We are the sum total of every choice we've ever made up to this point.
How you're feeling right now has a direct correlation to the choices
you've made in the last 24hrs, week, etc. Did you drink too much last
night? Did your daughter just give you a big hug? Are you anxious
because you don't have the funds to pay rent? The choices we make are
vital to how our lives will ultimately turn out. We're making choices at
every moment. Some small - large Americano, no room for milk - and some
large - I'll take the red Volkswagen EOS, please. Whatever the
importance, each choice we make is like a flag on the map of our lives,
designing its course. The course changes dependent upon the choices we
make, which further shapes our happiness level and our quality of life.
Are you looking over your life wondering: How did I get here? Its based
on the conscious and unconscious choices you've made in the past, and
the choices you've allowed others to make for you. This is probably the
most disturbing. Once, I remember taking a job at a place where the
owner assured me that they'd promote my new service. I made the choice
to believe them and leave it in their hands. They did not promote me,
which shaped my working there. This taught me to always take care of
myself in business, even if someone swears that they'll take care of
everything. This is a common example but one that can happen easily when
we allow others to make important decisions for us, or when we opt out
of making a choice (which IS making a choice). I'm not saying that we
shouldn't trust and let other people make decisions once in awhile over
little things, but rather I'm drawing attention to the importance of
'driving your own car' in life. When we observe how we make choices,
what's important (our value-system), respect ourselves and others in the
process - then, we can make better choices and move in the direction of
optimal opportunity towards the life we desire.
To that point,
astrologically speaking, Mercury has gone retrograde today. This is a
time where people review and take stock of their lives. So as you look
at your life today, how's it going? Relationship - great, money - bad.
Or is everything going well, but people think you're an egomaniac? Look
at the choices you've made in the areas of your life that could use
improvement. What have they been and how did they bring you to this
point? What value-system are they based on, and how can you make better
decisions next time? Make a different choice and go with it. It just may
surprise you!
Spring has sprung and 'tis the season for renewal and transformation. Isn't it about time?
Take care of yourselves and each other,
Daydree
Daydree is a Reiki Master/Teacher who
lives and works in Los Angeles. She is a registered member of
International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP). To book an appt call: (310) 581-9238 www.myoshun.com
So many people are obsessed with losing weight, but not all are interested in getting healthier. When we’re healthier we feel lighter, younger, we do better at our jobs and in our relationships…and yes, if need be, as a by-product of being healthier - we lose weight. Most importantly, however, the quality of our life is enhanced. Here are a few tips with a few twists…
Walking
At this point, everyone should know that this is the easiest and safest way to feel better, look better and get healthier. A 20-minute walk once a day is often recommended. Twist: However, if this cardio isn’t working for you and you are trying to lose weight, try sprinting midway through your walk for as long as you can as a boost in your metabolism. This will push the body to drop a few pounds especially if you’re weight has plateaued.
Yoga
The great thing about yoga is…just about everything. Yoga increases flexibility, detoxifies the body, helps release stress, focuses the mind, lowers blood pressure, improves blood circulation in the body, and depending on the type of yoga class – yoga strengthens muscles and helps you lose weight. For a twist on the usual yoga class, try power yoga for a more intense cardio and strength training experience. If you’re in the Los Angeles area and looking for a great power yoga class to explore, check out this teacher… Rudy Mettia is very knowledgeable about the human body and will guide you through a strong, informative and fun class. Be aware, you might even laugh out loud while in plank position...and that's a good thing.
Food
Obviously eating less fried, fatty, and sugary foods is best because they’re high in calories. However, if you do this already and still feel weighed down after eating, you may want to check if you’re eating too many carbohydrates, too much dairy or intolerant to Gluten. Of course, follow the conventional rules of not lying down after eating and consume no more than your own fist-size amount of food for each meal. A twist to this tip: Try to avoid eating carbs for dinner. Have your protein for dinner and your carbs for lunch. This can help drop a couple of stubborn pounds.
Sleep
Get at least 7.5 hours of sleep a night. Consistent lack of sleep can cause fatigue, which affects our energy levels, also we’re grumpier and the brain is not as sharp. Also, when we skimp on our sleep we’re more apt to add pounds because we lower our metabolism.
