There's something that happens when the seasons change. When you take a moment to observe what's happening with Mother Nature....it all feels unbalanced. One minute it's raining, and windy, only for the next moment to welcome the sun. One day it's warm, one day it's hot, and the next humid.
There's just really no telling what's next.
Can you relate that to the moments when you lose your own balance? You lose your keys, leave the coffee on top of the car and drive away, are wearing mis-matched socks (or shoes, even!), find the salt in the refrigerator and the milk in the cabinet.
Everything around you is swirling around in chaos, and you're ALLOWING your mind to follow suit. Allowing it to get swept up in disorder.
Why not slow down? What's going to come crashing down to earth? Well...maybe you!
Slowing down and simply observing the chaos is just one way to get you back to yourself and your natural rhythm. Routine is another way to connect with the elements that surround you and get a hold on them.
The amazing thing...is...it all comes back to that magical concept of CONNECTION!
Stopping grounds you, routine grounds you, breath grounds you, exercise grounds you, rest (mind AND body) grounds you, playfulness and not taking it all so seriously....IT ALL GROUNDS YOU!
Why? Because at the core of your nature, you're nurturing yourself. Which in turn helps you tune into what makes you, you. When you're not grounded you're not connected to yourself. I've seen people who are deathly afraid of that connection, yet crave it. They'll use work, family, etc to keep busy and avoid the connection. Yet they'll positively yearn for that sense of connection. But, HOW? How exactly do you get it?
Dig just a little bit deeper and connect to what moves you! Don't be fearful. Anything, everything you every need is always within you.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
UNITY
11 years ago.
We all remember where we were and our initial thoughts as we watched American flight 11 cruise into the North Tower, with United Airlines flight 175 following into the South Tower.
Disbelief washed over an entire nation...then panic...and then....reality.
Reality of what we were dealing with, and what we were in for. Reality of every single victim, every individual tragedy.
...and then support, in every single direction to guide the rest of us to some semblance safety.
11 years later, America has come very far. Yes we're in economic turmoil and yes things have been trying in so many different ways....but as a unit we've come far. We've evolved many times over. And it stems from that day.
So much happening and turning our worlds around, the enemy had made us vulnerable. Sure we immediately retaliated as a nation, but individually and within our families...we remained vulnerable. Life as we knew it would NEVER be the same. Never could be the same. As natural beings we recognized the call, and we submitted to it. Together.
There's a beauty in vulnerability, and the challenging times in our lives. Through grief, struggle, uncertainty, fear, and pain comes a rawness of the human spirit. It's the times we can naturally rely on one another without pride and ego's mixing in. Raw human experience reminds us that we are cut from the same cloth, and somehow together still WORK BEST as a unit.
I was 22 years old and remember walking down 40th Street from 8th Avenue toward 7th. It was after 4 or 5 days of non-stop news coverage, and check-in's with friends. Absorbing the sadness of who was no longer with us...yet continuing to take steps forward. Hearing the stories we all had, how we were all affected, yet feeling the clock ticking along as it always had. As I was walking, I took in the subdued city energy. New York City had slowed down and taken a moment. Nearly closed down. As we all took the moments we needed, together, to mourn what had once been.
As our City rallied and our nation rallied...so did we. A specific resilience I'd like to personally reserve for New Yorkers alone. We got back up, put our Grown Up pants back on, and did the best we could. Together.
I've felt this unity...this vulnerability to the circumstances...only twice in my life. Both times, I've thought it to be the most gorgeous of natural occurrences. I know I'm not the only one.
So, I encourage you.. implement a true practice of unity in it's truest form. Everyday. Remind yourself what that support meant to us all. Free from judgments and pride. Free from fears...NO MATTER WHAT! Everyday.
Never Forget.
We all remember where we were and our initial thoughts as we watched American flight 11 cruise into the North Tower, with United Airlines flight 175 following into the South Tower.
Disbelief washed over an entire nation...then panic...and then....reality.
Reality of what we were dealing with, and what we were in for. Reality of every single victim, every individual tragedy.
...and then support, in every single direction to guide the rest of us to some semblance safety.
11 years later, America has come very far. Yes we're in economic turmoil and yes things have been trying in so many different ways....but as a unit we've come far. We've evolved many times over. And it stems from that day.
So much happening and turning our worlds around, the enemy had made us vulnerable. Sure we immediately retaliated as a nation, but individually and within our families...we remained vulnerable. Life as we knew it would NEVER be the same. Never could be the same. As natural beings we recognized the call, and we submitted to it. Together.
