let us see

Usually I begin a post with an intention in mind. I have something I want to write about, something specific to put out there to the world. Well right now I don't. But I must write. The events of this evening have caused mixed feelings in me and I need some form of catharsis and for me writing usually does the trick. So let's see what comes out!! Ok.... Life is crazy. There are all kinds of curve balls thrown at us. When things get really really rough, and you have a particularly challenging day, it can be hard to keep your head in the right place. The right place is a place of peace, productivity and positivity. Of gratitude and mindfulness. But listen, we're not aliens. We're human. It's impossible to be all of those things all of the time. In fact, it would probably be very boring. Mom calls those kinds of curveball days "test days"... days in which the universe is giving you as much as you can handle... and if you can get through that you can get through anything, and you will come out a stronger and wiser person for it. I was talking to a friend the other day, who was complaining about having to deal with annoying situations, and I had a realization about it. The next time you have to deal with annoying situations, take a look at how annoying the situation really is. I had to deal with a plethora of car problems recently and there was a moment when I almost got very angry and wanted to shoot my hands up to the sky and scream, "Why??!?" BUT then I had an afterthought and refrained. I thought, "No. This does not serve anything." Being angry is not productive. It merely draws more negative energy to you. Instead I tried to take a note from the spiritual sage, Dr. Wayne Dyer, who said "if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." My mother also reminded me of this when I began to cry on the phone with her when I got that icing on the cake in the form of a flat tire (my anger usually manifests in tears)... She reminded me that I was not hurt. Boom. That's it. These seemingly annoying situations we have to deal with are nothing next to big tragedy. These annoying situations are merely roadbumps making us stronger and stronger along the way, and reminding us to be grateful for what we have. And these seemingly irritating car problems help provide balance in life. When we start to complain about a 'problem' let us remember that we also have so so so many great things in our lives. Perhaps in order to receive some of the wonderful things we also have to receive some not as wonderful things. And I am beginning to see that when there is a storm, sometimes the best darn sunshine you've ever witnessed is right after those clouds clear away. May you live today with gratitude and love and show the people in your life that they are important to you.

Inauguration of Higher Consciousness

LOOK WHERE THE HUMAN WILL CAN TAKE US. The fact that Obama’s father could not be served at certain restaurants because of his color and that he today can push forward to break boundaries and become the 44th President of the united states says so much about the ever-expanding human spirit. Perhaps the time when violence or intolerance happens is when the human spirit is suppressed… and not permitted to breathe and follow and attain it’s search for a proper purpose… I believe that Obama said it beautifully… "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect"... This phrase alone shows the progress that one leader can make for his country. This statement shows a willingness to communicate... as opposed to "staying the course" out of stubborness, as our last leader suggested... Now Obama must pick up the pieces and dust off the debris from the past eight years, as he told us today. This morning the BBC news stated that Barack Obama has said a lot of great things, but now he has to do a lot of great things…. Well, I can only imagine the debriefing Obama has had since becoming the president elect a few months ago… One of the reasons our government can function in foreign policy is because of it's ability to find and keep top secret information private... Thus, I have no doubt that Obama was shocked to learn the severity of our current crises within the world at large. While in the past weeks, it is said that Obama may be backing down on certain issues regarding these current state of affairs, I do not believe his intentions have changed. For, while relations with foreign countries may be messier than once perceived, I can walk forward knowing that I now have an intelligent president who will act accordingly. I think that's where people do not give enough credit... Now that Barack Obama is our president he is our leader... he gets to show us the way, and because we have elected him as our leader we must take responsibility for our own decision and make a conscious effort to trust in his manners of dealing with our country's issues. But after listening to Obama's speech today, the subtle concern vanishes. Our leader has confidence in his eyes... not fear. He is intelligent, strong and I feel like I can trust him. That said, he is human. But one thing that today demonstrates beautifully, as the BBC so greatly pointed out, is two themes—that the promise of liberty is finally being fulfilled and the remaking of this country... This inauguration was the most widely watched yet-- both in person and in the media, including live broadcasts on the internet. Facebook had a live stream with a comment column... it's incredible. This leader is inspiring my generation to follow our dreams and to make positive choices in the direction of a universal tolerance... And not only are there over 10 inaugural balls in D.C. right now, but also off beat celebrations conducted by everyday citizens nationwide. Yoga Journal announced that a ball would be held by some of the world's most renowned yoga teachers in an effort to celebrate Obama's inauguration in conjunction with a movement toward higher consciousness and spirituality... It is all so positive!!! No grunts and moans, but cheers, claps and tears of joy... And while we cannot predict the future of what is to come... and while we do not have an island that can transport through time and space when we feel threatened by 'the others'... we do have for the first time in a long time, a mostly united nation and an intelligent, inspiring president... And because we do not know what choices he will make or what choices other world leaders or groups will make... all we can do is live by our president's example and use the human will to its full capacity and take on our dreams in order to yield an adventurous journey and a more loving and tolerant reality... So we cannot worry about anything today... it serves no purpose... but we can relish in the fact that our nation and our youth has finally come together and celebrate this present moment in history. Obama has given us the present of the present... And living in the present and feeling it for what it is-- hopefully joyous-- is the first step in a universal higher consciousness.