Meditation
Get quiet. For at least 15 minutes each day, try meditation. You don’t have to do it as a religious practice, the purpose is to quiet the mind. So whatever you’re religion or choice of spirituality, just get quiet for at least 15 minutes each day. If you have a beautiful picture window of flowers, look out while taking slow deep breaths. If you like walking on the beach, sit on the sand for a few minutes and take slow deep breaths. When we feel rested in the mind, we’re better for the world, we’re more pleasant, relaxed and our quality of life is enhanced.
Joy
Life can be challenging. We all know this. Sometimes we don’t have the love we want, just had a car accident, just broke a nail – whatever the challenge, large or small, we should always venture to find the joy in life. Studies have shown that people who are in touch with their joy live longer and look younger. So connect to your favorite people this weekend, play with your children, volunteer your time to an ailing person, engage in a moment that feels good and brings joy to yourself and others. And if you tend to be a ‘glass half empty’ person, maybe simply being with the one you love is enough to keep you smiling.
Take care of yourselves and each other…
Daydree is a Reiki practitioner who lives and works in Los Angeles. She is a registered member of International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP). To book an appt call: (310) 581-9238 www.myoshun.com
All of us crave some kind of romantic, intimate connection with another person. However, finding that special one can often be elusive especially in this fast paced, highly technological world. We’ve become what many have called a hi-tech low touch society where we can find ourselves in a text conversation that lasts all day, as opposed to simply having a drink or dinner with the same person that might only take 2 hours. Deep connections with others enhance our lives. We all want them, but don’t always know how to obtain them, especially when it comes to romantic relationships. Below are a few things to do in order to get ready for love. The List
We’ve all heard about making a list of the qualities you want in a partner. This is vital when becoming available to meeting your mate, especially if you’ve been single for a while. In creating the list, you are saying two things – I am open to meeting the right person, and I am claiming and putting out to the Universe what I want for my life with this person. Another reason it is valuable to write your preferred list is when we meet someone after having been single for sometime, we’re usually so relieved and happy to have met the person that we become enamored with them for the attention they give us, and not for the actual person and their qualities. As a result, the relationship can fail because we didn’t choose the right person, we chose the attention. In this case lists are good because they hold us accountable for sticking to what we say we want in a love relationship. When writing the list, it should have 2 columns: Desires and Dealbreakers. The “Desires” column is what you want and the “Dealbreakers” column consists of what you need. The Desires side usually is a lot longer than the Dealbreakers and is usually filled with fantasy wishes like “he’ll always have washboard abs” or “he’ll always say the right things”. Dealbreakers, however, are items that you’ve thought long and hard about and that you are certain you cannot live without. By the way, cheating, physical, mental or emotional abuses, as well as drug/alcohol addiction are a few of the most common dealbreakers for both women and men.
Check Yourself
Are you ready for this? There’s a difference between being ready and being scared. If you’re scared… you can still get ready. Remember, you’re not alone. Especially these days, and the older we get - it can be daunting hoping to find “the one”. Check in with your self-confidence. For example, if you’re not feeling good about your physical appearance, gain more body confidence by joining a great dance class, yoga class, assess your eating habits, or if you tend to be anxious and stressed about the whole process, try Reiki to relax and recalibrate your energy (which can directly effect your feelings). This will boost your self-confidence. Also, look at your attitude. We need to be kind, respectful and warm toward others, if we expect the same. Lastly, be open for the adventure of courtship and expect to be pleasantly surprised by the whole process. Attitude is everything. Undoubtedly, you will draw unto you what you believe.
Online Dating
Be open to online dating. It’s not for everyone, but there are many people who have found their life partners, husbands and wives on dating sites. This is a positive where technology and love can come together for your betterment when you haven’t met someone the old-fashioned way.
Here are 3 important tips to remember when online dating: #1 It’s always best to make your first dates in a coffee/tea shop. This way, no one expects anything from you in exchange for coffee. #2 Don’t have anyone that you’ve never met pick you up at your home no matter how nice they seem on the phone or email. #3 Tell a good friend where and when you’re meeting the date. Safety first.
*Onlinedatingservices.net lists the top 10 dating services online including detailed descriptions of each site.
