Disneyland

The best way to find the kid inside;
Is to act like a kid.
How can anyone fight the adventure that awaits at Disneyland.
There’s a reason they call it the Magic Kingdom;
All of the work that I think I need to do,
Will be waiting for me tomorrow.
Today––I’m going to play!

Now or Nothing

The little voice in my head gets louder when I slip away from the present.
Demands and expectations are catapulted from unconscious fears and I lose grip of my awareness;
Nothing brilliant is born from doubt or stress.
How do I confront the inner bully?
I don’t.
I release the noise and refocus on living in this moment.
I can torture myself––agonizing over circumstances that cannot be controlled;
Or I can make the choice to let go.
Nothing is lost when you make the choice to return to NOW.
The past can’t be extinguished any more than the future can be decided;
All we have is the breath in this moment––and nothing else.

You Are Here

Mall directories offer the best advice for life:
In the chaos of the Starbucks, Bloomingdale’s, Apple Store, See’s Candy, Foot Locker, Wilson’s Leather, The Gap and Bath and Body Works––there is a giant arrow that points to a location and says: “You Are Here”.
Our lives become so overcomplicated with flashy signs, material desires, social media, and the voices in our head demanding us to relive the past and stress about the future, that we forget about the only thing that matters; the present.
If only we could remember that mall directory when we become overwhelmed;
You are here, now.

Success

I think it’s safe to say that everyone has their version of success;
Some use jobs, connections, accomplishments and social status to determine if they’ve become successful.
Others seek fame and fortune to define their standing;
Then there are those who believe success is found doing what they love.
I used to be one of those people––until I realized that I find more happiness, gratitude and energy finding success in awareness; being awake in the moment and appreciative of the joy that comes from whatever I’m doing in the present.
In doing so, I’m free from any burden of society’s expectations or judgments.
A simple switch in the outlook of success, can offer a lifetime of stress free, fearless blessings.

Joy

Joy is in the simple tasks;
Hidden behind the stress or doubt––a beam of light escapes, forcing you to acknowledge that even the darkest corners of your mind seek positive energy.

The Power of Now

The ability to acknowledge this moment:
Accept it without judgement;
Release it without thinking;
Stay present without doubt.

Courage

In order to live a full life––I have to release the ideas and expectations I perceive from society;
Self-inflicted thoughts bully me into unproductive patterns.
Staying aware, present in the moment and open to the opportunity that exist today; not waiting for a bigger, better, brighter experience tomorrow.
Every adventure starts NOW and leads to a journey that is more magnificent than any plan or dream.

I Am

I am here in this moment;
Nothing more, nothing less––
The past is behind me and cannot be changed,
The future is in the distance and cannot be promised.
I exist in this moment: Aware, Grateful, Focused; seeking enlightenment.

Presence

Releasing the past;

Finding strength to mute the voice in my head and become aware without judgment.

A shift in processing how I interact with others and respond to conflict.

Allowing myself to experience the moment as it is happening, to awake my true potential. 

With A Present Like Today...

Who cares about tomorrow?
Fleeting moments of clarity always arrive precisely when you need them most.
It’s so easy to become overwhelmed with the quest for continued success, that I miss opportunities to bathe in the accomplishment that surround me now.
The best birthday present I received this year, was one I gave myself; the gift of release.
Release the need to:
Do it all.
Keep lists.
Cross things off lists.
Predict the future.
Maintain a perfect body.
Deprive myself of guilty pleasures (in moderation).
It’s frightening to let go of the obsessive behavior that I connect to my success.
Will I still get things accomplished?  Will I be ready for the future?  Will I overlook an email and lose an opportunity?
No.  I believe I will enjoy the work in front of me. I will be more productive and I will be able to celebrate accomplishments as they happen.
More than anything, there will be less stress in my life and I will be able to find the balance I’ve been seeking for years.
My Faith reminds me that I will be where I need to be, when I need to be there.
What’s that quote? Today is always here––tomorrow, never!

Live In The Moment

Is to appreciate the blessings I have in my life.

Without fear of the unknown,

Or regret for the un-changeable past.

Full of gratitude for the opportunities that exist today-

The laughter and conversation with friends,

The unexpected adventures that spring up everyday,

And the reminder that tomorrow is never promised-this moment is a gift worthy of being present.

Birthday Thoughts

Getting older, yes.

Celebrating each day!

Fabulous and wise.

Faith not Fear.

Life is wonderful;
When I release fear and doubt.
Living in the moment.

Gratitude

It's easy for me to get lost in the daily grind.
Forgetting to appreciate the people in my life who bring me joy;
Acknowledging the opportunities that have sustained my journey.
Especially in LA, I'm always working, fighting, planning for the next venture,  I over look the adventure I'm on today.
I'm grateful for my past, and hopeful for my future-
But I want to be better about giving thanks for today!
#GratitudeInThisMoment

A Road Map from the Past

If we waste too much time looking back,
We lose the energy and motivation to move forward.
The past is a brilliant road map for our future-
As long we remember to use it to make wiser choices, rather than getting lost in a distant memory.

The Weeks Go By So Fast!

Another Friday,
The week has passed-
Like my grandpa said:
"When you get older, the weeks go so fast."
As a kid, I couldn't wait for the weekend,
As an adult, I just wish I could hold on to each day a little longer.
Enjoy each moment for what it brings,
Soon enough I'll be wearing diapers! ...again.

Random Observation

My grandparents were right!

The older I get, the faster the weeks go...

Live in the moment.

Out With The Old...

…in with the healthier, more resolved me!

Isn’t it funny how we wait until the start of a new year to decide to do something good for
ourselves?

Naturally I fall victim to the idea that change can only happen in cycles;

I make lists, set goals and strive to be that better person.

Yesterday I sat down with my journal and wrote out all of the things I want to
accomplish in 2013. 

(I’ve been doing this every year for well over ten years, and I’m always focused on setting
goals that are very ambitious.)

Generally I achieve some version of most of them too!

Yet there’s still one goal I write down every year, and work toward it every year, and still
some way or another it alludes me.

So my number one goal, dream, resolution… whatever you want to call it, is to release 
every expectation I have for what the year, month, day or even minute “should” bring,
and stay active and present while “it’s” happening!”
Starting now.

Rather than reedit this blog post (like I do) to make sure it’s perfect, I’m off to join my
family and watch a movie!

Happy New Year.

May all your goals manifest exactly as they’re supposed to.


What Matters in LIFE...

I was on Facebook this afternoon (doing my usually social media "check-in") and I came across this wonderful  reminder on a friends "wall." I have to reblog it:

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’
The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.The students laughed..
‘Now,’ said the professor as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things—-your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions—-and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.. The sand is everything else—-the small stuff.
‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.
Take care of the golf balls first—-the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’ The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

How great is that story?!
I have no idea if it's true or not-
But that doesn't really matter does it?
The message is clear-
LIVE a full life with family and friends!
...and save some room for beer!!!

The Art of Release

Wake up-
Pit in stomach,
Roll over. Look out window and see a rainy, depressing, grey LA...
Realize you have two options;
Give into the pit and have a shitty day (while your family is in town visiting)
or
Release the ball of nervous, fear and pretend the rain is snow and you're in a beautiful cabin in Aspen.
Obviously I'm choosing option three:
Deep breath in, yoga, Starbucks and a shot of delusional optimistic hope.
I'm going to enjoy the time I have today with my mom.
If you're not living in the moment, you're dying in the moment!