Food for Thought, Mood and Life

"On one hand study cooking, study yourself, study what is happiness, what is joy, what is it you really want in your life?”
--from 'Cooking Your Life'

I work at a doctor's office and I watch people take a pill for everything... a pill to go to sleep, a pill to wake up... a pill to kill the pain... a pill to make the feeling come back... It's only a matter of time before there's a pill for what we eat-- oh wait, there is... vitamins. Well, vitamins are not our problem, so long as we still have food. And I'm not knocking doctors either. I am, however, making a big statement about food, and that is that as a nation, we forgot how to eat... And that if we change what we eat, we may be able to prevent the onset of certain diseases. Healthy food is something very important to me. I think that everyone has a right to know about it. Currently we are neglecting to attend properly to what we put into our bodies. Now, most of us are human... we are not saints. We cannot always control what we put into our bodies, and even when we can, sometimes we simply do not want to! Hey, beer, wine-- they go quite nicely with a little dinner party or a night out with friends... and they sure can take a little of the edge off in this crazy world... I myself am a big fan, but I don't consume as much as I used to because it simply is not good for us. But even with alcohol, it's better to choose the organic, biodynamic, less processed and more pure forms. But for goodness sake, cut out the toxins that don't even give you a buzz: fast food, high fructose corn syrup, white sugar, artificial sweeteners, refined flour... and all the other crap that's deceptively labelled as healthy at our local grocery stores... Most people who have access to this blog are fortunate enough to already have access to health education. However, even my well educated and respected peers are not completely aware of the truth behind what we eat. (If they read Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food" they will be much more enlightened..) And with obesity and degenerative diseases growing rapidly, I have made it my duty to pass on the truth about food. It's not about fad diets, or plans that force you to count calories while enabling you to consume massive quantities of aspertame and red meat... It is instead, about living your life in a mindful way. And when we eat by way of mindfulness, in tune with the seasons, the earth and our bodies, we live better... in fact, two of the oldest systems of healing, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, emphasize the significance of proper food for the body. And it really does start with minimalizing animal products... even for the sole reason of upping your produce intake and decreasing your intake of saturated fat (which comes from animals), in order to help stave off degenerative disease. Studies show that vegetarians have a lower risk of cancer; that said, a person can be vegetarian and still eat a diet of empty, processed carbohydrates-- and that's not good. The solution to well being begins with eating less acid-forming foods, and boosting alkalinity in the body. This can be accomplished by eating more plants, salads and vegetables of every kind. Just start including greens at every meal. Do not trust any diet that says to lower this... it is common sense! Yes, vegetables and fruits have carbohydrates, but they are the good kind! The food that grows out of the earth is for us to eat... so that is what we should be eating. You want to feel alive, not groggy right? Well then use your sense... if you put a twinky in the ground, does it grow a tree? If you put a seed in the ground, does it produce life? You know what to do... the problem is that it is not easy to change. You literally have to break free of old patterns and rewire your brain. We are accustomed to instant gratification in every aspect of our lives and thus I know that it is daunting for many to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to live in a healthy way. But our ancestors were not so gratified; they had to gather and hunt. If you make eating more of an event, a ritual, something for which to be patient and to be grateful... you will find yourself feeling better and losing weight. You will find that your thoughts are more clear and your mood is better. You will have more energy, and you will be in control of your health. And because it takes a little research, learning and shifting of old habits, I am here to help because I can and because I enjoy it. I am embarking on a journey to expose to the world the truth about health and help people get back on track. Right now, I am assembling all the little details and specifics, but this is leak into my thought process and a sneak peak at my adventures to come...