Wing Person
Every single individual should have one. When you’re becoming open to the dating world, it is common to go out for a drink or coffee in the hopes of meeting that special someone. This is best done with your “wing person”. Basically, a wing man/woman is a friend, usually of the same sex, who hangs out with you in a restaurant/bar while you’re hoping the person of your dreams will come by and show interest. They can act as a “look out” to spot your potential love interest for you. Also, a wing person is helpful because they provide a “buffer” between you and the potential love interest for relaxed, no pressure, introductory conversation should the love interest pop over for a chat. This is a wonderful scenario for getting to know someone in a fun, safe way – with your friend present. Furthermore, your wing man/woman is beneficial for emotional support throughout the entire dating process. Statistics show that when we feel supported and loved, we are more apt to attract the love we ultimately desire for our lives.
Daydree is a Reiki practitioner who lives and works in Los Angeles. She is a registered member of International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP). To book an appt call: (310) 581-9238 www.myoshun.com
Many of us have intimate relationships but struggle to have the optimum relationship where we feel at our best with our partner. Often times we’re exuding unhealthy behavior patterns and don’t even know it. For example: there’s an “issue” that repeats itself and causes conflict, or we’re not communicating well with each other, etc. Regardless of your particular challenge, here are a few tips that should help you create a healthier love relationship. Listen Between the Lines
Some of us aren’t the best communicators. It is said, that men specifically are not. Is this true? According to Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender, and Culture, men communicate when the goals of talking are to exert control, preserve independence or enhance status. This is not helpful when it comes to love relationships, however. Therefore, to avoid frustration and ease communication with your partner, it is important to listen to what they’re saying between the lines. By that I mean, if he/she gets very upset because the cable isn’t working properly, it could just be they’re feeling neglected in some way. Listen with your heart, not with your head. Sometimes what we’re complaining about is not really what’s bothering us.
Autonomy
The first thing couples tend to do when they’re in a relationship is spend lots of time together. There’s nothing wrong with this at all - it’s called nesting. However, at times one individual needs more space than the other. Typically, in heterosexual relationships, it is the man that needs more space (not always, of course). Let him/her have their space. Let them go out with their friends and let them have their alone time and games – no matter how silly you may think they are to you. Everyone needs to feel autonomous. You can act as a team when you’re a couple, but you’re still individuals within the relationship and should still take individual time to do your own thing.
Couple time
It is 2011 and almost everyone has a cell phone. Do not check your Blackberry incessantly while on a date. As a matter of fact, unless you have children or about to meet someone else right after your meal, your mobile device should not be anywhere near the dinner table. Communication with your partner is the most important part of the relationship. Going on a date is a time for bonding with your mate – not your phone.
Don’t argue in public
We all can irritate each other. No one person has perfect moments. However, we want to avoid bickering in public with our partners. It’s embarrassing to them and the person arguing with them, whether they know it or not. Furthermore, the one who is being reprimanded in public will eventually breed resentment towards the other. Some say, there’s an exception to this rule - if the arguing couple is doing so in front of friends. On the contrary, this is actually worse because now your friends are embarrassed to go out with you, but don’t want to say anything because you’re all friends. The solution: If your partner is making you crazy and you’re out in public, hold your tongue until you get home.
Avoid fighting dirty
One last thing on arguing, don’t fight dirty. This can leave lasting wounds and unforgivable moments. Fighting dirty means saying extremely negative things about or to your partner during a fight simply because your angry, but you don’t actually mean it. This usually comes about because of extreme frustration. For example, “You’re the most selfish person I’ve ever met, I don’t even know why I’m with you.” Even though, you didn’t mean what you said, you’ve still said it and it’s been heard. That person may never be able to forget your harsh words; and furthermore, it will color future interactions they have with you. Consistent behavior of this nature breeds resentment, insecurity and can lead to a break-up. Stick to the topic of what you’re in disagreement about, and work on fixing that to bring about harmony. Don’t get lost in emotion and speak from your frustrated place.
Sweet surprises
Surprise your partner with something he/she loves every once in a while. It is a very nurturing thing to do. If you ever had a parent put a note of love in your lunch box or surprise you with your favorite treat, you will understand this gesture. These sweet surprises are usually best when it’s something just the two of you understand and can be small or seemingly insignificant to any other person. A sweet sentiment placed on a post-it note in their wallet or briefcase is a good example.
