What is it? In a word, awesome. In a few, The BMW Guggenheim Lab is a mobile laboratory traveling to nine major cities worldwide over six years. Led by international, interdisciplinary teams of emerging talents in the areas of urbanism, architecture, art, design, science, technology, education, and sustainability, the Lab addresses issues of contemporary urban life through programs and public discourse. Its goal is the exploration of new ideas, experimentation, and ultimately the creation of forward-thinking solutions for city life.

It’s a pretty awesome idea and all the events they feature are free, prohibiting no socioeconomic group from attendance. Fun and free is always fantastic. It ends on October 16th, so head over while you can, before it travels to Berlin and Mumbai. In 2013, there will be an exhibition at the Guggenheim before completing two more 3-city cycles.

this is the importance of practice.
discipline.
flexibility.
strength.

Apparently this is the Fraggle Rock Crew from Seattle.

For now, I’ll just say that the last few days in the beautiful and wondrous Barcelona have reminded me of all the magic in this world; the magic that has been and the magic that will be. Imagine walking down a street, knowing so little of the language that at every block you have to once again ask for directions just to make sure you’re heading the right way. That’s been my reality. Even with its moments of trepidation, I can attest to the gloriousness of it all.

When it all falls apart, or when it never fully connected in the first place, “you figure it out,” as someone told me I would prior to my departure. I figured it out. It all came together.

#notetoself: go with the flow. have some faith. use your intuition.

Someone highly recommended I watch this TED Talk on vulnerability after reading yesterday’s #notetoself:

The journey ahead won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. This, I know.

Visit BreneBrown.com to learn more about Brene’s work on the importance of vulnerability and authenticity.

We’re all looking for pure bliss and resounding ecstasy. We want to drop our worries and feel alive, feel connected to the magic of this world. All too often, though, this desire results in the abuse of alcohol, drugs and other legal or illegal substances. In using or abusing these substances, the user often does more harm than good.

But alcohol and drugs are completely unnecessary and actually quite costly to both your body and your wallet. There’s another way.

It’s natural. It’s safe. It’s free. It’s legal and always available to you.

I’m talking about natural highs.

I started to have them at the end of November and began testing different variables to induce and sustain them. Some days, my singular goal was to have a natural high. And you know what? I succeeded. Here’s what you need to know so you can, too.

It’s a state of consciousness.
That said, know that there’s some internal work you have to do–mentally and emotionally. You have to be prepared to do the work and you have to know that the end result–euphoric and glowing bliss, expanded creativity, increased energy–is possible.

Lowered mental or emotional states blow highs.
When I succeeded in attaining a natural high, if my mental or emotional state changed to a lower frequency energy, the intensity of the high would decrease or I’d lose it altogether. Emotional mastery is a lifelong quest, but the more you practice it, the better you get. You have to learn to determine your mood and protect it from external offenders (circumstances, other people) as well as internal offenders (reactionary thoughts or feelings).

Release negativity, embrace positivity.
Indulging in negative thoughts and feelings is counterproductive. Extend empathy and practice both forgiveness and gratitude.

Forgiveness Practice
My forgiveness practice is simple. Get comfortable, close your eyes, and envision someone you’re holding resentment towards. Imagine that person being all alone and dealing with the weight of their stuff.  Everyone’s got something: some pain, some insecurity, some regret. Envision that person when they’re by themselves, with no mask on, facing their issues.  Think about your own pain, insecurity and regret and identify with them. Allow the spirit in you to see the spirit in them.

Then, imagine a white light surrounding you and a pink light glowing from your heart. Remind yourself of your infinite capacity to love and forgive, then recall those feelings of empathy for the person you resent. Imagine that pink light extending from your heart to theirs while continuing to remind yourself of your infinite capacity to love and forgive. I usually see myself embracing this person in a really tender moment, filled with empathy and love. I understand that they’re not perfect, that they’re not always who they want to be, and that they’re dealing with their own issues regardless of the persona they put forth. Hold this image in your head for as long as it takes for those feelings of empathy, forgiveness, and love to truly emerge.

Will you walk away having completely forgiven the person? Maybe. Maybe not. It’s highly contingent upon the circumstances of the situation, how deep your pain is, how empathic you are, etc. But will this exercise soften your heart a bit? You bet.

Gratitude Practice
I use the gratitude practice I learned from Michele Wahlder’s Alphatudes, which utilizes the ABCs to create a gratitude list. The list can be as elementary or complex as you’d like; it’s your practice. If you’re grateful for apples, or botanical gardens or your charisma, it’s your world. Really. I often challenge myself by choosing a theme. I list what I’m grateful for about myself, or others, or about my job. Even if I use the same theme, I’ll usually make myself choose different things to appreciate. By the time you get to ‘z’, you’re sure to be buzzing with excitement and appreciation.

Relax.
Keep your cool. I can be prone to anxiety and quit to react, but if I want to get or keep a natural high, I have to chill out, be more accepting, forgiving, and patient. If someone does something annoying, I let it go. Whatever man, it’s cool. Because, really, does it matter?

