From a glittering Hollywood career to a deeply personal exploration of spirituality and emotional well-being, Goldie Hawn has built a life shaped as much by inner inquiry as by cinematic success. The octogenarian Oscar winner has long moved beyond the screen, channeling her experiences into advocacy for mental health, mindfulness, and resilience—causes rooted in her own life journey, moments of loss, and an enduring search for meaning.
MindUP to storytelling: Extending a life philosophy
Her first children’s book, The After-School Kindness Crew: Pooch on the Loose #1, created with bestselling author Lin Oliver, is set to release on May 5, 2026 by Penguin Kids and emerges as an extension of that philosophy rather than a standalone creative pursuit. The second, titled: The After-School Kindness Crew: Slam Dunk Day #2, is scheduled to be published later this year.
Drawing from her MindUP program, the series encourages young readers to navigate everyday challenges with kindness, curiosity, and mindfulness—values Goldie has cultivated over decades.
Announcing the project on Instagram, Goldie said these kids books will not only tell stories but also include “brain breaks” and guided breathing exercises, helping children pause and reflect—an approach rooted in the same principles that led her to establish MindUP in 2003, in the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks on America. The MindUP program blends neuroscience, positive psychology, and social-emotional learning to build emotional literacy and resilience among students, educators, and families.
Meeting Goldie in New Delhi
Writing, for Goldie, has always been another avenue of self-expression. Her 2005 memoir, A Lotus Grows in the Mud, a New York Times bestseller, reflected on lessons drawn from her life, including her spiritual connection with India. She has often spoken about the symbolism of the lotus—rooted in mud yet blossoming with beauty—as a metaphor for human growth.
I met her in New Delhi at a public program when she visited India in 2006 and was impressed by her graciousness. I described her frank self-exploration in an article in Life Positive magazine that I had founded. (The title of her book may have subconsciously inspired the name ‘A Lotus In the Mud’ of this web magazine that I started many years later.)
Describing herself as a “Jewish-Buddhist,” Goldie’s spiritual journey has been shaped by personal experiences she describes as transformative—whether moments surrounding the birth of her son or travels to places like Varanasi following her mother’s death. That visit, she has said, helped her confront questions of mortality and embrace a more conscious way of living, moving beyond the Western fear of death toward acceptance and awareness.
Spiritual journey and India’s lasting imprint
She describes India as her spiritual home, where she found her guru – Acharya Devki Nandan Shastri. She used to visit India almost annually and even attended the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi in 2009. That was her seventh visit to the country known for its ancient spirituality, meditation, and yoga. She described her relationship with India in one word: “Fascinating.”
In that sense, her kids book is less a new direction and more a continuation of a life spent exploring how compassion, faith, and mindfulness can shape not just individual lives but the way future generations understand the world.
Co-written with Oliver, The After-School Kindness Crew: Pooch on the Loose #1, tells the story of three very different fourth-grade students—Mia, River, and Tony—who become friends and go on an adventure to find a shelter dog a loving home.
The book is the first in a series she is developing with Oliver. Though they feature elements of MindUP, such as “brain breaks,” Goldie said the book is nothing like a classroom lesson.
Breaking away from the confines of the glamor world is rarely easy, but Goldie stands among the few who not only made a lasting mark in cinema but also moved beyond it—exploring spirituality and mindfulness and using her experiences and wisdom to contribute meaningfully to society, especially for children, through MindUP and now her books.
A charming comedienne
Goldie Hawn’s best-known movies include iconic comedy hits Private Benjamin (1980), Overboard (1987), and The First Wives Club (1996). Known for her charming, comedic roles, her top films include Cactus Flower (1969)—for which she won an Oscar—Death Becomes Her (1992), and Bird on a Wire (1990).
Leave a Reply