Listen to your heart

(re-blogged from my lovely friend Rhéa)

Look to the stars...

On the theme of living adventurously...

Our journey with hospice

As I sit by my dad's side watching him pass through the final stages of life as we know it, in the physical sense, I have found comfort in words, music, art and laughter. I don't know how I'm supposed to act, what I'm supposed to do for my dad or what to expect. There's no How-To book for patients and loved ones going through hospice. I can only hope my dad is comfortable and that his spirit is at peace. And, I hope I have the strength to handle it all. I'm sharing some of those things which are bringing me comfort during this difficult time in the hopes that they bring comfort to someone else out there in this cyber world.

A butterfly lights beside us, like a sunbeam...
and for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world...
but then it flies on again, and although
we wish it could have stayed,
we are so thankful to have seen it at all.
-Author Unknown

(photo taken outside of my home this fall)

Two little moths joined us shortly after my dad started letting go. They have remained near my dad almost as if they're watching down on him, making sure he's ok. Are they spirits? Are they my grandparents, ensuring my dad's spirit is safe? I don't know but I find them extremely comforting.

The following quote has been surfacing a lot recently as my mom and I face the inevitable passing of my dad. He was such a fan of Gibran and I know that's why this quote found me recently. I find it very comforting as I realize we should never place sadness on something which made/makes us happy. Instead, we should feel so very grateful for that happiness and the memory of it should continue to make us happy :)

In love with LIFE!

I stumbled across this image tonight. I posted it to Facebook a year ago. What a great nugget of goodness. I'm grateful for re-discovering it. It really sums up my life right now, this dream I feel like I've been in for about the past 5 months. It deserves its own blog, the reason for my elation and feeling of overwhelming love. This person, our relationship, has so filled me up that I'm just spilling over with gratitude. I've wanted to blog about it for sometime now but want to be sure my words perfectly sum up what I'm feeling. I fear words can't possibly describe it. In the meantime, I'll share another reason I love life and love LOVE itself. If you're in need of a reason to love life, maybe this will help!

Check out or check back in with music. It's my go-to cure-all, my religion you could say. It's where I find all of the answers or find the ability to discover them within myself. Find something that sends shivers up your spine, makes you jump and dance, makes you cry or propels you to call an old friend and tell them how much you miss them. Can't think of anything? Take a listen to the song below. AMAZING! Just makes you want to stand up and say HALLELUJAH, thank you, I love you, I am grateful! The lyrics are filled with such pain, struggle and desperation, and the music just rips you open, tears open your heart. I can never get over the fact that music can have this effect: exposing such raw emotion yet be so uplifting in the same verse - such a paradox. I heard this song tonight, performed by another great singer on Glee and was in tears about 30 seconds into it. I don't know why I was crying. I think I was initially crying because you just can't escape the sorrow the singer is portraying. It draws you in. But then as the song progressed, I was also crying because I was so happy to be connecting with a song so deeply, so immediately. I'm so grateful that my mind and my heart are always open to this and that I'm able to feel so strongly and connect instantly with music and performers. I love the unexpectedness of artistic impression. You never know when something will strike you - wake you up from your monotonous daily grind, rattle your emotions to the surface and force you to get real with yourself. As the song builds, the choir enters, a symbol of rejoicing and a pillar of spiritual strength. Gospel choirs always evoke a sense of comfort and triumph, like everything is going to be ok when I hear them. Triumph for the singer and for the listener. The singer and the choir in this song are like love - the juxtaposition of opposing emotions. Love can make you sad, afraid, and confused yet it has the ability to bring you more joy, light, and comfort than anything in the world. And what would life be without love, even with the fear of losing it? This is something I've been deeply struggling with recently. I think I've been subconsciously trying to understand it for years but recent events have really brought it to the surface. And, I'm grateful for the ability to work through it and learn to accept the paradox. And, I'm grateful to have this outlet to admit it! And with that, experiencing this song tonight reminded me how music can so beautifully mirror life and love. And how powerful love can be. Chilling. Scary. Painful. But what's better than love? As I said, I often find the answers in music and maybe now I'm one step closer to working through and accepting the ying and yang of love.

I couldn't decide on which version of this song to share as they're both breathtaking. You decide!

Aretha's version (the original):



Patti's version:



After listening to the pain of these lyrics, I'm so grateful I have someone who lets me love them!

