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Robert Sanchez: Chelsea’s new No 1 on keeping his confidence ahead of dream Stamford Bridge move | Football News

mindsvalley99 — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 19:38:25 +0000

“Sometimes, things between a player, a club and a manager don’t work, that’s football,” says Chelsea’s new No 1 Robert Sanchez.

The rise, fall and rise again of one of the Premier League’s most sought-after young goalkeepers has been fairly remarkable over the past 12 months.

Not so long ago Sanchez was talked about as one of the top-flight’s rising stars, a giant of a man with an excellent command of his box, a strong shot stopper and comfortable with the ball at his feet. The all-round modern goalkeeper.

But a poor spell at the Amex last season, tied in closely with the ultra-prescriptive style of incoming manager Roberto De Zerbi, brought everything tumbling down. Memories are short in football and within months, after losing his place to Jason Steele in March, the 25-year-old’s stock had collapsed.

The £25m offer Brighton accepted from Chelsea in August would have never been countenanced a year earlier. Bayern Munich were said to be stunned by the price tag and also sounded out a move.

Now thrust back into the spotlight under Mauricio Pochettino and surrounded by £1bn worth of players, it has given Sanchez a chance to rebuild the reputation he worked so hard to develop.

Between his first and his last Premier League appearance for Brighton, only seven goalkeepers kept more clean sheets. Only Alisson and Ederson completed more passes, and only Nick Pope and Emi Martinez made more catches.

Those aren’t the statistics of a bad goalkeeper. Others’ confidence in him dropped off, but Sanchez has long talked about the sense of self-belief which first helped him oust fan favourite Mat Ryan as Brighton No 1, and has now seen him through the other side of a tough few months before his London move.

“If you don’t believe in yourself, who else will?” He asks Sky Sports, half smiling, at Chelsea’s Cobham training base. “I think I did well last season.

“He [De Zerbi] had a view of the team, for one reason or another he didn’t count on me for the specifics of the kind of goalkeeper he wanted and decided to go with another [Jason Steele].

“He suited what he wanted to do better, and I’m happy for him, because he’d been supporting me for the two and a half years I’d been the goalkeeper and now he’s got his chance.”

De Zerbi hinted at similar when he first dropped Sanchez in March. Though the Italian never expanded on the details, Steele’s success on the ball in his press-baiting style made it clear.

Sunday 17th September 1:00pm

Sanchez’s form had suffered too before he lost his place. He conceded more than five goals over his expected tally last season, but he didn’t become a poor player overnight.

“I was pretty relaxed,” he adds. “I know my level as a goalkeeper. I know I’d play one way or another somewhere, so I relaxed and waited for my opportunity to come round.”

Could he have imagined sitting here as Chelsea’s No 1 at the start of the summer, though? “I probably couldn’t have seen that coming,” he laughs.

“You hear things as the transfer window goes on, and when Chelsea got in touch I couldn’t say no. What they presented for me, the plan that they had, it was unbelievable.”

It helped that Levi Colwill, a stalwart in the Brighton backline last season, had already returned to his parent club Chelsea and would be a familiar face waiting for him at Cobham.

He wasn’t the only one. Ben Roberts, Sanchez’s goalkeeping coach for his entire Brighton career, moved to Stamford Bridge with Graham Potter last year and stayed on after the head coach’s short-lived tenure. There was the lure of working under Mauricio Pochettino, too.

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Sanchez and Levi Colwill have been reunited at Stamford Bridge after playing together at Brighton last season

“The whole thing just looked like a real family environment here,” he says. “There was Ben [Roberts] and the relationship I used to have with him, Moises Caicedo, [Marc] Cucurella, Levi [Colwill], a couple of Spanish talkers.

“Ben knows my level, he always thinks I’m one of the best and he helped with the move – he put a good word in and helped to get me to Chelsea. I love him, I’ve had an amazing relationship with him for seven years, and I wanted to come here and work with him.

“I’d played against a lot of the boys for a few years – and I also had a couple of chats with the manager, I know what kind of manager he is.

“He knows when to tell you that you need to do better, when to give you a hug, put his arm around you. He’s a great manager tactically, but especially managing players, he gets to know each player individually and everyone’s different, and he gets the best out of us.”

