How meditation and organic food inspired a young woman’s life in Mongolia . The heart of our exploration.
Throughout my life I would often imagine the type of school my future children would attend. In my vision, I would see this beautiful place of meditation, organic food, yoga, love, and brilliant education. A promotion of their essence and highest achievement based on all that they are. Not imaging that it existed, I also thought I would have to create such a bounty of learning. So imagine my surprise, when I was introduced to a private school in a tiny Iowa town that encompasses all of what I thought was my dream.
Introducing the Maharishi school in Fairfield, Iowa and Ms. Marissa Markowitz, alumni and a story of inspiration and success. Marissa’s foundation began with her supportive family and the empowered education she received at MSAE. She believes we can all be a “force for good” and has chosen to devote her life to “doing something better” for each other. Marissa and I bonded over our knowledge that food is not only fuel; it is the make up of who we are. Food is about contribution, happiness, culture, and is a path to our highest good.
Marissa was born in Korea and adopted by New Yorkers when she was a baby. She recalls her tall blonde mother telling her about a childhood friend; remembering her as the most beautiful girl in the world. She said that she always knew that somehow her own child would resemble her lovely friend. Because we are often the visions of our life, Marissa arrived as an infant of her mother’s heart and the striking image of that childhood bond.
Her parents traveled the world searching, only to find through meditation and self love that happiness doesn’t come from the outside. It comes from within. They have known the hardship of being unable to afford soap of even the bottled water needed for health in developing countries. They also know what it is to overcome. All of this they instilled in Marissa.
At the age of four Marissa’s family moved her to Fairfield, Iowa. She started school at MSAE and describes her version of rebellious. Ready for this?! Marissa’s view of rebellious is meditating twice a day eating organic, and yet wanting to see the world. Always looking for something more. That seeking led her to a journey after graduation. She spent three months traveling as a volunteer throughout Fiji, the Australian outback, in Buddhist communities, and on organic farms. It was her first exposure to aspects of the developing world and her life was forever changed. She returned home, studied organic farming, graduated from college, taught yoga, and was involved in a serious relationship yet her wanderlust called. “I am an explorer,” she tells me. Just before launching the plan to attend graduate school on scholarship, she received an opportunity to speak in Taiwan about her experience on the 100 Mile Diet. (The 100-mile diet challenges people to eat only food grown within 100 miles of their residence). Rather than stay the expected six weeks, she called her parents to announce she was not returning to the United States. Instead she had found herself traveling to Mongolia, falling in love with a country and its people.
Imagine a young woman in her 20’s traveling the world solo knowing that she was protected and that her best path was that of her heart and contribution. Marissa describes being mesmerized by the nomadic culture of Mongolia and feeling instantly at home. She started to learn the language and was hired as an intern by the Ministry of Agriculture to work on a food security project. She worked with people in challenging circumstances to train them in organic practices as a means for feeding their families and bringing in income. The doors continued to open and she became the Program Coordinator for the Mongolian Woman Farmers Association. She has since finished her Master’s research and has started a PhD program, focused on Mongolia of course! Her life now takes her back and forth from DC to her heart home of Mongolia.
Marissa in her intellectual style, told me about her vision of “100% inner sustainability and 100% outer sustainability”. What does that mean? It means taking care of ourselves and each other. Eating well. Living your passion, and doing things that make your soul feel alive! Health, happiness, and productivity in all its forms.
I asked Marissa what her life choices have taught her about food. She summed it up in perfect LoveSelf style. She told me that Maharishi said, “Food brings us bliss”. Of course it does.
Marissa has shared with us her family’s gluten free vegetarian “meatballs”. Enjoy them with marinara sauce for a family dinner.
