Unity

Full Circle is a community of practice where mental health and wellbeing professionals come together to learn, share, and grow. ​If you’re a mental health or wellbeing practitioner who thrives on shared wisdom and community, Full Circle offers a space where you can connect, grow, and bring fresh insights back into your client work. ​**Full Circle is for professionals who work with clients in mental health or wellbeing** (e.g. psychotherapists, counsellors, art therapists, coaches, and others integrating mind–body approaches) . ​A community of practice is a space where we come together as professionals to share our experiences, challenges, and insights, not to be taught, but to learn from each other. Full Circle is about connection, not workshops. It’s a circle of peers, not a classroom. ​**By registering for this event, you agree to stand by our shared principles:** * ​Confidentiality: What is shared in the circle stays in the circle. * ​Presence: We give our full attention to each other, listening deeply. * ​Respect: Every voice matters; we value different perspectives and approaches. * ​Curiosity: We come to explore, not to give definitive answers. * ​Contribution: Everyone is encouraged to share practices, cases, and reflections. * ​Commitment: We show up consistently, knowing the community grows through regular participation. ​**How our gatherings work**: ​We gather **once a month** in person, and every time we move through the same process: * ​*Check-in*: We begin by going around the circle, with each person sharing what’s present for them in the moment. * ​*Shared practice*: One member of the community leads the group through a method, exercise, or embodied practice from their own field. Everyone experiences it first-hand. * ​*Integration dialogue*: Together, we explore what the practice brought up and how it might be woven into our client work. * ​*Check-out*: Each person shares one insight they will carry with them.

Hosted by Vivicta ([https://www.vivicta.com/](https://www.vivicta.com/)) Finding Vivicta: https://devopsfinland2026.blob.core.windows.net/devops2026/Finding-Vivicta-Oy.pdf \*\*\* NOTE: PLEASE HAVE A PHOTO ID WITH YOU IN ORDER TO GET IN \*\*\* **Agenda** 17:00 Doors open - **registration at lobby (quick)**, please bring some kind of ID. 17:30 Welcome / DevOps Finland & Vivicta 17:45 Lights On! Why observability matters in DevOps? / Janne Olkoniemi, Senior Solution Consultant @ Vivicta 18:30 \*\*\* break \*\*\* 18:45 Experiences with AI assisted IaC / Pasi Niemi, VP of R&D and Principal Cloud Architect @ Nitor 19:30 Free discussion 21:00 Doors close **Lights On! Why observability matters in DevOps?** This session will explore why observability is a foundational pillar of modern DevOps and how it enhances reliability and performance. We’ll also dive into the Ops perspective, uncovering how and why observability simplifies operations and makes life easier for teams managing complex systems. Over the past years, I have been strongly focused on application performance and observability. It's an area that still excites me, and I'm currently spending time learning how to build visibility using Grafana, Prometheus, and OpenTelemetry. I have a proven track record at OP Financial Group and Fujitsu in enhancing application visibility and performance. **Experiences with AI assisted IaC** Real-world experiences with developing infrastructure with the assistance of AI coding tools. Pasi has over twenty-five years of experience in the software business as a developer, architect and team leader. He also sports the original Nitor logo on his calf! **Streaming:** no **Join our slack:** [http://www.devopsfinland.org/](http://www.devopsfinland.org/) **LinkedIn:** [https://www.linkedin.com/company/102919614](https://www.linkedin.com/company/102919614)

What is a claim you’re willing to defend—at least for 15 minutes? In this meetup, participants come prepared with a clear philosophical thesis (for example: *“Abortion is morally permissible,”* *“Free will is an illusion,”* or *“Art has no objective value”*). One at a time, a participant will “die on their hill” by defending their thesis against objections from the group for a focused 15-minute exchange. You may choose a position you genuinely believe—or deliberately take on a stance as a devil’s advocate. Defending a claim is not required. You can listen and ask questions of others dying on their hills. The goal is not to “win,” but to clarify ideas under pressure: to see what actually follows from a claim, where it breaks, and what it commits you to. **Format** * One participant presents a clear thesis. * 15 minutes of objections, challenges, and probing questions from others. * The defender responds in real time, refining or holding the line. * Brief reflection before moving on to the next hill. **Why this format?** * It trains intellectual courage and charity. * It exposes hidden assumptions. * It sharpens argumentation far more than abstract discussion. * It’s serious philosophy—but also playful and experimental. No prior expertise required—just a willingness to think clearly, listen carefully, and defend a position under fire. Come prepared to die on a hill… or discover you shouldn’t have chosen it in the first place. **Description by ChatGPT**

