The General Specific
Posted: July 23, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, failure, freshly pressed, happiness, health, hipster, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, passion, perspective, pilates, running, success, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 13 CommentsThere’s nothing more intimate in life than simply being understood. And understanding someone else-
We’re taught early in life that deep, passionate joy – love, can be found if we follow our most intense desires. It turns out though that these desire(s) are frequently pushing us into a personal hell. A hell riddled with loss, injury and suffering at every turn.
Since I started to explore my path towards developing a real – tangible joy, a healthy love of life. I learned that taking the time to explore failure and learning how to understand the subtle differences between success and failure is paramount. How many of us have started new fitness routines, taken up yoga or running with a sense of new hope, finding a new love … Only to find that they lead us right back to the pains we’ve experienced time and time before?
Many of us has taken center stage and acted out our personal “myth of lost love found.” The attributes of our failures, success and desires are unique to each one of us, these attributes are deep, personal and must be explored and understood if we wish not to repeat them … Farther down our amazing path(s) in life
Notes:
If you walk away after reading patiently this morning, carrying one single thought throughout the rest of the afternoon , it would be this: Follow your heart exclusively. I believe this to be the kindest path to love.
Other Direction(s)
Posted: July 19, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, freshly pressed, happiness, health, Heart, hipster, kindness, life, love, lululemon, lust, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, Omaha, passion, pilates, pride, running, Struggle, Touch, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 6 CommentsI was never really insane except upon occasions when my heart was touched-
What could possibly call into question every small way that I interact with my surroundings? Years ago I would had been surprised, shocked at what was happening to me, not today, not anymore.
This brilliant morning, while the sun gently warms my skin, I am deeply aware of how non-violence has been completely woven into the fabric of my being. Over the years I have unprotected myself, repeatedly injured myself, sufficiently enough to feel the love of protection and with it, the drawing down of my truly nonviolent options.
This morning, I am stronger than the day before …
By early morning light, I discover peace, inner sustenance – purpose to soften the compression of violence that once defined me, to fully expose my heart to others, to find intention, to love. At night, when I drift away and my conscious mind is no longer present, the deep structure of protection takes center stage again … My sleep is disrupted, defined, brilliant. I realize that I have yet to make full contact with the deepest vulnerability hidden within the warmth of protection.
Notes:
I struggle in this vulnerable moment to find a deeper understanding of peace, non-violence and not choosing to protect myself all those painful years ago. I fully realize that I have yet to experience tenderness toward the act of protecting.
Take care and be well this weekend.
Trying My New Wings
Posted: July 16, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, family, freshly pressed, friends, happiness, health, hipster, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, Mindfulness, motivation, Omaha, Oneness, passion, spirit, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 5 CommentsAll differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything-
There is only one universal concept that brings everyone -everything together in this beautiful world – Oneness.
The concept of oneness and being part of a vast, infinitely elaborate web of interconnectedness is not a new concept. Let’s pause and think about this for a moment. When we arrive at yoga class (just one example – embrace any event) it was our decision alone to be there, to show up, unfurling our mat(s) and opening ourselves up to the limitless possibilities we are about to explore. Oneness is a unifying concept that has survived even in our neomanic world. You can physically feel the energy flowing during class if you open your body and mind, allowing “oneness” to fill your spirit.
Too many people are living in a dystopian world, embracing illusions of separation, “me” first – Sadly.
Notes:
Focused intention on living our daily lives with oneness at the forefront of our thoughts? Will be reflected in everything we do, during yoga class or while stuck in traffic. Welcome to reality …
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.
CultFit 