“If not now, when?”
Hillel the Elder
presence
Holiday Gratitude
I am grateful for the opportunity to blog and have readers who provide feedback. I’m thankful for the WordPress community and for the wonderful blog posts I’ve read the past few years. Befriending fellow writers from Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and Australia has been a phenomenal experience.
Here’s to a healthy 2017 with lots of presence.
Mirth Within the Means
As I approach the end of my novella, I find myself (still) keeping Monkey Mind at bay and working hard to get to the finish line. This means business! This means focus!
My shoulders get tight.
I look at the word count constantly to ensure I am making my goal.
I second-guess myself.
And I forget to have fun.
But when I remember to lighten up, the writing flows. I get more creative. And I magically hit my numbers.
Do what kids and puppies do: Have fun!
When Labels Are Necessary
Labels are important on:
- chemicals, poisons, toxins,
- produce, canned foods, cosmetics, prescriptions
- private documents
- shipping containers
- plants at a nursery
- DVDs, CDs, records
- clothing
- contact lens cases (left, right)
- luggage
- shelves at a library, store, science lab
But labels do not belong on people.
When we label each other as “other” (Republican, Democrat, poor, rich, stupid, illegal immigrant, foreigner, smart, crazy, disabled, etc.), we create a chasm which enables us to treat each other inhumanely.
We can each do our part by stopping this practice. Go ahead, try it. I bet it will make you happier.
Natal Day
I’ve walked this trail so many times,
in seasons of both joy and grief;
matters bloom which suspend belief,
now I’m mezzo from birth to death.
This term, I’ve come to realize,
the purpose of one’s life lodges
not in popular mirages,
but undulates upon each breath.
Yoga for the Back
We were out of town for a week – back to the San Francisco area – and walked a lot. It was great spending time with family and friends, eating good food, seeing the sights.
Somehow, I hurt my back. Could have been a combination of the plane ride, tight muscles and aging. It’s not that bad, but I rarely hurt myself and found myself limping along this morning, doing five loads of laundry. The pain was so great, I understood why people take pain killers.
So I got down on the mat and did “front bends” with Rodney Yee for 20 minutes with his A.M. Yoga. I know, he’s not a saint in his personal life. But my back is MUCH, much better after giving some attention to it.
“Get out of your mind and listen to your body. Listen to what your body’s telling you.”
Rodney Yee
What’s your body telling you?
4 Ways to Creative, Financial Freedom
I have been following Deep Space Sparkle by Patty Palmer for years. I’ve watched her grow from an art teacher writing about her passions to a full-fledged entrepreneur with one of the most generous websites I’ve ever landed on.
Yesterday, I told you about Teachers Pay Teachers, a website where you can post your hard-earned work and start getting paid for it. Patty has created her own website and offers curriculum for sale (as well as a lot of FREE valuable resources).
In her latest podcast, she reviews and shares her successes as a teacher and businesswoman. Teachers are some of the most creative, loving people you will ever meet, but it’s hard for them (us) to ask to be paid what we’re worth. Here are some of Patty’s tips for success while leaving your love of teaching intact:
- Enjoy – really enjoy – your teaching right now. Use this opportunity to experiment with your students…see what works. Bring your best each and every day.
- Start selling slowly. Use Teachers Pay Teachers, or start your own website. Don’t quit your job to do it, just begin.
- Create your curriculum based on your passions, don’t look to children or their parents for direction.
- Learn new skills! Have fun as you learn. It’s never too late.
One (of many) things I love about Patty’s site is that she emphasizes the importance of living and loving the present moment. This is what Kismet is all about. The paradox of success: In order to “get there”, you need to “be here.”
What “Countdowns” Really Mean
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Eckhart Tolle’s premise that Judging others and ourselves, Attaching (to things) and Resisting reality (JAR) all lead to unhappiness and that if you eradicate these three things, you will be happy.
Counting down to vacation, the weekend, or the end of the work day are examples of moments when we resist reality. These are opportunities to stop and think: we need to stop resisting our reality, our longing to be elsewhere.
I used to have a Countdown app. Long story, but I was in a job with a terrible boss. The job would end in 102 days. When I realized this “secret,”- that counting down was the antithesis of living with joy – I deleted the app and paid attention to my life. I did my best to enjoy every minute of the job, despite this awful boss. And I really began to love it!
Enjoy your present moment. Our lives are made of a chain of present moments, right? One right after another….this makes up a lifetime.
I was eating lunch with someone. She said, “I wonder what we’ll have for dinner.” Don’t do that. Fully enjoy your lunch. Dinner will happen when it happens. “But I have to plan it. I have to think about it beforehand, it doesn’t just happen,” you say. True. But while you eat your lunch, eat your lunch. Enjoy each bite. Being fully present for each bite…realizing when you are full and stopping…this is the best “diet.” When it comes time to plan your dinner, do it. And plan your dinner, but only do that. Be fully present. Be happy.
We were driving to violin lessons today. It’s a 45 minute drive. The car in front of us was crossing the line and coming back. The car in the other lane could not advance because of this. I thought, “Either this driver is drunk, or texting.” We passed the car and I saw the driver looking at his lap, obviously on his phone. How dangerous! We saw several people driving in this manner.
Multi-tasking is not only the enemy of happiness and excellent work, it can also cost lives.
So do not countdown to the next thing. Do not do two things at the same time. Slow down. Relax. Be mindful. This is the secret to happiness.
Distillation
a fleeting moment
hair whipped behind you
hands tightly gripping the rails
you are suspended in
disbelief
and
exhilaration
It’s a thrill ride
and fascination flows from you
for all that’s ahead in your life
don’t ever lose the fresh
What If….
What if you added this to today’s goals:
“….with presence and care.”
For example, “Today, I will attend present at the sales meeting with presence and care.”
Or,
“I will work with my subcontractors to complete this project with presence and care.”
I believe you will see a difference in how your day goes, for the better.
My daughter Josie (often the illustrator for my blog), created this clay dog tonight with presence and care.
Cool, huh?
Kismet 