Diana Last: Forever in Our Hearts
Dianna was a special being, full of quiet wisdom, gentle compassion and kindness for all of those around her, near and far, a lover of beauty and appreciative of beautiful things, a gifted, caring meditation teacher, a truly creative individual and talented photographer with a wry sense of humour and a unique way of looking at life and the world. She was tenacious, courageous and a source of inspiration to those who were lucky enough to know her.
As a teacher for MBSR, smartEDUCATION and The Mindful Edge®, a Director for Mindfulness Everyday, and the Program Director for MBSR and SMART programs, Dianna paid meticulous attention to the curricula, to the careful crafting of the varied guided audio scripts and to all aspects of the delivery of the mindfulness workshops. She was especially attentive to the participants of the programs, ensuring that each and every participant enjoyed the best possible experience of the trainings.
As a gifted photographer, her work included portraits, performers, children & families, pre-natal & newborn, polaroid art, and personal images – many of which have been incorporated into our presentations and materials. She taught in the Artist in the Schools program with the TDSB and exhibited at various galleries, at the Toronto Art Expo and is in many private collections worldwide.
Dianna always felt most at home in meditation, in sharing the gift of tuning inwards, and in creating opportunities for others to explore the inner territory of being. Dianna truly excelled in creating a safe and caring space of awareness for those who joined her workshops and trainings, to her friends and colleagues, and to all of us who just enjoyed spending time with her.
Diana Last Memorial Fund
Dianna Last was one of the original founders of Mindfulness Everyday. Her vision of compassion, generosity and kindness is embedded in our programs. Her creativity and artistic ability permeates our materials. She will continue to be an inspiration to everyone who has been touched by her authentic presence.
Dianna’s large heartedness showed up by removing financial barriers; she frequently offered subsidies to participants who genuinely were unable to afford the full cost of her workshops.
The Dianna Last Memorial Fund continues her legacy by facilitating access and providing subsidies for mindfulness training to those in education and in the community who would benefit from cultivating mindful awareness to support health and well-being.
How to Donate
If you would like to help support Mindfulness Everyday, you can contribute through Canada Helps or send a donation via eTransfer to payments@mindfulnesseveryday.org
Learn more about how you can Donate & Volunteer by clicking here!
Tributes to Diana
From Heidi Bornstein:
After Aadarsh and I found each other in India, and when we both ended up in Toronto, our friendship flowered into a deep intertwined life, sharing our love of wisdom, beauty, creativity, community, and especially, meditation…an eternal connection.
She, Steve and I often felt like the 3 musketeers, guiding Mindfulness Everyday as an organization from a time when teaching mindfulness was just becoming accepted in educational and community settings. We travelled to conferences, retreats, and trainings, enjoying the ride, loving each other’s company, and will always feel connected to each other in the space of oneness.
From Mark Takefman:
Dianna’s dance of life leaves us with a smile of satisfaction. She lives on in us, her family and friends, students and clients.
From Jannaca Chick:
I first met Dianna in India in the 1980s where we were both involved in the study and practice of meditation. The connection was immediate and throughout the years whenever we had the chance to see each other it was as if no time had passed. I adored her lively mind, love of life, creative ability, and infectious sense of humour. She is one of those rare friends in one’s life that always connect you to love, life and laughter. She will always remain in my heart.
From Karen Davis:
I was blessed to have Dianna as a dear friend and mentor since 2010. I loved hearing the stories of her life including growing up in Port Credit, time spent in India and highlights of her photography career. Teaching mindfulness and practicing together was our favourite way to connect.
When we taught the emotion lesson in the SMART program, she always wanted to be the character Sadness from the Inside Out movie which left me being Joy. Of course, we knew there could be no Joy without Sadness and no Sadness without Joy.
Dianna felt such compassion for the suffering of her students and wanted to give them access to their own inner resources as well as to direct them to support in the community. It was possible for Dianna to teach in this way because she had a deep well of spiritual practice, a delightful sense of humour and an embodied humility.
I would drive us to our classes with google directing and we could still find ways to get lost this meant doing U- turns to get back on track. I will miss you my dear friend, this U turn leaves us beginning again without you.
However, as your beloved poet John O’ Donohue writes “Let us not look for you only in memory, Where we would grow lonely without you. You would want us to find you in presence,” You shall be with me each time I teach and on every U-Turn.
From Markus Bolhmann
I met Dianna in 2016, during a difficult time in my life. I was struck by her presence and poise, her ability to be fully present when I was speaking with her. She always knew, always understood, always had a way of making me feel better just by being present, by listening deeply, with an open heart.
This picture she gave to me at a Christmas party. It’s a picture she took in Prague and then used a special technique to bring it on paper. I must admit, it took me a few years to frame it. When I walked into the store, the salesperson suggested a golden frame right away, and I had to smile. Gold was Dianna’s favourite colour. So here it is, a picture of Prague, one of my favourite cities, framed in Dianna’s favourite colour.
On The Death Of The Beloved by John O'Donohue
Though we need to weep your loss, You dwell in that safe place in our hearts, Where no storm or night or pain can reach you. Your love was like the dawn Brightening over our lives Awakening beneath the dark A further adventure of colour. The sound of your voice Found for us A new music That brightened everything. Whatever you enfolded in your gaze Quickened in the joy of its being; You placed smiles like flowers On the altar of the heart. Your mind always sparkled With wonder at things. Though your days here were brief, Your spirit was live, awake, complete. We look towards each other no longer From the old distance of our names; Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath, As close to us as we are to ourselves. Though we cannot see you with outward eyes, We know our soul's gaze is upon your face, Smiling back at us from within everything To which we bring our best refinement. Let us not look for you only in memory, Where we would grow lonely without you. You would want us to find you in presence, Beside us when beauty brightens, When kindness glows And music echoes eternal tones. When orchids brighten the earth, Darkest winter has turned to spring; May this dark grief flower with hope In every heart that loves you. May you continue to inspire us: To enter each day with a generous heart. To serve the call of courage and love Until we see your beautiful face again In that land where there is no more separation, Where all tears will be wiped from our mind, And where we will never lose you again.