One of my favorite things about Europe is the thought provoking street art found all over the continent. I particularly love this series, which I found in several spots in Amsterdam recently. It seems the artist was enticing the casual passerby to pay attention and follow the trail. Grateful for the creative and thoughtful effort and, as always, the message.
I woke up Sunday feeling kind of off, but I made my way into the dance studio as usual anyway to move with Kari Winn, one of my favorite teachers. Kari has this incredible gift and always brings the right insight, wrapped in the right package, at exactly the right time. Kari created the intention to celebrate Memorial Day, and our movement today would honor Zach Sobiech and celebrate his gift to the world.
Zach Sobiech was 14 when diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Zach underwent many surgeries and chemotherapy treatments. At 17 and with only months to live, Zach turned to music and posted a video on YouTube to say goodbye to his family and friends. Zach's song, “Clouds'” went viral and has touched millions, 'Clouds' is available on iTunes and other online music stores. The proceeds benefit the Zach Sobiech Research Fund for Children's Cancer Research.
Zach Sobiech was 18 when he left this world on May 20, 2013. Our hearts and prayers are with his family and friends. We are forever touched by his wisdom and his story Thank you for sharing your life and music with us, Zach.
We celebrated your life as we danced and bounced around our beautiful space with big joy and arms up up up, rare sun streamed through the windows and Zach's catchy yet incredibly profound song Clouds blasted, I am certain he was feeling it . Grateful as always for Kari for continuing your tight focus on all the amazing things happening in the world and giving us space and freedom of movement to come together.
I just returned from an inspiring and pretty magical trip to Scandinavia, and a good friend asked me for the highlights of my trip. There were many, of course, and as I was sorting through photos on the long journey home, this experience really made me smile, an afternoon at Louisiana, an amazing museum of modern art in the Danish countryside outside of Copenhagen.
Everything about the place, the location on the water, the space, and the vibe is perfect. I happily stumbled upon a great art show with lots of rare Warhol and many other great pop art icons. Very inspiring indeed, but I have a passion for kids’ art and love watching them create with totally open minds. I found pure joy in the kids’ wing, especially this great space and this impressive wall of paper/scissor art.
I could not resist and had to sit in the pink chair next to my new friend and make a few just to represent my ever-present inner 5-year-old, grateful to be reminded of the power and beauty that the simple tools of scissors, colored paper, and a glue stick can create.
I arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark, yesterday, a city that has been on my list for some time, I came here to be inspired in what is known as one of the healthiest and most creative and design-driven cities in the world. Within hours of my arrival, I was wandering the streets, open to inspiration and like-minded souls and was almost instantly immersed by a group of happy and radiant Danes out on a "love walk."
Their mission is to create and share a "global heart" and create community where there is diversity and room for all to stand together as fellow beings to create a more loving and peaceful world.
I joined in with no hesitation and felt instantly connected and accepted in a country very far from home. I will definitely stay involved in some fashion to help spread the word in my own little corner of the world. I am incredibly grateful for the sweet synchronicity, new friends, and the amazing welcome to Scandinavia on the other side of this crazy world .
We are winding down on our first full, sunny, beautiful weekend in Portland in months; everybody is outside—kids in yards in inflatable pools, runners literally everywhere—and we were all out seeking and relishing every drop of sunshine we could get. Gardens are lush and happy in full bloom and there are daffodils dotted all over, today the seemingly endless grey rainy skies even seem almost worth it. I have never been much of a weather person since I spent most of my life in California there was no reason to be, but once again the contrast brings an entire new lens.
As I was out on a long awaited sunny run this afternoon, I found this incredibly sweet yard "poetry post" featuring "Daffodils," a poem by William Wordsworth. There are two spring poems available in printed copies to take on the go and get your poetry fix. A very unexpected and perfect Easter treat. I am incredibly grateful for a taste of spring and a thoughtful neighbor in Portland.
zachandbella
I recently attended an offsite for work, and when we were packing up to leave, we had lots of fresh fruit, yogurt, and "healthy leftovers.” I took most of it to give to a local homeless shelter I support, but I never made it that far. I found myself driving through Portland with a front seat full of food to give away and gained even more awareness of the intense homelessness crisis here. It was a bitterly cold day, and at almost every corner was a person in need; most were young and appeared broken and hopeless, and sadly for humanity, they were very grateful just to be acknowledged.