Be patient
None of us is perfect. And when we get into a relationship, we have many expectations and visions of the way we imagine things should go. Be patient with yourself and with your partner as you learn about each other. Even if you’ve been with someone for 10 years, you’re still learning about him or her. They may have a quality that you don’t particularly like, but guaranteed you have a quality they don’t like that much either. However, when you love someone, you may not like everything about them, but love the whole package because that makes up the whole individual and ultimately, the person you’ve chosen as your partner.
Daydree is a Reiki practitioner who lives and works in Los Angeles. She is a registered member of International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP). To book an appt call: (310) 581-9238 www.myoshun.com
The PB Syndrome
If your friends or colleagues have ever referred to you as the one with the “strong personality”, “natural leader” and/or an “intense person”, this article may be for you. Strong personalities tend to be the leaders in the work environment. At times there are 2 or more of these powerful beings (we’ll call them PB’s) in the office at the same time, working together for the common good. However, at times they don’t work together all that well and can butt heads. I call this the PB syndrome. The PB syndrome is when one of the two powerful beings has feelings of insecurity, lack, or conflict with the other simply because they cannot cope with the intensity or strength of the other person’s character. To the PB feeling insecure, it appears that the other powerful being is overwhelming them or “swallowing” their energy. This can potentially lead to the insecure PB acting out in anger towards the other person because they’re fighting to regain their power. Here’s the good news: Two strong personality types can survive in a working relationship. However, there must be several elements present in order for it to work - mutual respect, flow of power, praise, listening or giving someone the floor.
Let’s say there’s an office meeting and you’re one of the leaders (PB and you share some great ideas. Another PB has ideas too and makes their points in a very effective way. In your mind, your points now seem smaller, you’re in awe of the other, and you might even become envious. A solution is to respect their new idea, as it’s just as important as yours and does not devalue it. These two great points of view can stand together. Also, focus on the good points of the other PB’s idea and how it will help the common good of the office. Draw your attention to the fact that working together is about the team and not the individual, so no one person needs to be on top.
To deal with feeling overwhelmed or “swallowed” by another PB, try taking a deep breath to release the emotions you’re feeling, then focus your listening on the points that are being made – devoid of emotion. Respecting their strength and viewpoints while respecting your own, is in effect allowing both of your powerful energies to exist together, freely moving between the two of you. This will make both of you feel safe, secure and confident. The antithesis of this is overly controlling behavior patterns and disastrous communication, which will break down the team. Remember a powerful being and true leader is someone who is able to move and inspire an entire group of leaders and followers, towards a common goal working together.
Daydree is a Reiki practitioner who lives and works in Los Angeles. She is a registered member of International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP). To book an appt call: (310) 581-9238 www.myoshun.com
Reiki in the New Year
By the time January rolls around, most of us are ready for a change from the old year and ready to put new years resolutions into play. Out with the old and in with the new. However, we’re not always equipped mentally and emotionally to execute the changes that we seek. By that I mean we’re often over-tired from the holidays, feel strapped money-wise, and not sure if we have the energy to make our goals happen.
Reiki is an essential way to relax, release unwanted tension, and recalibrate ourselves for the new year with energy. Reiki is an ancient Japanese practice well over 150 years old, where the practitioner’s hands are placed on the individual to release emotional, mental and physical stress/pain. This ancient practice helps to balance the left and right brain - centering and grounding us, and release stress in the emotional body that deters us from optimum living.
We human beings are the most effective when we’re the most balanced.
We tune up our cars so they’re at their best for the roads, why wouldn’t we do this for ourselves to get ready for the new year, new goals and aspirations?
Daydree is a Reiki practitioner who lives and works in Los Angeles. She is a registered member of International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP). To book an appt call: (310) 581-9238
One
of the biggest jokes on human beings is that while trying to control
everything in our lives, ultimately, we have very little control over
our lives - especially when it comes to Mother Nature.
The plan was simple. Get on the plane non-stop on December 27th, to LAX. Get home in time to relax a few days, then create a romantic 5-course meal for New Years Eve. Here's what actually happened...
