There is nothing better than the feeling of community - feeling like you belong, like there are others out there who share your values.
I was recently contacted by David at Inspire Designs (http://www.inspiredesignsonline.com/) and am already anxious to purchase a "Calm Your Thoughts" shirt! Check out some of the stories people have shared on their website. Their motto? "The simplest of things can make a difference in someone's life." How true. If only we could remember that the simple acts we make each day have an influence on our own lives as well as others. (Remember that Energy!!)
I also want to point out the blogs that are down there on your left...that list of blogs that I follow as well. There are some AMAZING people out there doing life-changing things, one day at a time.
Keep in mind, we are all REAL people doing real things in this world. When you turn off your computer, we are still here. Each person reading this has the opportunity to live as deeply, kindly, juicy, & joyfully as those who exude life through their blogs.
Check out the links, get inspired, and GO LIVE!!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The Sounds of My Life
We all live in different places and experience different auditory stimuli. From traffic to geese, keyboards to wind, we are each bombarded with thousands of sounds a day...some pleasant, some not so much. Many we ignore. Ever stop to think about what is keeping your world from being silent?
I do. Often.
I thought you might enjoy a li'l listen of what a typical evening at our household sounds like. (The video is blank - better to just focus on the sounds.)
I do. Often.
I thought you might enjoy a li'l listen of what a typical evening at our household sounds like. (The video is blank - better to just focus on the sounds.)
Mmmm...don't you wish you were here?!
(I'll try to add more of a happy blog later this evening -- but hopefully you can understand why I'm a bit frazzled right now. These lovely sounds are brought to you courtesy of the mean mommy who asked her kids to clean their rooms.) :)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Creative Play
Ok, one more post for the day. (Can this count as extra in case I can't blog one day??)
Just a little digital creative fun I had this evening after running across and AMAZING site (robenmarie.com).
Just a little digital creative fun I had this evening after running across and AMAZING site (robenmarie.com).
This is photoshop work (CS2) - the background texture is one that is offered for FREE at Roben Marie's site - "Every Life Has a Story"! (How cool is that?!) She is quite gracious in all that she offers and a very talented artist...I highly recommend a peek.
I've also printed this image & am going to add some texture through stamps & the like...
Really, it is time that I get off of the computer for the night. Darn addictive thing.
Got Kids? Check this out.
I need a little relief from that last post. If you have kids (or are a kid at heart), I recommend checking out They Might Be Giants...for kids! The songs are wonderful, educational, & not obnoxious as so many other kids' tunes can be.
Really - take just a minute & check out this video:
Really - take just a minute & check out this video:
Think About It.
Time for a li'l depth here. Kiddos are in bed so let's see if I can make it through this!
A lot of deep thoughts have been building one on top of the other recently. Leave it to beautiful fall to bring about deep thinking! Here's something to ponder.
a) Down to the teensiest, tiniest bit of matter that scientists can study, everything is made up of pure energy. Not solid stuff like we imagine we see & feel each day, but vibrating energy. A fun way to be introduced to this concept is through the film, What The Bleep Do We Know. (Controversial film but a great thought-provoker.) There are countless other resources (feel free to leave a comment or email me if you'd like to know more). Based off everything we know & feel through all forms of truth searching (religion & science), everything is vibratory energy. (What we call it & where we feel it came from is a whole other life-long topic.) Ok with that?
b) Energy is flexible & malleable. (Malleable: adj. 2 a : capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences b : having a capacity for adaptive change) It can be played with, moved around, squished & stretched, quickened & slowed.
b1) If you want to get really freaked out, do a quick glance into quantum physics. Here's a 10 minute You Tube video of clips from the above movie. Suddenly time & space have little meaning...it's weird. I warned you.
c) If thoughts are energy & our body is energy & our environment is energy, each of these things can play around with the other. Each of these things is flexible & malleable. Independently we accept this on a daily basis - sure, my thoughts change all the time. Yep, this aging body is changing quicker than I want it too. The environment is changing all around me - just look at this idiot speeding past me in his car!
