Falalalala-lalalala

Christmas trees, Christmas music, Christmas cookies, Christmas presents, Christmas lights, and finally - the ‘reason-for-the-season’ Christmas Day. 

I hope we aren’t all slowly diminishing into these politically correct beings who can’t risk offending a few people by saying  “Merry Christmas”  I don't know ANY Jewish, athiest, non-religious people who get offended by it at all?  My good friend (I don't think she even believes in God) sent out cards that say "Merry Christmas"   And what about Christmas songs.  Maybe we should re-title a few....you know,  before they get banned.

• I’ll have a blue WINTER without you
• Have yourself a merry little WINTER
• I’m dreaming of a white WINTER
• Oh, WINTER tree, oh WINTER tree.....
• WINTERTIME is here (oh, and we better re-name the classic...A Charlie Brown WINTER)

And does that Nativity manger in front of the fire house ‘reallllly’ bother you?  Really!  Well, you better complain to city hall and demand it be taken down.  'Cause ya know.... that baby lying there in the hay with his father and virgin mother - is a pretty offensive scene (those sheep are kinda cute, though...aren’ t they)   I wonder if these people are also offended by all the great art (featuring that baby all grown up - and seen half naked for God’s sake) hanging in famous museums all over the world?  Can’t they just see the history, culture, a story....without having to ‘think’ they are being forced to belive this baby Jesus is THEIR Savior.

If you ask the very controversial piano goddess Tori Amos, she’ll say: ”I really, really love Christ, but I’m not a Christian.  What Jesus was really saying was “It is within you.” There are things that I would disagree with Jesus about—and I feel really good about that. That’s how it should be. Respect him to go his way and I’ll do my thing. I mean, if you want to go and sit out in the desert for forty days, knock yourself out. But I’m going to go and get some pizza. And I’m not less of a person for it.”   

Wow - I bet her minister father just loves this : )

Well, MARY Christmas, which is my way of saying it - cause I adore the Virgin Mary.  And I do hope that none of what I wrote offends anyone.  I do believe people have a right to their opinions and religion.  But I am being cynical and venting on something that “I” think is trivial.
Here are a few Christmas hi-lites of 2011

• O.M.G. photo of the year?  This takes the phrase "White Trash Christmas" to a whole new level.

• Watching ‘The Grinch’  I was obsessed with this movie growing up.  I liked the who people, but were scared of them at the same time.  And, oh did I ever feel sorry for Max, the Grinch's dog.

• Can I actually be a little (alot) jealous of this creative, funky christmas tree book that some random person out there made.  Why, yes I can.  (from Absolutely Madness)

• Yay that Jon Bon Jovi’s death was a hoax!  He musta been “Livin’ On a Prayer”

• And, YAY that Kim Jun Il’s wasn’t a hoax, cause he gives “Love a Bad Name” - and now he’s been “Shot Thru the Heart”

• TRADITIONS: making cookies with my mom, sister and niece - getting a real Christmas tree - making at least 1 homemade present - getting the perfect card photo with Alex and the dogs.  Graditude. You just gotta stop and run thru that list in your head, of all the good stuff.

WHAT I’m Thankful for - and what I’m NOT

For some reason I was ”sorta” ready to get back to work the day after TG. It’s probably because I do good with routine and following a schedule. This is not to say I have conquered being a major procrastinator and am always late. sigh.  Being off for 4 days was lovely and I had the best weekend. So it’s kinda like an early New Years...I feel motivated, happy and organized.

And, December 1st is this week. I am ready! The start of the holidays, Christmas music, lights, cookies, making crafty stuff (my Mary 2011 card) and the tradition of Alex and me getting a real tree...usually in the cold at the boy scout lot.

 














So I’m thankful for:
• my cute new dog, Ash (we got her in Oct)
• the fact that Jim C (my ex) and I get along and be cool with each other.
• my son who is a wild cute little video gamer - yet, is wise beyond his years & just...gets it.  Tho, he is a bit sensitive - yeah, like me!  What kid lists the movie “The Pianist” as 1 of his faves since he was 8 or 9? and knows all the words to the Evita soundtrack.
• The fact that I have tix to TORI piano-songwriting-goddess AMOS in Chicago!  and love her, and haven’t seen her in like 8 yrs, in fact the last time was at the Fabulous Fox - 2nd row dead center.


And what I’m not. Yes, I’m listing some negatives. cause it’s all a work in progress. everyday. never perfect. and never will be. But I’ll always have a ton of room for gratitude.
• my cute dog pees in the house.
• my sugar addiction. I eat too much sugar.  And I love it. and prob always will.
• I’m still too sensitive...and still working on my overanalyzing. thx adhd.
• still am not offically ”working out” blah. Hate being lazy.
• stay up too late, then sleep in and don’t ever get to work early, which means I stay later.

