AP Inspired

on my mind this morning // an afternoon edition

1. in the last two days, i have heard the following words spill out a lovely's mouth: parasol, beseech, and rubbish. hmmm. it seems we are proper-ing up around here, yes?

and in case you didn't know, a parasol is what one lovely calls an umbrella when the sun is out. i suppose there is something convivial about twirling a pink parasol under a beaming sun.

 

2. loving this sentiment. so very much.

There’s something sacred about reading a blog post on someone else’s site. It’s like visiting a friend’s house for a quick meal ’round the breakfast table. It’s personal — you’re in their space, and the environment is uniquely suited for idea exchange and uninterrupted conversation. In many ways, we should be treating our blogs like our breakfast tables. Be welcoming & gracious when you host, and kind & respectful when visiting.” – Trent Walton

well.

i couldn't agree more.

 

3. waking up early to make this. oh my. it was oh. so. good. but does nutella ever disappoint?

however. with merely one indulging bite, i completely forgot to take a picture of it baked and plated.

 

4. feeling twitterpated when i saw a lovely's camera, big colored pencils, and a sketch pad replete with blank canvases. all waiting. for freewheeling inspiration, ideas, and imagination.

 

5. and a gorgeous reminder from her that we "constantly affect one another by what we do and say, even if we aren't aware of it."

so.

it is important  to have "a really good, positive attitude for every moment of your life even if you don't see a reason for doing it in the first place."

{i love that.}

and, with that thought, i hope you have a deliciously buoyant + happy weekend.

xo

a huge silence.

i piled up my favorite meditation books, ready to sew eloquent phrases into a post on why i meditate.

however.

i changed my mind.

partially because the effort to carefully extract just the right words was greater than my patience today.

but also because a persnickety thought lodged itself in head and heart yesterday.

that to be authentic, you must be vulnerable.

rather than hiding behind luminous research + prolific writers today, i am going to tell you why i meditate. and even though i am hardly qualified to speak on the matter, i believe in its restorative powers enough that i really do make it part of almost every day.

so.

i mediate because when my mind goes quiet, i experience serenity through all five of my senses.

i meditate because it's like sending my intuition to the gym...she just gets stronger and faster with practice.

i meditate because it is the only time i can convince myself that  A L L  the random worries and restless thoughts simply. must. go.

i meditate because when i do filter out the obstreperous chatter, my mind becomes an empty well. and that empty well is a mega-watt invitation for inspiration.

i meditate so when the lovelies are a pinch older, i can show them how to take their own gentle breaths.

i meditate because my body loves it up...and it shows in my skin, my health, my sleep, and my energy levels.

i meditate because during those 30 minutes, i bury strength deep in my bones, my limbs, my soul to have when i need.

i meditate so i can dedicate the practice to someone.

and,

i meditate to become better at life.

xo

about time

"My experience is what I agree to attend to."

William James

Boundaries are a funny thing, aren't they? Having a conversation with my mister this morning, I realized setting clear limits for those around us -- kids, co-workers, friends -- is only part of the equation. The other? Honoring our own limits.

As summer coasted in, I noted what made me feel good and bad. With hopes of recognizing patterns in my own behavior that tilted me in happiness's favor, I focused on the bones of that specific emotion. If I felt its presence or absence, I questioned how I arrived there.

Let me ask you: If you were to name 5 activities that make you happy....and they cannot cost money...how would you answer?

Here is a glimpse into what I've noticed:

{1} I always feel better after a long run. It's how my body meets soul. And it just so happens to be the exercise my body responds to the quickest. No matter how I feel when I begin, I know satisfaction awaits me at the end. Every time.

{2} I feel guilty when I talk about someone. Gossip is an easy form of storytelling, yet if I don't like someone, why talk about it? So little ever really needs to be spoken. And no matter how badly it might "pain"me to keep my mouth shut, it is better than the guilt of authoring unkind words. When I use more compassion and less judgment, I feel oh-so good.

{3} Being around people + activity all the time actually drains me. Which is why #1 {and #5} replenish me. Contributing to my well-being.

{4} I enjoy working within a framework or structure. Having a list of goals to guide me...whether it is a book to read or a project around the house...invites fulfillment and bliss into my days. Choosing what I do each day sets a different tone than having to do something. Make sense? When I shift my perspective and operate from choice, my day is transformed.

{5} Waking up early gives me tender time with a new day fresh under my fingertips. Whether I write, ponder what I am grateful for, plan the day, or enjoy a cup of hot water + lemon, these few still moments before the world starts spinning are like a long, hot bath at the end of the day...completely restorative.

For some of us {ME!}, fall cannot arrive quickly enough. Yet, I know the hustle +bustle of a new school year and a holiday season could have us all running like mad and in the wrong directions. Take a few weeks to tune into your emotional center. When we discover + honor our own boundaries, we can commingle with all the demands for our time without free-floating away from what brings real happiness.

at the "K"

Toni Morrison believes our eyes should light up when our children walk into the room. Because this is how they sense being loved, wanted, and appreciated. When I heard this, I fell madly in love with the notion.

