Letting Go

Posted on Jan 4, 2013

Right now I am learning the lesson of letting go.

In 10 days I will board a plane for a 2 1/2 months long trip to Tanzania. I am not sure what to expect when I arrive, and this – along with a waiver form that mentions death by Black Mamba snake bite – has made me anxious, nervous and scared. I haven’t slept well.

And something has happened to make two of my friends stop talking to me. The circumstances are unclear (at best) to me, and my lack of understanding and clarity in regards to what has happened has left me sad, frustrated and hurt.

But there are certain things we cannot change. In fact, the only thing we can change is our own mind and our own reactions to the events, environment and people surrounding us. In the documentary Happy (available on Netflix), the scientists interviewed note that the happiest people don’t have less bad things happen to them. And when those bad things happen, happy people don’t feel them any less than the rest of us sad saps. Instead, happy people rebound quicker from life’s bumps in the road. They let go faster.

So in the days leading up to my trip, and in the process of comprehending the loss of two friends, I will practice the important lesson of letting go.

Something to Think About in the New Year

Posted on Jan 1, 2013

First, let me say, Happy New Year! I hope that it will bring you peace and happiness. And now, something to think about as we begin to make all our usual resolutions about weight, eating better, saving money, etc.

This is (as far as I can tell) an unknown quote. I came across the image on Twitter a few weeks ago. For me, it captures everything with which I struggle and with which I think the world struggles.

In the New Year, my resolutions are to love endlessly and to live consciously.

Being Small Can Make a Big Difference

Posted on Dec 29, 2012

A few weeks ago I took a trip with Erick to Yosemite National Park. When we drove out of the tunnel and into the valley, my breath was literally taken away by how amazing and almost unreal the mountains and valley floor looked.

Outlook

Posted on Nov 2, 2012

The other night, a friend and I were having drinks when the topic of former and current fellow classmates came up. We were discussing how in graduate programs – while everyone is stressed – some people just never feel that they have enough time to get their work done. These are the same people who often feel that assignments are unfair or that the world is crushing down on them. Sometimes they are depressed, and most of the time they are the people who are gossiping or complaining. Do you know people like this?

Challenge

Posted on Oct 6, 2012

Yesterday a very wise friend said to me, “It’s when the fear of failure becomes greater than the pleasure of success that we stop doing anything.” 

Over the last few months (ok, maybe it’s been years), I have been grappling with charting a course or path for my life. And unfortunately I’ve let fear derail my plans all too often. What are some of my fears?

• Because I think that I am not good enough, I avoid creating art or pursuing photography.
• Because I fear that I will not accomplish anything, that people won’t like it, or that it will be too difficult, I avoid meditating and embracing a deeper spirituality.
• Because I’m afraid that people won’t like me or that I will be unable to make personal connections with others, I drink too much during social gatherings to take the edge off.
• Because I am worried about putting myself out there only to have a relationship or friendship fail, I push people away.

These are just a number of my fears, and unfortunately there are more. So starting tomorrow I am making a change. That’s right. It’s challenge time.

Eating for Joy

Posted on Sep 24, 2012

A few years ago, I spent more than 9 months on Weight Watchers. Due to a new relationship and numerous headache medications, I had gained 30 lbs and was feeling uncomfortable. Weight Watchers opened my eyes to what I was eating, and I would recommend the program for anyone who is looking for a lifestyle change (rather than a diet).

Since losing the weight, I have continued to feel uncomfortable. To get comfortable, I re-enrolled in Weight Watchers, got a calorie-counting app for my iPhone, and even did 3 weeks of P90X. But then one day I had a realization… Instead of focusing on school or on the things I enjoy, the majority of my time was spent thinking about exercising and food! Every time I became conscious of my thoughts, I noticed that I was thinking about what I could eat to stay within my calorie limit or how I would find time to work out. This was not being in the world. It was trying desperately to control it!

So I decided to change course. I removed the calorie-counting app from my phone. I ditched my Weight Watchers subscription. And I said goodbye to the beach body. For me, none of those options were long-term. And I hadn’t lost any weight anyway.

Instead, I decided to focus on enjoying my meals and eating real food.

Clouds

Posted on Sep 11, 2012

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I post a lot of pictures of clouds. Like, a lot. Clouds are fascinating because these wisps of water particles are constantly in motion, always changing, very impermanent. I snap pictures of them because I know they will look entirely different in only a few minutes. But they make me happy because they remind me of the beauty that is all around us in this world.

So today I want to share two cloud pictures that were taken by a friend on his ride from Las Vegas to San Francisco. Aren’t they beautiful?

Thank you Bob! :)