To Cry, Perchance to Love

Ever wonder where crying comes from? Do you ever feel like crying out of nowhere, perhaps because life has moved you to such a point, perhaps without viable explanation? Sometimes it's from pain, sometimes beauty... sometimes it's because you see life before you, moving swiftly along, and you want a giant delicious piece of it... but in order to get in that flowing river, you must take a bold and terrifying jump... Right now I feel like bawling, and I don't know why... Sure, I could dig around and several reasons may surface... the seemingly obvious ones being the recent deaths of my aunt and my beloved cat... but that's not why I feel like crying right now... those were yesterday's tears. Today i'm not sad, but i feel like crying out of my yearning I think... I am longing for more... It is not a feeling of being stagnant; in fact, quite the contrary... it is a more a feeling of knowing that I am moving in a positive direction and knowing that in order to embark on that journey, that I must leave behind some things of old. I am at a place of re-evaluating the priorities of my life... and while thinking about them and beginning to take new action is a start, I must do more. I just want to meditate and see what becomes of the night. I want to cry and see what becomes of myself afterward. So... why do we cry? There is an evolutionary purpose, I suspect. But what is it? The fourth definition of cry according to one of the many online dictionaries available to us is "to demand or require immediate action or remedy." This is my favorite, and in my opinion, the most accurate definition for crying... We cry to let others know that something important, potentially life changing is happening... either we are in some great deal of physical pain or danger and we need others to rush to our rescue... or our hearts are broken and we have great sorrow-- and still need others to rush to our rescue and offer up emotional support... or because we are so happy we cannot contain it and we must let others know that such a happiness is indeed possible, and a birthright to all... or lastly, because we are moved by something intangible and eternal... something that shakes us and touches us so much that we need to be able to communicate it to mankind, but words will not suffice. In theatre school, we cried all the time.. to the outside world, it may have looked like an insane asylum.. and yet most of society shuns crying: I know many people who hold their tears very well. I, personally, do not think it's a bad thing to cry. I think it is amazing to watch someone cry because when someone is crying he/ she is completely raw and human. Maybe that's why I can sit through depressing movies... I think the human condition is fascinating and every tragedy carries with it something beautiful... whether it's the way a body is neatly wrapped and cared for, or how a family comes together or how it causes someone to completely re-examine the profundity of what it is to be alive.... Perhaps crying is a form of prayer. Who knows... But I think crying, in it's motion of reaching out, is ultimately an expression of love. We cry because we love. Sometimes it is because we love something that is not near us and we cannot get it close enough. Or because we are afraid of something we love being taken away from us, be it a person or life. And when we cry out of happiness, we are in la state of love. Transcend the pretty and love. Transcend the petty and live. And cry along the way if you want/ need to... because, let's be honest... it's part of being human... and it's pretty cool being human, so let us relish in it.