Pay the **5 € board gaming fee** to the bar at the counter when you arrive. You must be at least 18 years old to enter [Arkade](https://www.arkade.fi/). We play in English and the game rules are taught before starting play, unless everyone is already familiar with the game. No previous experience with board gaming required. The venue has a great board game library, the host and other players usually bring their own games too: our selection varies weekly. We're a very casual group so you're welcome to arrive early or late and join whatever game is starting up, there is no attendance tracking, or welcoming process. The bar has alcoholic drinks, mocktails, and soft drinks available as well as some snack foods. They've been okay with people ordering food to the bar with meal delivery services. If you are feeling sick, please stay home.

Learning Finnish in Finland can be difficult because Finns tend to switch to English. That is one of the reasons people like our Finnish language café: you get to practice Finnish with Finns :) The events are completely free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. The coffee is good too ☕😋🇦🇹 Tervetuloa! When? ⏰ Usually Tuesday to Friday from 15:00 - 16:00 Where? 📍 In a cozy Viennese coffee house: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki The Good Coffee Company A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹 Eerikinkatu 33, 00180 Helsinki Please visit our Facebook page for updates and changes: https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events

Here’s an opportunity to learn Swedish over a good cup of coffee or tea ☕😋🇦🇹 for free! The events are free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. In addition, we offer free (yes, free) coffee, tea, and biscuits to participants! På svenska, men på olika sätt Att prata med folk på café kan vara både nöje och utmaning. Hos oss serverar vi kaffe med mycket glädje och inspiration. Tillsammans lyssnar, pratar, läser, berättar eller skriver vi nyfiket och glatt oavsett om du har den finlandssvenska kulturen redan i blodet eller vill bekanta dig med den. Vi erbjuder deltagarna gratis kaffe eller te med lite tilltugg. When? ⏰ Usually Thursdays at 16:00 Where? 📍 In a cozy Viennese café: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki Välkommen! **The Good Coffee Company** **A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹** Eerikinkatu 33, 00180 Helsinki Please visit our Facebook Page for updates and changes: **[https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events](https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events)**

🌀 Introducing Wild Silence Circles at MIITTI. Join us once a month to reconnect, reflect, and root yourself in your inner knowing and the relation with the rest of life (nature). Together we will connect with the spiral of transformation —rooted in the Work That Reconnects, yoga and chakra wisdom. 👉🏼What to bring? Comfy clothes to move in for the asanas and your journal for the writing prompts. A safe space where presence, creativity, and community meet. For whom: All hearts with a quiet curiosity, from first-timers to seasoned practitioners. Our circle begins on Sunday 21st of September with an invitation to explore the entire Spiral in our Opening Gathering, where we explain and experiment the full journey. Over the next four sessions, we'll dive deeply into each stage of the Spiral of Joanna Macy. 🌀Cultivating Gratitude 🌀Honoring our pain for the world 🌀Seeing with New Eyes 🌀Setting Forth (finding grounded action) WHEN: • Session 1 (Full Spiral) 21st of September • Session 2 (Cultivating gratitude) 26th of October • Session 3 (Honouring our pain for the world) 23rd of November • Session 4 (Seeing with New Eyes) 14th of December • Session 5 (Setting Forth) 25th of January (Make sure to reserve a spot for each date you wish to participate in) At 10.30-12.00 WHERE: Tallipääty, MIITTI office Lapinlahden Lähde Lapinlahdenpolku 8 00180 Helsinki We will host one session per month. Stay tuned for any changes on the dates. Just bring your heart, curious eyes and a journal to write. If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: IG: [instagram.com/miitti1](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fmiitti1%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwaVA0d0dyMGJWdjVhOE0yWAEeFKlFvjx74fspRnZuSZ42BgPuGmwJgkUjE53qy4QuFZ6zNOA3Ia-3WWtkuHk_aem_jnLMzLk2saohRsggxZ9fdw&h=AT2Li_GXkL3AgkruNQffAfZ1NUu19Kd1vHzQ7t60hsHEyOaPG9QmGmD1WyvwWImUhNqkJ4XL8PRETFL3O0qhcot3AWgFVvUT39uFwjZfweUyNwFlg4RLWeZqF5T_VUsPMph0TJLvDQakmoSl3JzMEIXWzl6Inx2FKPM&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT0lKE5cqMGpt98iCuE9QdOkvXraA0ULQInYzwgfxQ0D1Ls8-cXqGq_IixZDO1hWJZRy1fXTHhI3MeI5lUkiYjChJlnLsK9w_y0NidVIe6ILyUNJ9r00etRz0C5doOQNCbLd9ZXfjjvSvPT6JKmenMs0STa2639l5Q4) Facebook: [facebook.com/miitti1](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmeetup.com%2Fmiitti1%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwaVA0d0dyMGJWdjVhOE0yWAEe6kFvruNNC8UoCqa83YzsSEui58LWfEeSq78b2PAWbdSQHjBqyUe2pnv8nKI_aem_J8CeuiC7PooGCwbApRy2FA&h=AT2FVwdUpCTvxppRuiUBa7b_PQfkyo3vRQycQ_hBUWKn3tLAepxdCQzBIs74al1t0GpTz-KR-R_Chedg35DbEJJ0wAxRbLnCilJJdk_yWAn_YIRQ5wczWVkkY7c_ChA9hj8DIuhqP1iCquDNjwwww8otM5m66BEEo4w&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT0lKE5cqMGpt98iCuE9QdOkvXraA0ULQInYzwgfxQ0D1Ls8-cXqGq_IixZDO1hWJZRy1fXTHhI3MeI5lUkiYjChJlnLsK9w_y0NidVIe6ILyUNJ9r00etRz0C5doOQNCbLd9ZXfjjvSvPT6JKmenMs0STa2639l5Q4) Web: [lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti](http://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwaVA0d0dyMGJWdjVhOE0yWAEexcoCH_E-Fe17kwM_HkSZ0MjzDQRZgmf8w_BUkX5FSNRuSopMHAjlD1TGmoY_aem_MT1yXq-Rc3FvrE3bniKlgQ) Whatsapp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!

