Encouragement

"Go Girl! GO!"

An elder neighbor stood in her front doorway, held up her coffee cup and cheered me on. It was everything.

I didn't feel like running that day. I had to force myself. I was just going through the motions trying to keep up with a routine. With a genuine smile and a wave back, I picked up my pace. Soon enough, I had completed my big loop and was on my way home, thinking about how nice it had been for her to spur me on like that.

"You made it! YAY!" 

Before I knew it, there she was again, welcoming me back to the block. How wonderful!

I know we all know this... but what a lovely reminder it was that the simplest gesture of kindness can change the whole course of someone's day. That little act of encouragement truly made my whole week! Let's just keep it going and spread the Love a bit.

With a little encouragement...

Beautiful things can happen.

Love,
T

Full Steam Ahead

I'm diving in.

Full steam ahead.

I've resumed the workout and by the time this gets posted, a professional assembly person will have arrived to put together my new exercise bike. #notfoolinaround. Swimming laps was fantastic exercise AND I started Zachary taking lessons! It feels like I'm finally getting it together.

Sometimes it's a long, slow climb just to get to the other side of the room.

But I know at the end of that long tunnel is...

four monster trucks, a dog's butt, a blue bouncey horse and a kid that refuses to say "cheese" LIGHT. So this week is all about "KEEP GOING!" One of my favorite authors reminded me that our true power has to come from within. #ThanksElla

"It never occurred to me to ask advice or assistance of others. 

I am glad I did not, for the moment we lean upon any one 

but the Divine Power and the divinity within us, 

we lessen our chances of success."

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox (The Worlds and I)

OK. I'm on it.

Love,

T

xoxo

In A Nutshell...

Where did the week go? There were a lot of workouts, an awesome We Are Family Foundation event in the city, Russell's birthday, a lost dog, tax receipts, and a coloring book (to help me keep my sanity).

It was a great time at The Bitter End (NYC) last Tuesday!

click here to learn more about Three Dot Dash - an initiative of the We Are Family Foundation supporting teen leaders from around the world...

Then there was Russ's birthday...

Bentley addressed the card

This little guy showed up...

His name is Mickey and after calling the number on his tag, his owners came by almost immediately to take him home. (Try to stay out of trouble Mickey!)

I decided that I will use the next month to get back in shape, continue serious work on the next video (which demands much physical discipline), and do taxes. I worked out for seven consecutive days last week and for the record - THAT IS TOO MUCH!

I was dancing around the kitchen singing this...

"So sexy it hurts" and I WAS HURTING!!! LOL

This week I will maintain a more sensible fitness schedule with days of rest in between intense workouts. I am also pacing myself with regard to taxes and endless piles of receipts (that's where the coloring book comes in). Am I nuts? I don't think so... 

:) Seriously, did anyone else get one of these "Inspirational Coloring Books" for Christmas? It's coming in handy! This is my plan to get through tax season this year. I'm using it to detox and maintain a sense of creativity in my office. After I get through a segment of tax chores (i.e. reconciling an account or getting through one pile of receipts), I take a break to color.

So far it seems to be helping, except I am getting a cramp in my hand. I am considering a trip to the art store to get a wider variety of colored pencils. 

Hey - whatever gets me through...

:)

Namaste,

T

Sadie's helping too

Flying High

It was an AWESOME week!

There was circus training...

Wall Running

Harness Bungee

Silks

OMG! AWESOME!!! If you're in the NYC area, you HAVE to go there and try it! #SoMuchFun

Click here for The Muse, Brooklyn, NY

The facility is fantastic, the instructors are amazing, everyone there is exceptionally friendly and the workout is outstanding. I knew these activities would not be easy, but WOW! People who have mastered these circus arts are incredible athletes. It was an absolute blast! One of the other students told me it was her "happy place." I can see why. :)

Then there was a super fun band rehearsal for upcoming shows later this month. I love these guys...

Front: Me and Junior (my friend Hune);
Back: Joey (my friend Hoey),
Alan (my new friend), and Frank (my friend Fronk)

Me and Frank (Fronk)

Then there was a fantastic gig with another group - a twenty piece orchestra and five vocalists! I love these guys too...

Eight piece string section 

Me and Neal (Trumpet)

Front: Me and Jay, Joe, and Prim (Vocals); Back: Robert (Guitar)

With Tony B. (Vocalist)

With Jay and Prim (Vocalists)

It was such a happy week! On Sunday, just as I was wondering how to hold on to that feeling of joy and keep it going this week too, the minister at church said we have to "somehow" plug into that space of love and stay connected. (I thought, "Yeah, but HOW?" because I had been thinking that gratitude would be the way.) She continued on to say that awareness was a good place to start and that we should start to recognize when we slip into a place of fear or worry. Then we can say a prayer, meditate, take a walk in nature or do something that might lift our spirits and get us back to the love space.

Something sounded familiar. My instructor at The Muse had me close my eyes and practice twisting my leg around the fabric to get the feel for it in Silks class. Eventually, the movement will become instinctual and I will be able to do it in the air, without looking. (THAT'S important because it's an essential part of how you support your body weight as you climb. If you lose your footing, you'll want to regain it quickly, without thinking.)

AHA! So the spiritual training mirrors the physical training! It's just like practicing a physical movement. You get to know the feeling of it in the body as you practice. You become aware of the motion. It's like rehearsing a song too! While practicing, you get to know how the notes feel in your instrument; in your voice as you sing or in your hands as you play. In a similar way, we can pay attention to how we feel spiritually in a more specific way - fine tune our awareness. By paying attention to ourselves, our emotions, our instincts, we can notice if we begin to shift from a place of love... and practice ways to recover. What an incredibly important skill to learn! As we soar higher and higher, this spiritual practice will become our safety net. We'll be able to return to the love space instinctually!

I love it when everything all ties together! Here's to flying high!

xoxo!

Namaste,

T