Today's Featured Biography

 
Denise Daun Anderson

Okay, I didn’t actually graduate from PHS, as my family moved to Santa Barbara shortly before our junior year, so I appreciate being given this opportunity to participate with my former classmates.

I’ve been reading through all the bios, and I realize that we have more in common than I thought. Some of you spoke of how painful high school can be. I can certainly identify with that. For many years it seemed as though I was not completely of this world. I felt everything too much: I was too sensitive; I had too little self-esteem; I was terrified of getting close to boys; and I spent a lot of time hiding from life. I now know that my soul chose these challenges for a reason, and I have had a lifetime to gradually embrace them.

After graduating from Dos Pueblos High School, I enrolled at nearby UCSB with a double major in art and anthropology. I left after a very short time to marry a much older man, and I started working for the CEO of a large national company. I continued working for CEOs for many years. I am currently the Advertising Director for a very successful natural foods store in Santa Barbara.

Like others whose inspiring bios I have read, I survived two abusive marriages. While I wouldn’t wish that particular nightmare on anyone, I can honestly say that I am a stronger, more compassionate woman because of the experience. After finding the courage to leave my second husband in 1983, I began to look within to see how I helped to create these relationships. This was my first step in moving beyond being a victim.

There’s a saying that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I met my spiritual teacher in 1985, and I have been studying soul transcendence ever since. While I can’t say that it’s been an easy path, it has changed my life and helped me to be a more responsible creator. I’ve grown in ways I never imagined, and every day provides more opportunities to learn and strengthen.

Service is a large part of the teachings, and helping others is what fills my heart. My 87-year-old parents live in a retirement community just two blocks from my home, and I am blessed to be able to watch over them. Dad has been a heart patient for over 30 years, and he is quite frail. Mom has some cognitive impairment, so I’ve taken over their financial affairs.

My joys are simple: I meditate daily; I passionately love reading; I started writing poetry again after embarking on my spiritual path (and have actually published a book of poetry with internationally known artist Nancy Noël and two other authors); I love observing beauty (I can watch the ocean for hours, and I’m particularly fond of sunsets); and I especially love touching others in small, sometimes surprising ways. There is nothing like smiling at a stranger and seeing his face light up in response.

I started traveling in my mid-thirties and haven’t looked back. I started in the West Indies and moved on to the Middle East. I spent a month in Egypt and Israel in 1990 on a spiritual journey, and had some incredible encounters. A few of us ran into Mohamar Ghaddafi at our hotel at the foot of the Great Pyramid, and he was nothing like what I expected. Our group was privileged to meet the local, very ancient holy man in a small mosque outside Luxor. When it was my turn to shake his hand, he wouldn’t let me go. He kept staring into my eyes for what seemed like ages, and he finally pulled my hand to his heart and heaved a great sigh. It was a very interesting experience…

I’ve since been to Ireland, Fiji, New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland, and I've taken several dozen trips to Hawai’i, the place where I go to heal. In fact, I’ll be on Maui's Ka’anapali Beach during the reunion, so I’ll miss seeing you.

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