Faithful Atheist

You may wonder, why would an atheist post a quote referencing the Creator, a.k.a "God." I read this quote this morning on Mastin Kipp's insightful and inspiring blog, The Daily Love. Although a bad habit to reach for my Blackberry as soon as I awake and focus my eyes, I look forward to scanning through the junk emails, searching for Mastin's cheery daily dose of lovely affirmations, words of wisdom, tools for self-improvement and general feel-good, positive energy. It's a fabulous way to start your day. I highly recommend you check it out! When I read this quote, I was struck by it. A fan of Emerson since I read Thoreau's Walden Pond in grammar school and subsequently became intrigued with transcendentalism, the quote made me pause. To be honest, when I see God referenced, I usually scan the text, dismissing it. I'm a bit ashamed to admit that and look forward to reversing that reaction in the future. As I stared at that intimidating word CREATOR, I began to see it differently, accepting it, in a way. I also thought, Emerson could have said GOD and didn't. Why? Could he have meant Creator in a different way? Could I see it differently and interpret this quote differently? Could I enjoy it, learn from it and be inspired by it without attaching a religious meaning to it and "Creator"? Of course I can! What a silly, unnecessary question. And what a relief. Thank God.

Lately I've really been struggling with the idea of Faith. It's not something that comes naturally for a myriad of reasons, the most obvious I attribute to being raised without religion. I'm thoroughly content with my lack of religious upbringing (which does NOT mean lack of religious education) but realize that I'm a bit more challenged now to understand, accept and practice having Faith. Without it, I think we would all go mad so I'll continue trying to wrap my head around it. In addition to reminding me about the importance of Faith, Emerson reminded me today that because of all the beauty I have seen, that there is so much more to see. That was so inspiring! I admittedly get down once in awhile, often feeling like I'm stuck and with all of the negativity and ugliness in the world, the beautiful moments that so lifted me in the past, are dwindling. It upsets me more that these negative thoughts creep in more often than I'd like. It's not just about telling yourself to be positive, brushing yourself off, or looking at the other side of the coin - it's about having Faith in the past, present and future. If things were beautiful and awe-inspiring in the past, you will absolutely experience that again. Having Faith in the present you, the present moment ensures that. And how exciting that there is so much more than we can imagine out there to see and experience? Even as I re-read this post for errors and additions, I realize that this quote has more meaning than what initially thought and have tried to describe. I'm happy that I stumbled across it and will continue finding meaning within it.

I am in gratitude today to Emerson and Mastin. I appreciate this friendly and uplifting reminder to have Faith, continue seeking that next inspiring moment and be open to those unsuspected moments of wisdom. They may come in a different package than what you're usually expecting. It may look and feel unfamiliar or even make you fearful. Push into that discomfort. That's where you're really discover the magic.

I chose the image above as it reflects the first thing I thought of when I read it. You may recognize the wondrous beauty of Yellowstone National Park. My family has two photos of us standing practically in this same spot with that amazingly unforgettable view behind us; one snapped in 1990 and the other around 1995. I will cherish those tattered photos forever but the memories are burned into my memory. And I look forward to more adventures in that most precious national treasure.

And, as George Michael preaches, "You gotta have Faith!"



I hope this blog post, Emerson's quote, Mastin's blog, or even George Michael's gyrations inspires you today!

Hello 2011, Goodbye "Should"

Despite my usual cheery, positive nature, I'm actually not a big fan of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. I'm usually rather depressed, in deep thought trying to digest the prior 365 days, determine what I learned, quickly itemize everything I should've done, what I should've done better, and project an insurmountable list of what I should do, and should do better in the New Year. To do this all in one day is daunting and overwhelming, to say the least! No wonder I'm usually depressed, withdrawn and grumpy. This year, as the inevitable approached, I started to sink into old habits and feel that knot in my stomach. Instead of getting sucked into this routine of self-loathing and setting unrealistic goals, I went to the gym and had a kick-ass workout, cooked a great meal for my parents and reflected upon the past year with gratitude. I actually found Facebook as a neat way to do this! Using one of their apps, I re-read all of my status updates of which about 50% contained Words of Wisdom, Quotes of the Day and Daily Affirmations. I realized that these really reflected my year, my new path, my new mindset, and my new practices. It jolted me back on path. I've been feeling a little lost - not necessarily in a bad way - these past few weeks. Re-reading all of these nuggets of hope, optimism, affirmation, love, acceptance and kindness warmed me inside and out. I suddenly didn't feel so lost. So, I gathered them all up and decided to do a different kind of itemization this year. Here they are all in one place! And instead of making a list of "shoulds" for the New Year, or resolutions, I decided upon just two:

1) Eliminate should/should've from my vocabulary.
2) Continue searching for and sharing these lovely words of inspiration. Don't lose sight of their insight and potential for healing - mind, body and soul.

