Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming....

Today's challenge...
to be still.

Really?! Is it that hard.
Who knew how 'manic' one could be until you try it...

To really still yourself....
to quiet the inner voices - the good, bad and ugly ones...doubtful, chatty, noisy, guilty and expressive...all of the voices...and try to calm your space and your mind.

It's only like stacking marbles - on the freeway. Rush hour.

Finally a break through.

While staring at beautiful pictures and listening to a guided meditation - a stillness...one where I had only one train of thought - which was a huge break through in the chatter of my head...where I could focus on being really present.

It only took a beautiful photo of Hawaii and some gut wrenching focus...so just keep swimming - it's whale watching season - here's wishing you a break through and breaches of your own!

Redecorate your own soul....

Aaaahhhh a NEW YEAR!

New Year...New Rules...that is what most tend to lean towards in the changing of the calendar year.

However, many of us wake up to see - it's the same "us" starring back at us in the mirror on January 1st.
So this year....I am going to lean into something different. I am taking some action. Some responsibility....and now that it is 'out there' I feel like I have taken the steps for some accountability as well.
Whew! Is it 2011 yet! ha!

Years ago, a friend of mine told me - there are two types of people...

One type - likes to move into a new place - put their furniture in just the right place - and thoughtfully hang their pictures....and then it stays that way - until they move again.
The other type of person - moves in - rearranges furniture, photos, rugs, etc. and then starts all over again the next month. She said - think about it...which one are you?
Hummmm - Ok. I admit. I put it down and just leave it. Maybe adding accessories each year...but not moving things. So this year...I plan on shaking it up quite a bit. Time for a makeover of my inner sanctum.
Time for some moving of the furniture within the depths of my soul.
It's all good.
Just want to take a fresh approach. And as we all know...it's always best to start from the inside out. Work it.
I have signed up for the 28 Day Meditation Challenge - that Jan is hosting at www.Awakeisgood.com - Nice! (Thanks for the tip whimsicalwhispers!) It has up'ed my accountability quotent...and for that I am very grateful!

Today - I did a guided mediation because I really needed to be guided into the mindset of relaxation and silence. I needed to calm my mind...since I am preoccupied with where my inner furniture should be placed...is there room for it (time)...am I cluttering up the space (with ongoing thoughts, doubts and noise)? By the time 20 minutes had ended...I was just beginning to relax and feel some 'space' coming into my mind. I sat for another 5 minutes....just breathing mindfully...and was thankful....very thankful...for a new year that presents a fresh approach.

I look forward to finding new fresh ideas from others on ways to enhance & expand my soul this year...all DIY tips are welcome!
New .
Namaste.

"Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is." ~H. Jackson Browne

We have been surrounded by inspiration this past month...it's a shame to see October go...
however, the best may be yet to come!
Having attended a fantastic Health and Wellness Conference (as mentioned in previous post) - one of us was able to snag a ticket to The Women's Conference put on by Maria Shriver in Long Beach, CA.

The entire day was one big Inspiration Tonic - stirred, shaken and shot down with a lime wedge & salt! HA! I mean that in a good way!
The speaker line up was A-List...Katie Couric,Cheryl Saban, Eve Ensler, Paula Zahn, Madeline Albright, Caroline Kennedy, Alicia Keys,Lisa Ling, Dr Christine Northrup, Arianna Huffington, Dr Jane Goodall, Dr Oz, Dara Torres and Robin Roberts - just to name a few!
Some of the quotes were well worth every penny...and many post will hold the nuggets of wisdom that were devoured there that day!

so here are several of my favorite quotes:

• "Make your mess your message." - Robin Roberts
• "Screw it, just do it." - Sir Richard Branson
• "Use the compass you were born with to find your own authentic self." - Cheryl Saban
• 
  
• "There is a special place in hell - for women who don't support each other" - Madeline Albright (sidenote, I may have clapped the loudest for this one...just for the shock value that came with it - from the highly educated and polite past Secretary of State)!
  

Please take the time to visit the forum that has been established by California's First Lady...she joked that it is what she does when not talking on her cell phone!
It may inspire you to go out on a limb and follow your calling or passion! CHEERS! D.
http://www.californiawomen.org/

There are some moments in life...that just happen...
they fall into place and suddenly you are in the right place at precisely the right time and you actually have enough of your wits about you (in that moment) to know...this is supposed to be happening!

Yes, pretty deep thought to open up with...but when it happens to you and I am sure it has...it wakes you up!
I attended a Health and Wellness Conference recently and knew that I was destined to be sitting and listening to EXACTLY what I was hearing - if only for the pure purpose of acknowledgement that Joe and I are on the right path....to wellness.