There's a beauty in vulnerability, and the challenging times in our lives. Through grief, struggle, uncertainty, fear, and pain comes a rawness of the human spirit. It's the times we can naturally rely on one another without pride and ego's mixing in. Raw human experience reminds us that we are cut from the same cloth, and somehow together still WORK BEST as a unit.
I was 22 years old and remember walking down 40th Street from 8th Avenue toward 7th. It was after 4 or 5 days of non-stop news coverage, and check-in's with friends. Absorbing the sadness of who was no longer with us...yet continuing to take steps forward. Hearing the stories we all had, how we were all affected, yet feeling the clock ticking along as it always had. As I was walking, I took in the subdued city energy. New York City had slowed down and taken a moment. Nearly closed down. As we all took the moments we needed, together, to mourn what had once been.
As our City rallied and our nation rallied...so did we. A specific resilience I'd like to personally reserve for New Yorkers alone. We got back up, put our Grown Up pants back on, and did the best we could. Together.
I've felt this unity...this vulnerability to the circumstances...only twice in my life. Both times, I've thought it to be the most gorgeous of natural occurrences. I know I'm not the only one.
So, I encourage you.. implement a true practice of unity in it's truest form. Everyday. Remind yourself what that support meant to us all. Free from judgments and pride. Free from fears...NO MATTER WHAT! Everyday.
Never Forget.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
ENDINGS
I'm not quite sure why an ending needs to be a "bad" thing. Are you?
Endings make way for beginnings. In fact! During my first Yoga Teacher Training, on our very first day we were split up into three groups. Brahma (beginnings), Vishnu (middle-ings), and Shiva (endings). We were asked to physically bring ourselves into whatever group we belonged in at that very moment.
I remember being amazed at how many people didn't know which of these three phases they were currently experiencing.
The thing I embraced at that very moment (as I coincidentally made my way to the "Shiva" group), is that endings are definitely not "bad". They don't even need to have a negative connotation. Endings should just be endings. The end!
There's things in our lives that we come across time and time again that really just are not serving us. Maybe it's a friendship, romantic relationship, career, even your family. If there's one thing I've learned in my limited years, it's the fact that every single person/place/thing in your life should be serving it's purpose. When something is doing more harm than good, it's time to say goodbye.
There's something empowering within that realization. Mostly because by identifying what's not serving you you're serving and nurturing your authentic self...but even more than that....you're moving toward something greater. Something that WILL serve you.
There are some pretty gnarly feelings that go along with endings. Sometimes guilt, longing, dissapointment, sadness, anger, frustration, confusion. None of which are necessarily AWESOME to feel. But feel them anyway, judgement free.
We go through these beginnings, middles, and ends constantly through life. The cycle alone may actually be one of few constants in life. When the haze of emotion clears what's left, well, is still YOU. This amazing force who has the COURAGE to see the light, and make it to the Vishnu. (I've been wanting to say that since I started typing, btw).
This cycle, really is the essence of our life experience.
In Yoga, we call it Nataraja. Nataraja is another form of Shiva...lord of the dance. In this picture he's doing his lil' jig...making way for Brahma. This is actually my favorite Hindu deity He's just wrecking shit and dancing all over what once was.
Why, you ask?
Because he's psyched to embark, always, on the next beginning!
Endings make way for beginnings. In fact! During my first Yoga Teacher Training, on our very first day we were split up into three groups. Brahma (beginnings), Vishnu (middle-ings), and Shiva (endings). We were asked to physically bring ourselves into whatever group we belonged in at that very moment.
I remember being amazed at how many people didn't know which of these three phases they were currently experiencing.
The thing I embraced at that very moment (as I coincidentally made my way to the "Shiva" group), is that endings are definitely not "bad". They don't even need to have a negative connotation. Endings should just be endings. The end!
There's things in our lives that we come across time and time again that really just are not serving us. Maybe it's a friendship, romantic relationship, career, even your family. If there's one thing I've learned in my limited years, it's the fact that every single person/place/thing in your life should be serving it's purpose. When something is doing more harm than good, it's time to say goodbye.
There's something empowering within that realization. Mostly because by identifying what's not serving you you're serving and nurturing your authentic self...but even more than that....you're moving toward something greater. Something that WILL serve you.
There are some pretty gnarly feelings that go along with endings. Sometimes guilt, longing, dissapointment, sadness, anger, frustration, confusion. None of which are necessarily AWESOME to feel. But feel them anyway, judgement free.
