Miraculous Mornings

I have been spending so much time at the shop, I’ve hardly gotten to see my friends. I’ve spent the last year working on relationships and I’ve only seen them twice the last month. But I can feel a shift, a shift in myself and my outlook on friends, as I sit on the sofa of our hotel room, surrounded by the liter of stuff thrown about in our anticipation to get ready. And as I look over at the bed where Chelsey and Shadow are sleeping and I can hear their steady intake of life-giving air, I stop to pause and feel how just their presence is precious and gratitude takes over. How fortunate am I to be here with them in this time and space? I realized how they too have molded and helped me on my journey towards inspiration and intention (probably without their own knowledge). It’s so easy , often, to be yourself when you don’t know someone (at least for me), but in long-standing relationships, I find an array of memes laid out like an obstacle course in front of me (or  since I just finished the Hunger Games, like pods for me to get past). Most of the time these are self-imposed obstacles and have nothing to do with the other person, but are a reflection of my monstrous ego that occasionally makes appearances and plays on my fears and ‘insecurities’. Despite the struggle (like last months word vomit post), there are moments so stunningly clear and I feel surrounded by the growth of these connections. Like I said they might now know or see it, but I do. Not just them, either, but with all my relationships (like last weeks post on my parents). As I discover who I am and my intention, I see that I have to let them be themselves and not be an imposing force. To bite my tongue when my ego wants to make suggestions or my head wants to pass judgements about how they should live their lives. They poke fun at my instructions to live with life and follow their own heart and intuition. We all have

Opportunity

In this calming nature that has come over me and revitalized my vision; I have come to recognize opportunity. Generally a mellow spirit. I find lately, things rarely ruffle my feathers, anymore. I.E.

My mom tells me Dad is sorry for cutting me off, something I hadn’t minded at all. I didn’t take it personally and actually thought the discussion as a whole was great.

I drop my phone in the snow and I have to go back and retrieve it. I don’t care about the phone (things are replaceable) or the fact that I’m going to be late for work.

I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason and things that may seem shitty are actually blessing or opportunities if you view them as such or are open to them. Dropping my phone was an opportunity to take the original 2

Fear of Life vs. Fear of Death

I just completed reading Into the Wild and naturally it has brought many things to my attention. I can’t help but feel a kindredness and see many similarities between myself and McCandless. A fan of Tolstoy and Thoreau, many may consider him an ideological, dreamer. He was too green or ignorant about survival in the Alaskan bush and had it coming to him, is what many of his critics proclaim (how easy it is to judge from the outside, to see flaws and determine how best to solve or live a seemed problem, when it is not actually happening to us and we’re not in someone Else’s shoes).  I don’t see this at all. I get his perspective (I live in a freaking shed with no electricity for crying out loud). I’ve frequently been testing myself with little adventures. For me its about breaking down

Solitude for Self Discovery

At work I’ve looked at ‘The Power of Lonely’ and solitude, which of course has sparked an interest as I often find myself alone or doing things by myself (although I readily admit this is often by choice). I find it to be more of a way to test myself. Like Steve Job’s said, I came into this world alone and I’ll die alone. But being alone is often frowned upon. When I went backpacking in California I often go ‘by yourself! You’re brave,’ and my Dad says that’s not something everyone can do (he goes hunting in a remote location in Colorado with no human interaction for days). We’re so used to always being with others, we don’t know what to do when we’re alone. We’re constantly searching for someone to

Loving What You Have

How can you want more if you don’t appreciate what you have? I feel enlightened lately-blissful, electric with life and love, genuinely happy, energetic; like I now see with new eyes where everything is vibrant and beautiful. I almost feel overwhelmed with how grateful I am of my life and the people in it. I want to tell everyone (and I’ve actually written several letters to friends and family expressing this). How often do we get caught up in things and feel we need to complain about how ‘bad’ we have it. I got a flat, I hate my job or I lost my job, I broke up with my boyfriend, I’ve gained weight, my life is so routine. Dr Dyer got on stage a few weeks ago, diagnosed with leukemia, coming from a less than glamorous background and foster care, and all he talked about was how great life is. A flat is an opportunity to meet a kind stranger, job problems are an opportunity to go after that passion you have (work towards the business of your dreams) or go back to school, a break up is a chance to rediscover yourself or find someone more compatible, weight gain is a opportuinity for a new journey to reharmonize your body, and feelings of boredom could be a symptom that you need a break (a little bit of an adventure, I’m always a big fan of taking off and exploring) or switch things up (change your route home or start a new hobby or learn a new skill). My brother-in-law and some of my friends have been going through some tough times, but like Dr. Dyer says, they’ve got to look at the positive and find the good that can come out of these situations (its often the darkest hours where we can find our brightest stars, you just have to be aware that it’s there and SEE it). Like I’ve told them, look at all the good

Love?