 

The LOTUS Flower

Wow - I have not blogged in forever, since MAY!  So, I am gonna start with the Lotus Flower.  I am fascinated by the Lotus flower.  I want to be like this symbol of enlightment.  How amazing that this flower has appeared in mythology and religion for thousands of years from Egypt to India to Asia.  I really feel a connection to Buddhism and I wonder if I was somehow connected to it in a past life.

The Lotus Flower grows up through the mud in swamps and ponds and produces a beautiful and fragrant flower. The flower is big, around 8-12 inches in diameter, and is open for only 3 days. Then each petal falls silently into the water, one by one, over a short period.  It opens and blooms at dawn, then closes and returns to the darkness at dusk.

The Lotus represents the Higher, Divine Self. As harsh and dark as the world 

can be, each of us is still connected with our Greater, Sacred Self. This thought 

is highlighted in Buddhism. Each person has the ability to reach their full potential, and therefore, "bloom" in the midst of the muck.

The Lotus also represents purity, because the mud of the swamp does not effect its beauty. The blooming in the morning and folding in at dusk represent rebirth and regeneration. The Chakras of the body are all represented with a 

different Lotus flower per chakra. (your Chakras are so interesting, 

one of my older posts has more on them)

"Buddhism explores how to transcend the troubles of human existence, to leave behind the sea of pain, the house of fire. Becoming Buddha-like is the highest ideal. Out of the muddy water the lotus springs forth beautiful blooms, much as Buddhas free themselves from worldly worries. "

-Von Baeyer

"You yourself are the water, You yourself are the fish, and You yourself are the net. You yourself cast the net, and You yourself are the bait. You yourself are the 

Lotus, unaffected and still brightly-colored."

-Sri Guru Granth Sahib

focusing...assuming...controlling

Ask yourself this question:

What assumption am I making,
That I'm not aware I'm making,
That gives me what I see?

And when you have an answer to that question,
ask yourself this one:

What might I now invent,
That I haven't yet invented,
That would give me other choices?

You cannot control everything that will happen today. 

But you can completely control the person you will be.

I'm trying to remember where I stumbled upon this wonderful little saying (above), but it was definitely meant for me to read!  This is a huge issue for me. I am so good at assuming, analyzing and worrying.  I need this to be my new mantra, to stop every day and read it slowly, like 3 times...or 5 or 10!  I want to focus and 'live in the moment.'  I picked the illustration above because it's such a calming image. It's from a children's book that me and Alex (my son) LOVED! "The Little Island" by Margaret Wise Brown (illustration: Leonard Weisgard).  The story is about a cat who goes to an island on a boat, and learns that the island is much more than it seems (he learns this from a fish). The pages describing the cat's journey to knowledge are magical, and so are the illustrations. My son (who is 9) tells me he is too old for this book now  ha! (but I know he still likes it)

I also recently came across this great blog by Leo Babuata.  He is all about - SIMPLICITY and FOCUSING. His writing is simple and to-the-point.  Instead of mulit-tasking, he says "single" task. (huh?!)   He also talks about how we are constantly plugged in, something I totally agree with (as I sit here blogging and probably checking twitter & facebook next :))   Here is a sample..."Our ability to focus will allow us to create in ways that perhaps we haven’t in years. It’ll allow us to slow down and find peace of mind. It’ll allow us to simplify and focus on less — on the essential things, the things that matter most. And in doing so, we’ll learn to focus on smaller things. This will transform our relationship with the world. It’s not that “less is more”, but “less is better”.  You can download a FREE mini version of his book FOCUS below.

http://focusmanifesto.com/

Feng Sui and the Year of the METAL Rabbit

OK, so my February post is now being posted March 4 (oh, this drives me crazy)!  For some reason I obsessed over it, changed it around, re-read it and forgot about it for 3 weeks.  Enough. Here it is.

Ahhhh, the Year of the Metal Rabbit, which is supposed to bring peace, joy, calm and many happy moments.  This is perfect since I am still working on my “New Years” intentions. Have I failed at any of my numerous resolutions so far (hell yeah)  BUT the difference is that I am following each failure up with something positive, as a continuing focus for me is graditude.  Plus it’s my goal to finally feng sui my house, which I have lived in for a year now and still haven’t done!  I am amazed that I have waited this long, but am excited about the positive energy I will get from this. Cause I do believe in the powers of feng sui, oh yes. 
The Chinese believe that negative energy can get stuck in spaces that are messy, dirty or too cluttered ... so you just Feng Sui your space to make room for the GOOD energy by giving your home a really good cleaning. You have 9 areas in your home - for me, I am gonna focus on two - Abundance and Health.  
‘Let there be peace, and let it begin with me’ is the Rabbit motto. Diplomacy reigns. If you want to improve your chances of success, you want to negotiate and cooperate rather than try to force your ideas and methods on others.  It’s also a time to forgive and forget.  To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security and relationships.  Create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.  Now this does not mean there will be heaven on earth. You can find good and bad in every year.


