Guest Post By Deborah Salazar Shapiro

The breeze was blowing in. I could smell and admire the vastness of the beautiful blue ocean. It was 2011. Next to me on the ferry, along with my husband-to-be, was a happy group of fellow travelers also on their way to the island of Zanzibar, off the coast of Africa.

That moment of joy quickly turned into sadness as I witnessed people throwing plastic and other objects into the sea. I sensed that the sea had no choice but to embrace the objects in her unknowing but compassionate arms. In that moment, I recalled a story I had once written about the ocean and the carelessness of humans, but I hadn’t been sure at the time what to do to make the story come alive.

That experience on the ferry sat in my heart for many years, and the story sat in a drawer, untouched. Then, soon after giving birth to my second child, Arianna, the memory bubbled up. During a nursing session, I was contemplating the books in her bookcase. I found nothing that spoke to what I had witnessed on that ferry journey to the island.

Feeling boundless love for my daughter and thinking about her future, I reflected on my deep desire to share the teachings of mindfulness, interconnection, and caring for the earth. That day, I set the intention to take the simple story that I had written so long ago and finally turn it into a book, The Magical Mindful Day.

Photograph: Catherine Hatfield

The inspiration for the book was born out my love for nature and animals. I also wanted to sprinkle a little bit of my culture, which I show when Gaby, the main character, eats a green (or unripe) mango, a favorite variety of the fruit for Salvadorians. Important for me too was to reflect the respect Gaby has for her mother. Respect is one of the most important cultural values shared by Latin Americans.

The Magical Mindful Day comes from my feelings of deep love, appreciation, and hope for a more compassionate and kinder future for all living beings. I believe that through mindfulness and heart-based practices, we can move one step closer to making this world a better place. I am thrilled to have taken the leap into the children’s writing arena and to have received the support of teachers and mentors who also are working to spread the word about the power of mindfulness.

Photograph: Catherine Hatfield

Deborah Salazar Shapiro, MSW, is a psychotherapist, mindfulness teacher, author, and artist who was born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador. She has been working with children and families for over 15 years. Deborah holds an MSW from the University of Southern California and a masters-level degree in psychology from the University Dr. Jose Matias Delgado in San Salvador. She lives in San Diego, California with her husband, two daughters, and a wise cat named Thay. For more information, please visit www.DeborahSalazarShapiro.com