I hope you find meaning in some or all of them as much as I have. Health and happiness to you in this most exciting New Year. And I hope you're still feeling the incredible Love and Light bestowed upon us from the significant Lunar Eclipse which occurred on the Winter Solstice just a few weeks ago.



"I stress freshness because it implies seeing with new eyes, tasting with beginner’s buds, hearing like you’ve never heard, and loving like you’ve never been hurt… You can put that in my Biography.” Jason Mraz

"Come on and open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you’re free
Look into your heart and you’ll find that the sky is yours.” Jason Mraz

Today, I approach relationships and interactions with quiet confidence and an optimistic outlook. I recognize that everything is connected and everything matters. I allow myself to experience joy in each moment of this day.

I am grateful for what I have. I am always focused in the present moment where I have everything wonderful I desire. I am filled with gratitude.

Today, I find answers and inspiration everywhere. I live my life filled with vitality and aliveness.

“What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.” Oliver Wendell Holmes

Inspiration, joy, and right decisions are established in my consciousness, and I move through this day with the complete assurance that all is well.

I am at peace and I embrace all in life in peace.

Today I take all my unhappy memories out of my body and place them in a basket. My pain, anger, fear and my resentments are placed in this basket. I have an angel that takes this basket of unhappiness from my hands and flies to the outer reaches of the universe and transforms it in loving energy that will revisit me later today. I forgive and seek to be in a state of continual forgiveness.

"I will continue to be grateful for my 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'." (me)

I am present, in the moment, in the now.

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams.” Paulo Coelho

“I’m standing in my truth and letting my light shine through.” (me)

“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dreams. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success.” Lao Tzu

“It doesn’t cost anything to be honest, loyal and true.” The Avett Brothers

“And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom.” Anais Nin

“I am an architect of my present, not an artifact of my past.”

“Within you is all the Light you need to illuminate the darkness around you.” The Daily Love

“Music is for dancing – for penetrating your subconscious and having sex with your soul. Music should leave you feeling satisfied and fully, like you’ve just had a big meal and need to take a nap. Or a crap.” Jason Mraz

May you always have love to share,
Health to spare,
And friends that care.

“The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.” Tom Bodet

Yesterday is gone, tomorrow has not arrived, and I live in an eternal present filled with an everlasting good. Today is big with hope fulfilled, with love and life well lived. Tomorrow will provide its own blessings.

"I light up the world around me with a smile on my face. I glow with happiness from the inside out."

“Those who live in the past limit their futures”. Yogi tea bag

"I breathe in gratitude and breathe out love." (me)

"I am inspired. I am inspiring." (me)

“We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak.” Epictetus

I will be conscious of the thoughts I put in me.

“If it’s dark around you, remember the Light within.” The Daily Love

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.” Life is Good

“As I start my day with a happy heart, my outlook is brighter, my walk is lighter, and my voice is sweeter. Love lights the way before me. My happy heart releases all tension, and I am at ease and at peace in mind and body.” Daily Word

How 3 Words Can Change the Planet

The SuperForest Humanifesto

What is going to save the human race?

Please.
Thank you.

Three words that will totally change this planet.

More than solar power. More than recycling. More than wind energy.

Why?

Because if we all started treating the people and things that we interact with every day with respect and compassion, the effects would ripple through every aspect of our lives, transforming society.

Our parents taught us the manners “rule-sets” that we use every day, and as a result, we feel that we have (through years of introspection) begun walking the path towards enlightenment. Our manners dictate the way we treat the external world, the Environment. We feel that it is primarily our manners that dictate our success as humans.

Folks talk about wanting to save the “Environment”, and that conjures up images of bubbling brooks and unspoiled forests. But “the Environment” isn’t just greenery and pretty scenery. It’s our slums, our airports, our houses, our supermarkets.
The Environment is everything that disappears when you close your eyes.

If you want to improve it, you must begin with what you see and encounter every single day of your life.

Before we can set about elevating our present society from a carbon-based one to a solar-electric one, knowing full well that solar-electric decentralized power means a higher quality of life for all, we must first pause and ask ourselves: Why? What is worth saving?