One
to two feet of snow was predicted to hit New York City the day after
Christmas. My boyfriend and I were scheduled to return to Los Angeles
from New York 2 days after Christmas. Since the weathermen tend to be
wrong about these types of things, we assumed we'd get a few inches, and
the airport would be cleaned right up in time for us to get outta
dodge. Clearly
our plan was derailed. The airports were closed on the 27th, so when we
went online to our airline's site for more information there
was none. We also couldn't get anyone on the phone to let us know when
our flight would actually leave - the lines were constantly busy.
We kept watching the news for a sign that the airports would reopen
that evening. It wasn't looking good. However I had a plan. We'd get up
around 5am, go straight to the airport and surely we'd get on some
standby flight, or in an extreme case - pay a few extra hundred to leave
on a different airline all together. We
kept watching the news - over one thousand flights were canceled in all
three major NYC airports and folks were sleeping in the airports on
conveyor belts. Hmmm...not looking good at all.
Instead of going
straight to the airport at 5am, I called instead. After an hour and a
half of wrangling and haggling on the phone with our nameless airline,
we finally got tickets reserved and were leaving that afternoon for Los
Angeles through San Francisco. No longer non-stop, but we weren't
complaining. We
had control of the situation and we were going home. Good news! I woke
my boyfriend to let him know. We were thrilled and already celebrating.
Getting out
of our block was a joke. So later that afternoon, we waited across the
street for our cab to arrive and carefully take us to the airport.
Brooklyn was a nightmare. Sanitation hadn't cleaned much of the snow in
the neighborhood, so cars were abandoned and broken down all across the
avenue.
JFK airport
- We check in 3 hrs early and go straight to the fanciest place in the
airport to have a drink and shrimp cocktails. We were so happy to be on
our way. DH (my boyfriend) and I toasted and celebrated the blessing of
having everything work out. We headed to our gate at the appointed time
and the lady at our gate says, "Your flight is canceled." Canceled? How
can that be? There was no announcement and we were not contacted. She
repeated herself rather deadpan. Everyone around us had the same
helpless look. We knew we should probably stay around the airport and
get a flight out instead of going back home in such treacherous road
conditions. We tried to get booked on another flight. "All flights to
Los Angeles have been canceled and some San Francisco flights too.
Sorry. We can get you out on January 6th however..." January 6th?! It's
the 28th! Ok. Ground yourself. Think. Vision for something better. Think
positively. I decided to try them all. My boyfriend and I decided to
have a pow-wow. The result: Since the airline couldn't help us out with a
guarantee, we'd try standby. There was another flight leaving the next
morning (29th) at 7:30am going to SF. It was just added and we'd surely
get on. Our gate person was very positive and had actually moved us up
in standby to 5th place, up from 22nd. Good news! Since the flight was
so early the next day and there was such a problem getting into my
family's neighborhood because of the snow, we decided to stay at the
airport. Yes, sleep at the airport.
I'd never slept at an airport
before, but I figured - everyone else seems to be doing it, so it can't
be that bad (pause here for laughter). My boyfriend decided to request
some cots. Wonderful. There weren't any available. Wonderful. Everywhere
we looked in JFK individuals, families, dogs - were crashed out on the
bare floor. Some had cardboard underneath them as a "protective" layer,
but most were on the floor - a select few were sleeping sideways and
diagonal in chairs. I looked at DH in despair. He said, "Let's find
ourselves a corner and I'll go find us some cardboard, ok? Everything's
gonna be fine." Sure enough, he returned with some cardboard with little
hearts on it (apparently it was a box for chocolate candies), two $10
neck pillows, 4 bottles of water and a bag of Hershey kisses. What a
guy.
I found it difficult sleeping on our new cardboard bed. I
wonder why? Anyhow, New York's finest patrolled a few times during the
night. I wanted to run over and hug them but was too exhausted. Shift to
the right. My lower back is killing me. No, really? Shift to the left.
"I need something under my hip", DH says. "Yeah... a bed", I reply. He
decides to make up a game, "Let's play - What could be worse than this?
I'll start." He continues, "If I woke up tied to a bed, with peanut
butter and jelly on my testicles and a wolverine in the room... that
would be worse than this." We roar with laughter. This little game kept
us occupied for a spell, and then we tried to sleep. Well, we mostly
tossed and turned. I probably actually slept 30 minutes. I've always had
compassion for the homeless, but after that experience, it has
certainly quadrupled.