But what about the interplay between each of these? The green movement is trying hard to show our body's impact on the natural environment. Recent pop trends have played up the effect of thoughts on our body or environment. (The Secret, anyone?)
Let's just narrow it down to one direction to keep things simple. Our thoughts influence our bodies influence our actions influence our being influences our environment influences the flow of our world. WHEE!
I am only one of millions who have explored this concept throughout time. Yet I am ONE. One of my simple little thoughts can turn into a flurry of actions that could potentially influence the world. (Butterfly Effect)
d) If we can accept all of the above as truth (if only while reading this blog), let's take it one step further. If everything is energy - vibrating, moving, bouncing, playing - what is the distinction between one form of energy & another? Its shape? The speed at which it moves?
But if energy is malleable, can't one form of energy turn into another? (Like with water...if we slow it down, it freezes & turns into ice...if we heat it up, it speeds up & turns into vapor)
And if energy is interchangeable, aren't all things in theory, one? Call it energy, consciousness, illusion, God, Goddess, whatever...but this vibrating, pulsating, playful energy that comprises everything we know is what we are made of, what our thoughts are made of, what the plant we eat is made of, what the person we hate is made of, what our mother is made of, & what Pluto is made of. (Poor Pluto.)
p.s. YOGA delves into all of this...if you only know it as poses, definitely look into it more - as a yoga teacher, I'd be happy to walk the journey with you!
OK. You have either stopped reading, skimmed ahead to this part, or are wondering - so?!
Here's the fun part. This isn't just theory that we can ponder & then forget in the shower tomorrow morning. It is potentially life-changing. Or not. Or maybe....just maybe....
What IF your thoughts - the ones about the kids while they are fighting, about how your creative work isn't good enough, the guilt about exercising or how you feel about your body - were creating your reality? What if you decided you ARE an artist or a runner or a beautiful person or a serene parent? Could that bouncy, feel-good energy really make a difference in what you see, feel, & experience all around you? Could it really be that easy (or that difficult)?
I dunno.
But I challenge you to Think About It.
A lot of deep thoughts have been building one on top of the other recently. Leave it to beautiful fall to bring about deep thinking! Here's something to ponder.
a) Down to the teensiest, tiniest bit of matter that scientists can study, everything is made up of pure energy. Not solid stuff like we imagine we see & feel each day, but vibrating energy. A fun way to be introduced to this concept is through the film, What The Bleep Do We Know. (Controversial film but a great thought-provoker.) There are countless other resources (feel free to leave a comment or email me if you'd like to know more). Based off everything we know & feel through all forms of truth searching (religion & science), everything is vibratory energy. (What we call it & where we feel it came from is a whole other life-long topic.) Ok with that?
b) Energy is flexible & malleable. (Malleable: adj. 2 a : capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences b : having a capacity for adaptive change) It can be played with, moved around, squished & stretched, quickened & slowed.
b1) If you want to get really freaked out, do a quick glance into quantum physics. Here's a 10 minute You Tube video of clips from the above movie. Suddenly time & space have little meaning...it's weird. I warned you.
c) If thoughts are energy & our body is energy & our environment is energy, each of these things can play around with the other. Each of these things is flexible & malleable. Independently we accept this on a daily basis - sure, my thoughts change all the time. Yep, this aging body is changing quicker than I want it too. The environment is changing all around me - just look at this idiot speeding past me in his car!
But what about the interplay between each of these? The green movement is trying hard to show our body's impact on the natural environment. Recent pop trends have played up the effect of thoughts on our body or environment. (The Secret, anyone?)
Let's just narrow it down to one direction to keep things simple. Our thoughts influence our bodies influence our actions influence our being influences our environment influences the flow of our world. WHEE!
I am only one of millions who have explored this concept throughout time. Yet I am ONE. One of my simple little thoughts can turn into a flurry of actions that could potentially influence the world. (Butterfly Effect)
d) If we can accept all of the above as truth (if only while reading this blog), let's take it one step further. If everything is energy - vibrating, moving, bouncing, playing - what is the distinction between one form of energy & another? Its shape? The speed at which it moves?
