sigh i eat pray love you miss gilbert

"People universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it."
- Elizabeth Gilbert, eat pray love

define 'cheating'

We always start off with good intentions.  And then this little friend called 'Time' strolls on into the mix and the longer she sticks around to play, the more blurred the line in the sand becomes.  Willpower is such a funny thing, and what's more is the human mind's ability to rationalize, justify and change the rules to accommodate our good intentions.

Detox 1 : Me 1
It could be much worse.  (Though I wonder perhaps if this is just my mind, in an effort to justify my hiccups, creating a comparison).  I have managed to stick to the detox recommendations made by my guru doctor for the past 10 days.  (Good god how will I manage another 20?)  Basically becoming a caeliac and a vegan in the same week is an award worthy feat.  Only twice - TWICE have I molded the rules to suit me.  Okay let's be honest - I totally just cheated.  Once - I ate sour gummy worms at work simply because I felt that I deserved them (and I don't even ever eat these!) and the second time we were at a friends place for dinner and I justified eating beef because I didn't want to make my diet interfere with her cooking plans!  (Totally selfless right?!) Outside of this I have stuck to the no wheat, no corn, no beef, no chicken, no oats, no gluten, no strawberries, no chocolate (I am deserving of sainthood for this) and the list goes on.

What's a girl to do?  What's the point more importantly?  That's right - clear skin and good health.  Except we're not seeing any results in the skin department (worsening in fact).  And I'm certainly not feeling any healthier.  Is this my evil twin convincing me that it's okay to cheat?  Perhaps.  Well - I'm only cheating myself right?  And so the next 2 weeks begin - living life to it's fullest - vegetarian with a side of gluten free.  Mmm mmm good.

divine health...

Guru's have doctors.  Funny thing isn't it?  I had just always imagined the wise sages of this world, the guru's of the present day to always remain in perfect health thanks to their infinite wisdom and connection to the divine.  As it turns out this isn't the case.  Even the most enlightened to walk this planet consult health professionals to keep their vessels balanced and in tune.  This morning I had the privilege of visiting one of these magic few.

Instead of a wand, she sported her trusty laptop.  This was hooked up to a fancy machine with a sensor conductor for one hand and a stimulant sensor 'wand' (ah there it is) for her to apply a frequency measure to different acupuncture points on the hands and feet.   The measures indicate if you are in balance or out of whack so to speak and boy can she measure just about anything.  From bananas to b vitamins to blood.  It's all connected and balance is the key.

The technique is a beautiful marriage of western science (as the machine is linked to some fifty thousand databases of medical material) and eastern medicine require a complete leap of faith that the treatment is in fact doing anything at all.  But she has a certain je ne sais quoi about her.  A slight mystery.  A quiet and calm but confident wisdom and intuition about her that taps into not only the physical symptoms of the session but the emotional spiritual body as well.  

Nearly two hours later I walked out with a complete listing of all my food and ambient sensitivities (bye bye mushrooms, citrus fruit, chocolate, strawberries, wheat) along with a calm lightness about me I cannot explain.  I have extinguished and rebalanced my candida and my adrenals.  My forever nasal voice sounds somewhat clearer (if only in my head), and though it might just be my imagination, I do feel I have a glow radiating from me that only the wise can see.

So the lists are going on the fridge alongside the Eat Clean Guidelines - boy my partners going to love this! Poor sucker!

papayalicious...

Do you fancy something whimsical, joyful, though-provoking and delightful?  Take a peak at the stunning art of the uber talented Sabrina Ward Harrison.  Check out her creations and those of a selection of other artists at Papaya Art

Sabrina on her creations:

"On a daily basis we teeter on the edge of humanity losing history through the fading cultural landscape of our country and our interconnectedness as human beings.  Though unconscious development and historical neglect. As we have barreled deeper and deeper into a technological / result driven 21st century, now more than ever I do believe we need to be brought home to the presence of our living.  To allow the restful validation of your own tender true humanity, may this work be a living ode to our living."

 

Sabrina Ward Harris        Papaya Art

Day Quattro.. sigh I miss you Quattro

Arnotts - the big food conglomerate here in Australia made famous by the ever popular Tim Tam, also has a delicious cookie called the Quattro.  Biscuit topped with smooth toffee, peanuts and dipped in chocolate.. ummmm hel-lo Quattro come to mama!  Alas, not only did Coles stop stocking Quattro (or Arnotts stopped making them) but these scrumptious lil' ditties don't exactly fall into the clean eating camp.  D'oh!  Just as well - a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!