Welcome to join our Ren Xue Yuan Gong practice throughout the summer at Lapinlahden Lähde! The practice is simple but yet practical and powerful. It is easy to learn and will help you: -gain energy, feel less tired and stressed -more mental clarity, easier to concentrate -boost your immune system Time: Sundays 15:30 - 17:00 WHERE: Tallipääty, MIITTI office Lapinlahden Lähde Lapinlahdenpolku 8 00180 Helsinki About REN XUE Ren Xue is a comprehensive system for uplifting human life. It includes a unique form of Qigong (Yuan Qigong); three foundational theories (Theory of Qi, Theory of Consciousness, Theory of Totality) and a large body of teachings. It was created by world-renowned teacher and healer Yuan Tze who continues to offer online and in-person events worldwide. Ren Xue combines ancient Chinese wisdom traditions with modern insights into health and well-being. The goal of Ren Xue is to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, and mental health through a holistic approach that emphasizes the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. REN XUE FINLAND Ren Xue Finland (RXF) is the Finnish branch of the global movement, an organization dedicated to the promotion and teaching of Ren Xue and its associated practices, including Yuan Gong and Yuan Ming Medicine. It provides easy entry into the Ren Xue system through local in-person sessions, online courses and workshops/retreats. Other learning methods can be found here: Ren Xue TV, a YouTube channel and Learn Ren Xue website. More about Ren Xue: [https://www.renxueinternational.org](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.renxueinternational.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR06uJQRSC7BE3zhPePQ7X_KO7WXa60cr7NK25KdOqfbSIHpYqBLO3dYgVM_aem_alDR7a6KhbNhG3u9NhCUVA&h=AT18asmYaRkvHCJemaC7rr9GVu579uflDCg7T6mLNodWdtMVhuxwFhIyz0p5ONeJbm3WQ3ZGIwONIa0_pDvih4t9BCCJUBkjhK4BdIMEl4aQ_qPzR5ykW-aiOndhYDPeAW9_2_eWZaMsv889HKbp8_c&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT35KTjVjr2kCnYHrXXjXPxEGFK-RFbZnFVdDmWrTe5WwbSZZ5ulNxFEjPPhejS8Pf4xetwkU1hhM1P2K_ABugpnXL6w-CKE25ARXwtLSexv-4fPJ4s2_Kcqgj3g2XWjCVkPPgcjwrPoNWOvdKa2f1VqyVa-2kcTojodTS3wn9zrnRjZLcG7)/

