I can FLY and you can too!

"Do at least one thing a day that scares you." I nicked that quote off a lululemon postcard, isn't it brilliant?

Not everyday offers the opportunity to sky dive, bungee jump or get up in front of an audience to give a speech. But that doesn't mean that you don't have a daily chance to do something scary! Anything from a conversation, to a physical feat to employing will power could satisfy your scary requirement! Things like making business phone calls or maintaining eye contact always scare me. My Friday scare challenge involves volunteering at the hospital with my sister's dog. (I get faint at the mention of blood.)

Facing a fear and surviving (which you always will!) is so empowering. It is a matter of proving to yourself that fear has no grip over you and that you have control of what you feel and what you do. The shift from anxiety to triumph is exhilerating!

I remember when I went bungee jumping in New Zealand. To get to the jump, we had to take a cable car to a gondola suspended in a gorge. To jump, you had to shimmy out onto a ledge that was as wide as your two feet. I could kinda make out the sinewy thread of water below, but it was really far down there (430ft, to be exact!) The air immediately started to thin and it became hard to breathe. My hands started mass producing sweat and my ego started in, "You're crazy, you can't do this!" I heard the call from the gondola, "You're going to jump on the count of 1." I found a weak voice to utter the words, "I can't do this." The response came,"Yes you can, 3..2..1, FLY!" And I jumped, I dove, I flew! I stopped the questioning, I stopped the disbelief and I just did it. Sure, it was scary- so much so, in fact, that I could not even scream on the way down. It got caught in my throat. But by the first bounce, it had dislodged- the exhileration booming through me.

So if you can't find a bungee today, pick something else. It doesn't have to be scary to anyone other than you. And you don't even have to tell anyone. Face the fear and exhalt in accomplishment! Find your power and FLY!

Celebrating Life

In light of yesterday's news, I wanted to take today to celebrate life. Just in this month alone...

1. Colin- you turned 11 months today!

2. Nonna- 93 years YOUNG on the 13!

3. Nonno- will be 94 on the 23rd!

Beautiful.

P.S. A BIG thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for Alex.

Sampai Jumpa

Though my thoughts are many, I have few words today. I have just received word that a friend from abroad has left this earth.

Alex was a divemaster on the liveaboard dive trip I went on this past summer. His smile is forever etched in my mind, and his laugh will always echo in my heart. My sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends.

There is solace in the fact that Alex is at peace, and that his memory will live on in the lives of those he loved. The greatest tribute to Alex is to keep smiling and live life to the fullest. He will forever remain in our hearts, and never further than a thought away.

The boat that he sailed was called Sampai Jumpa (Indonesian for "See You) These words were the last Alex said to me as I left Koh Tao, and I leave the same with him, "Sampai Jumpa, my friend."

Must Love Dogs...

Even Downward Facing ones.

Downward Facing Dog is the quintessential yoga pose. It is one of the first few poses called in a practice, and you return to it time and time again. For the longest time, I hated my Dog.

Hate is a strong word, but I cannot lessen the feeling I had to DFD because it would dredge up so much anger and anxiety in me. I could get my hands and feet in the right position, but instead of looking like an upside down "V" I was a "U" at best. When I concentrated in straightening my back, I would cave in my shoulders, resembling a calligraphic "V". I'd listen to the directives, "Hands shoulder width distance, feet hip width distance, tilt your tailbone to the sky, contract your navel to your spine, press your thighs back and arms forward, let your shoulders run down your back, and relax." RELAX?!?!? Are you kidding me? My legs are tight, my shoulders ache, and my wrists are in pain. I'll relax when you call the next pose!

I've had a lot of face time with DFD, seeing that it is called so often within a practice. While I still can't master the pose, I accept where I am in my dog- calligraphy and all. I appreciate all the lessons of patience it has taught me, and surely will continue to teach me. There are even times, after a challenging sequence, that I find myself rejoicing in DFD.

It is not only on my mat that I get to practice the lessons of DFD. Out in the real world, I try to steer clear of feelings of anger and anxiety, and instead practice patience and acceptance. With a traffic jam, with a negative person, with a long line. Just as in the pose, breaking out of negative thinking creates reason for rejoice. Rejoicing and RELAXING. Though it will never surpass Child's Pose as my all time favorite, Downward Facing Dog holds a special place in my heart...and my hamstrings.

Summer on the Horizon

Summer is not too far off now, and people are starting to ask where I am headed this year. To tell you the truth, I have yet to pick a destination! I can think of a number of places I want to visit! By continent, briefly:

North America:
San Fran to Vancouver roadtrip -camping along the coast.
Wine Country, California- wine and cheese in the fruitfull hills

South America:
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu- mystic hiking
Argentina/Brazil- backpacking through Latin culture
Galapagos- crusing/ diving up close with nature

Europe:
Scandinavia- midnight sun and fijords

Africa:
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda- Mt. Kili and gorillas
Namibia, South Africa- sand dunes and coast
Seychelles- idyllic diving

Asia:
Borneo, Indo- island hopping/ diving

Australia:
Perth, and Queensland- something new, something old

That being said, I am up for pretty much anything, anywhere. Be it action packed, chillaxed, culturized or bumming it- I'm down. So who's coming with me!?!?