SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — As if daily life didn’t already bring enough stress—balancing work, supporting families, maintaining health and home—people now face waves of political division, misinformation, extreme weather and global conflict. The pressure is palpable. What’s needed isn’t just more resilience, but a deeper, more lasting form of relief. “We need to chill out. We need to meditate, America. We need to Meditate Sullivan County,” a new group writes.

Through an initiative called Meditate Sullivan County, certified teachers are offering free talks and courses in Transcendental Meditation (TM).

The TM technique isn’t a religion or philosophy, and it doesn’t require changing your lifestyle. Practiced twice daily for 15 to 20 minutes, it helps the mind settle inward to a deeply restful state of pure awareness.

“For the first time in my life, I learned how to completely clear my mind and just be still,” said Dominque Jenkins, a longtime local restaurant owner and real estate agent. “In that stillness, I experienced a greater sense of awareness—something they call ‘transcending.’”

Sarah Sica, a certified TM teacher, will hold a free introductory talk on the technique at the Liberty Library in Liberty at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10. Other talks at other libraries are being scheduled.

For more information or to reserve a spot, contact ssica@tm-women.org or visit www.tm-women.org.

Contributed by Meditate Sullivan County.