Our Story

Most Difficult was born in a dusty, cluttered basement during a routine after-move cleaning.   The sign was crammed into a crevice, behind an old bent mattress, frame, et al, and other debris left by the landlord… it immediately caught my eye, the bold blue circle floating in the middle of the sign.  I’m not a skier, but having lived in Colorado for enough years I knew my way around a ski park and the ubiquitous ski run markers: green circles for bunny slopes, blue squares for intermediate trails, and black diamonds for advanced players.  Then, I find this sign in the basement:

Bright blue circle emblazoned on a reflective plate, hovering above the words – Most Difficult.  “That’s not the most difficult!? In fact, that’s down right confusing!”  I thought.  Bunny slope shape, intermediate color, and expert phrase.  What a conundrum!  I became instantly enthralled!  It wasn’t what it appeared at all, but there it was.  I was drawn to this artifact, and after a moment of confusion, I was able to let it go with a pure appreciation for whatever it was.  It became simple.  It was only as difficult as I allowed it to be. 

So what does this all have to do with MDME?  By observing and examining our environment and ourselves we can learn to act with ease, excitement, and motivation even when presented with situations that have the potential to elicit anger, frustration, and stagnation.  The difficult path becomes clear.  This doesn’t make life easy, as we all know life can be hard.  But it can make our responses natural, clear, and reachable.  Chi is not angry or happy.  Chi is.  And we determine the flow.  

About Andy

Andy began his professional career as a geologist, after earning an MS from the University of Michigan, but he soon found teaching to be his passion.  Enter an abrupt career change to classroom teacher, and he quickly evolved from a science teacher into a human teacher – the human condition.  As he became drawn toward his students’ deeper social and emotional needs, he transitioned to school administration so he could have a greater affect on school culture.  These new experiences included curriculum and program planning, family engagement and empowerment, and professional staff development.

Andy’s readings and continued coursework have included:  educational psychology, adolescent development, character based education, differentiated techniques, project and service based learning, critical consciousness, mindfulness, educational leadership, empathic communication, social and emotional intelligence, meditation, theology, philosophy, history and more  

His most significant learning, however, has come from doing - embarking on journeys and exercises that have fostered personal and collective awareness.   Notable epiphanies have resulted from over 20 years of experience in meditative practices.  Andy’s journey of self-exploration has brought him to the present moment, where he now feels ready to share his insights in the form of personal and professional development.  Taking from the theme: do what you love what you do, this venture is the right thing at the right time because he loves it and it works!