The Grass Is Always Greener...

While picking up some new private yoga clients this week, one of them said to me they decided in their next life they wanted to have my life.  It made me stop and think.  It made me grateful.  It also made me realize that 'the grass is always greener on the other side' thinking is still alive...  The next morning I opened up my mediation book and read this...  Just had to share it with you.  Enjoy :)

I love my Daily OM.  Here is a little blurb from a meditation on 'Finding The Joy You Have'.

"Not one life goes by in which the quest for joy and happiness is absent.  It is unfortunate, however, that people so often believe that the search will be entirely fulfilled by finding the perfect job, acquiring some new gadget, losing weight, or maintaining an image.  The problem inherent in looking outward for sources of happiness is that focusing on what you do not have or what you are not inevitably leads to unhappiness.
It is easy to get caught up in your desires and to ignore the sources of joy and growth already present in your life.  It's said that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.  When you have stopped comparing yourself and your assets to others, you will be able to recognize that, to others, you are on the "greener side."  Learning to live in the moment and enjoy your personal lot can be a source of profound contentment."

So while I often strive to do more in life - I realize to others my life seems pretty green. 
I'm sitting in contentment...

Another new Tattoo

Yes, another tattoo.  My friend Tommy was visiting me and his last night in town we both went and got tattoos.  Random!  FUN!

Live Simply was tattooed on his forearm.  I love it.  It's powerful and sends a great message, yet it's simple.

I on the other hand I had James (my new favorite tattoo artist at Laguna Tattoo) sketch out a design for me.  For a while now I've been wanting a lotus flower, a butterfly, and an OM symbol.  Was not sure how to put the combo together.  That's were a good tattoo artist comes in.  I told James, he drew it up and I now have this combo on the back of my right shoulder.  I'm so happy with it.  It's symbolic to me on so many levels...

Perception and Reality...

I was asked to make a CD with music for sex...
I was asked to make a CD for music to smoke out to...
Let me explain...  I love music.  Find it can lift one's soul.  Good music is all around... it just takes some work to find the right tune for the right setting.  So, it does not surprise me that I get a lot of compliments on the music I use in the various fitness classes I teach.  I put a lot of time in researching music, meeting with DJ's, and finding the latest mixes for yoga, spin, etc.  My music selection is vast.  I love all kinds.  My parents often tell me I was born in the wrong decade due to my love of Cat Steven's and CCR.  Yet I also love good house music and anything with a base beat.  And, I can rock out to yoga grooves with deep roots... Like I said, I love music.

People have asked me to make them CD's of some of my mixes they hear in a class.  I always say sure.  However, I was caught off guard last week as a woman asked me after yoga class to make her a CD for sex.  I laughed.  She was serious.  I said huh?  Then I agreed.  The following day after my spin class another lady asked me if I would consider making a CD with music that would be good for smoking pot to.  Again, I laughed.  She was serious.  I said HUH?  Then I agreed. 

So on Saturday night, while most of the world was going out and having fun, I sat in my sweats, had a glass of wine and made the CD's.  I was laughing.  I am single.  I do not smoke pot. 
Perception versus reality sometimes can be way off! 
Yet, I love music and if I do say so myself I made two killer CD's.

Letting Go

I was fired.  Breaks my heart to even write it...
I was let go from a job I absolutely love.  Really found it a joy.
No warning - totally shocked.  

Rewind to one week earlier where I was in LA attending a Buddhist lecture.  I did not want to go but my friend begged me (not kidding).
Why do I even question life?
The lecture was on Letting Go...  The Lama shared with us that in the Western world we view a loss as a negative.  When we let go of something we view the loss as if our life can't do without whatever 'It' was.  The Lama said that we should change our perspective to view a loss as a gain.  When we let go of something it's actually a new beginning.  A chance to open up our life to a new season...  Who knew the Lama would be sharing a message that was going to hit so close to home.