 This is something I’ve went over and over in my mind, but the complexity has kept me from it OR trying to write about it takes away from its magic. Just like defining play or the Tao or explaining a joke; it takes away from the essence and BEING that makes it wonderful. There are so many forms of love! It is probably the purest feeling and expression. What struck me in the Power of Now is that we love everyone, just with varying levels and intensities. This made me think, do I love everyone? I think of different individuals in my life. I conclude that I do- I LOVE EVERYONE. Why wouldn’t I love them? If I see myself in others and I love myself, therefore I must love them. What a strange thing for people to grasp, I would get some strange looks if I went around telling people I love them (especially guys because I feel like they would take it as a romantic gesture), like I’m a creep. I don’t really care, though, because that’s how I feel. Do I need it reciprocated? No, although I do believe the more love you project the more love you will receive! My friends laugh when I claim to be radiating love and kindness (the Power of Intention-Dr Dyer). It’s kind of like happiness. It’s a choice and I CHOOSE to feel love around me and to give love. I will admit when I’m

Defining Beauty

 Ah the vanity and pressures we Americans place on ourselves. The beauty industry makes bank and many drop serious cash in pursuit of approval, but for what? So some stranger tells us we’re pretty or do we do it for ourselves (sweating it out at the gym, painting makeup on, shaving, facelifts, countless diets where most end up starving themselves or worse making themselves sick, etc)? There is an ideal of what beauty is, but most go through life with low self-esteem because we do fit this image. Some of the prettiest people I know have the worst self-images. So who or what defines what is beautiful (like the Tao, says beauty only exists because there is ugly, but what is ugly, who is ugly?) I find myself getting drug into this too. I’ve put back on a few pounds and sometimes get on myself because I don’t look like I did this summer, but I have to step back and remember my inspired training. I am healthy (just like I tell people, this is a lifestyle and I do this for my future health, not some vain attempt to please other now); perfect the way I am. I am doing my best and I feel happy, my body fat is still healthy, so what else can I ask for or possibly

Losing Control to Gain Perspective

Motivation Monday with Brittany! I know this title may seem like an oxymoron, but I promise that it will make sense by the end. I feel that living inspired goes hand-in-hand with my eating and health. For the last 6 weeks I have felt slightly less inspired than I was previously, and thus, out of complete harmony with my eating (not bad just not as focused as I was previously). So what to do? Take off on an adventure of rediscovery of course. To be able to just be and not think. Friday morning I got in my car and took off with no definite plan of where I was going, but not caring and not hurrying. Previously I would have been afraid. How often do we have to have plans. We have our five-year and ten-year plans. We know what we’re doing tomorrow, we know what we’re doing in a week. We go on vacation and it’s pre-planned and an itinerary is in place (we have to see this and do that). This is typical of humans, we don’t necessarily like the unexpected. Moving into my shed, initially I was terrified. How long am I going to live here, what about the winter, on and on. But then I realized that that is what is wonderful about the whole thing and this is what I took from the weekend. Not knowing where I’m going to be tomorrow or in an hour is so freeing, it’s an adventure and let’s you treasure the moment that is here right now. It’s like Thoreau (someone I consider a true kindred spirit) said, “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.”

Memes, Misperceptions, and one Great Man

Oh my father! Where to even begin. I guess I’ll start with the misperception. Some may perceive my father as abrasive or arrogant (some of the things I’ve heard), but these are clearly people who do not know or understand him. He has always been one of the major driving forces in my life for better or worse. We have always had our ups and downs and in my journey I’ve realized that he’s one of my biggest memes. I was always trying to please him and cared what he thought about me so much. It’s much easier to disregard what others think, but his approval always seemed essential. Maybe because the task seemed so daunting. In my journey I’ve realized that I have to let go of the memes I have with my father. I’m not 100% on this, but I am aware of it and our only problems come when I lose sight of being good (like take something personal or let my ego get in the way, but this is something that both of us agree we do that we try to concentrate on-it’s a skill and needs practice). Sometimes I treat it like a contest (who is the most Tao-like) or judging him (‘well that’s not

Unstuff

My adorable little home

Today is book review/reflection after reading the book Unstuff. My father handed it to me as part of my spiritual education, but it’s definitely something I’ve already been striving for. Unstuff is about uncluttering life, to improve life. This goes along with the Tao’s push for cutting the strings on material possessions and Thoreau’s principle of ‘Simplify, Simplify.’ I speak from personal experience on this subject. In March I was inspired to unclutter my life. I gave away 1/2 of my possessions (and at least 3/4 of my revered closet)