This past weekend I was at a conference and heard this amazing statistic about Americans.  80% of Americans consider themselves to be unhappy due to depression, anxiety, stress, health concerns and the economy.  I immediately had to ask myself – am I part of that 80%? 

 The shocking truth is - I was stressed, anxious for something that seems allusive and this silly economy is definitely pissing me off…Starkly, truthfully, painfully I had fallen out of the happy 20% to join the unhappy choir.  I do not want to be in that unhappy 80%. 

 It’s not that there aren’t real and valid complaints/issues in this large group.  Far from it – there is rejection, poverty, absolute victims, poor health, mental illness, and abandonment – it’s all in there and more, but I chose to leave that behind me.

 I have a friend who started taking anti-depressant pills this year and not surprisingly there were some that didn’t approve.  Let me be clear – I absolutely believe for each person the path to wholeness is unique.  Some are able to find healing through alternative approaches and some through the chemicals of modern science.  Whatever helps you become telios – the best you, you can be – is what I support. 

 I could not presume to know all the alleys and avenues to your peace – beware the friends who want to tell you how to live your life – for your own good…Are you one of those friends???

 But I digress; my friend has chosen to leave the 80% because she is no longer anchored not only to the past, but also to what others are thinking – more appropriately, their approval.  My friend has every good and valid reason for remaining in the 80% - she comes by her wounds bluntly, but here’s the thing – you are unhappy and that is exhausting.  She has tried everything and I do mean everything, yet still she struggled unhappily.   However there was always this nagging feeling that life can feel good and in balance and gratefully, now she is experiencing this very life…

 I think this is why the 80% stay unhappy – they do not believe happiness is truly possible for them – maybe for other people, but not them.  Somehow through life the belief that other people, but not you, are happy becomes imbedded.  It’s not a choice so much as a result of experience, example or habit. 

 If you are unhappy now, I encourage you to make a shift – in your thinking, in your habits, or even seek support if needed, but know that you too deserve to be happy.  It is possible for you too – life feels good and it is in balance…

Let go of the stress and be guided into relaxation easily and effortlessly…

If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed or a little out of control - try these quick fixes to ground yourself into your body again.

 1.       Breath.  Breathe deeply into your stomach until you feel your body internally relax.  No holding your breath!  Flow.

 2.       Touch.  Massage your lower abdominal muscles.  Rub the space between your stomach and pubic bone in a circular motion – creating heat.  Notice your shoulders relax and your breath deepens…

 3.       Heat.  Place heating pads along your core (front or back) and/or shoulders to release tension.

 4.       Short guided meditation; try my new podcast on the right – guided to relaxation.  Less then 5 minutes to better thinking…

 Let me know if you have any questions…Enjoy.  

Kings of Leon deliver yet another sexy, inspired album.  For me, however, it begins bleak – skip first two tracks (I know Closer and Crawl were big abroad but seriously, it makes you feel like - slash your wrists and call it a day…depressing.) 

 The tracks Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, Manhattan, Revelry, Notion, I Want You and Be Somebody are hot, plain and simple.  Take your clothes off to the left please.  There is a reason all over the trashy magazines have pics of all these famous people having illicit affairs and attending these concerts.  This music has a naughty yet intense edge to it - listen to Be Somebody or Cold Desert to understand this concept.   

 Kings of Leon are family (3 brothers and a cousin) who named themselves in honor of a grandfather and father, “Leon.”  I think this closeness absolutely enhances the intensity of the music because they are ‘safe’ to be more vulnerable in the writing and the creation of sound.  Happy listening!  

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 is the Vernal Equinox, also known as Mabon, Harvest Home, Second Harvest, and Cornucopia.  Equinoxes are times when daylight and darkness use the same number of hours in a day and are a good time to contemplate balance in our lives.

 It is time to bring in the harvest—Mother Earth gives her children nourishment and abundance to help them prepare for the winter and darkness. During this time we give thanks for the abundance that the long days and sunlight have given, we also take this moment to balance, to rest, to simply be, and prepare ourselves for winter’s slumber. 

 Maybe you are struggling to discern what abundance has come into your life.  Maybe you, like many others, have had a difficult year thus far and are not feeling very abundant.  I encourage you to look again with a different idea of abundance – abundance is not just about material rewards.  It also encompasses your emotional, spiritual and physical self. 

 Have you discovered an inner strength that has carried you through difficult days?  Are there new people in your life that have made things better?  Have you learned any new skills or attitudes that can help in the future? 

 Years ago I had a friend who hated the fall equinox.  For her it was the death of summer.  It triggered fears of ‘not enough’ and dark, dark days ahead.  As much as I sympathized with her feelings, I adore the fall.  Sweaters come back and fires are lit again.