After being so unkindly let go from something I loved doing, I was surrounded by true community.  I had not felt that much support and love in a long time.  2 days later I was offered 2 jobs.  Both better paying and better environments.  I am blessed.  A loss can, in fact, can be a gain :)

World AIDS Day 2011

Today my heart goes out to an innocent child suffering with HIV.  As I sit comfortably in my flat in Southern California, my mind and heart are in Kenya...
Three years ago I was in Africa doing non-profit work with AIDS orphans on December 1... I remember thinking, "today is World AIDS Days and I'm in a country that is so infected by the disease." I was overwhelmed with emotions. Seeing little kids, so innocent, being given a death sentence.  Sometimes life is not fair.  To this day I'm still burdened over what I experienced.  So, I decided to do something, to support a child with HIV.
Three years ago I was able to meet him. There are few things in life where you just know... once I saw him there was a connection and love. He is my African son. On this day, where recognition is given to the AIDS crisis - I want to honor my living boy who is sick with HIV - Anthony Mwendwa Muange... I have nothing but love for this little man.  It makes me sad to think that an innocent child is having to suffer with this terrible disease...  Today my heart is in Kenya...

To learn more about World AIDS Day, please read the following:
"Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. The World AIDS Day theme for 2011 is 'Getting To Zero'. World AIDS Day is important for reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.  The official website is 2011 World AIDS Day.

Gratitude - Happy Thanksgiving

On this Thanksgiving morning I sit alone.  Kind of weird.  It's my first holiday where I have not been with family. I've been traveling a lot (pictures taken from trip to Ohio).  I've recently seen family, and with the crazy airfare I decided to stay in Laguna Beach.  But instead of missing family and feeling disconnected I've decided to change the way I look at the situation.  I have a lot to be grateful for. 
In yoga this week my focus was on gratitude.  As I taught classes we dedicated our practice to a gratitude flow.  So in listening to my own advise, I have decided to cultivate a spirit of gratitude.  Here is what I'm grateful for:
- Grateful that I get to have a peaceful cup of coffee and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. My annual tradition :)

 - Grateful for my clients who saved me a bike in spin this morning so I could pre-sweat out the craziness I will inhale this afternoon. 

 - Grateful that I do not have to cook a big dinner today, this is the first year I have not hosted in 10 years and it feels nice.

 - Grateful that I get to attend a Thanksgiving feast in So Cal, show up, eat, drink, be merry, and leave.  No crazy clean-up this year!

- Grateful that my friend Karin from Vienna is here visiting me and after our Thanksgiving feast last year in Austria I now have her hooked on this holiday.

 - Grateful for a new found love for my family... really truly love them.  Good, bad and all in between - I'm grateful for my family.

 - Love love love my 2 little nieces!

 - Grateful for my cat Mother Teressa.  She rocks!

 - Grateful for my friends near and far.  Way beyond blessed in this department.

 - Grateful for my private yoga clients-they add so much value to my life,  honored to work with them.

 - Grateful that I get to teach yoga for a living.  Had to make some major changes to get here but it was worth it.

 - Grateful that I get to travel this upcoming year... it's a real passion and I'm lucky I get to.

  If you're ever feeling in a funk - express some gratitude.  It has the power to shift you.
Happy Thanksgiving... wherever you are :)

Thanksgiving in Vienna

It's the eve before Thanksgiving and I reflect upon life as I knew it one year ago.  Last year at this time I was living in Vienna where I was teaching yoga and working on translating a website from German to English.  My mom flew over to visit me and after returning from our weekend trip to Italy we cooked a Thanksgiving Dinner for my new Austrian friends. 
Looking back, I am so grateful for that time.  It was priceless.  Also, finding a turkey and pumpkin anything in a land that does not celebrate Thanksgiving was super challenging (not to mention the language barrier.) 
For the rest of my life I will remember my European Thanksgiving.  I am still in touch with the women who I shared dinner with that evening.  One of them has flown to the US and is spending Thanksgiving with me this year in California.  I am truly grateful and look forward to future European Thanksgivings!