The White Bench

Ryan celebrated his 7th birthday on August 22 and so I traveled to Yorba Linda to join his party. He has so many wonderful little friends who played pin the tail on the donkey, had a water balloon toss and enjoyed cake and pizza. The real celebration for me was the next day and the day after when we attended Peyton's soccer tournament in which Ryan really preferred to be home riding his scooter. He brought the scooter with us to the tournament so he could play. We watched a little of Peyton's outstanding footwork on the field and then it was off on our journey through this beautiful neighborhood in Corona, CA. Ryan would ride his scooter about 10 feet, stop and wait for me to catch up to him. He would ride again and I would walk at my less then scooter speed pace and join him by his side and this is how went until we saw the white bench. Ryan was tired and needed a rest break from all this scootering around and he spotted in someone's front yard a white bench (actually a porch swing) and it was under their shade tree. Without hesitation in "trespassing" he set his scooter on the sidewalk and walked up their sidewalk and sat peacefully in the swing and I sat beside him. We rested there for perhaps 15 minutes and then he was ready to continue. Well the tournament went on from 8am until 2pm that day and so we must have taken our little journey to this bench some 5 times resting in between our scootering and walking bliss. I don't know what heaven is like, but I hope it has a porch swing so that I may sit and rest awhile with Ryan by my side. Saturday and Sunday were heaven on earth during our journey to and fro and resting on our white bench.

Arriving in Every Moment

Arriving in every moment was our mantra for the walk that Mark and I shared this morning through our beautiful neighborhood. We contemplate matters of philosophy and then we put it into practice. This morning's reflection was to arrive in every moment and so with almost every step we created a new arrival. It was fun and playful. Now I arrive on computer and reflect that today will be an arriving into this moment and this one too and even now. What does this mean, for me, it is presence in every step, it is the joy of a new beginning in every moment and it is best thought about as when you arrive at a destination, that feeling of joy, excitement and anticipation. Arriving even as I end this blog entry is joyful!

Finding Inspiration

Last night my yoga class changed to accommodate the personal requests of several students and in the process we were all inspired to reach new depths in our practice and increase our overall well being. Inspiration comes from different places. I signed into my blog knowing that if only I begin to bring words to paper inspiration would follow and it did. What occurred in yoga was that only a few women showed up to class as several regulars were on vacation and two women had specific goals: 1 to have a "tiny hiney" and the other to strengthen her upper body. They inspired all of us to try to yoga postures and to support one another in our journey towards well being. This morning I am inspired by these women who come faithfully to class even when other obligations or choices arise. Inspiration so often comes from commitment, this morning in just signing into my blog and beginning to type, committing myself to the blog has created this entry for today. I would conclude with this observation: inspiration comes from personal commitment and may in fact inspire others.

Rest for the Restless Heart

For the past several weeks I felt restless regarding my life, including my work and my choice to remain single. Recognizing that for me sometimes my restlessness could lead to depression, I knew I needed to do something to change this feeling. Here are the little steps I took to reach out and seek help: I wrote an email to my family to seek their inspiration and my brothers and sisters quickly replied with joyful anecdotes about their families and that lifted me. I called my friend Sheila, one of the dear Murphy family members, who just by hearing her voice lifted me and who invited me camping. Then I taught my yoga class and the students lifted me and lastly in a most blessed gift, Tim, Patty, Olivia and Emily (other Murphy family members) just by chance dropped by my home on their way home from a dinner party. The joy of their presence transformed my restless heart into a beautiful awareness that all is well. In a very spontaneous and unusual decision, I took Sheila up on her offer and went camping the next evening, a Thursday and took Friday off to enjoy a most healing night and Friday day with the Murphy gals and their children. Thank you to my family and my extended family for helping me bring rest to my heart and joy to my life and see that my cup is overflowing. Surround yourself with friends and family and if you don't have friends and family make them. Good friends and good family are the greatest gifts one can have in life, for it is through them, with them and in them that the spirit of God lives and rest is found.

Unbind, inspired by Burkle

Wearing a girdle is quite binding for the body, yet we do so to create a smooth shape. What a relief I felt when I returned home after a long day and many client meetings and removed my Spanx. Just as I sat down to my computer to catch up on the long and unending work related emails my friend Burkle called and we discussed the day's work load, weekend plans and I revealed that I was relived to be freed from those Spanx. We laughed and realized that the girdle's we wear to physically constrain our body's shape became our metaphor for life's other constraints such as frustration, suffering, tension, disappointment and unfulfilled dreams. Burkle and I agreed that often we keep the girdle on too long and not allow ourselves freedom to let go and reveal the joys that are kept bound underneath our girdles of life's stress. Burkle's final words of wisdom for me, "Grecian, feel good in your own skin with or without those Spanx!"

My Family Reunion

I am home now after spending 7 days with my family for a reunion held in beautiful Arkansas. We stayed at the Mount Sequoyah Retreat Center, an alternative destination from the Treasure Cave Lodge, which had been damaged just prior to our intended arrival. Relieved that the alternative site for 28 family members descending upon my parents in just 3 days was found, we all arrived seeking connection with one another. My family includes mom, dad, 4 sisters, 4 brothers, 4 spouses, 1 partner and 14 nieces and nephews together and one related cousin of my brother Pat's wife's family. Two of my nieces were not able to attend as one is planning her wedding and the other attending college. I feel lonely without all of the daily activities arranged and led by my sister Bridget and delicious food bought and prepared by my dad and brother Damien. Each of my family members and their spouses brings unique gifts and talents to the week. I am grateful to all and most of all for my nieces and nephews whose love for play, youthful energy and love for all of us created for me a deep connection with the spirit of the living God in each of us. My loneliness is dissipating as I write this blog entry, I feel more deeply connected and a sense of joy and love is welling up within me. Alleluia for this moment and for the moments with my family this July 2008.

The Morning Hour Has Gold In It's Mouth

My parents had a wooden circular plaque that had a beautiful rooster in the center and around it were the words: The morning hour has gold it its mouth. I often thought it was odd and not worded well nor did I understand its meaning. Ah, now as an adult it deeply resonates with me. This morning I was inspired to write notes of gratitude to several friends, put out my July 4th decorative items and get caught up with bills. It is this hour or so in the early morning that I find my most clear thinking, productive way of being and deep gratitude for the day's beginning. The morning hour has gold in its mouth and that is true especially now.