Human Consciousness.

Our gift and curse as humans is our incredible consciousness. We are aware, and that is the greatest and worst thing we’ve got going for us. Because we can clearly see how well we could be living, how politely we could be treating one another, how incredible life could be; we feel it is our duty to delight and inform our fellow humans in the hopes of creating a better world.

There is no reason every human on Earth could not have access to:
Clean Water
Nutritious Un-modified Food
Shelter
Education
Open Source Communication
Freedom from Oppression and Fascism

But, as is painfully obvious, most humans don’t have those things.
Most humans don’t have two of the six!

They could, but they don’t.

Why?

Bad Manners.

Nearly every religion this planet has yet produced has as one of its tenets the idea that to be happy, you must treat others as you yourself would hope to be treated.
A failure in this respect is simply bad form.

When a company decides to dump its waste into a river that others downstream use for drinking water, that is bad manners.

When a society chooses to isolate its citizenry in prisons and not offer any chance at rehabilitation, that is bad manners.

When a person decides to walk into a school and open fire on their classmates, that is extremely bad manners.

That is why we MUST START NOW.

All new generations must be schooled in the art of good manners if we are to survive, let alone flourish, as a species.

Try your hardest to treat others as you hope they would treat you, and actively look for ways to help the people around you. Do this from a pure place within you and watch the effects ripple outward!

Why?

Because so few are doing it.

Good manners make you stand out like a struck match in a dark room.

Three Essentials:

1) Make eye contact with anyone you interact with. Smiling is optional but highly encouraged.
2) Use the words “Please” and “Thank You” as often as you can.
3) Seek out ways to improve the lives of others. This can be as small as carrying someones bag up a flight of stairs, or holding a door open.

Do these three things and your life will change immeasurably. And you will begin to change the lives of those who come into contact with you in a measurable and positive way.

We are filled with optimism and hope.

Thank you for reading this.

-Team SuperForest

Jackson, Niki, Andrew, Alex, Taylor, Jaell, Julius, April, Jordan, Spoon, Carla, Iman, Chris, Aaron, Jo, Jackie, Drake, Bee, Patricia, Heather, Amy, Mathew, Ewa, Jon, & Jesse

You can also watch an audio/video version of this manifesto here:



Thanks to Jason Mraz for posting this on his blog.

On Bicycling by Einstein

Taken from Tristan Prettyman's blog.

Music?

"Music is for dancing – for penetrating your subconscious and having sex with your soul. Music should leave you feeling satisfied and full, like you’ve just had a big meal and need to take a nap. or a crap." (Jason Mraz)

this month's affirmation

(c) me:)

water your dreams

Spreading the light

I found this on another blog, momentary lapse of reason, by a cool gal named Tawney. I've never met her but she lives in SoCal where she is committed to service, surf and yoga as well as inspiring her blog readers, among other things! After reading her post which contained this lovely poem by an unknown author, I felt filled with her light and wanted to continue spreading that light, whether you're reading this with the moon or the sun.

Namaste.

Practice Gratitude. Be Present.

...a reminder from Oprah



This was the concluding comment at the end of the episode about Geneen Roth's Women Food and God. While I haven't read it, it sounds like a book worth reading, whether you're a woman or a man, whether you're religious or not.

Inspired by a Boy on a Bike & A Sultry Songstress

I'm totally inspired today and since the purpose of my blog is to share what inspires me in the hopes of inspiring others, I had to share. So why juxtapose these two seemingly unrelated sources of inspiration? To remind myself and you that we can find inspiration in everything around us! You can be inspired to tears one moment and immediately be inspired to dance around in circles with joy the next. Embrace it all. Connect with it and FEEL inspired!

First, my friend David just completed AIDS/LifeCycle 9, raising over $5,000 for HIV/AIDS research and awareness while cycling 545 miles from San Francisco to L.A. "to make a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS." I wish I could give David a high-5, a hug and sit with him for hours hearing all about his adventures. Sadly, he lives in L.A. and I live in upstate NY. Hopefully we will connect via cell soon. Knowing David, he must be giddy with excitement and eager to share lots of stories about all of the cute boys he met!


Isn't he cute? :)

To prepare for his journey, David got a new bike, learned how to ride with pedal clips and trained last year. He completed this 7-day journey a few days ago. To say I'm proud of him is an understatement. He has so inspired me to re-evaluate my own interest in biking and philanthropy so much so that I started researching what kind of bike I'll need and plotting out whether I can train to join him next year. Instead of getting freaked out, I was totally energized by the thought of accomplishing something so awesome in a place so beautiful that is so near and dear to my heart with a friend who I love. I was up until midnight scouring websites looking for the answers.

