In the stillness is where clarity creeps in.

It’s hard to find it in the chaos.

We, as a culture, are so addicted to multi-tasking. Wouldn’t you agree?

What is something you could give up for one week to help you gain a little clarity? To bring your world into focus. To maybe induce a little perspective.

Maybe you’re on the other end of the spectrum. Maybe you need to add something – a ritual, a meditation to help you find that peace. I find my stillness easily in balasana (child’s pose). I don’t do it quite as much as I should.  

Whatever it is for you – I challenge you for the next week to weave or extract something to help you achieve a little clarity.  

 

One of my favorite things to do is look at other people’s playlist, research the songs and see if I can fit them into a workout playlist, yoga playlist, party playlist, etc, etc, etc. Don’t you love it when you find a new song or even an old one that you haven’t thought of in years?! I’ve been going through about 20 different playlists from Flipboard’s Women’s Health article. They’ve recently featured playlists for running, yoga, strength training, triathlete lists and personal trainer lists. So to further my quest and fuel my leisurely pursuit, I’m placing one of my own creative lists here and asking you to do the same. Send me a list or a song you love and what you use it for!  Let’s join forces and fill the world with more music!

This is one of my favorite lists I’ve created for yoga. Hope you like it!

 

To Have and Not To Hold – Madonna

Little Star – Madonna

Shanti/Ashtangi – Madonna

The Power of Goodbye – Madonna

Ray of Light – Madonna

Nothing Really Matters – Madonna

Sky Fits Heaven – Madonna

Frozen – Madonna

Summer Sun – Zen Café 7 Twilight

Lightening – Zen Café 7 Twilight

Truth – Mantra Girl

One word – Passion

What do you think of when you hear that word? What are you passionate about?

What is it that puts that fire in your belly?

For me, it’s inclusion. I have a passion to make everyone feel like they matter, to feel important, to feel like an integral part in this thing called life we are all involved in.  

I think we show love best when we include and invite those the world has outcast. There are so many hot buttons in the world today that thrive on exclusion. Exclusion to me is missing the mark. I believe in unity, in love, in compassion. Namaste in its truest sense.

 

Are you teachable?

Are you coachable?

 It takes courage to stand and say I don’t know everything, I’m not an expert, I’ve got a lot to learn. The American culture often teaches their own to be the best, the brightest, to be successful and victorious…all honorable things. But you have to start somewhere – you have to sit in the midst of the best and brightest to develop your skill.  Your heart must have an open spirit to learning, to growing. So my thought for you is this: are you open to being taught, to be coached along the way and ultimately inspired to achieve your honorable rank?

Last night in my yoga class, I stilled the room for final relaxation and offered up this morsel of thought: we spend so much of our day thinking about what we don’t have, what we want, what we wish was ours. Try taking a moment to focus on what you do have, your lights in the world that make you smile.

What is that for you today? The simplest of things can brighten your day, light your path and bring out your joy.

“Without bridges, the best-built roads lead to nowhere, the most impressive visions remain invisible and the best laid plans fail. In life and work, connection is everything.” Build the bridges – make the connections.

Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready

Be the change you want to see in the world

Knowledge in any subject is freeing

When life gets busy, it seems like creativity is the first thing to go. The things you love most doing takes a backseat to the pressing matter at hand. Trying to find balance in an unbalanced world. Laughter is quite possibly the best remedy to an unsettled mind. Writing for someone who loves to read.

I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who’s ever lived: I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.

If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.

So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s going to be really hard; we’re gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me… every day.

~ Noah, The Notebook

Let’s spice up Tuesday!

2012 hails as the year of the Dragon.  Life during this year is considered to mimic that of the dragon spirit – intense, vibrant, passionate, energetic and bountiful. I say bring it! I’m ready for that larger than life outlook. Ready to be amazed. The year 2000 was the last time it was the year of the dragon. Where were you? And where are you now? Take hold of this year – leap, dance and do it with passion.