The rebuild of Sanchez’s reputation as one of the Premier League’s best will take longer than his return to first-team football. It is not helped by the expectation levels on a squad still finding its feet in front of the world’s glare and a line-up still being tinkered by Pochettino.

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Sanchez’s new side Chelsea were shocked by Nottm Forest in their last game before the international break

He has witnessed first hand the virtues of time and patience under Potter at the Amex though he knows, as the head coach found out for himself in April, those qualities are not often in great supply at Stamford Bridge.

“We’ve got a great manager, great staff, wonderful individual players, but it’s a young team,” he says. “People have heard this a lot of times but players have come in from a lot of different situations, it’s new to them, and we need time.

“We’re improving as quick as we can, we know we want to win but it does take time. Winning is the most important thing, it gives us the best feeling, but we’ll get there.”

An much-needed shot in the arm could come at the Vitality Stadium this Sunday, live on Sky Sports, against a Bournemouth side still without a win this season.

Whatever the outcome there, for Sanchez at least, it won’t be for a lack of belief.

Watch Bournemouth vs Chelsea live on Sky Sports Premier League from 1pm on Sunday, kick-off 2pm

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Testimony continues on Robert Bowers’ mental health

mindsvalley99 — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 19:52:41 +0000

BOB, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE’RE HEARING SOME POINTED QUESTIONS FROM BOTH SIDES FOR PROSECUTION WITNESSES. NOW ON HIS SECOND DAY OF TESTIMONY. THAT’S DOCTOR RYAN DARBY, WHO’S BACK ON THE STAND. HE’S A BEHAVIOR NEUROLOGIST WHO DID THE MOST RECENT EXAMINATION OF BOWERS, AND HE’S CONTINUING HIS TESTIMONY AS A PROSECUTION REBUTTAL WITNESS. DEFENSE ATTORNEY MICHAEL BERGER CONTINUED HIS CROSS-EXAMINATION OF DARBY CONTINUING TO QUESTION WHETHER DARBY IS ACTING AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE PROSECUTION. THE DEFENSE QUESTIONED WHETHER INFORMATION FROM BOWERS CHILDHOOD MEDICAL HISTORY SHOULD HAVE PROMPTED DARBY TO SEEK MEDICAL TESTS FOR BOWERS. DARBY SAID FOR SOMEONE WITH ONGOING SYMPTOMS, THE SITUATION WOULD BE DIFFERENT. BUT HE SAID, NOT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT DISPLAYED SYMPTOMS FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS. DEFENSE ATTORNEY BURT AGAIN RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT DARBY’S $350 AN HOUR FEE AND THE MORE THAN $150 HE SPENT ON THE CASE SPENT ON THIS CASE SO FAR. PROSECUTOR ERIC OLSON TOOK UP THAT TOPIC IN HIS CROSSCHX EXAMINATION OR HIS REDIRECT QUESTIONING FOR THE DOCTOR. HE ASKED IF IT’S STANDARD FOR EXPERTS TO BE PAID FOR THEIR WORK. AND DARBY SAID THAT IT’S FAIRLY TYPICAL FOR BOTH THE DEFENSE AND THE PROSECUTION. OLSON ASKED IF EXPERTS WITH MORE EXPERIENCE ARE PAID MORE THAN WITNESSES WITH LESS EXPERIENCE. DARBY SAID HE BELIEVES SO, AND HE BELIEVES THAT THE DEFENSE SPECIALISTS IN THIS CASE WOULD BE PAID MORE THAN HIM. IN ANSWER TO OLSON’S QUESTIONS, DARBY TESTIFIED THAT NOT EVERY CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS A SYMPTOM OF A BRAIN ABNORMALITY AND THAT IT IS NOT THE CASE THAT ALL CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS THE RESULT OF BRAIN DYSFUNCTION OR NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE. DARBY ALSO TESTIFIED THAT BOWERS, IN HIS OPINION, DOES NOT SUFFER FROM EPILEPSY OR DELUSIONS OR ANY NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS FOR WHICH CRIMES WOULD BE SYMPTOMS. SO TESTIMONY CONTINUING. THE PROSECUTION HAS AT LEAST ONE MORE REBUTTAL WITNESS FOR THIS PHASE OF THE TRIAL. IT’S EXPECTED THEY WILL GET TO THAT WITNESS THIS AFTERNOON. BUT THIS PORTION OF THE TESTIMONY WITH THE WITNESS WHO BEGAN YESTERDAY HAS BEEN CONTINUING. REPORTING LIVE OUTSIDE THE FEDERAL COURTHOU