The Chinese believe that everything in the universe is made up of 5 Elements.  Water - Wood - Fire - Earth - Metal.  Every element (or object) in a space has its own energy that it radiates to everyone and everything around it, and if that energy is unbalanced it can affect your life negatively. ALL inanimate objects (a vase, a plant, the TV) have unseen energy.
Fire - High Energy and Passion
Earth - Stability and Nourishment
Metal - Accuracy and Clarity
Water - Abundance, Ease and Freshness
Wood - Vitality and Health   
By Feng Shui-ing your home (simply arranging your stuff a certain way) you can have all your household objects emitting positive energy for you!  Chi (energy) is VERY important. It can either be harmonious and unified OR it can be ridden with conflict, creating a kind of war. You will know if your home’s Chi is bad because you will feel uneasy, anxious, lethargic, unsatisfied, depressed, nervous, worried, sad, selfish, jealous, angry, frightened or empty. 

The BAGUA MAP is a square layout of your home, and divides it into the 9 areas.  Each area relates to a different part of your life. Whatever is going on energetically (good or bad) in that part of your space WILL affect your life. So, you are basically adding the 5 elements to the right places in your home to get the positive energy flowing through your life.


1. Career-life mission
2. Spiritual-Well Being
3. Knowledge-Wisdom
4. Children-Creativity
5. Health-Family
6. Travel-Helpful People
7. Wealth-Abundance
8. Fame-Social Life
9. Love-Relationships

Your Breath Holds the Key to All Healing

I cannot say how much that headline alone sounds so positive and magical. I mean, what could be more perfect for the NEW YEAR!? So, read the following and I hope everyone tries it out. It's free, easy to do and pretty much proven to work. How to do it is at the end of this post - in six EASY steps. I usually do this at nite, in bed to relax and clear my head of all the millions of thoughts consuming my mind.

"Thousands of years ago, great Hindu yogis and Chinese sages developed powerful systems of breath control which they used for mastering fear, healing illness and attaining the state of enlightenment. These ancient systems of breath control possess such remarkable powers, because they access the spiritual life-force that gives our breath its life-sustaining powers. The Hindus call this life-force 'Prana' - the Chinese call it 'Chi' - Hebrews called it 'The Breath of Life' - Christians call it 'The Holy Spirit'. (Andy Caponigro)

Alternate Nostril Breathing Exercise (Anuloma Viloma )

This is EASY to do and VERY beneficial! A healthy person will breathe mostly through the LEFT nostril for about 2 hrs, then through the RIGHT nostril. But in many people, this natural rhythm is disturbed. Anuloma Viloma restores, equalizes and balances the flow of Prana (breath) in the body and produces optimum function to both sides of the brain. This will lead to a balance between your creative and logical thinking. The Yogi’s consider this to be the best technique to calm the mind and the Nervous System.

The Scientific Confirmation

Medical science has recently discovered the nasal cycle, something that was already discovered by the Yogis thousands of years ago. Modern scientists found out that we do not breathe equally on both nostrils, that is one nostril is much easier to breathe through than the other at any particular time. Each nostril alternates about every 2-3 hours. Scientists also discovered that the nasal cycle corresponds with brain function. The electrical activity of the brain was found to be greater on the side opposite the less congested nostril. The right side of the brain controls creative activity, while the left side controls logical verbal activity. The research showed that when the left nostril was less obstructed, the right side of the brain was predominant. Similarly when the right nostril was less obstructed the left side of the brain was predominant.

The Ancient Yogis went one step further. They observed that a lot of diseases were due to disturbances of the nasal cycle or if a person breathes for too long through one nostril. To prevent and correct this condition, they developed the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. This clears any blockage the airflow in the nostrils and reestablishes the natural nasal cycle. For example, the Yogi’s have known for a long time that prolonged breathing through the left nostril only (over a period of years) will cause Asthma. They also know that this so-called incurable disease can be easily treated by teaching the patient to breathe through the right nostril until the Asthma is cured and prevent it from recurring by doing the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. The Yogis also believe that Diabetes is caused, to a large extent, by breathing mainly through the right nostril.

Bascially you are: Inhaling through one nostril, holding the breath, and exhaling through the other nostril.
One Round of Anuloma Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing)

1 Inhale through the left nostril, closing the right with the thumb, to the count of four.
2 Hold the breath, closing both nostrils, to the count of sixteen.
3 Exhale through the right nostril, closing the left with the ring finger, to the count of eight.
4 Inhale through the right nostril, keeping the left nostril closed with the ring finger, to the count of four.
5 Hold the breath, closing both nostrils, to the count of sixteen.
6 Exhale through the left nostril, keeping the right closed with the thumb, to the count of eight.