Portland!

Not Maine, but Oregon!

I've been wondering what my next move is...and according to this quiz, I should move to Portand:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleyperez/what-city-should-you-actually-live-in

What about you?

Listen to your Wisdom

You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you're too busy; then you should sit for an hour.  (Old Zen saying)

 

More on mindfulness...what else is there to do during this long January but focus on mindfulness and try to see all the Oscar contenders.  (Sidebar - The Wolf of Wall Street is a must see!)


You look in the mirror everyday but have you ever, really, noticed yourself?  Your breath, your emotion, the way your body feels?  This is mindfulness.


It only takes 15 seconds of breathing space in the present moment:  thinking, emotion, sensations in the body.  Sitting, walking, breathing - these are ideal chances to practice mindfulness.  Focusing on the senses is a quick tip to mindfulness, because, of course, sensory experiences exist only in the present moment.  Another incredible opportunity happens 3x/day, or in my case, 6x/day, when eating.  Mindful eating trumps weight watching every day.


Of course all this mindfulness doesn't give me a pass to zone out and pass on participating in my life.  Decisions need to be made!  (Yes, I must set my alarm and wake up and go to work.)  But mindfulness is a choice, too.  It encourages me to take a moment to check in with myself and really see what's going on:  Where is the acting and doing coming from?  What am I acting out?  Why am I acting up?  Why can't I stay away from the Malbec?


I'm learning to take 5 minutes a day to move from doing to being.  What emotion is visiting me right now?  And where did that emotion go in my body?  As they say, pain comes and goes, but suffering is optional.  I'm  checking my posture, my intention, focusing on a primary object like sound or breath, and then, I'm listening...listening to what my wisdom is telling me, considering my intention, kicking away the judgment, practicing lovingkindness:  to be happy, to be healthy, to be at ease and to have a sense of well-being.

Desired Future State

Favorite new bumper sticker:

You don’t need a parachute to skydive. You need a parachute to skydive twice. 

It's all about planning, people!

NY Plans

“Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of somebody else.”
- Judy Garland

It may be part of the aging process but I'm really adopting the attitude that I am who I am.   What you see is what you get.  No apologies.  If you don't like me, that's okay.  Not everyone is going to like me.  It's okay.  I'll do what I can with my health and with my money, but what I know I definitely have control of is this - the ability to live emotionally free, free of hostility, free of guilt, of resentment, of pretending. 

I am in training, reminding myself that in every interaction, every moment, sacredness is on the line.  And I get to choose how to respond - I can call on those old friends (ass and queen) or I can choose not to fall for it, I can choose a loving, creative response, because I'm taking care of myself.  I do not want to become what I so desperately deplore.  I want kindness - of course towards others - but also for me.

My favorite Joni Mitchell song, Woman of Heart and Mind, here for your pleasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go2ZzyJV8AE

And the best lines of the song:
You know the times you impress me most
Are the times when you don't try
When you don't even try

Jan 5, 1990

Happy birthday to Big Jen.  She has been a special person in my life, because I was given the honor to be her Godmother and whenever I think of her, I feel joy.  She always warmly acknowledges me (even during the teen years), and she brings light to everyone she meets; she is magnetism and hard work packaged into one.  She is my Goddaughter, my niece, and now, if I've had any success at all, hopefully, my friend.  My big friend.  We decided years ago she was Big Jen and I was li'l Jen.  And that is really how it is. She is petite but big, and I look up to this accomplished young woman and am honored to share a first name with her.

Have a great year ahead Jen. 

And the really cool part?  The gift you've given all who love you?  Without possessing any special powers to predict anything else about the coming year, I am confident, no matter what challenges you encounter in the coming year, you will glide over them with a hearty and determined enthusiasm. 

Love you, Jen. 

How the Future's Done

Given the time of year, I overheard this lyric as I moved around the chores at home, and it caught my full attention:

And we'll collect the moments one by one
I guess that's how the future's done

The full song, Mushaboom by Indie rocker Leslie Feist, is here - you'll need Adobe Flash to enjoy this treat:

Hara Hachi Bu

So every year my resolutions revolve around a better me, which usually involves a better waistline.

In 2014, I may try, before every meal, to say "Hara Hachi Bu," which means, "I will stop eating when I am 80% full."  This Japanese phrase, when faithfully practiced, supposedly, helps you consciously limit the amount of food you consume, making overeating less likely.  It also slights those uninvited guests - high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  There are many things you can do to remind yourself to say this, maybe set up phone alerts or obtain a new year's tat on your forearm. 

Another healthy choice would just be to make eating a mindful choice.  Focus on the food when it's in front of you.  The word "savor" was invented for just this reason.

The genetics card is a minor player - our longevity is 75% dependent on our lifestyle.

Other positive habits, as you know, include regular church attendance, volunteer efforts, sleeping, meditating.  (Uncovering my purpose may have to wait until 2015.)