But if energy is malleable, can't one form of energy turn into another? (Like with water...if we slow it down, it freezes & turns into ice...if we heat it up, it speeds up & turns into vapor)
And if energy is interchangeable, aren't all things in theory, one? Call it energy, consciousness, illusion, God, Goddess, whatever...but this vibrating, pulsating, playful energy that comprises everything we know is what we are made of, what our thoughts are made of, what the plant we eat is made of, what the person we hate is made of, what our mother is made of, & what Pluto is made of. (Poor Pluto.)
p.s. YOGA delves into all of this...if you only know it as poses, definitely look into it more - as a yoga teacher, I'd be happy to walk the journey with you!
OK. You have either stopped reading, skimmed ahead to this part, or are wondering - so?!
Here's the fun part. This isn't just theory that we can ponder & then forget in the shower tomorrow morning. It is potentially life-changing. Or not. Or maybe....just maybe....
What IF your thoughts - the ones about the kids while they are fighting, about how your creative work isn't good enough, the guilt about exercising or how you feel about your body - were creating your reality? What if you decided you ARE an artist or a runner or a beautiful person or a serene parent? Could that bouncy, feel-good energy really make a difference in what you see, feel, & experience all around you? Could it really be that easy (or that difficult)?
I dunno.
But I challenge you to Think About It.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Flexibility.
There is something both exciting & challenging about having a very flexible schedule. My days rarely turn out like they are planned.
I’d hoped to have time to blog about my deep thoughts & recent creative endeavors this afternoon. Instead, I journaled, cleaned up the floor, dealt with fights and unpaid bills, prepared dinner, and listened to the family jamming away on guitars & drums. Overall a good day.
(Non parents be warned: Only parenthood increases the cuteness factor of this. Otherwise it’s kinda icky.)
Dilana did make it to the potty 2 out of about 6 times today! She’s back in her diaper for the night and for another attempt tomorrow.
I’d hoped to have time to blog about my deep thoughts & recent creative endeavors this afternoon. Instead, I journaled, cleaned up the floor, dealt with fights and unpaid bills, prepared dinner, and listened to the family jamming away on guitars & drums. Overall a good day.
(Non parents be warned: Only parenthood increases the cuteness factor of this. Otherwise it’s kinda icky.)
Dilana did make it to the potty 2 out of about 6 times today! She’s back in her diaper for the night and for another attempt tomorrow.
(After 15 or so “I have to go potty”s with no results in 5 minutes, I let her venture to the bathroom on her own. This is her version of going to the potty.)
(Dilana’s excitement after a successful trip)
I am still amazed at what makes the kids argue. Today, it was over which cup they would get once Tyler got off the bus. (Both held the exact same drink.) I held them behind my back & had Tyler pick a hand. He picked the cup he didn’t want. This led to both kids screaming all the way back home. (I took photos but am not surprised by phone isn’t working to be able to email them to myself.)
We did have a fun time tonight while I was trying to catch up on emails. The kids & Chris each chose and instrument & jammed away.
Another successful day. I feel so fortunate to have this life … messes & all.
Blending.
Wheeeee! Oh my - it is quite amazing to forget about the energy that is life and then discover it again. I have so many delicious thoughts I want to share but blogging, like everything else, has to blend in with what is. I hope to take advantage of li'l girl's nap time to share some deep thoughts but am anxious to share the basics right now.
First, this morning is quite the example of blending. We've decided that it is time that Dilana is potty trained. We waited far too long with our eldest. We eventually tried the all-or-nothing approach with him...and it worked! So today I throw caution & clean floors to the wind and am letting Dilana run around au naturel. The theory is that she'll feel the discomfort if/when she goes & will learn to run to the potty the next time. It's a bit messy but it worked the first time around!
It definitely forces me to re-arrange my schedule. Today is a weight/superset day (in home) which makes it a bit easier. We're carrying her princess potty-top all around the house & have already been through around 133 false runs. Hey, even 1 real success will make it worth it.