So both days 3 and 4 of the challenge were similar.  I'm improving in the water drinking department but struggling in the eat 5-6 small meals per day category.  The plan going into the work week is to pack all my snacks/meals and bring them with me.  Wish me luck!

On a side note, we cooked up a mean Eat Clean stew last night and are licking our lips with it again tonight.  Secret ingredient = beer!  Not sure how that fits into Tosca's EC plan but I'm not arguing!

perhaps...?

Surrender  =  शरणं गच्छ
ocean = महासागर 
breathe deeply = गाढं श्वसिहि  
breathe = श्वसिहि 
NOW = अधुना
Be here now = भवात्राधुना
IN EVERY BREATH = प्रतिश्वासम्‌
Live in the moment = क्षणे जीव 

NonAttachment = अनासक्ति  
Present Moment = वर्तमानक्षण  
awaken = प्रबोध  

inner smile

I am depth.  I am grace.  I am strength beyond measure.  I am cool enough.  I am smart.  I am funky.  I am too hard on myself.  It is by this measure alone that I judge all of me against.  I am beautiful.  I breath in.  I breath out.  I am.

Good Morning day two!  Well I have to say that I was quite surprised by how drastically the 'morning ritual' changed after only 1 day of a clean diet.  Gasius Maximus!  Like a good little munchkin I downed my 500ml's of warm H20 before breakkie and then then another 500 with my organic cocoa protein powder ladden oatmeal.  Mmmmm... well sort of.  Lacking the sweetness but my fingers are crossed that this daily morning treat will get me through any chocolate cravings that are bound to creep in to the next 30 days.  Oh yes - did I mention that yesterday we determined that we'd shoot for 30days instead of 40.  Why you ask?  Well we've got a little Christmas in August banquet lined up for the 14th August and that is one day that I just cannot sacrifice the magic of gravy, perogies and all the fixin's!

So an unforeseen  pickle that has worked itself into the Eat Clean (EC) mix is the infamous Boyfriend Factor.  This principle comes into play when cooking 'sans sauces' so to speak.  Two clean dinners under our belts and so far this factor hasn't reared her ugly head to badly.  We stir fried Tosca's delish Chinese Chicken & Rice but substituted the rice for quinoa instead.  I have reignited my love for water chesnuts.  Mmmm Mmmm good.  Nothing says yum like ginger, soy sauce and water chesnuts.  My boyfriend thought it was lacking something but as long as he's full and there's some form of protein involved there doesn't seem to be too much fuss.

On the whole I'm feeling fan-bloody-tastic!  I did a delicious yoga practice this morning at home and really enjoyed getting my flow happening to music.  I listened to the One Giant Leap (What about me?) soundtrack and it just seemed to flow perfectly.  I sat on the bus on the way to work later in the day blissed out, fully in the present moment.  Breath in... breath out... that's all you've got to do.

Uno

Welcome to day one of the Eat Clean Challenge.  Goal = 40 days of strictly clean eating .  No processed food.  No added sugar.  Limited fat and alcohol as per the Eat Clean Guidelines and Eat Clean Superwoman Tosca Reno. 

So how's it going so far.  Woke up super motivated to kick start on the right foot.  Had my 500ml of water before breakfast and missed the 500ml I'm supposed to have with breakkie.  This water thang is going to take a bit to get used to.  Not that I dont' drink water it's just being conscious of how much I'm drinking and when so that I don't clue and to it when I'm already a shrivelled up cactus lady. 

Hit up Coles on my way to work and scored a purely clean lunch.  Tin of tuna, avocado, tub of mini tomatoes and a cuke.  Seems like enough food for lunch - we'll see how we go!  Avo and salt is soo delish.  Better drink more aqua to quench it's effects!  Back to work.

Pretty hungry leaving work today.  I really need to look at packing an extra snack so that I don't cave to all the yummy smells wafting in from all the cafes on the way home.  Swing by Coles en route and pick up some Quinoa Pasta (omg - so delish!) and made up a nice pumpkin, spinach and tomota pasta.  Had to have seconds so as to sneaking into the kitchen in response to the gluttanous chocoholics delight featured on Masterchef in search of anything remotely cocoa related. 

Eat Clean Day Uno bites the dust.

Baz Luhrman - Sunscreen Speech

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of 2010 wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh - never mind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you cant grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked... You're not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other peoples hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind...the race is long, and in the end its only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what to do with your life...the most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year old's I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you wont, maybe youll have children, maybe you wont, maybe youll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary... what ever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either - your choices are half chance, so are everybody elses.