The next morning we headed to our gate -
or shall I say, dragged ourselves to the gate for standby. All the
while, folks were murmuring, "It's going to be so good to get home." One
teenage girl traveling with her friends actually danced through the
night to her iPod with excitement because she was finally getting home. We
were standing next to each other. Then, the announcement and
realization that we weren't getting on the flight. My little teenage
friend screamed, "No!" Grown women were crying. A few men were yelling
in disgust. Seriously, it was not a good scene. DH and I looked at each
other. We were in agreement, we couldn't sleep another night in the
airport and the back log of standby passengers had increased to the
hundreds. We were obviously not getting home on this airline anytime
soon. We called other airlines. "Well, maybe we could possibly,
hopefully, get you on this other flight for $1200 per person...but just
to Denver. Would you like that? But we can't guarantee it." Ah...no,
thanks. We considered renting a car to drive across country, but all
rental places wanted their car returned to the same location. I asked my
boyfriend, "Have you ever traveled by train, DH? That might be our best
bet. I love trains. They can be very soothing." It was his first time.
So we made a
reservation right there and then, took a cab to New York's Penn Station
December 29th and got on Amtrak's Southwest Chief bound for LA,
changing trains in Chicago. I called my family. "Well we didn't get on
any of the flights and we can't do another night in the airport, so
we're traveling cross country by train." My Mom, "What? Oh Lord. Well,
good. When do you get in?" January 1st. So much for the 5-course New
Years Eve dinner.
The NY cab ride from JFK to Penn Station was a blog in and of itself.
But I digress...
Penn
Station - We arrived at the ticket booth and already had reserved
seats, but realized we needed a sleeper car for the journey. There
weren't any. The sweet grandfatherly ticket agent said, "Well, who
knows? It is the holidays. Maybe someone will cancel their ticket for
the last leg of your journey and you can get a sleeper from Chicago to
LA. You never know." DH & I looked at each other. Well, the seats
are really roomy and they do recline...that should help. Our train was
delayed...but only 15 minutes. A win!
I've always
loved trains. The have a meditative quality about them. The motion, the
endless scenery outside the large windows... DH & I cracked our
books and relaxed. We felt so grateful to be finally on our way. Or were
we? We kept stopping - more than normal. What is up with this train?
Apparently it was so cold outside that our horn, located at the top of
the train, was frozen. For this reason we had to slow down - almost to a
walking pace - as we approached every signal. And guess what? There
were a lot of signals. We basically crawled our way through Upstate New
York. Then, the power went out. The power decided to leave the train.
Goodbye! Don't like this train anymore. No power for you! DH & I
look at each other. This is the time when you meditate, pray,
whatever... something. He says, "What the hell?" I reply, "I know.
They'll send us another car and we'll get power from that one. I've
experienced this before." I went to college in Upstate New York and
traveled by train frequently...but I'd forgotten this part. (sigh)
This
crazy slow down, speed up thing went on for miles...and miles. And the
next thing you know - it was so cold that the signals outside were
frozen and not working as well! We were slowing down even more. I could
walk to LA at this rate. (We both took a deep breath.) Luckily, it was
time for dinner. Distractions can be sweet. We had two options - the
snack car or the fancy dining car. We decided to go big, and went for
the dining car experience. We made a reservation for 7pm. Very exciting!
Table for 2 please. "Ma'am, since it's just the two of you, you'll be
sitting with another couple." DH is a pretty private guy, so the
awareness that we'd have to share our table with strangers was not
appealing. Off his look, I flatly stated, "Sometimes in life, you just
have to go with the change of the tide." He shrugged, then gave me a
fist pump of agreement. Yay team! Off to the next mini adventure. We sat
with a lovely elderly couple from Rochester, NY who had just come from
visiting their son and his family. Salt of the earth folks. Next thing
you know DH is leading the conversation, we're all joking around and
actually enjoying our manicotti with a side of limp string beans. Plus
we ordered some red wine - always helps. After dinner, we made our way
back to our chairs and reclined. DH looked at me, "Well that wasn't that
bad." Nope. Sometimes the challenges we fear, once we're in them, seem
like nothing at all.