We go through these beginnings, middles, and ends constantly through life. The cycle alone may actually be one of few constants in life. When the haze of emotion clears what's left, well, is still YOU. This amazing force who has the COURAGE to see the light, and make it to the Vishnu. (I've been wanting to say that since I started typing, btw).
This cycle, really is the essence of our life experience.
In Yoga, we call it Nataraja. Nataraja is another form of Shiva...lord of the dance. In this picture he's doing his lil' jig...making way for Brahma. This is actually my favorite Hindu deity He's just wrecking shit and dancing all over what once was.
Why, you ask?
Because he's psyched to embark, always, on the next beginning!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
PERFECTION
...most of us strive for it. Some of us get it...
...then what?
Seeking and striving for perfection is commendable. Really, it is. I see it all day long, I too tap into my inner perfectionist from time to time. Heck...I've even dated the ever seeking perfectionist.
That's the thing about perfection. There is NEVER an end result. You're always striving and striving and striving for the next slice.
For you serial perfectionists out there...have you ever stopped and enjoyed the view?
What does your endless string of perfected quests "do" for you?
I personally get exhausted when I think about myself in "perfectionist" mode. Most times, I actually feel like I'm moving against a force much like a brick wall. My brain is speeding 100+ miles a minute...and I'm literally draining myself from every resource possible that I might need to actually get myself to that perfected state.
Sound familiar?
At that drained point, I've learned how to stop and detach...but most keep on going. I did for a long, long while until I realized I never had a chance to enjoy my success. All the forward motion toward the next best thing somehow put blinders on the importance of accomplishing these things in the first place. Nevermind the light it dimmed as I moved swiftly on...
When you start to open your eyes, you see the view. When you see the view, a flow starts to seep into your movement. All of a sudden, you recognize that force...that brick wall...much more quickly. It somehow feels, un-natural. The nature of perfection IS unnatural. If we were all perfect, this world would be DAMN boring! We'd all be glamorous and successful, and my guess, we'd all be striving to be imperfect! Idiosyncrasies are what make the world go 'round! The ways we go about our work, organization, quirky personalities, organized chaos hidden within the depths of closets/basements/attics....it's all what makes us unique.
I'll never say slow down to the ever striving perfectionist. I will say, eliminate. Take all those thoughts running through your head, and the motions you go through at each turn....and assess where they're REALLY adding value. Replace it with something fun, and more individual to you.
Through perfection, perfect your SELF!
...then what?
Seeking and striving for perfection is commendable. Really, it is. I see it all day long, I too tap into my inner perfectionist from time to time. Heck...I've even dated the ever seeking perfectionist.
That's the thing about perfection. There is NEVER an end result. You're always striving and striving and striving for the next slice.
For you serial perfectionists out there...have you ever stopped and enjoyed the view?
What does your endless string of perfected quests "do" for you?
I personally get exhausted when I think about myself in "perfectionist" mode. Most times, I actually feel like I'm moving against a force much like a brick wall. My brain is speeding 100+ miles a minute...and I'm literally draining myself from every resource possible that I might need to actually get myself to that perfected state.
Sound familiar?
At that drained point, I've learned how to stop and detach...but most keep on going. I did for a long, long while until I realized I never had a chance to enjoy my success. All the forward motion toward the next best thing somehow put blinders on the importance of accomplishing these things in the first place. Nevermind the light it dimmed as I moved swiftly on...
When you start to open your eyes, you see the view. When you see the view, a flow starts to seep into your movement. All of a sudden, you recognize that force...that brick wall...much more quickly. It somehow feels, un-natural. The nature of perfection IS unnatural. If we were all perfect, this world would be DAMN boring! We'd all be glamorous and successful, and my guess, we'd all be striving to be imperfect! Idiosyncrasies are what make the world go 'round! The ways we go about our work, organization, quirky personalities, organized chaos hidden within the depths of closets/basements/attics....it's all what makes us unique.
I'll never say slow down to the ever striving perfectionist. I will say, eliminate. Take all those thoughts running through your head, and the motions you go through at each turn....and assess where they're REALLY adding value. Replace it with something fun, and more individual to you.
Through perfection, perfect your SELF!
Friday, August 10, 2012
CHARACTER
Just sort of thinking out loud...most minutes of our day to day, we stumble across quite a cast of characters.
My question...how do we let these characters affect our actions, thoughts, lives? Are you really living your own production?