Please check out David's story here.

I'm hoping to snag some of his notes and photos to post here once he settles in and shares them, so please check back!

The other source of inspiration is probably of no surprise... MUSIC! Unlike my previous blogs which are filled with references to Dave Matthews and Jason Mraz, who are surely my greatest sources of musical inspiration, I can't get away from this new Christina Aguilera song, "You Lost Me". She co-wrote it with one of my favorite sing-songwriters, Australian-born Sia. If you're unfamiliar with Sia, please check out this video featuring her song, "Breathe Me":



I think this video in and of itself is inspiring but that's a whole other blog post! Perhaps you've already watched Six Feet Under and have seen this to know what I mean!

So back to the Christina-Sia collaboration... the song, "You Lost Me" is absolutely riveting, to me. I can't stop listening to it and looking for good live versions online. She recently performed it on the finale of American Idol and it stood out among the sea of mediocrity. I hadn't heard the song before at that point and was instantly glued to my TV and in tears by the end. Last night, I caught another performance as part of VH1 Storytellers so check your OnDemand directory or local listing to find it. Even if you're not a Christina or pop/top 40 fan, I think this song is worth a listen. The blue notes are just gut-wrenching.



What's amazing to me is that even though the lyrics aren't exactly positive, there is something about the melody and harmony that makes me feel good. The emotion is so raw, she is so revealed. There is something comforting about that.

Hoping one or both of these examples has inspired you in some way.

-mandy

Don't Let Your "Life" Get in the Way of Living

What defines you? Are you really living or just checking things off your to-do list?

Do you define yourself by your occupation? Your name? Your family? Where you live? How much money you make or the kind of car you drive? How fat or skinny you happen to be or the kind of clothes you wear? I've been meeting a lot of people recently as I moved to a new place and started a new job. In meeting all of these new faces and shaking these new hands, I found myself wondering, "Why do we all introduce ourselves like this?" Does, "Hello, I'm Mandy." tell anyone ANYTHING about who I really am? Would, "Hello, I'm a 30 year old optimistic atheist who sees sun, music and water as my divine inspiration." more clearly reflect me? After pondering this for a few days and throwing around the idea with a few friends and my mom, I decided to abandon such deep thoughts and just stick with the normal greeting. For now. I had no answers and I think I was freaking everyone around me out a little.

Then weeks later, while losing myself (or, perhaps, finding myself) at an outdoor Dave Matthews Band concert, I turned around from my most bodacious seat in the 7th row, to look out into the sea of smiling faces, waving arms, clapping hands and girating hips... about 30,000 faces to be exact. There we all were. United. In rhythm. Loving the moment. A community brought together to celebrate our love of music. Really, it was a celebration of life and joy. Unabashed expression of joy, gratitude and inspiration was happening all around me. 360 degrees. And in surround sound, courtesy of Dave's celebratory lyrics. It's difficult to articulate what that experience really felt like. Let's put it this way, it inspired me to write this blog post. I couldn't tell if it was the herbacious contact high, divine musical enlightenment or the awe-inspiring awareness of this connectetedness that jolted me into a place of true, pure euphoria. Needless to say, my world was rocked that night. For that I am truly, truly grateful. I thought to myself, both in that moment, and on my bike ride home in the cool night, "THIS is life. THIS is what makes life worth living for. I LOVE this life. THANK YOU." I'm not sure who I was thanking... Dave himself for bringing us all together like this? Myself for always finding a way to make the pilgrimage to DMB shows every summer no matter what my geographic or economic situation? The good folks who built and preserve the lovely Saratoga Performing Arts Center and surrounding state park? Whoever the hell it was, I was in a state of absolute gratitude.

That night, the band treated us to a fairly rare performance of an early song, "Dancing Nancies". What is a Nancy? Literally it means a transvestite prostitute but most fans interpret Dave's use as a metaphor to the general sense of confusion about ourselves that we all have to deal with in life but that when we look around, we realize the beauty in everything and everyone that surrounds us. The opening lyrics reflect the question, "could I have been anyone other than me". When I heard these lyrics Friday night, I was brought back to my questioning about what defines me and thusly, how do I introduce myself when meeting somone. Hereis the first part of the song (sorry for the shakey camera):



Later in the song, one is reminded:

"Sing and dance I’ll play for you tonight
And thrill at it all
Dark clouds may hang on me sometimes
But I’ll work it out then

I Look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, lick and taste
What's the use in worrying, what's the use in hurrying
Turn, turn we almost become dizzy"

So, really, does it even matter anyway. (question marked intentionally omitted)

For the full lyrics, click here.