Testimony continues on Robert Bowers’ mental health

Updated: 12:30 PM EDT Jul 6, 2023

The penalty phase in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial continued Thursday morning.Thus far, the jury has heard testimony about Robert Bowers’ mental health, as well as his behavior before and after the 2018 shooting.Bowers described himself as “calm, focused, and goal-directed” during the attack to a neurologist who interviewed and evaluated the defendant six weeks ago.There were some pointed questions from both sides for a prosecution witness in his second day of testimony. Dr. Ryan Darby, a behavioral neurologist who did the most recent examination of Bowers, was back on the stand as a prosecution rebuttal witness.Defense attorney Michael Burt continued his cross-examination of Darby, continuing to question whether Darby is acting as an advocate for the prosecution.The defense questioned whether information from Bowers’ childhood medical history should have prompted Darby to seek medical tests for Bowers. Darby said he someone with ongoing symptoms is different from someone who has not displayed symptoms for more than 40 years.Burt again raised questions about Darby’s $350 an-hour fee and the more than 150 hours he’s spent on the case so far.Prosecutor Eric Olshan took up the topic in his redirect questioning of the doctor.He asked if it’s standard for experts to be paid for the work they do. Darby said it’s fairly typical for both defense and prosecution. Olshan asked if experts with more experience are paid more than witnesses with less experience. Darby said he believes so and believes that defense specialists would be paid more than him.In answer to Olsan’s question, Darby testified not every criminal behavior is a symptom of a brain abnormality. And that it’s not the case that all criminal behavior is a result of brain dysfunction or neurological disease.Darby also testified Bowers does not suffer from epilepsy or delusions, or any neurological conditions for which his crimes would be symptoms.

The penalty phase in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial continued Thursday morning.

Thus far, the jury has heard testimony about Robert Bowers’ mental health, as well as his behavior before and after the 2018 shooting.

Bowers described himself as “calm, focused, and goal-directed” during the attack to a neurologist who interviewed and evaluated the defendant six weeks ago.

There were some pointed questions from both sides for a prosecution witness in his second day of testimony. Dr. Ryan Darby, a behavioral neurologist who did the most recent examination of Bowers, was back on the stand as a prosecution rebuttal witness.

Defense attorney Michael Burt continued his cross-examination of Darby, continuing to question whether Darby is acting as an advocate for the prosecution.

The defense questioned whether information from Bowers’ childhood medical history should have prompted Darby to seek medical tests for Bowers. Darby said he someone with ongoing symptoms is different from someone who has not displayed symptoms for more than 40 years.

Burt again raised questions about Darby’s $350 an-hour fee and the more than 150 hours he’s spent on the case so far.

Prosecutor Eric Olshan took up the topic in his redirect questioning of the doctor.

He asked if it’s standard for experts to be paid for the work they do. Darby said it’s fairly typical for both defense and prosecution. Olshan asked if experts with more experience are paid more than witnesses with less experience. Darby said he believes so and believes that defense specialists would be paid more than him.

In answer to Olsan’s question, Darby testified not every criminal behavior is a symptom of a brain abnormality. And that it’s not the case that all criminal behavior is a result of brain dysfunction or neurological disease.

Darby also testified Bowers does not suffer from epilepsy or delusions, or any neurological conditions for which his crimes would be symptoms.

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Invisible No Longer: Robert Turner as a Doorway to the Kingdom

mindsvalley99 — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 14:18:10 +0000

When I was a boy, I attended a Lutheran Bible Sunday school in Miami, Florida where my family had relocated after living in Long Island, New York. In that school, I felt invisible.