The Speaker line up was incredible...Laura Ziskin (movie producer who started "Stand Up" to Cancer organization...what a Dynamo! I spoke to her one on one afterwards and she told me - passionately, that she would continue to get the word out - to let her organization bridge doctors to researchers to patients...so that when patients received their diagnoses that their doctor would know they could be saved and give each patient hope. She is living with cancer right now and had more energy and zeal than half the people I know! Inspirational!

Also, Kathy Freston (Quantum Wellness, Author) and Rory Freedman (Skinny Bitch, Author) both spoke and told of easy changes and adjustments that we could make everyday to live just a little healthier...with a little more energy...and they both favored the mind, body, spirit approach.

Again, just the validation that we are headed in the right direction with more tools on the way - regarding organic food, medical care and healthy preventative choices...it's exciting...and I will now be looking to list all of the tid-bits that I learned - in the next few weeks on this blog.
Heck, we could become a Skinny Bitch or Skinny Bastard just by trying a few of Rory's tips! Who Knows! But let's dwell in possibility for now! D

iphone yourself HAPPY!

We have found another Blog....that is really worth mentioning...
for a little sample (and a taste of their insight) just read below...we are really going to challenge ourselves to do these two things - yes, easier said than done...but hey, everyone has to start somewhere! Let us know if you are going to challenge yourselves too!

Below from Happier.com Blog - by Andrew Rosenthal

Do at least one thing per day completely. By that, I mean, experience it fully, without going off into your head and thinking about what you need to do later, what you’re worried might happen, or whether whatever you are doing is a good use of your time. Just do it, and savor it. It can be anything – a meal, your shower, even a conversation – and you don’t have to plan it in advance. What’s more important is that you pick something you usually rush through or do distractedly and instead be completely present while you are doing it.

• Every night, reflect on the things that went well that day. We have all sorts of cognitive biases that make it easy to forget good things, or let bad things overshadow them. We have to work hard to keep them from disappearing from our memory altogether, and one of the quickest, easiest ways to do that is to set a specific time to remember (and maybe even record) them. Happier.com has created an iPhone application called the “gratitude journal” that records your bright spots during the day and tracks your happiness “quotient”. You can do it in just a few minutes a day.

40 is the new 20!!

Age is something that gets people's attention...
or is it just a number?

Ever since elementary school...when we were commonly asked our name and age...people noticed.
For example: When the class bully declared he was 10 and you played the ace..."but I'm 11"!...he never bothered you again! Nice.

But somewhere along the line - the age status pole, switches...sometimes not flaunting that you are older becomes the norm...
Why?

Is it a measuring stick?
A point of pride?
A depressing digit?
A distinguishing benchmark...

It's something that we have been mulling over in terms of Wellness for awhile now...and a friend sent us this fun little AGE link...we laughed and now enjoy our "NEW" ages...we hope you reveal yours! I'm actually 22 according to this test...Love it! YES! (Ahh, not that it matters)!

Rock your age...click here!

Go Big or Go Home!

We just returned from an incredible trip to a destination spa...
what is it about being away...why is it so much easier to reflect and relax?
It seems like we have to work so much harder- for that same "disconnect" when we are actually sitting at home.

Although...I (D.) did miss my pillow...
due to the ultra soft down pillow they provided - my neck freaked out and when I awoke the next day...I felt and looked like Frankenstein! I decided it would wear off and that I should head down to the Sunrise Yoga class in front of the Pacific Ocean anyway...
however, panic set in when I went to lift my head from the initial breathing - and I could NOT get up! OH NO! Everyone was posing all around me...as I lay on the floor - willing myself to get up! I had to laugh, it was like a bad SNL skit...Finally I was able to haul myself up! I left...practically running to the Spa Check-In desk...where I begged them to let me see a massage therapist! I think my freaky Frankenstein-look made them take pity and they probably put me with their absolute best...(Nancy) she saved my trip, my life, my neck..I owe her big time!

All I can say is Tip Big...(Go Big or Go Home) with the spa tips! They deserve it! Nancy made it her mission in life to get me to stand up straight again, asking all of the right questions and applying pressure in just the right reflexive points = I told the front desk staff, I spoke with the Spa Director - they get performance reviews too...and I wanted everyone to know she is amazing! (i.e. pool attendant, waiter, front desk attendant - everyone heard about Nancy)!
Please let us know if you have ever been rescued from a spa treatment...we'd love to know!