The next night, in true DMB fan fashion, I prepared to head out to another concert - N2. "N2" is night two in DMB fan land. This time, I would be accompanied by a dear, "old" friend from my beloved days as a music student at Hartt. Lauren and I had barely seen each other in almost the decade (yowzahs, a decade?) since I graduated. While this saddened me greatly as we always had such a blast together, I was so grateful that I'd be seeing her, especially in this context of music and mutual DMB love. And so grateful that we'd be sharing in this awesome connectedness together! Again, I was reminded (really, smacked in the face) music's power to bring people together. Not only was I brought together with complete strangers, but Lauren was entering my life again via music. How freakin' cool!



As Lauren and I anxiously awaited DMB to take the stage, we played with our beach ball, wondering how we could make our apparently typical rainbow colored ball stand out as there would be many balls bouncing around the mass of bouncing bodies that night. All inspired and feeling green from walking to the concert, I thought, "What would Jason Mraz do?" He's a DMB fan. He loves fun stuff like beach balls and connectedness. I took all of the great things he puts out there about life and we covered that ordinary beach ball with lots of words everyone could appreciate. Words like love, gratitude, sex, joy, recycle and inspire. Before that ball even got a bouncin', it started infecting people with its message. Unexpectedly, people around us started talking to us about the ball, pointing at it or asking to look at it. It was cool. About halfway through the setlist, we launched that ball into the masses. I felt like we were literally throwing out something to remind everyone about all the good this life has to offer and how we can participate. While its bouncy trip around the sea of clapping hands was short-lived, as are most potentially harmful beach balls at concerts often are, to me, even if only one person caught a glimpse at one of those words, it would have an impact. And all of the words surely conjure up positivity. And what else were we really there for anyway?



As Lauren and I reflected on our most awesome weekend of music, re-connecting, cheap beverages, indulgent SNAKs and other mild debauchery, I think we were subconsciously energized by the fact that it had been years since we had spent time together and yet while we were up to very different things in our lives, we are both LIVING. We aren't just letting life happen. We affirmed one another's sense of centeredness and clarity. I was inspired by Lauren's account of a recent 4-day hike along the Appalachian Trail. To be one with nature, with just a pack on your back means you let your to-do list go for a few days and just let go. Let go of your car, your toilet and bed lamp. Let go of your fears. Fears of being eaten my a mountain lion, falling and breaking your ankle or running out of food. How often do we let ourselves truly let go like that? Just surrender to LIFE? It's saddening that our lives practically prevent us from being able to just unplug. We have to pay our bills and to do that we must go to work. I accept that. And I love my job and the things it affords me to buy. Like 7th row tickets to two DMB concerts. But for a moment, I escaped to the possibility of when/where/how to strip down, let go and live for living. What does that mean? What would I do? For how long could I escape? Maybe in the meantime, I can work out ways to fit this in daily? If you have any ideas, I'm listening!

I'm also going to continue to figure out a better way to introduce myself that will satisfy my intellectual needs but not scare off the person I'm meeting. And I'll remind myself that my car, my job, my geographical location and hair color doesn't define me.

In addition to being grateful for having a boat-load of fun this weekend, I'm also so joyful as it all caused me to actually say outloud, "We must never let our life prevent us from living." Now that I've vocalized it, from this moment on, I'm committed to not letting this happen. I simply haven't got the time. From where I sit, I believe I have just one life. I'm choosing to live it. Fully. Aware. Open-eyed and open-armed.

As Dave said it last night, "celebrate we will 'cause life is short but sweet for certain."

Inspired.
-mandy

Daily Dose of Inspiration

Today I was super-inspired because both my visual and aural senses were enlightened simultaneously.

Check it:

Jason Mraz : Tour 2009 Video Backdrop Graphics from colin gill on Vimeo.

This features one my favorite JMraz songs, "Beautiful Mess" and reflects a sampling of what you would've seen during his most recent tour, appropriately named the Gratitude Cafe Tour. Friends and co-inspirers of Jason, Colin Gill & Jon Marro collaborated to create this artwork and animation. Colin works for Nova Cart and Jon created his company, Blend Apparel and has also done design work for DMB.