 The shedding leaves remind me of gold falling from the sky – for me and everyone.  I love the idea of nature slipping into slumber again – to be restored and rejuvenated.  It is a time when we each can re-discover quiet hobbies again, like reading, knitting, baking, playing cards and games…

 My new podcast of a Harvest Meditation can help you discover new abundance and gifts maybe you have overlooked.  May it help you to connect to your own abundance here and now.  For long nights are coming and peace is waiting for you to step into… 

I’m not sure you can teach happiness.  It’s really a by-product of listening to your heart, laughter or of even appreciating the beauty that surrounds you each day.  I’m not going to spin some ‘Polly-anna’ nonsense that every day could be sweet bliss.  Nope, it just doesn’t work that way, but what I can promise you is most days could be happy.

 It’s about where do you put your attention.  Do you focus on what you don’t have or what you do have?  Not sure - just try listening to yourself for a day.  Are you complaining or celebrating your life?  Are you pointing out the flaws in life, people, yourself?  Or are you noticing the leaves are just beginning to turn golden and fiery and maybe, just maybe that heralds in a more abundant time, a new beginning…

 What do you see?

What can you harvest from your life right now?  What fruits have been nurtured during these warm months only to be revealed today?  Let’s explore the possibilities together through guided meditation.  Come, receive your Harvest today.

I didn’t pick this movie night.  I was a little apprehensive for another Quentin Tarantino blood fest.  Happily, it wasn’t the gore that got you, it’s the tension.  Yes, there are moments best spent with your eyes closed (the skin carving) but I tell you – get thee to this movie!

 Gallows’ humor and wicked characters abound throughout this film.  How much did I love Lt. Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender) switching from German to the “King’s word” at death’s door, finishing his fine scotch and starting the gunfight – all while looking unflappable and gorgeous???  Or Christoph Waltz’s Col. Hans Landa in any scene – he is unbelievably dislikable yet disturbingly hypnotic.   And finally Brad Pitt returns to the roles he shines in – character acting (remember SNATCH?)  There is not one weak performance in the bunch and you know they all had a blast making the film.

 One of the qualities I like best in Tarantino movies is he believes his audience to be smart.  Of course there are echoes of earlier movies (The Dirty Dozen) – that’s the point, he takes it further.  It’s like a tip of your hat and now, see what I’m going to do. 

 I loved the use of several different languages and the opening scene would never have worked otherwise – oh my God, the tension was almost unbearable.  It was what was off camera that created the tension - I was feverishly worried his daughters were not safe outside all while Col. Hans Landa held sway…Get thee to this film! 

Are you having difficulty communicating?  Computers crashing?  Dropped phone calls?  Guess what?  It’s Mercury Retrograde!  Mercury went retrograde either September 6^th or 7^th depending on your time zone.  Mercury will be retrograde until September 29^th (Thank God the end is in sight!) 

I like this combination of rehashing and rebirth.  The stars are truly aligning for your most abundant life, but can you accept it?  Do you dare to resolve and let go of the issues that have bound you to a less-then life?  The door is opening, I invite you to step through…Come, your dreams are waiting for you to step in…

Why is the line so thin sometimes?  It all came down to the tooth fairy.  My son is six years old and lost his first tooth this past summer.  Let me tell you we were awaiting this event with much anticipation as his older sister lost her first tooth at four years old and has yet to stop. 

 It happened in the morning – lost the tooth during breakfast.  With big cheers all around, we discussed where to put it in his room (his tooth fairy pillow) and not to worry.  The sitter that night would help him with his note to the tooth fairy…

 …I woke up the next morning to the sounds of a wailing child.  Running into his room and I cry panicked, “What’s wrong?”

 Tears streaming down his face, he croaks with a cracked voice, “The tooth fairy doesn’t like me – look.”  And there is was, the tooth still sat in its pocket and no money.  The horror!  We had forgotten – bad Mommy, bad Mommy.

 Without missing a beat I reply, “Didn’t Caitlin tell you?  The tooth fairy called last night to let us know she might not be able to make it here as she was stuck down in Africa with a family of naked mole rats.  You know they only have two teeth, so missing a tooth is pretty serious business down there.”  (Notice - blame the sitter was my first avenue…)

 Tears stop.  With a sniff and a rubbing of the eyes, he says with hope restored, “Really?”

 “Really.  I thought Caitlin let you know.  (Again blame the sitter – who we love mind you.)  Not to worry – everything will work out.  How about donuts for breakfast?” I smile feeling all of 3 feet tall.

 The next morning my son ran into our room with a glowing smile and dollar in each hand.  “Look Mommy, I got two dollars and I bet I know why.  I was patient and believed it was all going to work out!  And look it did.  It’s good to be patient.” 

 I kid you not – that is what he said.  How quickly the line tilts toward genius as he has learned about patience and delayed gratification.  Good mommy, good Mommy. 

 While on vacation later in the summer my daughter lost another tooth and again the tooth fairy got stuck somewhere (north pole - with the polar bears) missing the first day after.  And again all was right the next day. 

 Amusingly I know these stories have another life – after the identity of the tooth is revealed, in a few years.  Many, many years from now I expect to get phone calls from my grandkids telling me the tooth fairy would be coming the next day as she got stuck in India with the Bengal Tigers or in Australia with the kangaroo family and I will remind her gentle, not to worry.  It will all work out.  Did you go for donuts?