But for someone who has an impeccable memory, I seem to forget this. And it makes me wonder why it's not a more natural response.

This morning, one of the lovelies came down and announced, "I'm teaching a workout class at the 'K' at 11. Do you wanna come?"

"What's the 'K'?"

"It's my gym upstairs."

It was already on my list to hit the Y for a quick run today, but before I declined her offer, Toni Morrison's advice floated out from obscurity. And so, the Mister and I finished up loose ends and headed upstairs for our Friday workout.

Stretching, squats, curls, push-ups, sit-ups, planks... She definitely put us through the paces. Generously praising our efforts with high-5's, we found ourselves marveling at our lovely. 

 

 

But the very best part?

 

The smile she has been wearing since...

devotee

Shortly after I penned this post, I was rambling around the bookstore. Certainly not needing another book, but enjoying the exquisite company of wall-to-wall books. Feasting upon covers, opening pages, skimming stories, shoring up inspiration.

Until.

I opened an unsuspecting book and read the first line of its book jacket:

In her midforties and settled into the responsibilities and routines of adulthood, Dani Shapiro found herself with more questions than answers.

Startled, I flipped to chapter one.

I was always racing. I couldn't settle down. I mean, I was settled down -- I was happily married and the mother of an eight-year-old boy. But I often felt a sense of tremendous urgency, as if there was a whip at my back. I was fleeing something -- but what?

Within a few sentences, my life at present had been succinctly spoken. Questions + urgency + eight-year-olds...

I bought the book.

{And so should you.}

I could tell you how I savored every page of this memoir. Or how relieved I was to discover my innermost questions are universally shared. Or how my respect deepened for this life journey we are all experiencing.

But I won't. Because should you read it, you will uncover your own meanings.

However.

I will share my most favorite part.

During her search for meaning, the author participates in a retreat where she is introduced to metta meditation -- a concentration of inclining the mind in the direction of good will. And the phrases she was instructed to chant silently during this particular meditation are:

May I feel protected and safe.

May I feel contented and pleased.

May my physical body support me with strength.

May my life unfold smoothly with ease.

And there I was...again...startled. Amazed by the beauty and simplicity of four phrases. Each one so complete, so perfect. I committed it to memory. Now, it is the prayer on my lips. For me and mine. And for you.

Have an inspired weekend! xo

To yourself, respect.

So.

I believe when life presents a problem, it offers the solution, too. However, we are usually too busy noticing the drama to hear + see it.

The last few weeks have felt like a procession of rip currents. And nothing alone has been major. But consistency can imitate intensity, right?

When you open up to answers, they come. In generous portions. The catch is YOU MUST BE WILLING TO SURRENDER what you think so you can discover what you need. And it helps to get still.

I realize this may sound ridiculous, but I have this feeling almost every day that I am not using myself to the best of my abilities. And it causes me so. much. angst. This desire to be something other than.

Well.

I got quiet + realized. I am in no hurry anywhere. Really. My desire to be better than I was the day before is exhausting. And perhaps my overly ambitious 'tude is smothering me softly.

{Letting go of this identity to perform perfectly is heart palpitation scary.}

As I was thinking about my life, I felt this inexplicable urge to shower more grace on those around me. Compassionately understanding that everyone is truly doing the best that he or she can in. this. moment. And there is no greater expectation than that.

Turns out, the very same advice applies to me.

And I suspect you, too.

xo

 

 

 

 

Looking Forward

I suspect it is because I spent too much time in bed, musing over a whole new year. Or maybe something was in the air. Perhaps I feel extraordinarily charged because this is my birth month. Whatever the reason, here are a few more resolutions I intend tacking down in twenty-eleven.

{7} Cook more.

I am a collector. Of cookbooks. {What can I say? I really LOVE the pictures + the promise of something savory.} And while my preferences tend more toward healthy salads and baked deliciousness, I can cook. Coming across these new loves {give me flour and House of Brinson} jolted my culinary appetite wide awake.

Using a different cookbook, I will attempt one new recipe EACH week. {And if the Mister is reading this, he is elated as he oversees dinner. Every night.} Should I conquer something divine, well, I'll happily share.

{8} Make our house a priority.

Sounds goofy, perhaps, coming from me. But. I have grand ideas. Too frequently. And not always the budget to live out my domestic fantasies. However, I plan to think BIG about my house this year while staying PARTICULAR about miscellaneous expenses {like the ever popular, unnecessary trip to Target}. And if I succeed, I'll have the posts to prove it!

{9} Have you ever done a cleanse? I have. And while I don't necessarily LOVE them, I wholly appreciate the results. Sometime before spring is in full bloom, I am trying this program. Want in?

{10} Take more pictures.

Not only do I want to increase my snapshots, I hope my shutterbug skills improve, too. Listen, I could look at photography blogs all day + night long. And when we are drawn to something with an emotional response, it is wise to pay attention.

{11} Remember this. Every day. JOY is an ENERGY MULTIPLIER.

The best on-ramps to J-O-Y I know are gratitude + giving daily. And, so, my cup is prepared to runneth over with both.