Every week my classmates and I would open our Bible picture books with their elaborately painted images of the disciples and Christ – all of whom were unrealistically represented as light-skinned men – and review the moral drama of redemption and resurrection.

As I turned the pages trying to keep pace with my Sunday school teacher, I felt the strangeness of being drawn in and alienated at the same time. The stories moved me with their universal themes of faith, love, forgiveness, and community, but I wasn’t included in the narrative. The artful exclusion of dark-skinned people like me tempered my embrace of the deeper lessons embedded within the text.

I could appreciate the dynamics of good versus evil, the weak conquering the strong, and the last being the first, but the sting of erasure felt like a slap in my face – one of the many ways society devalued life for people of color, by rendering us invisible. If I don’t see you, then you don’t exist. You don’t matter.

Robert Turner

Robert Chaittle Turner, the first African American Baha’i, certainly knew something about invisibility.

Born into slavery in 1856 in rural Virginia, he spent his first nine years within the dehumanizing world of the plantation economy and the remainder of his life, following the Civil War, as a domestic servant, a position that traditionally required discretion and extreme deference especially if you were Black. Despite the ignoble circumstances of his birth and his precarious social standing, he embraced the Baha’i Faith and its teachings of human oneness in 1898 – learning about it in the home of his employer, Mrs. Phoebe Hearst – and joined the first group of Western pilgrims that same year on a trip to the Holy Land to meet Abdul-Baha, the appointed successor of the Faith and the perfect exemplar of the Baha’i teachings.

It was Robert Turner’s audience with Abdu’l-Baha, who effusively welcomed him with deep love and affection, that served as a catalyst for a transformation in his spirit. Turner would later write that “Never again will I allow the world to kick dust in my face.”

Abdu’l-Baha saw the quality of Mr. Turner’s inmost character, not his disempowered social position. On Turner’s passing, Abdu’l-Baha proclaimed:

Gracious God! What a shining candle was lighted within that black-coloured lamp. Praise be to God that this candle ascended from its earthly lamp unto the immortal Kingdom, to gleam and shine in the assemblage of heaven.

This tension between the objective and the subjective reality – between what we see and what we do not, what preoccupies our attention and what gets overlooked as invisible – lodged at the forefront of my initial reflections when I was asked to serve as the lead designer for the Robert Turner Monument at Cypress Lawn Cemetery near San Francisco in 2020.

Working with a diverse cohort of eight gifted collaborators whose talents and respective fields of service included education, construction, writing and history, fiscal management, design, website development and others, I began the deeply challenging process of trying to render in sculptural form some essential truths about the animating spirit of Robert Turner.

Adding to the magnitude of this task was the historic nature of the endeavor – the first time in Baha’i history that a project of this significance would be designed by a person of African descent, an affirmation that representation matters particularly for a Faith whose pre-eminent teaching is the oneness of humankind and the elimination of all forms of prejudice. In a symbolic sense, my involvement came in response to the towering example set by Abdu’l-Baha, who in every social interaction where race was a factor did not hesitate to ask the enduring question, “Who is missing at the table?”

He didn’t just ask the question – Abdu’l-Baha responded by proactively centering those who historically had been locked out of spaces deemed exclusive and exclusionary. For Abdu’l-Baha, social query represented an insufficient tool to redress past wrongs. He grasped the attention of society through the arresting authority of his words – and by his actions he transformed it through his unapologetic determination to recast the social order in the radically inclusive image of Baha’u’llah’s teachings.

With this salient point in mind, I realized that although Mr. Turner’s ethnicity represented a secondary identity in relation to his primary spiritual identity, his race nevertheless formed a critical consideration in the final design. Typically, in the Baha’i Faith, the likeness of a person is not often included in memorial designs. Instead, the focus is directed towards the spiritual qualities of the deceased, and not the physical frame in which that spirit dwelled. I understood the wisdom of this, but I also knew in light of my own experience all those years ago in my Bible school class, that representation mattered.

