Love Love Love

Oh just something to happy up your Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning!




Via Yes & Yes

kaleidoscope experience

For some people, it's an a-ha moment, but for me, I think of them as kaleidoscope experiences...something shifts and when the shift happens, there's a beautiful burst of color.  I love when this happens in my own life, but I also love seeing it in others....

I remember distinctly remember the first time I heard Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours".  At that time, I was not much of a fan, and I remember friends pulling a "Sam" (Natalie Portman's character in Garden State), exclaiming how great the song was.  As the song played, it was upbeat and sweet, but the line, "It's our God-forsaken right to be loved" just did not sit right with me...It felt really negative.  I liked the song, but it wasn't my favorite.  

Fast-forward to a few weeks ago.  At the Cafe Gratitude opening, Jason played "I'm Yours".  This time, it really struck me.  Instead of the line, "It's our God-forsaken right to be loved"to "It's our God-intended right to be Love".  BINGO!  Needless to say, I now LOVE the song!  What struck me is not only that there is no longer negativity associated with the word "God", but how the song shifted from being a "consumer" of love to giving love... I've wondered what has happened in his world, what kaleidoscope experiences has he had to make that shift?  Maybe that shift is not really as big as I'm making it out to be.

It's just something that I've been seeing lately...despite all the bad that's in the world, I really feel like there is a lot of good right now too.  Maybe it's just that, that is where my focus is on... I hear about terrible tragedies every day, but I also hear about inspiring people who are working to make a difference or who are living their lives in peace and striving to live out their "God-intended right to be Love" in their everyday lives.  And that's where it's at...

Lately

weheartit.com

I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.
-Agatha Christie


via 7upKels


This quote seemed most appropriate these last few days. 


 Self-doubt slowly snuck in and decided to stay awhile.  I am at an incredible place where I can create my world and my life, but sometimes it can be scary and overwhelming....lately I've been asking a lot of questions...who am I? who do I want to be? where do I want to go? How do I get there?? where do i live?? 


These growing pains are inevitable, but I know that at the heart of it, I am happy to be alive.


In this moment, I am thankful for friends and rich conversation.  Conversation that reminds me:

yesandyes.org

This is AWESOME

I loved this and I think you all should too.






Thank you to the teachers who have inspired me.


via Yum & Yuk

The Vegan Diaries

For the past few months, without even realizing it, my diet has become more & more "vegan".  About 3 weeks ago, I started consciously thinking about making the switch.  Everywhere I turned for information only affirmed my decision.  I'm not a "crazy PETA person", but the more I read about farming, not only did it make me sad, but also sickened me that, that was what I was putting into my body.  Dairy/Meat farming is NOT a sustainable way of living...According to Bittman (read on), the meat industry emits more greenhouse gases per year than transportation!

I was a little apprehensive about getting proper nutrition, and being a newbie, I emailed my favorite blogger, Sarah Von, from Yes and Yes!, for help.  (She does this awesome monthly hook-up, where you can ask for help and her awesome readers respond)  And I was inspired by all the information and resources they sent me.

Another blog, Yum & Yuk, is always posting tidbits from Mark Bittman about food.  And lucky for me, as I was perusing the bookshelves at the library yesterday, I came across his book, Food Matters.  I quickly devoured it (pun definitely intended). I also recommend it to anyone & everyone who is health conscious in the least...actually even if they aren't (Everyone READ it!).  He doesn't advocate for veganism, but a diet with less meat, dairy products, & processed foods, a completely realistic view of food for everyone.  Pick it up! It will be good for you!

So needless to say, I'm vegan...*for the most part.  I've cut out dairy & meat products for about the past 2 weeks, and I can't even begin to tell you how good I feel.  I have tons of energy and my face is even clearer!  I'm having a blast preparing new recipes and getting creative in the kitchen.  So be ready for more "Vegan Diaries".  I will be posting my favorite recipes & creations!  Also, if any of you have any tips or recipes to share, I will GLADLY accept them!



*What I mean by "for the most part" is that 90% or more of my meals are going to be solely made up of plants.  This leaves 2 meals a week that I can "relax" a bit, for which I will save for eating out.  When eating out, it's impossible to control what I'm putting into my body.  Even if I think I'm ordering vegan, I won't really truly know. I won't always take these 2 "free passes", but this way I won't feel like I'm "cheating" either.

P.S. I should also give a shoutout to Cafe Gratitude.  I sealed the deal after eating their insanely delicious  "I Am Adored".  Vegan food CAN be delicious!

Hurray!

I am finished with Winter Quarter 2011!! They say this is/was the toughest quarter in my program and now I'm on the other side! Aaaaaaaalright!

I'm also super proud of myself today because I did something new and completely intimidating.  I'm constantly raving about yoga, but I have actually never been to a "real" class.  (I watch/do live streaming classes from yogisanonymous.com) Lately, I've realized I need/want to take my practice to the next level, and to do that, I'm going to need a live teacher.  I've been meaning to check out a studio in my area, but I needed that extra motivation.  On Saturday I decided this was the week and tonight was the night!

Not only was the studio new, but so was the class for me - yin yoga, a slow, deep stretch.  I learned tonight that I practice a lot of yang yoga, and in order to go deeper within my practice I need yin too.  How perfect! The whole reason I wanted to check out the studio in the first place and this just happened to be the class that fit easiest into my schedule!

I enjoyed the class, very playful.  I felt super good on my mat!  The space was also inviting and inspiring.  They have a lobby area downstairs with quotes painted on the walls and the studio upstairs is painted with calming, neutral colors & has neat light fixtures.

