Thursday, January 30, 2014
Some Uplifting Engagement
So this week my friend Sola and I sent a little email out. It was the old school style of a chain letter, but basically sans the curse of "you're going to hit by a car" or "something bad is going to happen to someone you love."
Rather, we realized we get a lot o' junk in our inboxes. So, let's invite some uplifting exchanges. Collective and constructive.
We asked that a select few send out to a select few and they respond back with a favorite text/verse/poem/prayer/meditation that has lifted them when they were experiencing challenging times. And it was awesome. Getting emails from people I didn't know was really exciting, touching, and made me realize I don't really care about a GAP flash sale on underwear. Some authentic communicado is the best.
Here's a few I thought I'd share:
She believed she could. So she did.
“Why do you want to shut out of your life any uneasiness, any misery, any depression, since after all you don't know what work these conditions are doing inside you? Why do you want to persecute yourself with the question of where all this is coming from and where it is going? Since you know, after all, that you are in the midst of transitions and you wished for nothing so much as to change. If there is anything unhealthy in your reactions, just bear in mind that sickness is the means by which an organism frees itself from what is alien; so one must simply help it to be sick, to have its whole sickness and to break out with it, since that is the way it gets better.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." - B. Franklin
"There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life - happiness, freedom and peace of mind - are always attained by giving them to someone else." - Peyton Conway March
"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would
still plant my apple tree." - Martin Luther
"Rejection is God's protection.
NO stands for a New Opportunity."
"To get something you never had, You have to do something you've never done..."
"Pain is weakness leaving your body"
Living in Purpose
“I believe that a life of integrity is the most fundamental source
of personal worth. I do not agree with the popular success literature
that says that self-esteem is primarily a matter of mind set, of
attitude—that you can psych yourself into peace of mind. Peace of mind
comes when your life is in harmony with true principles and values and
in no other way."
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Welp, This is True
Don't Date a Girl That Travels
She’s the one with the messy unkempt hair colored by the sun. Her skin is now far from fair like it once was. Not even sun kissed. It’s burnt with multiple tan lines, wounds and bites here and there. But for every flaw on her skin, she has an interesting story to tell.
Don’t
date a girl who travels. She is hard to please. The usual dinner-movie
date at the mall will suck the life out of her. Her soul craves for new
experiences and adventures. She will be unimpressed with your new car
and your expensive watch. She would rather climb a rock or jump out of
an airplane than hear you brag about it.
Don’t date a
girl who travels because she will bug you to book a flight every time
there’s an airline seat sale.
Chances
are, she can’t hold a steady job. Or she’s probably daydreaming about
quitting. She doesn’t want to keep working her ass off for someone
else’s dream. She has her own and is working towards it. She is a
freelancer. She makes money from designing, writing, photography or
something that requires creativity and imagination. Don’t waste her time
complaining about your boring job.
Don’t date a girl
who travels. She might have wasted her college degree and switched
careers entirely. She is now a dive instructor or a yoga teacher. She’s
not sure when the next paycheck is coming. But she doesn’t work like a
robot all day, she goes out and takes what life has to offer and
challenges you to do the same.
Don’t
date a girl who travels for she has chosen a life of uncertainty. She
doesn’t have a plan or a permanent address. She goes with the flow and
follows her heart. She dances to the beat of her own drum. She doesn’t
wear a watch. Her days are ruled by the sun and the moon.
Don’t date a girl who travels as she
tends to speak her mind. She will never try to impress your parents or
friends. She knows respect, but isn’t afraid to hold a debate about
global issues or social responsibility.
She
will never need you. She knows how to pitch a tent and screw her own
fins without your help. She cooks well and doesn’t need you to pay for
her meals. She is too independent and wont care whether you travel with
her or not. She will forget to check in with you when she arrives at her
destination. She’s busy living in the present. She talks to strangers.
She will meet many interesting, like-minded people from around the world
who share her passion and dreams.
So
never date a girl who travels unless you can keep up with her. And if
you unintentionally fall in love with one, don’t you dare keep her. Let
her go.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Weaving the Weird
I'm little transfixed by these trippy weavings. Finnish designer/artist Kustaa Saksi manufactured the collection, called Hypnopompic. Totally see the tree one in my office.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
“Now you’re on the trolley!”
Oh I for reals will be using the term "giggle water". And Kerry Sweeney check out #54?!
Pointless use of the internet done.
The Campaign I Wish I Created
Dove should just start making tissues. Sniffle. And making the selfie real? So good.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Tragically Useless
I want you to do something. I want you to get yourself outta your work for five seconds, and get over to the internet and visit YelpNoir.com, where tragically useless Yelp reviews become highly stylized innuendos. Otherwise, you may miss out on the pointless use of the internet today... And its amazing to feel smarter and dumber at the same time.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
2014::JOY
My friend Caroline, who is a life-coach, and all-around generally amazing, loving person sent me this link. Primarily, for what Danielle LaPorte says around design (round nine minute mark). Though, I also loved her thoughts on making a good life.
As I think about what I want this year to be, the word "joy" keeps coming into my mind. And, surprisingly, apparently I already knew that... my Christmas/New Year's card was "Repeat the Sounding Joy". Funny how life has its own script.