In order for me to dream of the possibility of oneness I must first be able to see the possibility in blackness and ultimately come to believe without question that in this faith a little Black boy earnestly searching for himself in a Bible picture book knows that he has a seat at the table. Quite frankly, that was also a message the larger society needed to grasp. Too often, in our quest to move beyond the wrongs of the past, we jump over the critical steps necessary to seed lasting transformation. In so doing, we can underestimate the powerful influence of legacy, and unconsciously default to marginalizing practices where we unintentionally emphasize the contributions of some as we diminish the contributions of others.

For me then, Mr. Turner’s likeness, and his station as the first African American Baha’i, could serve as a touchstone of inspiration for the Black community specifically and a reminder to us all that even those who were forced to dwell within the basement of America’s perverse social order could be elevated based on the quality of their character and the scintillating spark of their spirit. In his loving embrace and public affirmation of Robert Turner, Abdu’l-Baha demonstrated the true meaning of the traditional West African greeting “I see you.”

As I pored over historical documents and engaged in illuminating conversations with historians about the life of Mr. Turner, all in an attempt to equip myself with the information that would be an indispensable part of the design process, I began to think of the forms and materials that would best serve his monument’s thematic focus. I knew that I wanted to use humble materials imbued with a subtle, arresting power. I also had to consider the weather, which in the northern California climate, could be equal parts fog, rain, and intense sunlight. Bronze and stone were the logical choices because of their permanence, durability, and timeless beauty. The forms developed quite quickly, derived in part from a moving quote attributed to Abdu’l-Baha, who reassured Mr. Turner that “if he stayed faithful to His cause” he would “be the door through which a whole race would enter the Kingdom.”

The concept of the door as a portal of transition, transformation, and transcendence became an arresting metaphor for the life of Mr. Turner who, given his life’s work, must have opened and closed many doors for the guests of his employers. Abdu’l-Baha, whose name means “servant of God,” centers the station of servitude exemplified in the life of Robert Turner, as the gateway to the Divine. Through his singular distinction as “the first,” Mr. Turner ushered his beleaguered community, accustomed to entering through the back door, through the font door of the Kingdom.

To represent this poignant idea, we used a locally sourced rough-cut stone superstructure weighing several thousand pounds as the dominant element for the memorial. For me, the unrefined surface with its dense, compressed energy alluded to the humility, strength, and durability of Mr. Turner’s character. At the center of the thick stone, a large circle approximately 36 inches in diameter was cut through, leaving an unobstructed view across the cemetery lawn dotted with grave markers. In the lower left corner of the body of the stone, the above quote attributed to Abdu’l-Baha has been carved into the surface. To the right of the opening, a bronze disk affixed to the superstructure and matching the diameter of the cut circle suggests a door which has been opened to reveal a passageway to an unnamed beyond. A bas-relief sculpture of the likeness of Robert Turner dominates the outward-facing surface of the door, along with the dates of his birth and his passage to the next world.

The elliptical bronze burial marker over Mr. Turner’s resting place derives its inspiration from several sources. On one hand, it resembles the abstracted form of the hull of a boat, suggesting the journey of the slave trade. It also suggests a distended womb, as though the life of Mr. Turner represented an expectant future for the African American community, and finally, it indirectly points to the tapered anatomy of a fish, which has particular resonance in Christianity as the disciple and fisherman Peter is told by Jesus to “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”

On the surface of the burial marker, the quotation from Abdu’l-Baha printed at the beginning of this article is wedged between the nine pointed Baha’i star at the apex and the west African sankofa symbol at the bottom, which means that in order to know where we are going we must know where we have been.

The path to completing Robert Turner’s Memorial was beset with challenges and difficulties. There were delays in fabrication and installation. Occasionally, there were passionate disagreements between members of the task force, but as the work drew to a close I was reminded that the chemistry of all forward progress is composed of both crisis and victory. The obstacles encountered along the way always test our resolve to complete a task. Struggle, then, is an inescapable part of the process that ultimately has the capacity to draw out latent virtues within ourselves such as patience, forgiveness, fortitude, and faith. It is in the end when the work is complete, after we have dressed our wounds, and comforted our bruised egos, that we appreciate the journey and its results. In that moment we feel an abiding gratitude for having had the opportunity to serve something greater than ourselves, and in the spirit of the great gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, “we can look back and wonder how we got over.”