Here's another montage produced by Colin, featuring "The Dynamo of Volition":



Here's a little bit about Blend Apparel from their website:

Blend Apparel is a culture of connective communication. Our colorful, quirky, and self-aware t-shirts invite internal and external conversation. They are wearable question marks openly aimed at the hows and whys the world works. Our shirts encourage people to smile wider, look closer, and think broader. Blend Apparel offers a visual means with which people can be heard. Using the privilege of business, we provide messages our customers can literally try on. We are creating, and simultaneously communicating, through a questioned-based language of iconography. This is a revolution. We believe it is our assignment to unite people in such a way, where if you are wearing one of our shirts, and you see another person wearing one of our shirts, even the exact same shirt, in the exact same room as you…you acknowledge that person for their part in the greater cause, rather than feel awkward and or fashionabley unoriginal. Blend Apparel uses eco-friendly fabrics, dyes, and printing methods. It is our planetary goal to leave the lightest possible footprint, and deepest possible imprint. We are committed to inspiring. To helping awaken. To showing up as beacons, messengers, and transformationaries. To always choosing the highest path. To listening from within, and to holding love higher than any circumstance. We are completely. Undoubtedly. and absurdly committed to “wear we live.”

BE INSPIRED. BE CREATIVE.

"I'm only this far and only tomorrow leads my way..."

After last night's blog entry, I woke up this morning craving to hear a couple of inspiring songs which have carried me through highs and lows over the past 10+ years. At 30, a lot happens in the previous 10+ years. If songs can stand the test of that time, then they must be pretty special.

Specifically, I was drawn to Dave Matthews' #41 & Pantala Naga Pampa. Simply put, here are the key lyrics which I go to when I'm feeling happy and when I'm feeling sad:

#41
I will go in this way
And find my own way out

I'm only this far
And only tomorrow leads my way

PNP
Come and relax now
Put your troubles down
No need to bear the weight of your worries
Just let them all fall away.

Of course, with any great song, it's not just the lyrics which infuse themselves into your soul. It's the way the melody and harmony interweave themselves to breathe a deeper life into the lyrics. So, here are a couple live versions of these songs. Take a listen. I hope they lift you up as they have done for me countless times.

getting over being under

In the midst of writing a new chapter in my life, turning down another road on my professional path, I've been pondering this past year. I've experienced some of the deepest, darkest lows while also some of the most amazing, inspiring highs in my 30 years. Through it, I truly feel enlightened with a renewed sense of clarity, internal calm and zest for life. While I feel that my direction has come into focus, I also feel less urgency to get there. A cliche comes to mind: it's about the journey, not the destination. It's really a metaphor for life, whether you're religious or not. None of us really know what's at the end of this life. Though we may disagree as to what's in store for us, I think everyone is united in the best way to get there. My journey to today, so far, has been filled with love, joy and laughter as well as some less-than-happy feelings. However, it all got me to today. I can say with confidence that I'm happy with today and who I am in this moment. So as I travel down another road of discovery, new friends, new places and undoubtable growth, I find it only fitting that I reflect on my most recent journey which brings me to the title of this post.

Getting over it. I got over so much this past year: myself, others, pre-conceived notions, setting deadlines for things that are out of my control and I'm sure much more that I just can't recall at the moment. While I was forced to get over it after abruptly losing a job I loved, I'm grateful for the self-evaluation that ensued, the time to sort myself out, the ability to stregthen relationships with friends, family, music and myself. This past year I was "under" employed, a term I had never heard before, and one, quite frankly, I believe was generated by the media as a reaction to the recession. Un- or under- employed, it still sucks. Saying you're underemployed is still humiliating. Fortunately for me, I was one of many, so I was part of one big pity party.

If you've never lost your job, whether fired or "let go", I can tell you, it's a jolt like you've never experienced. You'll take it personally. You'll cry. You'll be angry. You'll grieve. But you'll also become incredibly strong. Actually, you'll find your inner strength, pick yourself back up and figure out how to deal. Of course there are mundane details to sort out like unemployment, health benefits, job searching and the like. But really, what you're figuring out is who you really are. What matters to you? Who matters? What is going to be your next step? You can either become overwhelmed by these heavy-hitting questions or jump in head first and keep swimming until you find your island. Admittedly, I started drowning a few times, had to rely on some life-savers along my voyage but eventually I found my island and now I'm basking in the sun, so grateful for the swim.

