Blog Archives

Looking For Joy In All The Right Places?

5/27/2015

Often in life we’re told to put on a happy face. To not show our emotions and hide what’s really going on for us.

I'm sure you know people that, when asked how they’re doing, will consistently say, “I’m great”. But, secretly they’re really suffering about something. I try to authentically express myself, but don’t always succeed.

The truth is, life is filled with sadness, whether or not it’s expressed. However, the other side of that sadness is what we get out of bed for. It’s what we trudge through the daily grind and take it on the chin for.

The other side is joy! And the great thing about joy is that it’s so easy to express! We feel in alignment with our highest self when we experience joy, therefore, it’s easy to share authentically. The trick is to know where to find it.

Here are the 10 things that always bring joy to my heart and a smile to my lips:

Cooing babies; human or animal
The Pacific Ocean when the waves are wild
A summer rain storm
A new jumpsuit from my favorite store
A soft touch from someone I love
An act of kindness that I secretly witness
A great song I can sing along to
Hearing “I love you”
A meaningful conversation
A cuddle session with my guy, Jasper

Where can you find more joy in your life?

Are You More Committed to Your Comfort Than Vitality?

5/13/2015

I have always hated to do anything that didn't naturally come easy to me. It's not that I'm afraid of hard work. On the contrary, I will work tirelessly on projects that I feel passionate about and am confident in my talents to contribute to. I'm not sure if it's because my ego doesn't want me to look bad or it's simply because I feel it's a waste of time to swim upstream. I would be a terrible addition to the salmon community.

I've never been good at sports. In middle school, I was always the last one to be picked on a team and Physical Education was the very bane of my existence. Just the idea of having to spend an hour in those terribly unflattering tiny, faded, black shorts and be forced to run around in circles was enough to have me fake a stomach bug and miss an entire day of school.

I've always been freakishly tall. As an adult woman I stand a whopping 5'11" and in 7th grade I was already 5'8"; towering over every child and most adults in 5 mile radius. So naturally, my PE teachers thought I should be great at sports and consistently failed miserably at trying to inspire my participation.

Every year they made us do state-wide physical exams. I can't remember what they were called because I've shoved the entire experience as deep into my hippocampus as possible. However, I do remember my sheer adolescent rebellion. I would refuse to run and even had the audacity to enlist other reluctant loafers to waddle along with me. What took most of peers only minutes, would take me and my cohorts close to an hour. It was absurd.

I would like to report that at some point in my life I had a huge breakthrough and am now happily at the gym 5 days a week, but unfortunately, I cannot. Working out has been a relentless struggle for me.There have been times that I've found a practice I enjoyed and did regularly. In college I danced 3 hours a day, 3 days a week and begrudgingly loved it. I've also had long periods of yoga practices and partnerships with trainers. But, none of it stuck.

The other day I was talking to a dear friend about wanting to really commit to going to the gym again. I just turned 40 and gravity is beginning to have its way with me. He shared something that was so simple and yet, had such a big impact.

"If you keep waiting to want to work out, you'll forever be waiting".

I guess it’s time to lace up my sneakers and head out the door. Because the truth is, the commitment I have to my own vitality is bigger than my pledge to comfort.

Where are you willing to be uncomfortable in order to experience your own greatness?

The books that have most influenced my life

5/6/2015

Books have always been a way for me to not only learn and discover new aspects of life, but also to escape. They've provided answers to my prayers and led me down many new paths. I have literally been in bookstores, searching for answers, and had books fall off the shelves and onto my feet. Thank you God!

I'd like to give thanks to some of the most influential books I've had the pleasure of spending time with...

Linda Goodman's Love Signs
Straight from my mother's bookshelf and still regularly perused at the start of every new relationship.

Irving Stone's The Agony And The Ecstasy
This rocked me and totally resonated with my 20 something artist's heart who longed for greatness and opportunity to share my gifts. I'm still waiting for my patron.

Tom Robbins' Still Life With Woodpecker
I read this in high school and 20 years later, I still have vivid memories of the magical scenes played out in the deeply philosophical and psychedelic world Robbins created.

Michael A. Singer's The Untethered Soul
Oprah turned me on to this one and I wish I could personally thank her for sharing Singer's simple, truthful and beautifully articulated text on living a spiritual life.

Khalil Gibran's The Prophet
My Bible.

Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist
I read this on my first national tour, shortly after my mother died, and it brought me so much peace and insight into our human experience.

Rainer Maria Rilke's Letters To A Young Poet
I discovered this gift in the midst of my teenage angst and it gave me a glimpse into the kind of woman I would someday hope to become; wise, creative and brave.

I'd love to hear what have been some of the most influential books in your life and why!