charged and ready

in the past few weeks, i've been learning a lot. as i wrote in my last post, for the next five months, i will not be working. i feel super fortunate and grateful and i'm thanking my lucky ducks that the universe allowed me this open time for self and world exploration. so, i'm taking the rest of my time in northampton to devote myself to things i haven't done before, delve into creation, and take a deeper look inside myself by practicing and learning about lots of yoga and the funky ways in which my body moves.

i've been reading lots of national geographic magazines. one of my bestest buddies inherited a whole big stack of nat geo's via craigslist, and we've been mind stretching and crafting ever since. i had never really been introduced to the magazine so thoroughly, but i think i can safely say i have fallen in love. i get lost reading about people and cultures, nature nature nature, the deep ocean. quite an artform.

i've been doing yoga. on my own, in the morning or at night (my favorite lately). in classes, with an excellent iyengar teacher in northampton, eileen muir at karuna yoga, and in easthampton, too with josh schumer at mama nirvana. one of the things i love most about yoga in today's society is that each teacher (and student) has something different to share, a different message, interpretation. a new way of encouraging you to look at your body a little differently, of looking at things in general a little differently. and then you can receive a teacher's teachings and ponder them some more, on your own in the dark bundled up a bit because your room is cold, with a stick of incense and a candle burning peacefully in front of the tie dye curtain, bringing a subtle colorful glow to the darkness of the night-lit bedroom.

i've been dancing. and laughing while dancing, until it makes my belly and cheeks hurt and i'm sweating and laughing so hard i'm crying. my favorite times thus far have been in the comfort of my living room with my lovely, beautiful roommates. i love them so much. we like dancing to this song.

i've been crafting. journals, collages, cards, jewelry, soon to be candles...

i'm feeling lucky to be alive and free. to have amazing friends and family that give quality, caring advice and also listen with open ears. and to have this comfy place with blankets and warm huggers.

i'm charged and ready to go.
:-)

happy 2013!

how will you this year?

in remembrance and reflection

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, 
my mother would say to me, 

“Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” 

To this day, especially in times of disaster, 
I remember my mother’s words and 

I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many 
helpers – 

so many caring people in this world.” 

- Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers)

Today I've been thinking a lot about the community of Newtown, CT. I still can't believe it happened. My deepest sympathy goes out to those innocent lives that were lost and their families that are enduring this horrific tragedy. I've been thinking about what anyone can do to help them. No amount of money or tears can undo the events that unfurled yesterday.

But in this sad, disheartening time, we need to remember that there is still good in the world. We have the advent of each other for support, and a strong reminder that this life we are given is precious and fragile. Let this tragedy bring us together so that we can remember the brave lives lost, and reflect. If you haven't already today, take a moment doing whatever it is you're doing--checking your email, watching TV, listening to music--to stop. If you're with someone, suggest they stop, too. Close your eyes, take 10 deep breaths, and send so much love to those families affected in Newtown today. Feel their heavy hearts in yours and share their pain. They need it more than anything right now.

Make it a point today to tell those that you love how you feel. Let them know how much they mean to you. You never know what will happen next in this roller coaster life.

the month of no work

 After eighteen and a half years in the public education system, I am officially (for now!) done. I can finally call myself a college graduate. It's a weird feeling to be done with something so intertwined with who you are. After I completed my last final I went about business on campus as usual--taking a nap in a beam of sunlight on the only couch in the quiet and warm Cape Cod Lounge at UMass, and after, making a list of things to do. The list was strangely short. Make homemade Christmas gifts, do yoga, practice the ukelele, read books, explore x, y, and z. Now, I know that this is not reality. Generally, you have to work to make money to pay off loans and bills and support yourself. But, for the next 5 months, it weirdly is mine. For the first time in my life, I don't have any job commitments or any schoolwork commitments. My only long term commitments right now lie in the destinations of plane tickets and bookmarked pages of Travel South America on a Budget. This cannot be real life.

So since I have "nothing" (everything) to do for the next, oh, month or so as I await my plane rides, I'm going to write it down here. Because why not.

What I have planned (telling you will help me to actually do what I say I'm going to do):
1. Do yoga every day, either in a class or on my own.
2. Commit myself to spending 10 breaths in my favorite yoga pose that day.
 3. Explore different yoga props. Currently, I have added a big bouncy yellow ball, two spongy blocks, and a hula hoop to my practice. Also socks for dancing around on my hardwood floor.
4. Make homemade Christmas presents for my friends and family. I can't tell you what they are yet.
5. Explore places around the valley. Some destinations include Mass Moca, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Katalyst Kombucha & People's Pint, different yoga studios, Peace Pagoda in Leverett and towards Albany, and whatever else comes up.
6. Make bread. I've never done this before. Also: soups, banana bread, cookies, bean burgers, etc.
7. Finish leather journals.
8. Knit. Find more patience with it.
9. Read a lot. Books on the lineup include: The Science of Yoga by William Broad, Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut, and Ishmael by Daniel Quinn.
10. Play the ukelele. At least once a day.
11. Walk around Northampton and meet people. Make eye contact and smile at them.
12. Write letters to people I love. Tell them I love them and why.
13. Try to blog everyday, even if it's just a teenie weenie little thought bubble.