A creative exploration, using a mix of artistic materials to express emotions freely- perfect for everyone craving a slower Sunday. **IMPORTANT**: Registration is necessary and done through this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-sunday-for-wellbeing-the-art-of-slowing-down-tickets-1980449392445?aff=oddtdtcreator Creative Sundays for Wellbeing series begins with "The Art of Slowing Down"- a gentle, feel-good session starting with fun theater games to break the ice and help you land into your body and the moment. No theater experience needed (no pressure, no performance). From there, we ease into creative exploration, using a mix of artistic materials to express emotions freely and intuitively. * Move, play, create, breath * No experience needed * Just show up as you are **What to expect:** * Expression of creativity and experimentation freely in a safe and supportive environment * Relaxing and restorative moments and have some fun * Reflect in a creative way on wellbeing * Make new friends and build social connections This workshop is part of **Creative Sunday for Wellbeing**\- a mini series of creative workshops designed to gently reconnect with play\, expression\, and curiosity\. Through simple exercises, creative prompts inspired by theater games, and the use of a wide range of artistic materials, participants are invited to explore creativity in an open and supportive space. **This is not art therapy and not an art class-** there is no pressure to perform, produce, or "be good" at anything. Instead, the focus is on experimentation, imagination, and personal exploration. While the sessions are not therapeutic, they might offer moments of reflection, renewed energy, and a fresh perspective on wellbeing through creative practices. The topics of the workshops are the following: 25.1.2026 The Art of Slowing Down 1.2.2026 Finding your Flow 8.2.2026 Nature as Nurture 15.2.2026 Words for Wellbeing 22.2.2026 Colors, Emotions and Creative Visioning **WHERE:** Valo tila, Lapinlahden Lähde Lapinlahdenpolku 8 00180 Helsinki (How to find us: When entering through the café to the gallery hallway, turn left and head up the stairs. Valo tila is through the first door on the right hand side.) **Meet Giulia Lepori** Giulia Lepori is an Italian sociologist whose work lives in the intersection of mental health, art, and creative exploration. During her university years in Turin, she co-founded an artistic laboratory that became a living space for experimentation, dialogue, and collective creation. Over seven years, she worked across multiple artistic languages, curating workshops, exhibitions, courses, and public events. Her path led her to one-year art therapy training grounded in psychodynamic approach, deepening her interest in creativity as a tool for care, expression, and transformation. Giulia has facilitated creative workshops with adults, adolescents, children, and people with disabilities, shaping spaces where art becomes a shared process rather than a finished product. In 2024, she brought her practice to Helsinki, organizing her first creative workshop in collaboration with MIELI Without Borders during Mental Health Art Week. ### **Organizers** MIELI Without Borders is grassroots, migrant-led organization that is dedicated to destigmatizing and spreading awareness about migrant-mental health through community action. Check us out --> [mieliwithoutborders.fi](https://mieliwithoutborders.fi/ "https://mieliwithoutborders.fi") MIITTI organizes groups, workshops, courses, and events to support mental health and well-being. Our community loves music, dance, food, conversations, languages, stories, art, movement, culture, and different opinions. We work for equality, diversity, and human commonness, and believe that connection is a key for overcoming prejudice. Check out MIITTI --> [https://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/](https://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/ "https://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/"), [https://www.meetup.com/miitti1/](https://www.meetup.com/miitti1/ "https://www.meetup.com/miitti1/")

Join us on **Fridays, 18:00 - 19:30** at **Lapinlahden Lähde** for a free session where we’ll explore the topic of the week - **Embodied Emotions**. After 19:30, you're welcome to hang out with us. Depending on what the group decides, we sometimes: \- stay in\, enjoy tea and cookies and play board games \- go out for dinner ✅ Your **RSVP counts as your registration**, we expect you to **honour it**. 🤝 All conversations are confidential. What’s shared, stays in the group. 🌿 Small group, big heart: Everyone gets a chance to share. 🧘‍♀️ Come comfy, come curious. 💧 Bring water. Skip heavy meals & caffeine. 📍 **Tallipääty, Lapinlahdenpolku 8, Helsinki** (Through the gate, first door on the left!) **Kind reminder:** Last-minute cancellations or no-shows mean others miss out. To keep it fair, repeated cases may result in losing the spot in future sessions. If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: IG: [instagram.com/miitti1](http://instagram.com/miitti1) Facebook: [facebook.com/miitti1](http://facebook.com/miitti1) Web: [lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti](http://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti) Whatsapp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!