I passed out food and drove on until I met Zach and Bella. I got out of my car, and Zach and I talked for a bit, and he shared his story with me. I was so touched by his vulnerability, his honesty, and his energy that I asked for his phone number so I could check in and help as much as possible, and I went home with a gnawing tummy.
I have been watching for Zach and Bella ever since, and they were on my mind a lot today, so I texted him to check in. They seemed shocked, and I was happy to hear that all is "ok" and that they are now living in a car with his girlfriend and Bella, trying to get back on their feet after losing a job and thus their apartment. We hatched a plan to meet in the morning so I could drop off a care package and check in. So grateful to be in a position to help and to have a chance to support with compassion and a new awareness. After all, every person standing on a corner with a sign is a human, has a story, and a soul, and sometimes we need a reminder of that... Thank you Zach and Bella
Who knew? My end-of-year huge OMG and AHA moment came yesterday in an unusual and kind of inconvenient form as I used my SoCal AAA card to scrape the ice off my car window at my new home in Portland. I really hung onto the contrast of that while in a hurry to get to the ecstatic dance. I am here, not there, and, oh no, now I REALLY need an ice scraper. For some very odd reason, buying an ice scraper has felt like a huge commitment to me, and I have resisted. As I once again scraped ineffectively with my small plastic card and frozen fingers, I realized that one year ago, I would never have dreamed this would be my life on New Year’s Eve 2012.
I had an inspired and tidy life in California, living in a house I loved, with creatively demanding and inspiring projects, the freedom (and stress) of my own business, and lots of friends and support, yet I was totally craving huge change and a total new perspective. As always, the universe delivered (totally took over), and I was literally plucked up and moved to Portland in June by a very cool company. It has been a surprisingly smooth and yet challenging transition, as I now have all new beginnings and unexplored territory in every area of my life.
I am grateful that I am past the physical move and am happy to be living with like minded spirits in a magical place. The weather seems to insist you slow down and be present in a really clear way, as I realize I now must calm down and build in 10-15 minutes to get myself and my car all warmed up and ready to drive"”
I woke up this morning to bounce out the door for an early New Year dance jam and was greeted by blue skies, 28 degrees, and the glorious opportunity to use my new ice scraper. Yep, yep, it was thick ice today. Bring it on!
I am now committed to an ice scraper I bought yesterday. I laughed out loud as I began the new year by scraping the windshield clear of ice. So perfect in so many ways.
Happy new beginnings to all; it's going to be a good one...
I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Europe for business, always a welcome and refreshing change to be out of the country, and with the impending presidential elections, this trip took on an all-new twist.
Sleepless in Germany I turned on the TV to find the second presidential debate under way on the BBC. I watched in disbelief as the "binders of women" and other crazy facts and phrases were dropped like weird little grenades the potential leaders of the country would later use against each other. Then the somewhat harsh but seemingly objective BBC commentary began. No wonder the rest of the world thinks Americans are crazy. Almost everywhere I went after that, I was coaxed into somewhat intense political conversations about my voting preference, the candidates, the election, and what was going to happen to America.
One night, a tough taxi driver wouldn't let me out of the car until I promised I would vote for Obama, as he appeared to be convinced that if Romney won, the whole world would collapse instantly. He seemed quite certain that my single vote might make or break the election. It's fascinating to experience firsthand how humans across the planet perceive American culture and lifestyle. In India last year, as I was confirmed as an American, the common response was "Yes, America—a black man living in a white house,” followed by a mocking chuckle and head bobble.
The progressive nature of Amsterdam seems to have the perfect outlook, as there were quite compelling posters plastered everywhere showing the morphing of both candidates’ faces into one and advertising the "Presidents’ Night,” which was billed as a giant party including comedy and, of course, an all American breakfast.
Although I am not at all a political heavy, I am painfully aware there is a lot at stake here, yet something about my recent international travel experiences makes this whole nonstop election mania seem a lot less serious. Just think while we are waiting for election results on Nov 6 people all over the world will be watching and potentially even celebrating in ways we cannot even imagine, And at this point a heavy dose of comedy and a big breakfast just might be the best approach.