These characters and all of their brilliant qualities, can seem...overwhelming. Particularly if you lose your "balance". I'm not sure about you, but sometimes I seriously feel like I'm living in a drama series. This friend with that boyfriend issue, that friend who's unemployed, this one who's car got towed, wait until you hear about his one with her ex husband who just found out about his other 8 wives.... And then of course, there's family. Which by default we're part of the production, and feel this loving itch to help/fix/solve it all.
It's intense.
Rather than muster up the energy to move past it all, we endure. Which I've come to finally realize consumes more energy than just turning a blind cheek.
The other thing you may struggle with, as you navigate your own personal cast of characters is the fact that it's pure ENJOYMENT! So you keep coming back for more. It's almost fun to get to know the different versions of people out there. And that's totally a warranted frame of mind...IF...and only if, you remember yourself. Have that clear definition of yourself handy at all times so that you don't get caught up in the wrong drama series.
Overcome the magnetic pull!
Whatever the interest, find interest in yourself first. Find true knowledge of who you are, what you stand for, and what you're here to do....retain that knowledge through every single "production" you encounter. In other words, own your own CHARACTER! Stand strong in it, and don't let any other forces sway you. This "swaying" is doubt. The only way to overcome doubt is knowledge. Always, always, always know who you are!
Find beauty in the breakdown...
My question...how do we let these characters affect our actions, thoughts, lives? Are you really living your own production?
These characters and all of their brilliant qualities, can seem...overwhelming. Particularly if you lose your "balance". I'm not sure about you, but sometimes I seriously feel like I'm living in a drama series. This friend with that boyfriend issue, that friend who's unemployed, this one who's car got towed, wait until you hear about his one with her ex husband who just found out about his other 8 wives.... And then of course, there's family. Which by default we're part of the production, and feel this loving itch to help/fix/solve it all.
It's intense.
Rather than muster up the energy to move past it all, we endure. Which I've come to finally realize consumes more energy than just turning a blind cheek.
The other thing you may struggle with, as you navigate your own personal cast of characters is the fact that it's pure ENJOYMENT! So you keep coming back for more. It's almost fun to get to know the different versions of people out there. And that's totally a warranted frame of mind...IF...and only if, you remember yourself. Have that clear definition of yourself handy at all times so that you don't get caught up in the wrong drama series.
Overcome the magnetic pull!
Whatever the interest, find interest in yourself first. Find true knowledge of who you are, what you stand for, and what you're here to do....retain that knowledge through every single "production" you encounter. In other words, own your own CHARACTER! Stand strong in it, and don't let any other forces sway you. This "swaying" is doubt. The only way to overcome doubt is knowledge. Always, always, always know who you are!
Find beauty in the breakdown...
Thursday, August 2, 2012
ACTION
...with the Olympics in full swing, it feels as though the entire world has a clear focus on MOVEMENT.
...my question....does movement always equal action?
Shifting to a yogic gear, the first of two Full Moon's in August started yesterday. The first paving way for the ever so rare Blue Moon. Then there's the fact that Mercury is still in Retrograde....so alignment wise, the hits just keep on coming!
It started me thinking...Mercury in Retrograde is quite a force. Retrogravy, as I like to call it, is a time of reflection. It's said if you're sensitive to it's affects you should really back off embarking on new endeavors. It's also said to stay away from technology. Then this full moon strolls on in and boasts of expansion, freedom, growth, surrender, peace, fulfillment, connection, and a network of loved one's who support our every move.
So...what gives?
...and then it pretty much dawned on me that action doesn't have to be movement.
Most of us are moving forward nearly every minute of every day..where is it getting us? The way these fancy moons differ from us is their movement promises EVOLUTION just by nature. Not so much with us human's. We're responsible for our own evolution! And sometimes that means....action in another way. Action in words, a thought, developing a plan, re-aligning a plan, or sometimes....staying still for a moment. All of the traits this moon holds, doesn't require any one person to take even the tiniest step physically forward. It's action from the heart. Action from the mind.
Since I'm from New York...I look up from writing this and take a look around. Movement everywhere...the angry NYC horns honking, commuters rushing, trains moving on at full speed....but where's the evolution in it all?
I believe it to be called "moving with purpose", my dear friends. Make your thoughts, intentions, and actions count in a way that will allow your own personal expansion. If you're not growing, don't do it!
As each and every one of us expands into this universe...we'll experience the evolution.
...my question....does movement always equal action?
Shifting to a yogic gear, the first of two Full Moon's in August started yesterday. The first paving way for the ever so rare Blue Moon. Then there's the fact that Mercury is still in Retrograde....so alignment wise, the hits just keep on coming!
