/rebuilt an old wood cover on a water pump. I found great joy in every project I worked on at FCM, mostly because I was doing each “job” with a heightened sense of mindfulness and attention. I worked at a slower pace, even taking “bell” moments to reflect and to see where my mind was while mixing drywall mud or measuring out wood cuts. 

This experience made me realize I could do this same practice when on a client site or working on one of our properties. It reinforced my practice IRL (“In Real Life”). I am very grateful for the experience and opportunity, the time spent with people around the campus, and the library was like a candy store! 

Many types of projects are available at FCM. Check out  https://www.floridamindfulness.org/Volunteer to learn more. 

Kasha Williamson of Eustis, FL, Source of Ceaseless Aspiration, joined FCM in 2018 when she lived in Naples, and now practices with the Tampa sangha.