Recently I was in a yoga class, and we had reached the final pose - shavasana. If you aren't familiar, it's the last three to five minutes of class where you lay on the ground perfectly still and do nothing, like a corpse. After 110 minutes of work, you get five minutes of rest, letting go, and receiving your practice. It's kind of the whole reason you go to yoga. I'm splayed out like a corpse and someone must have forgotten to turn their phone off, because I can hear the distant ping of their … [Read more...] about the email ping
authenticity
why parents need to stop taking pictures from the audience
Last week I found myself at a classroom event for my first grade son, and it seemed that every parent was snapping away and/or video taping the performance. But not me. I don't take pictures at school events.* And I'm thinking. Who would want to watch this again with bad lighting and poor sound? Much less see some blurry pictures? Doesn't your arm hurt from holding your phone at that angle for 37 minutes? The performance was cute. And lovely. And completely enjoyable. But once is enough. And … [Read more...] about why parents need to stop taking pictures from the audience
the minimalists
On Tuesday night, I went to a book reading of Everything That Remains a memoir by The Minimalists - Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. These best friends shared their experience of converting from a life filled with empty consumption to a life of value. Not like the value meal as in big portions or double coupons but to a simple deliberate life where every choice you make you're asking yourself, does this bring me value? Or joy? This idea, this philosophy, is something that has really … [Read more...] about the minimalists
standing on your head
Until yesterday, I had never tried to do a head stand. Or a hand stand of any kind. As a kid, I wasn't the type to attempt flips and throwing myself upside down. I didn't hang by my knees from the monkey bars. I preferred laying on the trampoline and staring up at the trees to jumps and flips. I've never been the springy gymnast type. I don't remember being afraid I would get hurt. I think I was simply afraid that I wouldn't be able to do it. I didn't trust my body. I was scared of being … [Read more...] about standing on your head
do what you want
If you could do anything you want today, what would you do? Forget about work, chores, obligations. What would you choose? To feel a little bit closer to yourself. Not quite as stretched thin. I was feeling a little stretched. Fighting off something. A bug? Allergies maybe? My whole being ached to let go. I asked myself, if you could do anything today on this rainy, cold spring day... what would you do? Because you can, you know. You can do whatever you want. But there's work.... But … [Read more...] about do what you want
making better choices, starting with lunch
My skin is acting up. My stomach isn't doing much better. My energy level is off-the-charts low, bottomed out. I know exactly what I have to do to get myself back on track. We know the drill: Eat more fruits and veggies and less sugar. Get a little exercise. Lay off the caffiene and the alcohol. Shop for healthy things so that you have healthy choices on hand. There is nothing complicated about the solution. I don't need a diet plan to remind me to eat less crap and to be a little kinder to … [Read more...] about making better choices, starting with lunch
do you have ten minutes?
I've been feeling a little overwhelmed this week. With life. With projects and all of the things I want to be and do. Usually I would make a list. Go into attack mode. How am I going to solve this? Break it down. Make it happen. But this time, I decided to do the complete opposite. I took a glass of water out onto my porch and sat still for ten minutes. It was extremely difficult. The mental tally was going of all the things I needed to be doing of all the things that I could be doing. It … [Read more...] about do you have ten minutes?
if you have something nice to say
Don't wait another minute. If you've had someone on your mind enjoyed something they've made missed them being around been inspired by their strength Tell them. Thank them. I'll even give you a template: You made my day with your ___________. Thanks for being so awesome. Your friends, your family, your kids, your spouse. They need to hear it. They want to hear it. You might think that they already know. But everyone needs to be reminded. Be grateful. Be … [Read more...] about if you have something nice to say