Decay
Posted: July 15, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, ego, exercise, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, Manipulation, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 11 CommentsI would prefer not to-
Many, many issues in life arise when the self-centered aspect of our being, our ego, goes unchecked and uncontrolled. Manipulation … Let’s take a moment to say this aloud: Manipulation.
Manipulation is the preferred means of the ego in order for it to get what it wants, no matter the cost or damage incurred. Manipulation in a physical form can be seen all around this lovely Monday morning. Peek in on a yoga class and you’ll see well-intentioned folks pushing, gushing negative energy, simply not “being”. Manipulation in a physical form can be seen at the local trail head as well, ace bandages covering throbbing, painful injuries. Knee braces supporting a weakened limb, headphones and devices tuning out the present moment.
If we seek diligently enough, maybe in a misty bathroom mirror … Manipulation can be seen to work on the emotional level as well. Bending us, forcing us to meet the manipulator(s) desires.
Notes:
Manipulation on both an emotional and physical level blocks us from being free, ourselves and destroys our free will.
Being Me*
Posted: July 10, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: exercise, family, fitness, freshly pressed, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, walking, WOD, yoga 32 CommentsMake your ego porous. Will is of little importance, complaining is nothing, fame is nothing. Openness, patience, receptivity, solitude is everything-
Over the past couple years of writing this blog-o-thing, I have alluded a few times to having chosen vulnerability as a path of spiritual practice for myself. Most recently when I wrote about the freedom of committing to a path, I wasn’t expecting to be pushed back to the very beginning. This is precisely what happened to me last weekend.
Last Saturday I was exposed to a unique set of circumstances that took some effort on my part to digest. Years of gentle practice has enabled me to go beyond my old, persistent way of being too hard on myself, pushing too far and letting my ego roam free. For the most part, I felt enormous tenderness towards the situation I put myself in. Every time I think of the pain I have caused myself and others, I feel an inner cringe. I’m not much fun to be around when I am so preoccupied with my fleeting thoughts; I feel less free, less open, less capable of loving. Where can I go to get relief?
In this moment, writing at ease, calm about the pain I subjected myself to. I am not in the least bit surprised at the events that occurred. One of the areas of challenging ourselves and changing behavior(s) for me personally is that I can revert back, in a split second, when I am under a lot of stress, when I am trying to ask my body to do something it physically cannot do … To a very dangerous place. Looking back now, all it means is that in certain challenging moments, I thought I was more present than I actually was.
I strive to share kindness towards myself and towards others. Why is this so hard?
Notes:
Now, as I am wrapping up this post, the confusion I so often have when I write about my personal struggles surfaces again. Why would anyone be interested in the intricacies of some random old dude’s life? How could this blog be of any meaning to anyone exploring a spiritual path?
Today Dear Reader, I see that new path arises off in the distance: How can I help you (and myself) embrace the possibility that some people may respond with love and appreciation? Please take a moment to read my heartfelt question again: How can I embrace the possibility of love and appreciation? How can I allow myself to take it in, to enjoy it, to rest in it?
* Tired, broken and completely laid bare … I place the future of CultFit in your hands.
No More Rain (In these clouds)
Posted: July 8, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, running, whole foods, WOD, yoga 7 CommentsPresents are made for the pleasure of who gives them, not the merits of who receives them-
There are many different types of giving. There’s the giving that we do to feel good about ourselves, the giving we do because we expect something in return and the type of giving which comes from a place of kindness. Sadly, the gift of kindness is all but forgotten in today’s world. Does this make us all terribly rotten people? Nope, it’s much better to give a little than not to give at all, no matter what your motivation is.
Although giving kindness does give us cause for reflection. When we give to others and ourselves, is it from a place of insecurity, inner pride, desire? Or is giving kindness from a place of peaceful confidence, of unadulterated kindness which, just like the brilliant blue sky above, is always present, unchanging and limitless in nature.
Notes:
Have a beautiful day today and please be well!
Con Amor
Posted: July 3, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, healing, health, hipster, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, musings, running, trail running, whole foods, Wounds, yoga 10 CommentsThe human race tends to remember the abuses to which it has been subjected rather than the endearments. What’s left of kisses? Wounds, however, leave scars-
To expose my wounds to people I care about (maybe this is you) … The icky surgery details, the puffing out my chest ego stuff, the personal growth “stuff” I’m working on that I have yet to master, is über vulnerable. Letting others see my “ugly side” tends to trigger all my core fears of being rejected, abandoned and the withdrawal of their love. However, to bear witness to another persons wounds? I consider this a privilege, an opportunity to deepen our relationship beyond the idealistic views we might have of each other.
It’s not your duty as a reader to baby my “scars.” Although when we expose our vulnerable side to those we care about, we have a choice: We can poke pitchforks into each other’s wounds or we can choose to help heal the wounds of those we love.
Notes:
When we have been vulnerable enough to expose our wounds, when we own these painful wounds. When we ask those we care about to be gentle with our wounds and they say “Yeah dude I can totally do that.” … Love is truly in the air!
(I) Remember
Posted: July 2, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, compassion, exercise, happiness, healing, health, hipster, hope, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, musings, natural, Omaha, passion, pilates, running, whole foods, WOD, Wounds, yoga 8 CommentsAfter nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world-
I don’t think I’ve been gentle enough around other people’s vulnerable, exposed wounds. Mainly because my short coming for all these years is that I have a tendency to get all self-righteous, to make myself “superior” to people once I’ve seen them in a vulnerable position. I make myself “right” and others “wrong” and then my ego convinces me that I shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells around someone else’s wounds, I should step all over them. I used do this all the time when I would first learn of someone’s weakness while competing … Seeing a runner ahead on the trail struggling to finish the last few miles, pulling away from the pack during a mountain bike race, watching someone struggle with an advance pose during yoga class, knowing I could do better, I would show them how its “done” or whatever that is supposed to mean.
Sometimes though, walking gently around someone’s raw wound(s) is the perfect opportunity to practice compassion and to demonstrate love. Not only towards ourselves but to other kind folks as well.
This Dear Reader, is my wound to work on. Maybe one of you could put arnica oil on it for me? Just being compassionate with this side of myself, the side I’m not so proud of, is a good start. Slowly over the years the lights have flickered on… No longer am I blind to how I created my own suffering for so long.
Notes:
May you find this post in light, probably on a tablet or whatever the kids call them these days. Take care and be well!
CultFit 