December's Lesson

There is nothing, I think, that brings me so much joy as touching something or someone I love! I sit here with my kitty who is old and I know she will not be around forever and so I indulge childishly in this present moment of being with her little 3 pound body of loveliness. It is so important for us to spend time with those we love. That is December's lesson to me. We never know how long we have our how long our loved ones have and thus I believe we must relish each moment. I just heard somewhere recently (and right now I cannot seem to recall just where) that the present is called the present because it is a gift to us. And some other great thinkers have commented on their belief that worrying about the future or replaying negative memories from the past is a useless and unproductive activity... It is true that if you stop thinking too much about negative frivolities and stop feeling sorry for yourself and instead switch your focus to the present moment, you may actually be positively surprised. Because after all... most of those little worries and thoughts do not exist... Or at least they didn't, until you started giving importance and power to them. I think we ought to enjoy the present and focus on it as much as possible. I mean, the present is kind of nice, don't you think? If you really stop thinking about it and go outside and breathe and look out at everything before you. And while every single person on the planet may not be able to sit safely and relish the moment and be with people they love, that is more the reason for you and me to... I lost my aunt this month and I'm losing my cat I've had for nearly 20 years of my life. She is my wingman and most of my hours on this earth have been blessed and made easier/ more pleasant with her walking by my side. To be honest, I think losing my aunt has helped prepare me (if there is such a thing?) for what I'm going through with my cat. Not because one is more important than the other, but because once you lose one person close to you, heartbreak is already sitting within and you know that it's not going to be easy... but I suppose if it's going to happen, it's going to happen and you just have to accept it and take what you can from it. Loss is not an easy thing to go through at all. But if there is one thing positive to take from loss of loved ones, it is that we must live our lives fully and well and really make that effort to be around the people we love who make us happy. "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got til it's gone"... Don't let that lyric ring true for you. Okaaaay? ....Peace and holiday joy to all, this beautiful season.

JoAnne Gallagher 1953-2008

In Loving memory, I dedicate this post to you, my beautiful and loving aunt. May you rest in peace and may your spirit soar peacefully. You have taught me how to love and how to live. I aspire to be as dedicated, giving and honest a person as you were to every single person that stepped foot into your life. Here is my promise to dedicate my life to living fully and loving well... doing the things that make me happy and 'getting over' the petty pitfalls of life... and getting back up again when I fall and walking forth with honor and humble pride in knowing that I am walking with integrity... I commit to a life long journey of always striving to be the best that i can be... and I relish in my quest for the union of body, mind and spirit. You have lead by example and I want to follow in your footsteps. I hope that I can touch others as you have and brighten the world with my spirit... as you have. Yesterday, I felt the emptiness of the earth without your footprints on it's sand... an unavoidable hollowness as the reality of your absence finally sunk in... and today I am remembering that some of the most beautiful things in life are the things we cannot see... Like love, I cannot see you but your energy will be forever and ever everywhere around me and this beautiful place we call Earth. You are forever in my heart and you have left some of the most wonderful gifts behind for the rest of us: your children, who are going to take the world by storm and shake it from sphere to sphere with positivity, love and productivy as we move forward into a new age. Here's to you, as you guide us all towards a higher standard for ourselves... set forth by the one and only you. God bless and thank you for all of the magic you have given my soul and my heart. I will always miss you.

Forever and ever with love,
Your Neice

Big Gratitude

I write a tad early because tomorrow I will be spending it with peeps I love and not typing!

I think sometimes we forget about that first Thanksgiving. A lot of people died that winter. And it was the beginning of our steps towards democracy... towards our America as we know it. Now I myself am to blame for this, but we often complain about our leaders and our problems with this country... we declare that we will buy a chateux in France and go be free and read and raise sheep (perhaps that's only my extreme idealistic daydream)... And we forget that in France taxes are indeed higher than they are here. So while we rant about rights and unfair this and how dare that president use the word "folks"-- I mock too, friends-- let's put that aside for today... all I'm asking for is one day... of pure gratitude for what the people who walked before us achieved for this country and let us be so grateful that we can for the most part not be afraid to walk down the street everyday. If you are reading this blog you are so fortunate to have a computer and be able to read this posting that I am writing and to write and publish your own ideas-- for free!-- and not get punished with violence for doing so! So today, you will get many reminders to be grateful for your loved ones... to be grateful that you still have your home after all the crazy fires... and all of that is fantastic! Yes, be grateful for those things too!! But what most people I think may forget, as the holidays round the corner and turkey becomes synonymous with Aunt Bertha's strange green dressing and Uncle Mervin's smelly hugs... what we forget is how amazing this country is to all of us most of the time. When we have a lot of great things it is easy to pick apart the annoying stuff. But seriously, guys. We are so darn lucky we don't even realize it. Google images of a third world country if you need some motivation for gratitude but today I am saying, "thank you, to those who took that first step in crossing the seemingly-infinite waters to get here and thank you pilgrims and indians for choosing to celebrate life and be friends together (at least the ones in Plymouth) and thank you founding fathers... thank all of you who have contributed in letting me be typing with freedom on this keyboard today."