It started me thinking...Mercury in Retrograde is quite a force. Retrogravy, as I like to call it, is a time of reflection. It's said if you're sensitive to it's affects you should really back off embarking on new endeavors. It's also said to stay away from technology. Then this full moon strolls on in and boasts of expansion, freedom, growth, surrender, peace, fulfillment, connection, and a network of loved one's who support our every move.
So...what gives?
...and then it pretty much dawned on me that action doesn't have to be movement.
Most of us are moving forward nearly every minute of every day..where is it getting us? The way these fancy moons differ from us is their movement promises EVOLUTION just by nature. Not so much with us human's. We're responsible for our own evolution! And sometimes that means....action in another way. Action in words, a thought, developing a plan, re-aligning a plan, or sometimes....staying still for a moment. All of the traits this moon holds, doesn't require any one person to take even the tiniest step physically forward. It's action from the heart. Action from the mind.
Since I'm from New York...I look up from writing this and take a look around. Movement everywhere...the angry NYC horns honking, commuters rushing, trains moving on at full speed....but where's the evolution in it all?
I believe it to be called "moving with purpose", my dear friends. Make your thoughts, intentions, and actions count in a way that will allow your own personal expansion. If you're not growing, don't do it!
As each and every one of us expands into this universe...we'll experience the evolution.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
LEE
She would think that was such bullshit, and we'd have loads of fun with it.
I met Lee about 10 years ago at an outdoor electronic music festival in NYC called "Festivus". It was the first event they held, and there was a small group of friends there. I had been WAITING patiently to meet this force. I had heard about her through mutual friends and I had an inkling we'd get along well. Well, that doesn't even cut it! It wasn't until later that fall that Lee and I became inseparable. I always think of our true friendship beginning after a drunken evening in the bowels of Brooklyn(to put it bluntly, it was BYOB and I clearly remember mixing my beverage of choice over a toilet in the ladies room) and us falling on a subway platform from laughing so hard. Our asses did he cleaning crew a service that Friday night.
We were in our early 20's...but we were embarking on a friendship that literally sails around once in a lifetime.
Countless evenings in her Park Slope apartment, dinners out, encouraging her to come visit me in Queens, gabbing about guys (for the most part we had the same taste in men. That sucked a time or two.), general gossiping, dancing on her couch, not minding when she bought the same couch as me, being her taste-tester when she made her AWESOME tequila sangria, chatting for endless hours on the phone after we had emailed all day, letting her borrow my car, letting ourselves reveal our vulnerabilities,and then seriously talking about our careers/accomplishments/next moves and always pushing ourselves so hard that we never had time to enjoy what we were accomplishing in the moment.
All of it...was fun. All of it, was genuine.
What I'm leaving out is that Lee and I also shared a similar passion for travel, and love of floating. We took a bunch of trips together, and generally just enjoyed any body of water and sunshine. Actually, to this day she's the only human being who's voluntarily shared this love with me. Tulum, Mexico was my favorite trip...if for nothing else because Lee told our resort the "clothing-optional" beach was "too naked". (no really, it's in writing on a comment card long since filed away)
On our last trip, though...my intuition told me something. As much as Lee would tell me she was okay, she was not. I noticed some things...and I wondered. Somewhere my intuition knew "something" was up. I tried to talk about it with her, but didn't get far. I was worried, but Lee always made sure I didn't worry too much. 7 months and 27 days later, Lee made the executive decision that her time in this life had come to an end.
Those closest to her have had our own ways of dealing with this intense loss.
I definitely got pretty pissed at her for a quick hot minute about 6 months after the fact. I got over that quickly, due to the one thing that continuously prevails. How much she loved every single person close to her. We all felt her absolute love in different ways. We felt her love, her support, and literally warmth emanating from her soul. We still hear it in her laugh, and I know..I still feel her. She is forever with me. Just when I need her, she pops up in her various forms. Lee was in pain, whether or not her pride would allow her to admit that. And on this day....2 years later, I miss her no less, but respect her decision no less. Mutual respect was what our friendship was based upon first and foremost...for better or for worse.
So there's something to embrace here....which is the fact that a presence such as Lee comes along once in a lifetime. It comes along to teach you both something. Hold it close while it's close to you.
So while I write this...in a Starbucks waiting out a horrendous NYC rainstorm, this came over the speakers. There's Lee again...(probably trying to point out all my typos before spellcheck).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFlNxDGPlvA
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