surrender.

October 24, 2011 | Filed Under #notetoself, Inspiring, Moment of Truth, Watch this, monday motivation | 6 Comments

you can’t have everything you want.
you won’t want everything you need.
appreciate the journey.

Without a doubt, life has revealed the presence of this flow, this movement, this protection. Lately, I’ve been getting just what I need, whether it’s a momentary break from the imminent stormy weather long enough to see me through a beautiful, dry bike ride to work, music that makes me smile or puts me face-to-face with myself, a kind word, or a highly unlikely situation that restores my spirit and inspires me. Even with the challenges that accompany life, lately I’ve been feeling even more inspired, more in-tune, more connected to the magic and wonder this world offers. And I’m so very apreciative of it.

This snippet of Oprah’s Master Class where she discusses how The Color Purple taught her about the importance the role surrender plays in the process of getting what you want. It was so amazing and powerful, I wanted to share the entire videos from which the snippet was excerpted. If these videos are too much for you to commit to, please do watch this. It’s much shorter, yet incredibly powerful and inspiring.

Returning to the idea presented in today’s #notetoself, “God can dream a bigger dream for me, for you, than you ever could for yourself.” Thanks, Oprah.

Best wishes on your journey.

love&light…

Part 1

on satisfaction.

October 18, 2011 | Filed Under #notetoself, Inspiring, Moment of Truth, The Visual | 1 Comment

from my yogi tea.

great words…

October 3, 2011 | Filed Under #notetoself, Inspiring, Moment of Truth, Read this, Rewritable words | Leave a Comment

“To love the plateau is to love the eternal now,
to enjoy the inevitable spurts of progress and the fruits of accomplishment,
then serenely to accept the new plateau that waits just beyond them.
To love the plateau is to love what is most essential and enduring in your life.”

- George Leonard, Mastery

life’s lessons…

September 13, 2011 | Filed Under Moment of Truth, Pay attention, Random | 4 Comments

I’ve been listening to myself lately — honoring my own wisdom, listening to its whispers, feeling its tugs and trying to heed its advice. This is what I’m learning…

On music: It’s amazing. It’s awesome. It’s super powerful. It’s healing… It’s distracting. Sometimes. When I disconnect and listen to vocal-less music, I’m connected to myself and insights on life. It relaxes me and makes life a bit more otherworldly. Ambrose Akinmusire’s When the Heart Emerges Glistening and Robert Glasper’s Double Booked are soothing my spirit right now.
On desire: We’re not supposed to have everything we think we want. Or when we want it.
On life: Talents are our gifts — to us and to others. Burying them only shortchanges us and minimizes our contribution. Follow your bliss.
Practice love. Be loving. Don’t let pain, and subsequent anger, blind you to your love. You love because you are love and expressing it is the highest joy. So express it. Live it. Be love in motion.

Great words…

July 1, 2011 | Filed Under Inspiring, Moment of Truth, Pay attention, Rewritable words | 1 Comment

“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Hate multiplies hate, violence mutliplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction…

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.
We never get rid of an enemy meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy by getting rid of enmity.
By its very nature, hate destroys and tears down; by its very nature, love creates and builds up.
Love transforms with redemptive power.”

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

slow down.

June 28, 2011 | Filed Under #notetoself, Moment of Truth | Leave a Comment

sometimes the only way life can reveal its truth is to us is to stop us. when it halts you, don’t resist it; pay attention and take heed: slow down.

there are major lessons to walk away with. find the good. find your gratitude. find your patience. find your understanding. find your silence. find your peace.

we will find ourselves renewed when we relax into the flow of life.

focus on the friendship.

June 21, 2011 | Filed Under Inspiring, Learn something, Moment of Truth, Watch this | 1 Comment

CNN interviews Jada Pinkett and asks about the key to a successful Hollywood marriage. Her answer works for everyone, in Hollywood or not. A beautiful moment in time…

SPOTLIGHT: “Forks Over Knives”

May 19, 2011 | Filed Under Consider this, Inspiring, Learn something, Moment of Truth, Pay attention, Spotlight, Watch this | 3 Comments

Once upon a time, I was a health zealot. Whether or not you asked, I’d gladly and immediately inform you of the contents of your food and any health risks they posed. My intention wasn’t to be a zealot; it was to be helpful. I was open and ready for that information and assumed everyone else was, too.

I was wrong.

Over time, I’ve ebbed and flowed with health. It’s prominence rises and falls. Over the course of the last year or so, it’s fallen. I’ve had beef (I thought it was veal), I’ve had pork (I knew it was pork), and I’ve consumed lots and lots of sugar. As of late, however, my attention to health has been on the rise.

It’s not even necessarily what’s present in my diet, so much as what’s been missing: easily digestible, nutrient rich plant-based foods.

Preventative health, mostly based around diet, used to be such a large focus in my life, and over time has dwindled away. But I miss it. I believe in it. I want it back.

That said, last week, I decided to detox by eating raw foods for two weeks. At first, I was super nervous, even tentative about lasting the entire time. By the time the first day arrived, I was mentally prepared and fully committed. On the second day, I realized it was my one year anniversary of moving to New York (sentimental, I know) and decided to, on day three, treat myself to a dinner at the raw restaurant near my house.

Best decision ever. I’m so about to eat lots of raw foods. Not just for the next two weeks, but period. I’m interested in optimal health.

I saw the Forks Over Knives trailer posted above and thought you’d be interested in knowing that optimal health is at the end of your fork.

If health and food politics are of interest to you, you may also like:

karma is real.

May 12, 2011 | Filed Under Consider this, Moment of Truth, Random, Thoughts | Leave a Comment

The wave of your karmic energy can lift you up or crash down on you.

You ever had one of those days that picks you up and throws you into the sky, where the joy and magic you find keeps you high, suspended? Yesterday was such a day for me. All day, nothing but love and what some would perceive as luck. It was just what I needed when I needed it.

This is a magical and wondrous world. All based on energy.

What you put out comes back to you. Align yourself with love.

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