Hello sporty population! Let's gather around and play some badminton together with people from around the world! IMPORTANT! Spots are limited, so make sure you reserver yours! If you are not registered on the list, you will be kindly asked to leave; this is to ensure fair access for everyone! If you do not cancel your spot, you will be **suspended from participating** for the next two sessions. We will play in Talihalli Huopalahti from 11.00-12.30 Court numbers are 9-12; you can come directly to the courts or meet us at the entrance a bit before 11.00. Please keep in mind that if you go directly to the courts, **do not enter them before our time starts!** MIITTI welcomes everyone to its events regardless of background or gender. You don't have to have any skills at all to come and play with us, and if you do, please come and coach us! Age limit: 16+ Event is free, but please bring your rackets and indoor shoes, or you can rent (racket) from the hall for 3€ each. After badminton, we'll enjoy Talihalli's sauna and maybe go to a local restaurant to grab some lunch after the game. Warm welcome! For questions and more information, please contact Alaa 040 5656096 If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: WhatsApp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community! [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/miitti1) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/miitti1) [Website](https://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti)

**Community Yoga – Take a Moment for You** Come move, breathe, and unwind with us in this all-levels yoga class designed to help you slow down and reconnect. Whether you're brand new to yoga or have been practicing for years, you're welcome just as you are. Each session will gently weave together elements of Hatha, Vinyasa, and Yin yoga—varying by day—and conclude with a final relaxation accompanied by Tibetan singing bowls. The focus is on relaxing, tuning into your body, and simply enjoying a little time for yourself. No pressure, no expectations—just space to stretch, breathe, and feel good. \- Mats and pillows are provided \- Feel free to bring blocks or any extra props you like \- Please note: this class is not suitable during pregnancy Come for the movement, the stillness, or the good vibes—whatever you're needing most. We’d love to see you there! WHERE: Wanha Labra room (entrance from the cafeteria, 2nd floor) Lapinlahden Lähde Lapinlahdenpolku 8 00180 Helsinki If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: IG: [instagram.com/miitti1](http://instagram.com/miitti1) FB: [facebook.com/miitti1](http://facebook.com/miitti1) Web: [lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/](http://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/) Whatsapp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!

Perjantaisin 16.1.2026 alkaen klo 18 meditoidaan suomeksi Helsingissä, uudistetussa Sahaja Yoga -keskuksessa Kampissa. Tule kokeilemaan meditaatiota ja löytämään ajatukseton tietoisuus. Meditaatiokursseilla harjoitellaan löytämään meditaation tila, opitaan tuntemaan itseämme sekä sisältämme löytyvää rauhaa ja hiljaisuutta. Kurssi sopii sekä uusille että aiemmin osallistuneille. Mukaan voi tulla millä tahansa kurssikerralla. Miksi osallistua Sahaja Yogan meditaatiokurssille? • Löydät rauhaa, joka ei riipu olosuhteista • Meditaatio auttaa rentoutumaan ja vapautumaan stressistä • Opit käytännön harjoituksia, joita voit jatkaa kotona • Sahaja Yogan opetus on aina maksutonta • Ei vaadi kokemusta, sopii ensikertalaisille Vapaa pääsy, tervetuloa mukaan! **Aika:** perjantaisin klo 18.00 – 19.30 **Paikka:** Helsingin Sahaja Yoga -keskus, Kamppi, Salomonkatu 19 www.jooga.org

**Unity in Action:** How can we apply Dr. King's message of unity and nonviolence to address today's social justice issues? Join us for a meaningful gathering focused on turning shared values into shared action. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of the ***Beloved Community***, this meetup brings people of diverse backgrounds together to connect, listen, and collaborate across differences. Through guided conversation, reflection, and practical next steps, we’ll explore how unity, justice, and compassion can move from ideals into everyday practice—in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and relationships. This is a welcoming space for honest dialogue, mutual respect, and collective hope. Come as you are, bring your voice, and leave with renewed purpose and concrete ways to live out unity in action. **All are welcome.**

Sunday service at Unity of Fairfax will leave you feeling inspired, blessed and empowered to experience the fullness of life. **On a Spiritual Journey** Our community is made up of people, like yourself, who have been led to Unity by Spirit. We are all here because we’re on a spiritual journey to become all that we were created to be. **Welcome to Everyone** Unity welcomes people of all religious backgrounds and beliefs. We welcome people of all creeds, sexual orientation and social background. There are no exceptions in our welcome to everyone. **We Offer Tools** In Unity we don't tell people what to think; rather, we offer tools that individuals can use to create lives of meaning and purpose. **What We Believe** To review what we believe, go here: https://unityoffairfax.org/what-we-believe-what-unity