Enjoy your body, use it every way you can... don't be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, its the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance...even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, youll never know when theyll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, price will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you'll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair, or by the time its 40, it will look 85.

Be careful who advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than its worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen..

Desiterata - "Things to be desired"

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

By Max Ehrmann

Credo for Living...

KNOW THYSELF. I AM STRONGER TODAY. I AM MARRIED TO MYSELF FIRST. I AM BEAUTIFUL EVEN IN MY UGLIEST MOMENTS. TO ATTEMPT TO BE PERFECT IS TO LIMIT MYSELF. I WILL LISTEN BUT I WILL MAKE MY OWN DESTINY. I AM A FIGHTER AND A CONQUEROR BUT I CHOOSE MY BATTLES DELIBERATELY. THE GREAT LOVE RESIDES WITHIN ME. DO NOT MISTAKE ME FOR ONE WHO IS WEAK. THE LIGHT SHINES IN EVEN THE GREATEST OF TEMPEST. I GROW. LAUGHTER SHALL BE MY CALLING CARD. EACH DAY I STOP BLAMING ONE MORE PERSON. TODAY I WILL STANDOUT FROM THE CROWD. SILENCE DOES NOT SCARE ME. I LEARN. I TEACH. I SOAR HIGH ABOVE THE MOUNTAIN TOPS. HOPELESSNESS AND DESPAIR SHALL NOT DEFEAT ME. EVEN IN MY DARKEST MOMENT I AM NOT ALONE. THE STRENGTH OF MY ANCESTORS COURSES THROUGH MY VEINS. I SHALL LIVE LONG BEYOND MY LAST BREATH.

Courtesy of Black Dove - Written by: L.T.H. Jackson

have you ever sat so still that you can feel your heartbeat?


try this.


find yourself a quiet comfortable space to sit. free from all the outwardly distractions of the modern world. turn off your mobile phone.. or at least - put it on silent.


now - close your eyes. ask yourself: am i comfortable. adjust yourself as needed keeping your eyes closed. now begin to come into the breath. just begin to notice and observe it's ebbs and flows in and out of your body. notice the gentle almost imperceptible swaying of the body as it washes over you. flow with it. sway with it. notice how soothing this feels.


draw your attention now to the sensation in your core. feel your ribs expand as your inhale, feel them gently relax with each exhale. notice your belly fill with each inhale, notice it soften with each exhale. imagine a glowing star of light burning bright at your core. breath into this space. as you breath into it the light burns brighter like the flame of a campfire being stoked.


as you breath light into your heart center, notice the length of your breath. continue to breath here as you bring your attention once again to the slow, steady rhythmic beating of your heart. use your heartbeat as your metronome of the soul. select a count of beats for your inhale and match this count to your exhale. maybe its 3 beats in, hold for 2 beats, 3 beats out. gradually lengthen the count until you are steady and comfortable and calm. if you are able, begin to lengthen your exhale so that is longer than your inhale. for example - breath in for 4, hold for 2, out for 6, hold for 2. repeat this - modify your counts as you require to maintain a slow steady pace.

watch the light of your heart center as it continues to glow brighter with each inhale like a pulsing flame. feel it's warmth radiate outward reaching lightness and fullness to every cell in your body. feel yourself soften and calm. you are at one with the light. you are the light. sit with this in silence and stillness.


when you are ready, begin to bring your attention back into the space, the sounds you hear, the sensations of the floor or seat beneath you against your body. begin to slowly bring movement into your extremities. wiggle your fingers and toes. take 3 or 4 deep slow breaths. curl the edges of your mouth up in a slight, cheeky smile, grateful for the wisdom of your own inner perfection you've begun to connect with.
slowly and gradually open your eyes.
namaste.

Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu

लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवंतु
May all beings everywhere be happy and free
and may the thoughts, words and actions of my
own life contribute in some way to that
happiness and to that freedom for all.

vancouver island at dusk... sigh - bliss to the max

living in the moment could just be the meaning of life...

get by with a little help from my Friend...

om

namah shivaya gurave

(i offer myself to the light, the auspicious lord, who is the true teacher within and without)

saccidananda murtaye

(who assumes the forms of reality, consciousness and bliss)

nisprapancaya shantay

(who is never absent and is full of peace)

niralmbaya tejase

(independent in existence, and is the vital essence of illumination)

om