So much creativity & totally funky energy bursts I want to share! *sigh* For now, here's an update on the training:
What I Did:
*(Saturday a.m.) (level ground) Walk 2 minutes, Run 5 minutes.... (see follow up in What I Learned)
*(Sunday a.m.) (hills & level ground) Amazing 34 minute walk/jog/run. Did sets of 6 minute runs with 90 second walks in between. Finished with a very strong 1 minute sprint.
*(Monday a.m.) Superset with weights. I vary this so I don't get bored but often follow this great one at the Women's Health Magazine site.
What I Learned:
*(Saturday a.m.) I need to eat in the mornings before I workout. Fortunately Chris was with me that morning. We're on different training schedules so I started my run before he did. Around 5 minutes into the run, my heart started feeling like an over-inflated water balloon that was about to pop & those little black dots started dancing before my eyes. I slowed & eventually stopped to turn around and start heading towards Chris. I was sitting down by the time he got to me. It all turned out with a happy ending but I will certainly remember this for next time. Makes me kinda nervous about the morning of the actual triathlon.
*(Sunday a.m.) Chris discovered a nearly 3-mile path that we can take by our house that keeps us on fairly level ground (once we are out of our neighborhood). It takes us along a busier road for a short bit. No biggie...I've also learned I'm getting a lot less self-conscious about my running. I think I'm actually starting to think of myself as a runner (more on this lovely insight later!!) which makes me not care what someone else driving past is thinking.
*(Monday a.m.) This whole potty training thing is tiring. Since I've started typing this, we've had 5 ...no wait, now 6....more false alarms. I guess at least she's telling me.
Thank you SO SO much to all those who are leaving comments on the blog - you honestly make my day!!
Here's to more this afternoon (I hope)!!
First, this morning is quite the example of blending. We've decided that it is time that Dilana is potty trained. We waited far too long with our eldest. We eventually tried the all-or-nothing approach with him...and it worked! So today I throw caution & clean floors to the wind and am letting Dilana run around au naturel. The theory is that she'll feel the discomfort if/when she goes & will learn to run to the potty the next time. It's a bit messy but it worked the first time around!
It definitely forces me to re-arrange my schedule. Today is a weight/superset day (in home) which makes it a bit easier. We're carrying her princess potty-top all around the house & have already been through around 133 false runs. Hey, even 1 real success will make it worth it.
So much creativity & totally funky energy bursts I want to share! *sigh* For now, here's an update on the training:
What I Did:
*(Saturday a.m.) (level ground) Walk 2 minutes, Run 5 minutes.... (see follow up in What I Learned)
*(Sunday a.m.) (hills & level ground) Amazing 34 minute walk/jog/run. Did sets of 6 minute runs with 90 second walks in between. Finished with a very strong 1 minute sprint.
*(Monday a.m.) Superset with weights. I vary this so I don't get bored but often follow this great one at the Women's Health Magazine site.
What I Learned:
*(Saturday a.m.) I need to eat in the mornings before I workout. Fortunately Chris was with me that morning. We're on different training schedules so I started my run before he did. Around 5 minutes into the run, my heart started feeling like an over-inflated water balloon that was about to pop & those little black dots started dancing before my eyes. I slowed & eventually stopped to turn around and start heading towards Chris. I was sitting down by the time he got to me. It all turned out with a happy ending but I will certainly remember this for next time. Makes me kinda nervous about the morning of the actual triathlon.
*(Sunday a.m.) Chris discovered a nearly 3-mile path that we can take by our house that keeps us on fairly level ground (once we are out of our neighborhood). It takes us along a busier road for a short bit. No biggie...I've also learned I'm getting a lot less self-conscious about my running. I think I'm actually starting to think of myself as a runner (more on this lovely insight later!!) which makes me not care what someone else driving past is thinking.
*(Monday a.m.) This whole potty training thing is tiring. Since I've started typing this, we've had 5 ...no wait, now 6....more false alarms. I guess at least she's telling me.
Thank you SO SO much to all those who are leaving comments on the blog - you honestly make my day!!
Here's to more this afternoon (I hope)!!
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