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Find –and deliver– the good.
Look for and embrace the positive and the beauty in yourself, in others, and in the world. What you focus on truly does expand, so set your sights on something more expansive: the good! Anticipate it being returned to you. Be the bearer of it to others. Though they may engage in negativity, show them the upside, or at least make sure you’re aware of it so you don’t succumb to their emotional state. However, sharing your good mood really is a blessing from you to others, regardless of how (or if) they take it.

Finding the good is a process of creating meaning. Find the lessons in the bigger picture. Sure, you’ve made mistakes. Sure, things aren’t “perfect”. But what positives can you take away from those situations? There’s always something. If you have to reach, reach, but create meaning that you can honestly connect to. It truly is your world. Do what makes you feel good.

Be present.
Be here now. Live in the moment. Be excited and thankful for the moment and all it has to offer you. Believe it’s for your highest good, no matter how challenging or painful things may be.

Have faith.
The magic truly is in the making. I never wanted to sound like some new age hippie talking about mystical, intangible concepts like energy and karma.  But I suppose I am. I believe in the magnetism of all energy and that like does attract like. I believe that the energy you emit is the energy you receive so I try to remain conscious of the energy I’m emitting.  Things happen by matter of faith for everyone, but are you giving your faith to your greatest hopes or your greatest fears? Go for the hopes. And be excited.

Natural highs are possible, but they do require some work. However, I never regretted any of the emotional or mental adjustments I had to make regardless of whether they resulted in attaining or maintaining a feeling of euphoria or not. So positive, free, and progressive. Sounds like a combination worth embracing.

Good luck! Please share your experiences.

UPDATE: Someone recently introduced me to a book called Get High Now (without drugs) by James Nestor. For more information, go to www.gethighnow.com.

If you read and you agree, I’d appreciate your vote for me here.

Either way, I’m excited and grateful and, as always, thank you for reading.

Video source: jeanjeansl

Sonnymoon – “Gills or Wings”

Sonnymoon – “Soft Shoulders”

Sonnymoon – “Run Away”

Video animation by Lauren Santorio

Source: Typcut

YES! Magazine is an ad-free, nonprofit publication that publishes all of its articles under the Creative Commons license to encourage reprinting and reposting .  YES! focuses on supporting the active engagement in building a just and sustainable world.  It’s pretty awesome.

“We’re just trying to celebrate the sensibility of moving things forwards,” Ben Goldhirsh says of his brand, GOOD. According to the site, “GOOD is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward. Since 2006 we’ve been making a magazine, videos, and events for people who give a damn.” Influenced by Radiohead’s innovative sales move for their In Rainbows album, GOOD allows readers to name their price and donates all subscription fees to charities, specifically chosen by subscribers.

With the tagline, “for intelligent optimists,” it’s no wonder that Ode Magazine is about positive news and the people and ideas that are improving the world. Ode started as a Dutch publication and after nine years, the founders moved to San Francisco to launch the English version of the magazine. It features articles from all over the world and is quite a delightful read. Even if you’re a recovering cynic, Ode will move you closer to optimism.

Embrace is an infant incubator designed to save premature and low birth weight babies. Every year, 20 million infants around the world die because their families cannot geographically or financially access traditional incubators that cost up to $20,000.  To find out more about Embrace and how you can help, visit EmbraceGlobal.org.

Tonight is a special night for me as We Think Radio premiered at 11/10 pm EST/CST. I co-hosted with best selling author j. saKiya Sandifer.  Naturally, it was thought-provoking, engaging, and entertaining.  The purpose was simple: to spark those seeking to create a positive change in their lives.

We discussed special needs children, valid reasons for having children, the selfishness/selflessness of creativity, and justifiable “domestic violence.”

In case you missed it, hear it now:

Pay it forward with Time Banking, an egalitarian concept where communities offer services to each other in exchange for time dollars, not real dollars. For instance, I build you a basic website, which takes me 6 hours. In exchange, I’m able to use that 6 hour credit in exchange for services some else offers. Perhaps, I need someone to babysit my brother for 3 hours, take me to grocery store for 1 hour, and landscape the front yard for 2 hours.

Time banks draw on a community’s resources by  listing the services every member can offer.  When in need of something, members log-in to the Time Bank’s website to find someone offering those services.  It’s an incredibly easy system that can reduce financial limitations and is inclusive to all members of society that have something to offer.

Given the economic climate, I’m curious to see if we’ll see an increase in Time Banks and other forms of alternative currencies.

To learn more about Time Banking, go to TimeBanks.org.  Below are a few articles recently written about them.

Detroit Free Press – Time banks pay off for community
San Francisco Chronicle – Sweat Equity:In this East Oakland community, time really is money
The Jerusalem Press – There’s no time to lose

Last night, I was speed walking on an incline on the treadmill when this girl on the machine next to me starts talking on the phone…for about 20 minutes. Okay people, the gym is for those who want to work out. If you’re on the phone, you’re not working out and maybe you shouldn’t be there. If it’s important enough to take the call, it should be important enough for you to find a private place to talk. If it’s not important enough to find a private place to talk, it’s not important that you take the call.

Don’t subject strangers to hearing about your life unless they ask; we really don’t care and you’re being rude.

In response to what he calls a “worldwide epidemic of bad manners,” Randy Hill created Use Your Inside Voice solely to address the ill-mannered. Look through it and spread the word.