Year: 2007

I’m excited about the response to the upcoming “What’s Your Flavor?” workshop. It seems that a movement toward authenticity is emerging, and pressures to form oneself into an acceptable shape (literally) are being released.

The image coming to me is that of a puzzle. When we try to be someone we’re not, we no longer own our piece of the puzzle that makes up the whole of humanity. Rather, we bury our beautiful and unique piece and replace it with a much smaller generic piece.

Instead of a colorful puzzle covering our globe, we have tiny, fragile pieces floating on a dark background where the real self should be.

As each of us relax into who we really are, the puzzle will come together and we will finally experience at-one-ment.

Life brings regrets and I have made my fair share of choices that should probably fall into the regret category, but don’t.

Truth is, I’m fine with the fact that my first boyfriend could have played a starring role in Goodfellas, or that it took me until the age of 27 to remotely understand the meaning of life.

There is only one thing that could potentially cause me to feel regret – and I try to remember it often. My only potential regret is not being present to those I love.

Last week I accompanied my daughter to a show she was in at her school. She gave me a list of things not to do: “Mom, don’t stare at me and smile the whole time.” “Mom, when you say ‘hi’ to my friends, just sort of stand back and wave..” The list went on. As soon as we arrived, she told me, “Go sit down mom, I’m going to go with my friends.”

This is 180 degrees from the “baby girl” I’m used to – an adjustment to be sure. It just so happened that I had a weekend getaway planned with friends that started the very next morning. So I kissed my newly independent girl goodbye and had three days to reflect.

I was moved to tears as I thought of her trying to dance for me as I commanded that she go brush her teeth… and other examples of this present-focused child being rushed to do the next thing.

Thankfully I remembered that my only potential regret is not seeing her essence and appreciating her every day. Same with my mom, my dad, and the rest of the people I love.

Turns out I had a great weekend, but was happiest to get home, give my daughter a bath and enjoy her playful spirit.

Yesterday I discovered a great new artist named Corinne Bailey Rae – some of you may have already heard her – she’s wonderful. I downloaded her song, “Put Your Records On” and listened to it about 20 times yesterday.

The song’s message is don’t try so hard – “You’re gonna find yourself somewhere.. somehow.” I have been receiving the same message from my higher self. “Enjoy the ride,” I often hear as I tune in to my meditative mind.

I can be wound pretty tight sometimes. Sleepless nights and racing minds run in my family. The weight of the world has been known to rest solely on my shoulders.

Things are about to change in my universe – now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go put some records on.

Today is Earth Day. I’ve been inspired by the media it has received encouraging us all to do what we can to protect her.

Yesterday I achieved official granola status when I purchased my reusable grocery bags at Trader Joes…

Today I requested that I be taken off junk mail lists and credit card prescreening lists (where companies obtain your credit rating and use it to send you “pre-approved” offers.) You can do both on www.dmaconsumers.org.

I’ve also learned of an organization that recycles computers – www.intechra.com.

Aside from increasing my dork factor about 500% with the reusable grocery bags, I feel very good about myself.

Any simple ideas to save the planet would be greatly appreciated!

What happened at Virginia Tech is tragic and heart breaking. What’s going on in Iraq is devastating. We need to act on every level and the first level is within.

Inner peace leads to world peace. What is inner peace? Simply put, it is a lack of inner conflict accompanied by feelings of well being. It is not the total absence of anger, frustration and sadness. As long as we live in bodies we will experience the rainbow spectrum of emotion, just as we see the rainbow spectrum of color in the material world.

Here are some tips for achieving true inner peace:

• Build your identity on an unchanging spiritual foundation – meditate daily.
• Commit to transcending peace robbing patterns within yourself and in your relationships.
• Open your heart and suspend judgement – it doesn’t help.

Once enough of us transform our inner conflicts, a quantum leap will occur and we will begin to see the our peace reflected in the world.

Finally, support the Department of Peace. The proposed cabinet level department would research and teach ways to cultivate peace in our schools, in society and in the world. www.thepeacealliance.org.

Clearing out the old to make room for the new is critical to change and grow. Imagining what you want is easy and fun. The next step is to get rid of the clutter.

I recommend starting with old thought patterns that don’t support the change you wish to see in your life. Replacing old thoughts with a general affirmation of abundance is a great idea, “My life is overflowing with abundance.”

The next step is to clear out your physical environment. Everything we own carries energy – and as we all know, energy attracts like energy. That is why it is so crucial to get rid of old objects, clothes and files reminiscent of the life that no longer serves you.

Once we clear out the old, we need to sit in the emptiness for a time. This may be the hardest part. We are used to a certain amount of energetic clutter – but it’s crucial to keep the space open long enough for our dreams to enter.