Requiem

Today
is the
perfect day

The sky
just so
clouds moving
fast

Drops of water
on leaves 
of Russian sage

Dog sitting
her chin
on crossed paws

Light streams
through branches
of locust tree

I sit
just so
at the
small table



Everything is
perfect 
just like this
you would have said

– Abigail Gramig  – Dusting the Piano – 

CultFit Shine


Secret : Energy :

Do not be afraid; our fate
Cannot be taken from us; it is a gift

What would you do if fear was removed the equation?

A close friend once asked me the very same question I am asking you this beautiful morning, and I’m here to tell you, this simple little question changed my life. Well, that and the best breakfast burritos in Nebraska did

This seemingly simply question helped me to pause, to listen, in order to break decisions down to their very essence. What I realized was that I was not living each day to the fullest because I was desperately afraid of getting hit by a car, letting my family down, even of success – Tasty success that is!

Pondering this question allowed me to separate my fear, from my dream of breakfast burritos, and in doing so, I realized that I really wanted to hit the road a bit earlier, stay alert early in the morning, in spite of the fear of getting crunched by a Prius.

My friends question helped me to identify my fears and determine whether they deserved as much power as I was giving them.

Daily Meditation:

Often at times I have those dark nights of the soul at 4am, when I’m overcome with fear. Do I let these thoughts rule my choices anymore? Damn right I don’t!

I would like to thank Moisés and Jacklyn Salgado, purveyors of the – For the Love of Food Truck – For helping me to overcome my fear of commuting in the insane, reckless morning traffic in Bellevue, Nebraska. Yes! Their breakfast burritos are totally worth it!!!

When you have a moment today, head on over to their Facebook page and give ’em a big “Like” (or whatever the kids call it) from CultFit!

Picture 002


Returning to (Now)

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing 
and rightdoing there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about

What is keeping you from being truly happy?!?

Maybe it’s not even the weight itself that you really seek to lose. Maybe what you really want to rid yourself of, is not the extra pounds, but rather the unhappiness you have learned to associate with it?!?

What if you could be happy without having to change or “fix” your body?

The kind of happiness I want to discuss, differs dramatically, from the temporary warmth and comfort that comes from getting what you want; stepping on the scale one morning and noticing a few pounds have vanished or a friend noticing you look amazing in your new yoga pants. The happiness I want to passionately share with you, is deeper and more abiding – dude. My definition of happiness is rooted in a sense of peace and well-being that cannot be “gained” nor can it be “lost

My kind of happiness? Is already part of your true self. It’s not hidden in the numbers displayed on an antiseptic scale. It’s not in the latest fashion trends from Lululemon, and it is certainly not from a friend.

My kind of happiness is the fruit of repeated acts of daily kindness, compassion, patience, forgiveness, courage, and love towards myself and others.

Daily Meditation:

Cultivating my kind of happiness? True happiness as defined by me? Is a beautiful smile that graces your adoring face walking past a mirror, and practicing peace, with your body.

CultFit Happiness


Comfort : Zone :

A good traveller is one who knows how to travel with the mind

What a jerk! I know, I just know that he cut me off in the pace line, on purpose none the less! Here I am, falling off the back of the pack The race is over 20km in! Or is it?!?

Like you, I am an expert in regards to mind-reading. I used to walk through life ass-uming that if another person’s behavior caused me distress in any way, they must have intended to make me feel this way. Those filthy bastards!

 

I was addicted to attributing my negative motives and thoughts to someone else and their behavior. Why not – their actions did sting a little bit and they kinda pissed me off. My subjective (and biased) interpretation of other folks, rather than their behavior, finally made me lose my, cool.

Then something truly cool started to happen. It started with a deep breath, and then gently changing my inner dialog, slowly, patiently – I subdued the thoughts of starting a confrontation, replacing them with – “I won’t assume anything; These thoughts will pass” “No mind-reading today, not now.”

Daily Meditation:

Tuning into myself, rather than magnifying the stress when I was beginning to get upset, needing to address the other person, eyebrows furled, sweaty fists clenched  “It’s Saturday afternoon dude, the NHL and NBA playoffs are on, the sun is up! We’ll get ’em next time around!”

Have a beautiful weekend friends and please take care!

CultFit Ride

 


A Final Affection

I love the accomplishments of trees,
How they try to restrain great storms
And pacify the very worms that eat them.
Even their deaths seem to be considered.
I fear for trees, loving them so much.
I am nervous about each scar on bark,
Each leaf that browns. I want to
Lie in their crotches and sigh,
Whisper of sun and rains to come.

Sometimes on summer evenings I step
Out of my house to look at trees
Propping darkness up to the silence.

When I die I want to slant up
Through those trunks so slowly
I will see each rib of bark, each whorl;
Up through the canopy, the subtle veins
And lobes touching me with final affection;
Then to hover above and look down
One last time on the rich upliftings,
The circle that loves the sun and moon,
To see at last what held the darkness up.

Paul Zimmer

CultFit Tree