So I guess from now on, on Tuesday nights, you know where to find me!  I'm going back to the studio on Friday for a vinyasa class, and I'm looking to sign up for monthly unlimited, so excited!

Inspiring Night

I am so excited that there is a Cafe Gratitude in my neck of the woods now!  This place is incredible.  Once you walk in the doors, all you feel is positive energy, not to mention the oh-so-tasty raw, vegan bites!  Little over a week ago, I was fortunate to have been at the opening party. The only words to describe the night are Pure Joy.  Joyful music, Joyful dancing, and Joyful conversations. It was magical.  The experience just resonated so deeply within me, my heart felt like it was going to leap out of me.  Even now, as I reminisce, I feel the energy ricocheting inside of me!  Beautiful, beautiful night!

When we got there, Jason Mraz was playing a set and the beautiful and talented Makepeace Brothers followed.  After the music, I got to meet Tristan Prettyman.  Tristan's music has been the soundtrack of my life for the past 6 years and I was jumping out of my skin excited to meet her! In fact, I was practically speechless, but she was kind enough to carry the conversation for me!

Tristan & I

Aidan Makepeace & I.  I'm pretty sure this picture is the definition of "smitten"

It's All Happening

The past few weeks have been truly surreal.  If anyone has read The Alchemist, that's truly how I am feeling these days...The universe seems to be working in my favor in unexpected ways.  How it all will come together, I'm not entirely sure, but this has been such a great ride so far.


About 2 months ago, I received a scholarship to go to the Trauma Resiliency Model training which happened 2 weeks ago.  When I accepted the scholarship, I was unaware that the training was mainly for practicing clinicians in the realm of psychology.  (Which I am NOT) But the weekend proved to be exceptional, and I believe that in a few years, I will consider it life-altering.  The model is so beautiful in that even a nonclinician (such as myself) can learn it, teach it to others, and carry it out.  It's based on the physiology of our nervous systems.  During every day life, we experience sympathetic charges & parasympathetic "depressions" which occur within a resilient zone...It's like the ebb and flow of life - we go up and we go down within that resilient zone and we are able to function.  But when trauma happens, our nervous systems can get stuck on that sympathetic charge or parasympathetic depression which causes our nervous systems to leave that resilient zone.  Which is why we see those symptoms of PTSD.  The symptoms really are our natural ways of responding to the trauma.  So, in order to "fix the problem", the nervous system needs to be reset.  The model teaches how to reset it (actually concrete tools)...truly fascinating work.  It was very neat to be a part of and to learn.

To be continued...

a little lullaby

Put your hands to my hands

Put your knees to my knees

Put your eyes to my eyes

Come on baby compliment me

Cause I don’t think that we

Should ever feel the need to worry

Ever get ourselves in a hurry

You know I love you

I know you love me

So time will go

And we may be

Far apart I know

But as far as I can see

This is so good

There’s no need for change

It’s alright with me

It’s as simple as it should be

Simple as it should be

And this love will build 

Through flights and streets

In the end I predict

You’ll get the very best of me

So put your lips to my lips

Why not go on and take all of it

And just run as fast as you can

Just cause you can

Cause time will go

And we may be

Far apart I know

But as far as I can see

This is so good

There’s no need for change

It’s alright with me

It’s as simple as it should be

Simple as it should be

I am almost  (past) 23

Confused with all the lines in between

They are dying to be read

Softly spoken simply said

Tell me do you believe

In the girl that is me

With her feet to your feet

Well that’s all that I need

Cause time will go

And we may be

Far apart I know

But as far as I can see

This is so good

There’s no need for change

It’s alright with me

It’s as simple as it should be

Simple as it should be

I may not be in love, but this song is as good for my soul as a deep breath...

Sometimes all I need is a reminder that everything is as simple as it should be.

Love God. Love Others.

I have been quiet for far too long!  In the past two weeks, so much has made an impression on me that I don't even know where to begin...I've always heard the beginning is a good place...maybe that's where I'll start.

For the past few months, I've been struggling with how open I am about my faith.  Not because I don't love God (I do, incredibly much so), but because I don't want to be put in the Christian box, or the Seventh-Day Adventist box to be exact.  I find that when I tell others that I'm the assistant children's pastor at my church, I automatically get put into their box of what that looks like, or how I should be/am...I find myself wanting to scream at the top of my lungs - I'm normal! So, to not be put into a box, I've just skirted around the fact that I'm a "pastor".  But within the past month, it has come into my full attention.  A few weeks ago Shortie posted similar sentiments on Yum and Yuk.  I commented on the post sharing my experiences and she replied with the idea that maybe what we are supposed to do is let God use us to open up that box a little more.  

And then I had this experience:

About two weeks ago, I was meeting a friend for coffee (well, tea for me) and arrived fairly early.  There was an older gentleman in front of me ordering and taking his time.  When he was finished telling the barista his order, he turned to ask me what I would like.  I graciously thanked him and said not to worry, I was in no rush.  He then told me that he wasn't worried at all, he has been buying the drinks of the person behind him for the past 5 years.  After I had ordered and he paid, I asked him - How come?!? And his reply was, "I've got a good life, kid, and this is my way of sharing that with others.  I'm one of God's favorite screw-ups and I'm so blessed, this is just one way I can be a blessing to others."

Wow.  Talk about powerful.  Not only was I blessed that day, but my experience with him spoke to me on a much deeper level.  This man was so sincere and loving.  God used him to remind me of my own mantra - Love God, Love Others.  God showed me how it's done...through sincerity and love...He does the rest.  He reminded me He doesn't have a box, so not to worry about those who do...who knows, maybe we could do something really cool together and expand their box..maybe even burst it open.