Kinder and Gentler

There is a debate on whether man (or rather, Man) is contributing toward global warming trends, or indeed whether Earth is actually heating up at all.  Whatever the true answer is, I wish that everyone was a "believer", because from what I can see, people who are truly concerned about the welfare of Mother Earth incidentally improve the lives of their fellow human beings.  They pick up some ugly trash to protect the ground from pollutants; doing so prevents the next person passing by from viewing the garbage.  It's a win-win.

The perfect moment

Are you waiting for the perfect moment to chase your dream?  Stop hanging around and just jump on the next bus!  The perfect moment is always now, and lucky for us, perfect moments are like an unending string of pearls; they follow one after another in a long chain of time.

Choose your goal and walk toward it with confidence.  Self-assurance doesn't come naturally to everyone, but  if you know what you want or where you want to go, maybe you can fake it for a while -- like in those studies that say even a fake smile will improve your mood.  Stand tall, speak with authority, and don't waffle.  If you pursue your dreams with compassion, energy, and enthusiasm, no one will think to stand in your way; and if they do, well, just smile and walk around them.

Patience

In a day, how many times do you sigh with impatience, or tap your foot or roll your eyes?  How often do your shoulders slump or your teeth grit as you attempt to deal with the incompetents in your life?  Do you sometimes feel that the world is conspiring to make you wait?

Well, quit it!  Most of the things we lose patience with are only holding us back by seconds, or maybe minutes.  Most of the people we are impatient to are simply trying to muddle their way through their own day.  So a lady parks her grocery cart in the middle of the aisle to browse the cereals . . .  Don't slam her cart to the side and huff past; instead, give her a smile, tell her not to worry about it, that you'll move her cart for her.  Or that guy swerving around everyone on the highway -- send him some good thoughts because he needs them!

Exchange a smile for a sigh, a good thought for a bad, and notice the difference in your mood when you haven't spent the day with gritted teeth.

Tick-Tock

Everyone agrees there is not enough time in a day to do all the things we "need" to do; but twenty-four is all we get.  Next time you are pressed for time, try to step back and assess what it is you are trying to accomplish.  It is true that some days you truly could use some extra time.  Most days, though, the time crunch is self-inflicted.

Take a look at all you plan to accomplish today.  Some responsibilities are non-negotiable so put them at the top of your list.  Next, add a few minutes of breathing space for a walk or a meditation or a yoga class.  After that, finish the rest of your agenda with a smile in your heart.  If the extras you do during the day are only making you cranky, skip them.  If you love to keep busy, then follow that instinct.

Twenty-four hours is plenty.

Ready, Set, Now!

Ah, the first day of school is over, only 179 to go!

That's what my 8th grader said to me as I tucked her in for the night.  But we all know that school is best viewed one day at a time, or it will seem overwhelming.  It's the same with many things in our lives:  a big presentation at work, a home improvement project, an injury to rehabilitate.  Paying attention to the moment at hand keeps us focused on, and aware of, what we are doing.  Tomorrow will come and if we've taken care to notice each moment and use it the best we can, all our tomorrows will be good days in one way or another.  And if not, well, we'll worry about that tomorrow!

Labor Day 2010

The summer has been hotter than usual and everyone is ready for some cooler weather, which we are getting this weekend in New Jersey.  It is bittersweet, this enjoyment of the last weekend of summer.  School is beginning and regular schedules are about to be re-imposed on many of us.  Soon, the bitter winds of winter will be here and we will certainly yearn for the summer heat, forgetting how miserable it has made us.

What to do?  Enjoy today.  It is a time to eat and play and gather.  No bleak talk about the work week to come, the icicles we anticipate, or the diets we plan before the winter holidays roll in.   Soak up the moment, savor the weather and the foods and the company. Appreciate, absorb, internalize.  Drink in the day as if you are a sponge, and be filled with good feelings and intentions that will carry you into the “new year” with lightness and joy.

Pause at the beginning of the day to set an intention for joy.  Return to that intention often during the day, and recall it again before you sleep at night. The joy is now.

A Tree Grows in (insert your favorite location here)

My favorite balance pose is Vrksasana, or Tree Pose.  It is simple and can be done by beginners and experts alike; and as a teacher, I love being able to say, “Grow your tree” and watch what happens.

            Today I was a student, and my teacher brought us into Vrksasana.  She guided us to raise our arms, then to incorporate a little backbend into the pose.  Just looking up toward the ceiling changed my perspective and balance, and reaching back a tiny bit further with each breath changed my attitude.  My heart opened and I breathed deeply and evenly.  I filled with joy and grace. 

            Tiny changes in perspective and movement can create broad changes in body and mind. My favorite balance pose is Tree -- open, grounded, always growing.

Karma - What the heck is it?

Think of karma as a seed.  You plant it and it grows, and the fruit you receive from it depends on the seed you planted.  Seeds of lovingkindness bring forth sweet fruit; bitter seeds ripen into bitter fruit.

Karma is not fate.  Karma is action and effect.  It is important to remember that action/effect is not always immediate.  You may be building up equity in the Bank of Karma for the future.  When someone asks plaintively, “why do bad things always happen to me? I’m a good person,” they need to remember that it's not that simple.  We live in a world full of people, relationships, and nature, and stuff is happening all the time. Maybe good things are happening and you just aren't noticing. Maybe the good things are in the works, and are taking time to “ripen”.  Next, take another look at your actions and thoughts.  How good is “good”?  Is there room for improvement (and we know the answer to that is always Yes)?

Making an effort to put out sweet, loving actions -- actions toward others that we would be happy to receive ourselves -- can bring great rewards. Even if you do not “believe” in karmic energy, those around you will be the happier for your good deeds, and you’ll receive more smiles. That’s enough, I think.