As I was completing a project in India recently, I had a unique opportunity to witness the Monday morning arrival and energy in a corporate office in a radically different culture. I sat in the lobby early for a meeting and watched the usual rush of somewhat hesitant people swipe their badges and dash upstairs to begin their week. There's nothing different about that.
Soon a man arrived with a huge smile and a box of flowers, marigold garlands, incense, and prayer beads and began a ritual at the abstract Ganesha altar in the corner at the base of the stairs. Ganesha is one of the deities widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as the Lord of New Beginnings and the Lord of Obstacles. I can’t think of any office that could not use that fresh perspective each day!
It was beautifully fragrant, and instantly the energy of the office and the way the new rush of people entered the building and started their week was calmer and more aware as they each stopped and took a moment with the altar.
Grateful to experience the Monday morning ritual in a different world and take note of the importance to stop and take a breath and a moment each morning.
I am in the midst of a huge life transition. ... just moved from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon, and everything is new and shiny. I am going from a house with huge gardens that I lovingly grew over the last 7 years to a temporary apartment with stunning views of the rooftops in downtown. Many have amazing very unique rooftop gardens that most people don't even know of - from the street.
I am particularly grateful to see the chef across the street come up and harvest the herb garden several times each day—a big slice of joy in my all new world and a rooftop perspective I would not normally have.
So beautifully stated....
Enough said.
Grateful for the simple reminders everywhere.
Found by Clair in NYC
“If you are going to doubt something, doubt your limits.”
A patch of Love found on a rickshaw in Varanasi, India
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
Fred, my first true love and one of my oldest friends, is a human magnet for animals in need of love and better homes. It seems they just "find him" on his daily runs and random adventures in the city.
Over our 30 years of friendship, I have witnessed many loving rescues, and this is one of the sweetest. Tiny kitten, Huckleberry, 2 months old(ish) was living in a truck yard by the LA river. Thanks to Fred's special nurturing, ongoing feeding, a sweet ad for "durable" kitty, a random act of kindness, and the amazing power of Facebook, Huckleberry is now safe, happy, and healthy and hanging out in the grass in a cat foster home while waiting for new parents. Maybe it’s you?
A simple message with big meaning. Lovingly spelled out in beautifully arranged marigold petals on Mother Teresa's tomb in Kolkata, India
On New Year’s Day, I returned to a parking lot and discovered the rear corner bumper of my car had randomly been crunched—ouch. Not even a random note that said,“I hit you and, oops, I am sorry?” As a self-proclaimed "waver" and a huge believer in karma, I was more than a little irked and disappointed.
I had come to "embrace my dent" each time I saw it without getting angry, and unlike myself, I decided to live with and love it until it was convenient to get it fixed. Yesterday I had a minute so I took it to a body shop to get the dreaded repair estimate: “…not an easy repair and blah blah blah..."$1180". Bam! The anger is back.
Today - for a variety of reasons - I woke up with a calm, different awareness and ability to flow with and accept all the seeming chaos in the/my world right now, and I embraced it, like my dent.
This afternoon, a very kind and professional man randomly showed up at my home and told me he could fix it right there in an hour for 10% of the estimate I received yesterday. There must be a catch. Nope..I checked him out; he was more than legitimate, and he proceeded to do an incredible job with a sweet, nurturing energy and smile.
The power and lesson of letting go were made visible to me today. Always grateful for perfect synchronicities and seeming mishaps with happy endings.
An unexpected perspective shift in Varanasi, India... the holy Ganges River serves as a morning laundry for many, with entire families pounding and pelting their laundry in the river before carefully laying it out on the Ghats (steps) to dry.
The repetition, pattern, and color laid out everywhere quickly become an inspiring and artful scene, and it is clear to the observer that laundry is not merely a task but a sort of meditative practice. I have a new appreciation for the beauty in laundry. Thank you, India.
If 2012 was a door…
I bet it would look like this pretty amazing one in Jodhpur:
grand and substantial in scale
and shape
bright and rich in hue and texture
clearly appreciated
beautifully adorned with lots of
thoughtful detail
the promise of more beauty
just through the door and
down the hall…
I have always been a big fan of fresh starts and new beginnings, and the first week of the new year is always sweet with possibilities.
May all your doors and new beginnings be this special.
A pretty sweet message to bring into the new year, especially given the location in Kolkata, India, where superhero references are not an everyday occurrence.