Mindfulness involves focusing our attention on being fully present, being aware of who we are and what we’re doing and accepting our surroundings without judgment. If you want to practice mindfulness, check out these easy steps.

This week, drawing on decades of research, along with the lived experiences of the thousands of birthparents we have supported over the past twenty-five years, our staff talks candidly about what it really takes to build a long-lasting and healthy open adoption relationship between birthparents and adoptive parents. We are not just describing the general landscape of adoption; we are handing adoptive parents and adoption professionals a comprehensive guide filled with the evidence-based tools and best practices needed to transform good intentions into healthy, child-centered adoption relationships.

This month's Activism in Adoption speaker is writer, musician, filmmaker, and birthmother Kate Stapleton, who is joining us to discuss her award winning film, The Inner Sea. We sat down with Kate this week to talk about what prompted her to create this documentary, the process of being a first-time filmmaker, and to get a little advice on how to pursue an abundantly creative life.