Chicago - We pulled into Chicago a few
hours late because of our frozen horn issue and realized we had 2 hours
to spare. I love Chicago, especially the food, so I mention to DH that
we should try a nice steakhouse if we could find one. We synchronize our
watches and fall upon the nicest cabbie on earth right outside the
station - Nicholas from Togo, West Africa. I truly believe his heart was
10 times bigger than his 5' 2" frame. We first needed an iPod charger,
so he dropped us at Radio Shack. I stayed in the car while DH ran in to
make the purchase. I called him on his cell phone, "You need some cash,
right? There's a Bank of America further down on the same block.
Nicholas and I will circle and meet you in front." "Ok. Sounds great!"
Nicholas and I began to circle the block at which time he begins to give
me the loveliest tour of a 4 block radius. "So you see here, you have
the Chicago River..." Me, "Ah..." I continue, "Nicholas, do you know of
any great steakhouses?" "Oh sure, there's a great Brazilian place just
10 minutes away. It's always busy and always good." We pick up DH.
"Nicholas is dropping us off at a steakhouse. Ready for lunch?" DH,
"Yeah!!" Not only did this gem of a man drop us to our restaurant, but
he then gave us his business card so we could be picked up exactly at
the time we needed, in order to get on the next train for the last leg
of our journey. Thank you Nicholas for your great attitude, awesome
lunch recommendation and best 10-minute city tour ever!
When we
arrived at the station, the first order of business was to get a sleeper
car. It didn't happen. This was really disappointing. We had two nights
left to sleep on the train. Hey, at least our belly's were full. What a
blessing! Believe me, I was keeping count. The funniest thing was that
neither DH nor I ever got angry or lost our tempers with each other. It
was a time to join forces, buckle down, be kind to your neighbors, and
enjoy the journey. We settled into our seats. We had new neighbors, as
it was a new train. They were hippies. I love hippies. They had hemp
clothing, organic this & that's and their own squeaky clean, beige,
throw rug which the husband placed on the floor to sleep, while his wife
and newborn stretched out on both seats above him. Clever. They were
lovely and quiet. In the middle of the night I opened my eyes to observe
them exchanging back massages with tea tree oil and braiding each
others hair. Bless them.
The scenery
was... well, snowy. All the way across the country there was snow on
the ground until we got far into Arizona. It was fantastic really. This
is such a vast, beautiful country with so much space! Its amazing that
so many of us cram into NY and LA. Funny, actually.
We slowed
down again... and again because of our frozen horn (which was defrosted
for all of two train stops and then froze right up again), and the
frozen station signals. Mother Nature. She really just does her own
thing - in total control. DH and I spent our time reading, listening to
music, and hanging in the lounge car with quite the cast of characters. I
can hear my Dad's voice, "It takes all kinds to make the world go
'round." Indeed, Dad, you are correct. I rather enjoyed the whole
experience. For the most part, people were lovely with each other,
although we were all strangers. In an odd way, we became a family of
strangers. I had a few ladies who smiled at me often and just started up
random conversations. It was comforting. One seemed to be a bit
disgruntled at one point of the journey and as I passed her walking to
the lounge car, I kissed her forehead, said nothing, and kept moving. I
don't know where it came from - I really didn't plan on doing it. It
just happened. It seemed to relax her a bit, so she smiled. Life can be
really simple sometimes. We ate breakfast and dinner with an array of
people from every demographic. One morning we had breakfast with a
left-wing hypnotherapist & a retired widower from Indiana, and the
next evening with an extremely funny, elderly man who looked like he
could have been David Letterman's Dad...oh yeah, and the guy from
California who flipped homes for a living. Quite the crew. Speaking of
the actual crew, they were amazing...
I really don't know how
they did it. We were delayed many hours because of the weather, ran out
of food and water, and yet, the staff on our train never let it stop
them from being fun and giving towards us. Attitude really is
everything. Yes, you heard it right, about 9 hours outside of our final
destination we run out of food and water. Thank goodness I had the
presence of mind to pre-pay for 2 breakfast sandwiches the night before.
I remember picking them up the next morning. Mel, our lounge car
attendant said, "No one can know you have these. I'm serious, no one..."
His words trailed off like we were engaging in some CIA operation. He
even warmed up our breakfast sandwiches in a small paper box to avoid
anyone seeing them come out of the microwave. This was serious business.