So yeah. That's what I've got planned. Join me if you're interested, and don't if you're not :-)


What's on tap for today:
Favorite breakfast. Eggs, refried beans, onions, and salsa on a tortilla. yum.
Yoga time. Included: hula hooping to this throwback, laying in a supported backbend on a big yellow bouncy ball for a while, and lighting some incense.
Cookie party!
Crockpot soup--lentil & sweet potaters yum.
Dying hair with henna


a jam for your earbuds: 



until next time, amigo.

five steps to life-long happiness

What's the key to happiness? Some people search all of their lives, or just resign themselves to the 9-5 work schedule. No doubt, it can have its benefits. It can provide you with financial mobility and stability (and other things too), which is important. But sometimes we tend to put that on the front burner and our own happiness on the back. If you know what makes YOU happy (it might require a big 'ol study of yourself), then what's stopping you from following that passion and living a fulfilling life?

I'd add one more to this list: Surround yourself with people who care and help you believe in you.

Relationships with people = hugs, a loving sense of community, thought-provoking conversations (which leads to growth and change) and SO SO much more.

Okay I lied, one more: move your body (and shake your booty). Don't judge how it looks.

If you ever get lost on your way to happiness, remember this song, SING it, and believe it.

Bob had it right.

home sweet home

I ended up going home to the Cape this long weekend, both for a friend's wedding and also to work on my garden (and I suppose seeing my family factors in there somewhere too). You know those days when you get a ton of stuff done because you have to? I read a book last year, The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, that showed me it had an actual name: Parkinson's Law. It basically means that you get stuff done in the amount of time that you have allotted to do them (sound familiar, fellow procrastinators out there?). So, this being one of those times when I had a short amount of time to get a lot done (i.e. mulching my garden so that I have kick ass soil next year, locking myself in my parent's kitchen and cooking up a storm...), I was down to brass tacks this weekend. And even though I feel a little bit exhausted and my feet hurt, I feel accomplished, grateful for home, and completely in love with life. If you're interested, here's some stuff I made/did:

i took pictures of fleurs

at Ceile & Adam's wedding

and got a little jiggy with it after

i made banana-apple-chocolate chip-walnut bread

and pumpkin gingerbread muffins

 

 

 

and butternut squash & kale soup (with maple veggie sausage)

i picked a baseball bat cucumber before i pulled up the plant 

and sheet mulched my garden with stinky stuff! (seaweed and old grass clippings)

Whew! It's been a couple of long and happily productive days. I'm constantly learning and reminding myself that sometimes you just gotta do the elbow work to get what you want.

click here for a tune i'm diggin' at the moment

these happy days

In my last semester at UMass, I've begun to realize the weight of this being the end of my undergraduate career. Being in college is a great and unique time; we're allowed to run all over the place like children, hanging out with our friends all the time while occasionally doing homework (sometimes homework time > friend time...but only until you're done with the exam/paper). Lately, I've been taking a little bit of a different approach, as my 20 credits take up a lot of my time. As I continue to flow into my second month of my last semester of undergrad, I'm realizing the absolutely amazing resources that are available to me (and perhaps you) at UMass as a student and in the Pioneer Valley. Like...

1. There are lectures by esteemed intellectuals within the five college system going on ALL THE TIME. I can only speak for UMass, but I know that I've been filling up spare hours with talks by interesting people who have something important to say all over campus. Lately, I've been able to attend FREE talks by Noam Chomsky, Alex Morse (the 23 year old mayor of Holyoke), Madeleine Kunin (Vermont's first female governor), and I've got plenty more lined up. How do you find good talks that you might be interested in? Keep your eyes peeled. Message boards are all over campus, and though they look littered, some have some pretty cool messages to share. Also, check out the Five Colleges Event Calendar.

2. There's so much great yoga here! From the free stuff (for students) at the Rec Center, where I teach, to Northampton yoga studios like Karuna and Shiva Shakti, you can learn a lot about your body and the way it can move by people who know what they're talking about.

3. The great outdoors. Um, hello, have you seen the trees lately? I won't lie, I squeal in excitement a little bit when I see great patches of fiery tree goodness (especially on solo roadtrips). The colors that appear in the fall are so beautiful they make my jaw drop on the ground (I'm a huge fan of tie dye). Next time you see a bright red tree, pull off a leaf and look at it! Marvel at its beauty.

 ...While you're in the outdoors, go on a hike (Mount Holyoke Range, anyone?). Or check out the Leverett Peace Pagoda. Or just go walk around and explore in the woods!


4. Farms and farmer's markets galore! Gather up some friends and go get your hands dirty at a farm! We are so lucky to have so many in this area, and I bet each one of them could use your capable hands for a couple of hours. If not, go support them at a farmer's market! Butternut squash? Yummmm (stay tuned for squashy recipes and more foodie things).

5. Friend time and alone time. Friends are the best the best the best. They make you laugh (which is one of the best things you can do for your body, mind and spirit), they offer you shoulders when your'e sad and hugs when you need one, and they just all around rock. Being surrounded by good people probably is the most important thing in my life right now. I predict good people always will be of utmost importance to me, but it won't be as easy to go and knock on your friend's door later on down the road. I'm loving the roomie love.
But alone time is good too. I'm thankful for my quiet room and yoga practice, and those little encounters that happen when you're alone that wouldn't necessarily happen if you weren't.

Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed.  

-Corita Kent