Strange Apparition
Posted: May 24, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, family, fitness, free range, friday, friends, health, hipster, kindness, life, love, meditation, Memorial Day, passion, running, Stories, walking, weekend, whole foods, yoga 8 Comments »I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine-
It’s tough to integrate into our personal story a time in our life that turned us upside down, challenging all that we’ve known and trusted.
Story time …
I’m always looking for metaphors that might resonate with the kind readers of CultFit, as they seek to catch a second wind in their workout and lives. Some of these metaphors work, some flat-out fail and some baste themselves in the hot summer sun.
This past week, I was afforded the opportunity to talk with a friend who shares my love of being active, exploring meditation, yoga and reading. We discussed in-depth a rather interesting metaphor that resonated for both of us: The Trilogy. Some stories in literature are so complicated and involved that they require more than one book. HOLY CRAP! I was thinking Fifty Shades of Grey! While my more ed-u-ma-cated friend brought up, The Foundation by Isaac Asimov. In each book of a trilogy, characters are more fully developed and explored, secrets formerly held are brought to the reader’s attention, and plot lines unfold before our eyes.
What if you thought of your journey to being healthy as a trilogy of stories? What would each book be called?
For me, the first book in my trilogy would be called, F**k It! I can do whatever I want: In which a punk ass kid flippantly ignores the love of others in order to make himself feel like a complete bad ass. My second book would be called: Ignore the pain to succeed in life: In which an arrogant blonde haired dude ignores the pain his body provides him in order to pursue vain, self-serving goals; Ignoring family and friends at every turn. And I hope someday to call the last book in my tantalizing trilogy: Marinating in the Sauce of Life: In which an old, humble man is content to accept whatever gifts the world tosses his way.
Notes:
The most uplifting, useful stories are the ones told by resilient, authentic people; Just like you. We can learn a great deal from one another here at CultFit, from the stories we passionately share … Take care this holiday weekend and please be well.
The guest is inside you
Posted: May 23, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: exercise, family, fitness, free range, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, Jain, Kabir, life, love, lululemon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, paleo, passion, Poetry, running, trail running, whole foods, WOD, yoga, Zen 4 Comments »… and also inside me;
you know the sprout is hidden inside the seed.
We are all struggling; none of us has gone far.
Let your arrogance go, and look around inside.
The blue sky opens out farther and farther,
the daily sense of failure goes away,
the damage I have done to myself fades,
a million suns come forward with light,
when I sit firmly in that world.
I hear bells ringing that no one has shaken,
inside “love” there is more joy than we know of,
rain pours down, although the sky is clear of clouds,
there are whole rivers of light.
The universe is shot through in all parts by a single sort of love.
How hard it is to feel that joy in all our four bodies!
Those who hope to be reasonable about it fail.
The arrogance of reason has separated us from that love.
With the word “reason” you already feel miles away.
- Kabir - The Kabir book: Forty-four of the ecstatic poems of Kabir
Notes:
Important post tomorrow, I hope you stop over, until then? Take care and be well!
Ayuda!
Posted: May 22, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, compassion, exercise, family, fitness, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, running, trail running, whole foods, WOD, yoga 3 Comments »Compassion is a verb-
How does one go about distancing themselves from the prior two days posts? I suppose we could choose to ignore them or we can all come together for a big group hug and show some compassion towards ourselves and others?!? Just a thought …
Self compassion is at the very root of empowerment, learning, and our inner geek strength. When we choose to embrace self compassion, we value ourselves not because we’ve judged ourselves positively and others negatively but because we are equally deserving of care and concern just like everyone else. Self compassion means treating ourselves as we would a close friend or better yet, our spouse and kids! Rather than berating, judging, or adding to the dreadful despair, we listen intensively with empathy and understanding, encourage them to remember that mistakes are a normal part of everyday life, and validate their emotions without adding more fuel to the proverbial fire.
Self critical over achievers are not the only ones that lack self-compassion. Some of the kindest folks around do as well. Luckily, self compassion is a process that can be picked up pretty easily. It is a daily practice that can help us all become less self-critical of the world around us, by preventing stress accumulating throughout the day, allowing us to be happier, smiling more and pleasant to be around.
“Self compassion never finished a marathon in personal best time or powered through an intense three-hour long power yoga class! What! Got something to say now do you!“
Self compassion does not mean we stop rolling up our sleeves and working hard for our goals. Instead, self compassion is a change in our attitude(s) and is linked with greater personal well-being. Nor does self-compassion imply self-indulgence. For example, a runner who cares about their body and well-being will push harder the days leading up to a rest cycle, no matter how tempted they are not to rest, they do. Similarly, pushing yourself, exploring limits during yoga class may be appropriate in some situations, but in times of over-indulgence? Self compassion involves toughening up and taking responsibility for going too far.
Notes:
Please be sure to check out Omaha Gives this morning, totally worth your time if you call Omaha, Home.
Are you looking for me?
Posted: May 16, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, friends, happiness, health, Kabir, kindness, life, love, meditation, musings, natural, nature, passion, Poetry, running, writing, yoga 17 Comments »… I am in the next seat.
My shoulder is against yours.
you will not find me in the stupas,
not in Indian shrine rooms,
nor in synagogues,
nor in cathedrals:
not in masses,
nor kirtans,
not in legs winding around your own neck,
nor in eating nothing but vegetables.
When you really look for me,
you will see me instantly —
you will find me in the tiniest house of time.
Kabir says: Student, tell me, what is God?
He is the breath inside the breath.
- Kabir
Notes:
I would like to take a moment to say Thank You to all of you reading this morning over a cup of blueberry coffee, or perhaps a Bloody Mary?!? Thank You for your kind words, thoughts and passion towards these blog-o-post things here. I am deeply moved and touched by all of you!
Be well today and please take care.
Hold Om
Posted: May 14, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, dancing, emotions, exercise, family, free range, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, lust, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, trail running, whole foods, WOD, yoga, Zen 24 Comments »Those who do not move, do not notice their chains-
Can someone please answer this seemingly “simple” question: What the heck is progress?
Let’s narrow our focus on yoga for our conversation this morning … Progress on your trusty yoga mat looks and feels rather different from a straight gravel road shooting up over the horizon. After a few sips of juniper berry infused mead, I like to think of progress on the mat as more of a dance, the rumba to be more specific. Two steps forward, one step back, a smile, loosening up a bit, three steps forward, two confident steps back. We seem to find our own pace, our own rhythm even if it takes a few drinks.
Progress with yoga often gets worse, much worse before it gets better. Being a dude I didn’t know this initially and I thought I was losing control of both my mind and body. I was confused (this is very easy for me) because I thought that yoga was supposed strengthen me both spiritually and physically – Instantly.
What I didn’t know at the time was that this dance backwards was the very beginning of taking a few gentle, confident steps forward. I had to regress before I could start once again to creep ahead. Just like an infant crawling on their little hands and knees, I needed to learn how to roll over, sit up, fall down and crawl before I could walk (literally).
Sometimes I didn’t want to get up after falling down. Looking back, I don’t know how I got up on my feet again after the trying times, life. Eventually I did. Then I stumbled and fell again back onto my mat. Clumsily I rose to my knees, then to my shaky feet once again. This morning I stood straight after riding my bike to work. This is my dance in life.
Notes:
Learning to love yourself, to take care of your emotional and physical self. This is how I define progress.