If you’d like to visit Robert Turner’s memorial either virtually or in person, please go to www.RobertTurner.org, where you’ll find a wealth of material on this wonderful Disciple of Abdu’l-Baha and his remarkable – and now highly visible – earthly life.

Robert Chaittle Turner passed away on June 15, 1909, 114 years ago today. This weekend, at 10:30 am on Saturday, June 17, The Oakland Baha’i Community will host a memorial gathering at his gravesite to recognize and commemorate his life. All are welcome. For directions, please see www.RobertTurner.org. Also, to offer youth the opportunity to learn more about Mr. Turner’s life in a group symposium or by independent study, take the action-based “Open Door” challenge: https://www.robertturneropendoor.com/open-door-challenge-what-why

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Robert Bremer of Ohio Discusses the Intersection of Mindfulness and Spirituality

mindsvalley99 — Mon, 29 May 2023 01:12:33 +0000

Robert Bremer of Ohio is a Certified Hypnotherapist with over 20 years of experience in the space helping individuals find a healthier life and achieve personal improvement goals. He also assists with other issues such as feelings of abandonment, addiction, anxiety, insecurity, etc., and he empowers clients to tap into the power of their own minds to make positive changes. In the following article, Robert Bremer discusses how to cultivate inner connection with meditation and transcend into a realm of new opportunities.

Today, meditation is practiced both secularly and spiritually. Practitioners often laud the physical and mental benefits of meditation. However, there are also spiritual benefits that are less commonly mentioned.

When practiced in a spiritual or religious context, meditation can bring about spiritual growth, increased emotional well-being, and a greater sense of belonging. This is in addition to the benefits of secular meditation.

Robert Bremer of Ohio explains that practicing both mindfulness and spirituality is incredibly rewarding yet also difficult. To fulfill one’s spiritual needs requires time, patience, and tested methods such as those below.

Robert Bremer on How Mindfulness and Spirituality are Interconnected

To many, spirituality and mindfulness are two sides of the same coin. There is much overlap in the aspects of the two. This can be seen in how both concepts are defined, approached, and practiced.

Mindfulness is defined as being aware or conscious of something. This can be applied to anything from the circumstances of a specific moment in time to one’s place in the cosmos. All it requires is that one is conscious of an aspect of life.

Spirituality can be defined as being concerned with the soul or spirit. Robert Bremer of Ohio also states that this can take the form of being conscious of a greater power or seeking to understand where one belongs.

Clearly, mindfulness and spirituality can be connected by being conscious of one’s place in the universe being overseen by a greater power. As mindsets, they are quite simply interconnected.

Bob Bremer of Ohio notes that when one is seeking to grow their spiritual connection, no matter their beliefs, practicing mindfulness can be a great approach. Mindfulness can foster greater empathy, understanding of one’s self, and a sense of peace with the universe.

Ways to Connect and Transcend

While there are innumerable ways to practice mindfulness and spirituality, meditation is by far the most common. Considering the fact that humanity has been practicing meditation for thousands of years there are many variations.

What sets these variations apart is the method by which a meditative state is achieved. Some require strict focus while others do not. Robert Bremer of Ohio explains, with that aside, they all have similar benefits. What matters most is each individual’s dedication to the practice.

Another important factor is the goal of the individual practicing meditation. Seeking spiritual growth for example will influence the experience.

Transcendental Meditation

When practicing Transcendental Meditation one sits in a cross-legged position and closes their eyes. At the same time, the practitioner repeats a mantra to themselves–typically within their mind.

Robert Bremer explains that the repetitiveness of the mantra is supposed to allow it to fade from conscious thought. This allows the mind to be at peace with no distracting thoughts. During this time, the practitioner can begin to transcend and reach their best self.

Traditionally, this is done twice per day for about 20 minutes. However, it can be practiced more frequently, for longer increments, or both as desired.

This meditation style originated in 1955 when Maharishi Mahesh Yogi first started teaching it.

Mindfulness Meditation

The practice of Mindfulness Meditation is a way to train oneself to be aware. This method can resemble traditional seated meditation though it does not have to reports Robert Bremer of Ohio.