So here's what I learned, in no order of importance, cebral & silly, all-in-one:

-Water is a true healer. drink lots of it. visit the ocean. listen to the rain. you'll feel better. i promise.

-Family are the legs to your table, until you can stand on your own legs again. don't be ashamed to ask them for help, whether it's a hug or a hundred bucks. they WILL help you.

-Friends will cure you. lean on them, cry on them, laugh with them and spend as much time with them as you can. they'll celebrate your joys and help you beat the blues. you'll find friends in the strangest places while you're finding your way. let them in and embrace what you may learn from them. however, you will also lose some friends, either by your choice or theirs. some people just can't handle the tough times. it's ok, maybe they'll be back. hopefully they won't. you don't need them.

-Farmville is extremely relaxing. even though i'm not a fan of video games, i've become a farmville addict.

-Music should be classified as a religion. it's mine. without it i think i'd still be swimming, or possibly drowning. thank the music gods for jason mraz this year. his music, his outlook and teachings of gratitude and health really pulled me through the last leg of my journey. i'm amazed that despite my own personal troubles, i was still able to connect with music, allow it to enter my soul, fill me with joy and comfort me.

-Public libraries rock. they're free, they're cool in the summer and they're filled with many answers. if you don't already have a library card, get one and check out your local bibioteca today. make a list of things you'd like to learn about and hit the books. like music, i'm grateful for some good reads. i'll admit it, the twilight saga definitley distracted me during my june blues after my pet died.... which brings me to the next one...

-Animals teach you things that no one else will. they love you unconditionally and appreciate anything you do for them. i volunteered as much as i could with my local SPCA this past year thinking i'd "give back". boy was i wrong. i was the one who received. if you don't already volunteer in your community, you should start. do so right after you get that library card.

-Taking time for your Mind, Body and Spirit daily is a must (after you've applied for those jobs, volunteered and checked out the library). exercise as much as you can, not just for the obvious health benefits but for the confidence you'll gain and power you'll feel. the endorphin rush does amazing things for your shattered emotions. take this endless time on your hands to explore nature while exercising. biking, nature walks, geocaching all worked for me. if you do join a gym, become friends with the trainers and fellow gym mates. i even had a "gym crush". just knowing he would be at the gym, kept me motivated :) i also practiced yoga and enjoyed monthly massage treatment. hint: ask for spa gift certificates for every holiday. spa visits accomplish mind, body and spirit.

-See everything you'll do as an Adventure. adjusting your outlook in this way really makes a difference.

-Practice Gratitude. i know it's tough to think of what you're grateful for when it seems like your world has been turned upside down but there's always something to be grateful for. i have a few things to get you started: that nifty library card, hugs from friends, wet noses on your hand from the dogs you've walked, time to do what you please and the opportunity to really think about what you want to be doing from 9-5 and making it happen. If it helps, use this online journal/gratitude community: gratitudelog.com

-Humility will go out the window. get over it. ask people for help. dig out those old contact lists and start calling. attend networking events. ask for recommendations/endorsements. offer to work part-time or even for free if it will get your mind going, get some cash in your pocket or boost your resume.

-Be open. open to meeting new people, feeling new feelings, moving to a new place, veering off your career "path" and letting go. just let go.

-You don't need caffeine, alcohol or processed foods to get through the day. start exploring a new "diet". start eating only foods that provide absolute nutritional benefits. if it isn't going to fuel you, you shouldn't be eating it. buy organic and/or local whenever possible. i don't need to explain why, just wanted to remind you.

-Being Green is better than blue. find ways to make green and be green. you'll feel so good. eating meat isn't being green, even if you eat a frog.

-If you put your True Self out there, you'll be happier with what you get back. if you're not getting immediate benefits, re-evaluate whether you're really being honest with those around you.

-Goodbye parties are like funerals. those who show up to bid you farewell or congratulate you on your new endeavor are all that really mattered and matter. you'll be surprised who shows up (and who doesn't). be grateful who had the courage and heart to show up. And know that you're not saying, "goodbye" to friends or experiences, you're saying, "see you later".

To say I'm not nervous about this new trip would be a lie. I hope that the failures of my past prove to be lessons to carry me through. I go forward confidently but cautiously. I'm going to meet interesting people and learn so much. I don't mind swimming but I'm tired. I'd like to bask in the sun for awhile.