Posts Tagged ‘zen’

Today, I woke up with a need to be creative and express myself. I’ve been having so much fun with my nieces — they help me reflect on the simple things. They inspire me, and I love it. So this morning, I just wanted to be free … alone with an open mind, chalk and some sidewalk.

I wasn’t sure what to write or draw, or really want I wanted to say. But that’s the great thing — sidewalk and chalk is like life — you have a whole big open space to do whatever you want. If you mess up, you can start over or move on to the next big thing/space. You can “be” big, small, simple, loud — whatever you want!

I love that I just got out there this morning. I didn’t care that it was 8 am and the neighbors were out walking their dogs and that they might think I was a lunatic … and it’s Easter Sunday. Sometimes you just need to go do what makes you happy — short or long term — and be ok with being alone with your thoughts.

Next time you get the urge to do something, don’t hold back! Let Go, Live Loud, Have No Fear.

As a kid everything was AMAZING. Amusement rides, an Easter basket, a new toy, chocolate pancakes, camping … those were the days.

I’ve been thinking about these things a lot because I’ve been spending more time with my nieces. (Gabby is five and Sofia is two.) I’ve been taking Gabby to swimming and cooking lessons and it really reminds me of all the things I enjoyed as a kid. My aunt took me to swimming lessons once — afterwards, I totally made her to take me to McDonald®’s and to 7-Eleven for a slurpee and Nerds.

When I think back to my favorite memories, I remember the people who were there and what we did. (Oh man, I remember hanging out at my mom’s friend’s house while they gave each other perms!) Anyway, I really feel like I’m making memories with my nieces whenever we’re together, and I love it.

They get so happy and excited about the little things, and being around them reminds me to look at the world with young, fresh eyes. When you’re young, you don’t know how to hold grudges or live with regret, uncertainty and disappointment. And, everyday there’s something new to learn.

It’s kinda ironic … I remember wanting so bad to grow up and be a big girl. I was always impatient about wanting the next big thing. Kindergarten, high school, college … I wanted more and more. Now that I’ve finished the schooling, gotten job and life experience, I’m trying to be conscious of and thankful for all the things that made me who I am today. This includes all the people and memories that have shaped me.

My advice
Enjoy time with people of all ages — young and old. You’ll surely find something to take away, and you’re sharing a bit of yourself. Maybe it’s a memory that will last long after the moment has passed.

Make every interaction count. Be patient and be in the moment, wherever you are.

Billy and I are like night and day — sometimes. I’m really out there and adventurous. I’ll do just about anything once. I talk too much and I wear my heart on my sleeve. Billy’s reserved. He’s private at times and not boastful, and likes to do his own thing. I like creative stuff like dance shows and plays — and he’s a horseshoe tournament champion and loves his Yankees and Giants. When we decided to do something together — he wasn’t into my mud runs, rock climbing, etc. — we picked tai chi. We had the special shoes and all.

What is tai chi? My definition = a slow, peaceful karate-dance.

Tai Chi promotes the circulation of chi — or life energy — within the body, encouraging wellness and vitality. Basically, you do a series of flowing movements and your body is in constant motion. The exercise is not strenuous — your feet are always planted, and your move your torso and arms in graceful, deliberate, and sequenced movements. They say tai chi can: reduce anxiety and depression; improve balance, flexibility and muscle strength; improve sleep quality; lower blood pressure; relieve chronic pain; increase energy, endurance and agility; and improve overall feelings of well-being.

It was a pretty cool experience. I’m not going to lie though — it was challenging! I’m very high energy, so I have a hard time being quiet and just calming my mind, moving slowly and measuring my breaths. Some of the moves were difficult to follow, but I think that’s with any new type of exercise until you get used to it. At the end of six weeks, I still didn’t think I was any good though. (Billy wasn’t any better! )

I really liked calm and gentle energy in the room …

If you’re looking to try a class, just do a quick search online. You might find that your local karate studio, gym or wellness center offers a tai chi program. You may even find a tai chi studio — TRY IT!

Photo by Diana bella computer is in hospital’s.

Sometimes, I’ll be sitting in the same position at my desk for hours. Usually, I’m pounding away at the keyboard with my heart racing because of deadlines. I’ll look at the clock and realize I didn’t stop to drink water, eat a snack or go to the bathroom — and it’s noon! Ugh, there goes my diet plan of eating small meals throughout the day, and my goal of staying hydrated. On top of that, my back and shoulders are tense and achy. This is all bad!