When one practices mindfulness, one must be conscious of the current moment without judgment. This is often accomplished by being mindful of the body. One of the most common body mindfulness practices is watching one’s breath. Another is performed by body scanning.

Alternatively, Mindfulness Meditation can be performed by being mindful of external input such as sounds or smells.

Robert Bremer of Ohio says that this practice is rooted in some of the oldest meditation methods. Many are said to date back to Buddha.

Christian Devotion Meditation

Another mindfulness and spiritual practice is that of Christian Devotion Meditation. While this practice has a religious focus, its methods promote conscious thought and self-awareness.

Robert Bremer of Ohio says that this method involves several practices including meditative prayer, meditating over scripture, and self-awareness. Meditative prayer is similar to Transcendental Meditation in that the practitioner repeats a prayer to themself with their eyes closed.

Final Thoughts

The concepts of mindfulness and spirituality are easy to define but difficult to fully comprehend and practice. Whichever practice one approaches it takes an awareness of one’s self to reach an inner connection to what one considers their spiritual truth.

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Why the Kennedy Family Oppose Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 2024 Bid

mindsvalley99 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 15:43:04 +0000

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is challenging President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic nomination.
Members of his famous family say they oppose his candidacy because of his anti-vaccine views.
His niece told Insider that she believes his views are “unfounded and potentially dangerous.”

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Members of the Kennedy family say they are not supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s bid for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination because of his prominent role in the anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist movement.

The nephew of former President John F. Kennedy officially announced his long-shot bid to challenge President Joe Biden for the nomination at an event in Boston on Wednesday.

Kerry Kennedy, one of his sisters, told Insider in a statement that she will not be supporting her brother’s bid.

“I love my brother Bobby, but I do not share or endorse his opinions on many issues, including the COVID pandemic, vaccinations and the role of social media platforms in policing false information,” she said.

Kennedy built a reputation as a prominent anti-vaxxer long before the pandemic, but his impact reached new heights when the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.

One report identified him as being one of 12 people who were responsible for the spread of most disinformation about COVID-19 online.

Kennedy, who graduated from Harvard and previously worked as an environmental lawyer, has repeatedly courted controversy for his statements about vaccines.

He has pushed a widely debunked claim that vaccines are linked to autism, and last year likened government efforts to contain COVID-19 to Hitler’s Germany.

His anti-vaccine group, Children’s Health Defense, was removed from Facebook and Instagram last year and his personal Instagram account was also barred in 2021.

“I love my uncle and admire him for many reasons,” his niece Kerry Meltzer, the daughter of his sister Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, said in a statement to Insider.

“But I’m a physician who has seen the life-saving power of vaccines firsthand, particularly the COVID vaccine, and I think Bobby’s vaccine scepticism is unfounded and potentially dangerous. As a result, I will not support his candidacy for president. I will be supporting President Joe Biden.”

His campaign did not respond to Insider’s request for comment.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaks against legislation to narrow exemptions to state mandated vaccines during a rally at the state Capitol Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in Albany, N.Y.

AP Photo/Hans Pennink

This family schism is not new – in 2019, two of his siblings and a niece penned an op-ed for Politico in which they denounced his views on vaccines and their “heartbreaking consequences.”

It is perhaps unsurprising to see many of the Kennedys oppose his candidacy. Not only have family members long opposed his views on vaccines, three of his siblings are diplomats for the Biden administration.

Kennedy poked fun at his family’s lack of support as he addressed the ballroom full of people at the Boston Park Plaza hotel.

“There are other members of my family who are not here today,” he said to laughter.

“I know most American families, they never have any differences with each other. So when that happens in a family, it’s really huge news, like, everywhere.”

He added that he has “no ill will” towards any of his family members and said that many of his relatives had written him “beautiful letters of love.”

While his siblings were notably absent, several of his children and grandchildren attended the campaign launch.

Although Biden is yet to confirm whether he will run again in 2024, The Washington Post and The New York Times have reported that a campaign launch could be as early as Tuesday.

Self-help author Marianne Williamson has also said she will challenge Biden for the Democratic nomination.

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