That about wraps up my list. Care to share yours?

Simple Abundance

I fall for fall. Every year. The colors, the crimson cheeks, the cheerfulness of the holidays three. I am ready. So ready.

Part of my fall ritual is a little fall cleaning...feng shui style, of course.

(1) Clean up around the front door. Make it a routine around seasonal transitions. Keep leaves swept away, lights burning bright, and the pathway both outside and inside the door clear. 

(2) Switch out summer hues with warm, inviting fall tones. Think: throw pillows, rugs, blankets, candles, flowers. Lush comfort...

(3) Prepare the kitchen for fall feasts. Create a cozy niche where family and loved ones can gather for meals, games, and conversation.

(4) Clear out clutter. {This standard never goes away in feng shui...so if you have clutter, clear. it. out.} My favorite spots to work are the kitchen pantry, our closets, cabinets, and drawers. When the temperature drops outside, we cocoon indoors. And clutter robs our spaces of the nourishing, sustaining, and inviting energies that could be circulating within our homes instead.

• Kitchen pantry: Toss anything outdated. Organize the remaining contents. Stock up for fall soups and hearty meals. Go with fall colors: reds {tomatoes}, oranges {pumpkin}, and yellows {broths}.

• Closets: Transition summer clothing out, and bring the winter wardrobe in. And if you haven't worn something in 2 years, LOSE IT.

• Cabinets and drawers: Eliminate junk. And anything broken. Sell, donate, or toss what you no longer use. I say, "A drawer a day..."

(5) Open windows. At least 20 minutes every day. By doing this, we replace stagnant and stale energy with fresh, revitalizing chi. Not only does this improve how well we sleep, it gives everyone an enormous emotional boost, too!

(6) Consider a daily candle burning ritual. Light a candle and let your problems and worries burn away in the flame. This "ceremony" helps keep your home burden free. {Even a small tea light works well.}

(7) Tour your home. Make small improvements where you can. Energy {like prosperity, abundance, harmony, and health} goes where attention goes. If there is a spot you intentionally overlook, start here. Organize and simplify. Until it feels right.

A little feng shui goes a long way so try a few this week. Small changes create space for rich, blissful discoveries. And what could be more promising for October than that?

Lightness of Being

I realize I am only 3 days into my return to a {so not French} daily pace, but I swear this week has grown ferocious teeth and a pointy tail...because I collapse into bed...every night. Exhausted. Overwhelmed. Trying to figure out where my on ramp is. After all, I was only gone a week.

I suspect I was spoiled.

During our stay abroad, there was not even the faintest sense of urgency hanging in the air. Example? Lunch was always a leisurely two hours. No exceptions. And after lunch, the town just folded itself in for a quiet afternoon. What could be more splendid?  No one was anxious to move on to the next thing. What would be the point? So, it was on us to take this new tempo for a test drive. And, well, it was rather remarkable.

However, since I am not ready for a one-woman revolution to change our American way of life, I've been ruminating on what "best practices" I could adopt from my trip...and, you know, live them here. What I've come up with so far is...

(1) Take deep breaths. I've been known to take a few on your average day. But since I've been home, my count has soared into the thousands. With every inhalation, I am forcing myself back to the present moment. I focus on what I am doing INSTEAD of what else still needs to be done. One thing at a time, one day at a time...

(2) Surrender multi-tasking. Slaloming back into life-here-as-I-know-it, I realize we chase our tails. Alot. We are silly for results. Which is fantastic until we diffuse our focus with too many objectives. My goal? Focus on one thing at a time with appreciation. When we take our time, we develop a finesse for doing things well. From here springs beauty. Quality. Grace.

(3) Keep perspective. Most of us aren't solving world peace. But by our frantic demeanor, you would think the weight of the world was upon us. It's not. We could all perhaps stop taking ourselves so seriosuly. When we get real about what we are able to do and keep our expectations manageable, we are capable of rendering impressive results.

This post is pretty much a letter to moi. Having seen a seamless and gorgeous way of life in practice with unrivaled results, I am an even-bigger believer that when we simplify, we spin gold. Simplicity over-delivers.

And that is truly the big picture.

I Follow Happiness

I propose that happiness needs to stage a comeback. There is absolutely no shortage of things to be upset by in the world right now. And it feels like these frustrations are center stage. All the time. If we aren't vigil, we become so saturated with pessimism, we contaminate our families, our bodies, our lives. Maybe we see images that are heart-breaking. Maybe we hear news that is maddening. Maybe we participate in dialogue where opinions clash. Whatever it may be, the simple answer to having peace is seeking happiness above all else.

Charles Baudelaire said "a multitude of small delights constitutes happiness." We can't change anyone {much less ourselves} feeling upset, ignored, frustrated, or overwhelmed. No. Happiness comes first. Think of it as ground control. Our happiness encourages someone else to feel joy...and if we stay plugged in, there can be a true movement in the world.

For the next 30 days, write down the happiest moment of each day. Feel satisfied with your life as you celebrate the small delights. When we follow happiness, we discover there's enough beauty in the world to go round...and that is a very happy thought!