We
knew we were almost home, but we still couldn't wait to get there. You
know that feeling? We pulled out of the station, picking up speed, then
suddenly there was an abrupt stop. At this point, we were used to it, so
we just sat and waited thinking that something else was frozen and we
had to wait for it to thaw. Next thing you know the conductor comes
barreling into our car, "Who pulled the emergency brake?!" DH and I
looked around. It seemed as though this guy who we had met a couple days
ago who shared that he had a serious cold, got seriously drunk the
night before, was apparently very hung over and pulled the emergency
brake! For what, we'll never know. Did he need an Advil? We looked
behind us, and he was on bended knee, like one of those wisemen in a
nativity scene...except he wasn't very wise. He had a cute little dog,
named Hank with him. Well, I suspect they're out of jail now, because
that's exactly where they were headed according to the conductor. You
get jail time for pulling an emergency brake on a train when there's no
emergency. I think he meant to pull the attendant button, but missed...
I'm being generous.
The
last few hours were really quite tedious, especially after our last
little "moment with Mr. Hangover". Plus we were starving. There were
only chips and tap water left on the train, so DH and I were trying to
hold out. Then another announcement. We were being offered a free lunch,
so we were to report to the dining car immediately. Praise be! DH &
I jumped up with the rest of our car and headed down to feast. From a
distance I could see something that looked brown in color in a soup
bowl. What IS that? It resembled Dinty Moore Beef Stew. My first
thought: What will the vegetarians do? You don't want to know my second
thought. DH and I couldn't do anything but laugh and pick through it.
Everyone was making jokes at this point. We thanked the dining staff,
went back to our seats and settled into the last few hours towards
home.
The story
really ends here. We got to LA, had a lovely, uneventful cab ride home
and settled into our cozy place. DH and I had a great journey, we feel
blessed to have experienced it and we realize our relationship is better
for it. This was a character building experience - not the worse thing
in the world, we weren't burned in a fire or wolverines weren't yapping
at our private parts, but it was definitely a challenge.
All I know is, we are all stronger than we think. Take good care...
There's nothing like sports for a young girl. (By the way, dance is considered a sport.) I grew up playing several sports and thoroughly enjoyed them. I didn't realize it at the time, but not only are sports fun, but they build self-esteem. When playing sports, girls realize that their bodies are not only hangers for cute clothes, but powerful forces to be reckoned with. There are even more benefits. Girls playing sports are less likely to experience teen pregnancy and more likely to graduate with good grades. They don't need to find their self-worth in whether or not a boy likes them, it's in their performance on the field. They learn team-building skills and a deeper love and understanding for their female counterparts. On a health note, females that played sports as teens are less likely to become overweight adults. They're also more likely to excel in the workplace and compete confidently with men. You must watch the HBO documentary, "Kick Like a Girl", about a 3rd grade soccer team in Utah. It's a great story to share with any little girl and inspiring for us big girls, too!
They're several different tools that can be used when obtaining greater insight into ourselves, our behavior and how we relate to those around us.Aside from our basic personality traits, there are qualities that are specific to certain types of individuals. For example, in astrology, Libra is considered the sign of relationships. In numerology, if you're an "8", success is extremely important to you. There's also your constitution in the Hindu culture- Vata (Air), Pitta (Fire) and Kapha (Earth), as well as 8 possible combinations of each constitution or dosha - Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Kapha, Vata-Kapha, Vata-Pitta-Kapha and Balanced. (The element of water is assumed as part of the doshas: air, fire and earth.) Below is a Reader's Digest synopsis of the 3 elements which comprise the 8 possible doshas. If you're interested you'll receive much more detailed information in an actual Ayurvedic reading to discover your dosha type:
Air - Easily distracted, they flow with whatever is going on, enjoy the sun, tend to get cold easily, hair can be dry.
Fire - Easily excitable personalities, good appetites, tend to perspire even in cold weather, skin is delicate.
Earth- Grounded individuals, tend to save their energy well, skin is cool& slightly oily, strong nails, moderate desire for food but prone to emotional eating.
The advantage of knowing our dosha is to have a deeper awareness of ourselves and our actions, have more patience for ourselves and therefore not judge a quality within us or someone else that may be simply - their natural constitution.
