Thomas Gallagher

In college I was an English literature major. My first boss was a former gang leader who became an agent for positive change in the community he had formerly terrorized.
My friends in the liberal arts were trying to save the whales; my business school friends were trying to kill the whales. I have tried to ride the whale.

Riding the whale, for me, means to collaborate with what is, try to be kind in all situations, and avoid destruction on the path to creation.

Increasing awareness unites my interests and passions. I will be 80 years old later this year and I still have a deep interest in developing my self awareness and my awareness of the world. To that end, I am a daily meditator in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. I am a licensed Meditation Instructor in the Tergar International Introductory (AAM) meditation program. I cofounded the DC Tergar Meditation Community and continue to facilitate practice once or twice each month. In June 2025, I am organizing a meditation workshop called "Musically Meditative", working with an experienced meditator and a violist. Our goal is to work with sound and music as supports for meditation and to help people deepen their musical experiences through meditative awareness.

I have been participating in 12 Step recovery programs for about 15 years. I chair meetings and lead meditations at recovery workshops. I am also committed to psychotherapy as a tool for recovery and deeper awareness. I recently began working with a therapist who is an expert on Internal Family Systems (IFS).

I am a musician and leader in the performing arts. Right now I am studying the cello. I am also the Treasurer of Washington Performing Arts, the premier presenter of many musical genres in the Washington DC region. I previously served as Board Chair.