**In a time of division and isolation, come be part of the community that's rebuilding the town square, one table at a time.** In BreadBreakers, we use the common space of the dining table to have conversations where neighbors can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** If you're hungry for good discourse and deeper community, join us for a Community Dinner in Reston and help blaze the trail to a healthier, more connected society and democracy. Here’s how it works: For just two hours, multiple tables of people set aside the need to "win" and instead focus on sharing, listening, and connecting. Guided by experienced table hosts, we'll tell our stories, try to understand each other, and practice being in community with those with different views or backgrounds. **At this dinner, participants will get to choose between three different topics, including some current events.** Topics could range from the political, to the spiritual, to the philosophical, to the off-the-wall - but no matter which table you choose to sit at, you can be sure it'll be like no dinner conversation you've had before! You can also **suggest a topic** by emailing us at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com. Food will be provided for free. For those who wish to provide a donation to help fund BreadBreakers, you can [give here](https://pushpay.com/g/restorationrestonumc?fnd=pO6G-N7oO7FH7Mp1u-x6mA&fndv=Lock&r=No&lang=en&src=pcgl) or at the event. We'll have vegetarian and gluten-free options available. If you have any additional dietary restrictions (Celiac Disease, vegan, etc.) please let us know at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com so that we can implement the appropriate food handling procedures. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of talking with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by [Restoration United Methodist Church](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers) in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community. All faiths and all stripes are welcomed. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.

Mindfulness Meditation group practice every Wednesday evening at Unity of Gaithersburg. Mindfulness practice is not about achieving some special state of mind; it is more about noticing the experience you are having without trying to change it. This interesting video suggests why you might sit and watch your mind wander off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmmBF8eTl18 This noticing tends to shift your nervous system from a 'fight-or-flight' state to a more relaxed and receptive state. In this receptive mental state, you begin to see your own experience differently and, over time, see other people and the world differently. Also, it is good for you: "the effect of regular meditation on the cortex was so profound that fifty-year-old meditators had a prefrontal cortex that looked like that of a twenty-five-year-old" [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT) Here is an interesting and funny take on meditation by Ajahn Brahm: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs). If you arrive on time, there will be an introduction at the beginning, if you arrive late, find a chair and join us. There will be some discussion after. This is a free event, but contributions to the church's expenses are welcome. You can just show up this Wednesday or subsequent Wednesdays. More information at [https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org](https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org/)/

In times like these, we can see more clearly the potential for humanity when it works together in unison – as well as the challenges if we don’t and continue to operate as we have been before. If you could design the world of the future, what spiritual values would you want to see in it to help realize those potentialities? All of us hope for a better future for ourselves and for our children, but how do we get there? What sort of ideas and behaviors will we need to leave behind – and what values will we need to build the foundation of the future on? And how can we work together to build a future that works for all of us, where each of our fullest potentials as human beings can be realized? Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on what a future society might look like and the role each of us can play in creating it. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore the role of spirituality in the unification, peace, and progress of all. *“The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.*” – Bahá’í Teachings \*\*\* This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.

**What Kind of World Do We Want to Live In? (Free Event)** **In times like these, we can see more clearly the potential for humanity when it works together in unison – as well as the challenges if we don’t and continue to operate as we have been before. If you could design the world of the future, what spiritual values would you want to see in it to help realize those potentialities?** **All of us hope for a better future for ourselves and for our children, but how do we get there? What sort of ideas and behaviors will we need to leave behind – and what values will we need to build the foundation of the future on? And how can we work together to build a future that works for all of us, where each of our fullest potentials as human beings can be realized?** **Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on what a future society might look like and the role each of us can play in creating it. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore the role of spirituality in the unification, peace, and progress of all.** **“The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.” – Bahá’í Teachings** **\*\*\* This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.**

Is there hidden value in the difficulties and hardships of life, or are these things just to try to get past as quickly as possible? If so, how can we emerge from the current world crisis we are facing as stronger, more resilient individuals and communities? When we look at the difficult moments of our lives, aren’t those often the times when we grew the most? So many valuable lessons in life and growth opportunities are hard-won, often coming out of these trying moments. So why are we so focused on avoiding these difficulties? From this perspective, how would we as individuals and as a society confront the inevitable struggles we will be faced with? How can we build stronger communities that ensure not only that we don’t have to face struggles alone, but that we as individuals will emerge stronger as well? Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on the opportunity for growth during times of struggle. Join us for a lively discussion as we reflect on the meaning of the struggles of life and explore the true nature of progress. *“The troubles of this world pass and what we have left is what we have made of our souls.*” – Bahá’í Teachings \*\*\* This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.