Well, besides getting a manicure or pedicure, one of my favorite “treats” for myself is massage! Yeah, it’s $59 (plus a tip), but it’s well worth every penny, especially with my lifestyle. I have long days, teach fitness classes and workout a lot and tend to over-commit to everything. I’m beat up. I’m constantly running around trying to save the world and inspire others that I just need an hour dedicated to me.  

So how else do I justify getting a massage? The health benefits! My masseuse and friend, Mandy Urena from The English Touch, in Mount Laurel, NJ, explains how massage is good for you and your body:

Massage …

• Calms the nervous system and promotes a sense of relaxaion and well being.
• Reduces tension and anxiety.
• Improves blood circulation, which delivers oxygen and nutirients to the cells.
• Stimulates the lymphatic system, which carries away the body’s waste products.
• Prevents and relieves muscle cramps and spasms.
• Can help with pain management in conditions such as a arthritis, sciatica and muscle spasms.

Read the rest of this entry »

He who has faith has … an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness and assuring trust that all will come out well — even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly.
- B. C. Forbes

Photo by ChrisMoncusPhoto.

From research scientist to full-time traveler, Sarah’s life is one of adventure, optimism, challenge and change. Read about my cousin …

ATG: Describe yourself – using five adjectives only.
Sarah: Petite, adventurous, minimal, healthy, inquisitive

ATG: How would others describe you?
Sarah: Tenacious, brave, open-minded, determined, persistent

ATG: What do you do “for a living?”
Sarah: I was a research scientist working in a neuroscience lab at McGill University in Montreal. We were researching protein-protein interactions in the hippocampus relating to memory and learning.

More recently, I’ve been a full time traveler for the last two years! I started off travelling alone for six months in South East Asia, then I met my partner/boyfriend Inigo Arza (he’s Spanish) in Vietnam and we have been together since. There are many soils that we have walked on: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Australia, China, Myanmar, Nepal and now back to India. Our goal is to travel west to Europe by land from India. Pakistan and Iran will be our next countries.

ATG: Describe your idea of a “perfect” day.
Sarah: A perfect day would be what we experienced in Dharamshala (home of the Dalai Lama). I woke up at 7 am and immediately did yoga asanas on the terrace. Then I made a trekker’s breakfast of oatmeal, honey, dates, bananas and flaxseeds. We started our climb at 9 am. It was a glorious sunny day, around 17 degrees Celsius under the sun. It took 2.5 hours to hike from 1750m to 2842m up a steep mountain. It was well worth the breathtaking view of the mountain range (4600m). We had a light snack of cashews, raisins and peanuts on our yak-wool blanket facing the white peaks. After lunch, we had a siesta! Then we hiked down using a different path. We were famished when we arrived to the town at 5 pm and we treated ourselves to a dinner at a local Tibetan restaurant. I had Masala tofu with spinach on rice. The night ended with a hot shower and I fell asleep reading Lord of the Rings. That was my “perfect” day.
Read the rest of this entry »

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. – Helen Keller

Photo by Phil Strahl.

“I beg you … to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer…” – Rainer Maria Rilke

Photo by James Jordan.

1. Make realistic, measurable goals and write them down. Be specific! For example, your resolution may be to pack lunch four out of five days a week or workout five times a week. 

2. Choose wisely. Make resolutions you can keep … and prioritize! Be sure to pick the ones more important to you so you can stick to them. 

3. Create visual reminder. Post your list in a visible place or record them in a journal. 

4. Seek support. Tell your closest friends about your goals. If you find someone with similar goals plan a daily or weekly email or phone call to help you both stay in check.

5. Start. Just do it. Depending on your goal, sign up for a gym membership; research healthy recipes; or take a look at your expenses.

6. Take positive action. If you want to lose weight, don’t bring desserts, junk food, candy or ice cream into the house.

7. Reward yourself for meeting mini-goals. If you’re trying to save money, reward yourself with a small splurge at each significant step.

8. Substitute habits. If your goal is to eat less junk food, find a healthy food you love.

Photo by iheartlinen.

 ”People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

  If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

  If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

  If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

  The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

  Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

  For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
  — Mother Teresa

  Photo by pareeerica.