So, I've made a little rough draft of joys I plan on partaking in // 2014 // the interiors of churches // the harlem boys & girls choir // fresh flowers in my house // checking-in with someone I haven't talked with in forever // home tours // bubble baths // opportunities to help // really enjoying a cup of tea or coffee, like really enjoying it // massages // waking up in nature // reading more memoirs // swinging // more Benefits, Times events and an awesome yoga retreat // a hair make-over // a slow closet revamp // float in a lake more // enjoying only things in my life that are purposeful, beautiful and make me down right happy // spending time and money more mindfully // laughter, lots o
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Happy 24/7
Pharrell = The Coolest. He made the world's first 24-hour music video & a website to go along with it. And let me tell you, its awesome.
While the song plays on loop, different people from all over sing & dance along. As you scroll to a time on the clock, the site will keep you in sync with the song (web design: hearts, hearts, hearts). Pharrell is in the first video of every hour - but there are celebrities cameos throughout!
WARNING: this can be an absolute time suck.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Friday, January 10, 2014
A Relationship Recap
So, recently (as in yesterday), I went through a break-up. Yep, I know. Part of me wonders how I arrived here again. It feels too soon to have these familiar feelings, yet they are commmmpletellly different. They are not deep, they are more self-aware. And, in all honesty, I'm so proud of myself. I allowed myself to freely and fully fall into something. It was not expected. Neither are the lessons I learned. My friend Alyssa said this to me this morning, "I hope having him out of your life doesn't weigh you down. Instead it feels like taking off a heavy winter coat. It's easier to move around and lighter." And even though its snowing outside, it feels like t-shirt weather. Its completely accurate. I feel free and lighter and part of it is because these are the lessons I learned. Hopefully, they will be of some use to you as well. xo
---
God brings people into your life for a reason. Always.
Be with someone who wants to work in a relationship as much as they do on their work.
Make sure the person you're with has rich, deep friendships. Being a good, committed friend means knowing how to be a good, committed partner.
"On Paper vs Real Life." A potential relationship is like the perfect dress
on a hanger. Try it on. If it doesn't fit just right, it's not going to
make you feel good.
You have to take care of yourself. This starts as a one-woman job, but it should be a shared joy.
If a person is not open, you will be closed off.
People communicate in the own way. Pay attention. You'll get to use senses you didn't know you had.
Faith is attractive. So is the open mind you bring to a relationship.
Appreciation, curiosity, and attraction is two way street. If you're traveling it alone, you'll feel directionless.
People can be selfish and self-centered. Not on purpose.
Be with someone that wants to explore... Parks, new things, and aspects of the unknown.
Appeal. It's an interesting word. Think about it.
Just because you're operating on a higher frequency (emotionally, physically, socially) than someone, doesn't mean you have to dial it down.
Relationships can be like movies. Even when over, some scenes can play over and over in your mind.
The desire for chivalry does not exclude feminists.
Be
careful about being in a relationship with someone you feel like pushes
you to be better. You would never have 24/7 workout buddy.
Being with someone that likes the same things as you... the best. Being with some that thinks you're the best... Better.
In the absence of gratitude, disappointment and loneliness can be fast friends.
Seek joy.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Fallin' for the Vortex
I've actually always wanted to go to Niagara Falls . Back in the day, I would have been one of those honeymooners. Not for the tourist attraction of it, but because I sincerely like waterfalls. And rivers... and lakes... and baths... pretty much any body of water, really.
When I saw these pictures of the Falls during the Polar Vortex, though, I found it even more enchanting. Perhaps more so. The textures and shapes... well, now this is how I want to see Niagara Falls. Forget my honeymoonin' in the 50s dream.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
The Certainty of Uncertainty
Alas, as a bit of recovering perfectionist and unfortunately a lot o' a control freak, apparently there are still lessons I need to learn. Because yyyyet again, here I am sitting in uncertainty. In a situation that is totally out of my control and completely uncomfortable.
My automatic response to this uncertainty is to obsess endlessly until I figure it out. Convince myself that I'm a fortune teller and can therefore see the future. Or a time traveler, rereading the script of the past. We can make ourselves crazy, spinning our minds through the same handful of scenarios we come up with, over and over again, yet never feeling any closer to some sort of resolution.
Uncertainty makes us feel vulnerable and so we try and escape it any way we can. Unfortunately, neither mindlessly "staying busy" (read: my house is so spotless) nor mindfully trying to figure it out actually solves the problem.
And, honestly, ain't nobody got time for that. Plus, its freakin' exhausting. So, I’ve come to realize that all of my ideas of “knowing” actually block me from the truth more than they reveal it.
It seems a great paradox that it is actually through embracing the uncertainty that we thrive. That our lives are greatly determined by what we do when we were uncertain. I realized this last night... That in those quiet, or noisy, wayward moments, it was my intuition that navigated me to the path I needed to be on.
I have found that when I am in that anxious, fearful state, where I’m trying figure it all out on my own, that noise in my head that is trying to control everything will often drown out my intuition.
So I'm accepting that things are unknown, that I don’t have all of the answers. That I may be hurt. But this is not being done to me. Rather for me.
I have breathing room, room for exploration, joy, and reflection. And the certainly that teachings are always available if we are paying attention.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Photo Dump: Woodstock Weekend
I can't tell you how much I love waking up in the woods. Snow: Bonus. |
My friend Andrea, her friend Shiv, her brother John and I headed up the country this weekend for a little celebratory eve in Woodstock in honor of John's birthday. Albeit a quick trip, I felt like it was a weekend that was meant to happen. A perfect mix of much needed nature time, good friends, interesting conversations and fantastic food. And can we just talk about how much I love those hippie rock shops? Oh, we can't? That's fair.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Words from My Dad
This year, care enough to take charge of your body, mind and spirit. Be
your own North Star and be consistent about it. Your possibilities are
infinite.
Constance C. R. White
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