(You) Wish

To find out what is truly individual in ourselves, profound reflection is needed; and suddenly we realize how uncommonly difficult the discovery of individuality is-

Ever since I was introduced to nonviolence (shortly after my knee surgery), I have been studying, learning and working steadily to free my consciousness from the traps I have inherited over the many years of my life. Each morning when I rise out of bed, sore, bitter, angry at the world before I even have my first soothing sip of ginseng tea.

I relentlessly make the conscious effort to devote time and energy throughout the day to removing from my vocabulary words that point to certain ways of thinking such as “should I”, “I can’t, “I have to do this”, and all metaphors of virulence.

Every day I make deliberate choices that are at extreme odds with the world’s addiction to convenience,addiction to violence and to harming ourselves, an addiction whose gravity I recognize within myself – Each and everyday.

*I would sincerely appreciate any and all feedback you provide in regards to future posts*

Notes:

Today, lets take an early afternoon walk, hand in hand – directly towards emotional discomfort and away from violence … Again and again so as to create true freedom in ourselves. To live the lives We want.

CultFit Con


Come and Find (Me)

The best gifts come from the heart, not the store-

Our core gifts are not the same as our unique talents or killer athletic skills; Core gifts, quite simply are the places within us where we feel and care the most deeply.

Core gifts reflect our true spirit, our generosity to others and a profound sensitivity to feeling(s), Just as your fingers caress your favorite double latte today, our core gifts are as unique as our fingerprints, as unique and amazing as each one of us. When we treasure and become aware of our true gifts, they become the most exciting and straightforward path to whatever we choose to do: Embracing your lover, running with all your heart, surrendering to the moment …

When we surrender and become true to ourselves, we sense in our soul that we have something precious to offer the world. It’s in these places where we feel the strongest. It can be terribly painful when our friends and family, the people we love dearly … Do not value these intimate parts of ourselves. They don’t want to hear about love, passion, kindness, simplicity, surrender – Helping you to heal, to run faster, to bike with all your heart. They want split times, sets, reps, numbers, miles and sweaty, vain self pics … We learn to bury and cover these beautiful gifts we have to offer, we keep them safe, hidden in our heart. With each layer we build, we hide, we take one step further back from sharing our unconditional love of being.

Each one of us can rekindle, find passionate love for whatever (I mean whatever … Sex – Running – Yoga – Get creative) by reclaiming our true gifts.

Notes:

As we start to unravel and open up our hearts, something amazing happens. We find that we start to attract people who love us for who we really are; Not who we are expected be. The more we embrace and live in the power of our true selves and vulnerability, the more attractive we become–without ever losing a pound, stepping on the worn out scale or buying a new yoga outfit.

I was inspired to share this post by a few of you reading this morning (you know who you are). Surrender to yourself and rekindle your love, your true gifts and offer them to the world – Be well this weekend and please take care!

CultFit Night


Meditations

The clouds are marshalling across the sky,
Leaving their deepest tints upon yon range
Of soul-alluring hills. The breeze comes softly,
Laden with tribute that a hundred orchards
Now in their fullest blossom send, in thanks
For this refreshing shower. The birds pour forth
In heightened melody the notes of praise
They had suspended while God’s voice was speaking,
And his eye flashing down upon his world.
I sigh, half-charmed, half-pained. My sense is living,
And, taking in this freshened beauty, tells
Its pleasure to the mind. The mind replies,
And strives to wake the heart in turn, repeating
Poetic sentiments from many a record
Which other souls have left, when stirred and satisfied
By scenes as fair, as fragrant. But the heart
Sends back a hollow echo to the call
Of outward things, — and its once bright companion,
Who erst would have been answered by a stream
Of life-fraught treasures, thankful to be summoned, —
Can now rouse nothing better than this echo;
Unmeaning voice, which mocks their softened accents.
Content thee, beautiful world! and hush, still busy mind!
My heart hath sealed its fountains. To the things
Of Time they shall be oped no more. Too long,
Too often were they poured forth: part have sunk
Into the desert; part profaned and swollen
By bitter waters, mixed by those who feigned
They asked them for refreshment, which, turned back,
Have broken and o’erflowed their former urns.
So when ye talk of pleasure, lonely world,
And busy mind, ye ne’er again shall move me
To answer ye, though still your calls have power
To jar me through, and cause dull aching here.
No so the voice which hailed me from the depths
Of yon dark-bosomed cloud, now vanishing
Before the sun ye greet. It touched my centre,
The voice of the Eternal, calling me
To feel his other worlds; to feel that if
I could deserve a home, I still might find it
In other spheres, — and bade me not despair,
Though ‘want of harmony’ and ‘aching void’
Are terms invented by the men of this,
Which I may not forget.
                                 In former times
I loved to see the lightnings flash athwart
The stooping heavens; I loved to hear the thunder
Call to the seas and mountains; for I thought
‘Tis thus man’s flashing fancy doth enkidle
The firmament of mind; ‘tis thus his eloquence
Calls unto the soul’s depths and heights; and still
I defied the creature, nor remembered
The Creator in his works.
                                    Ah now how different!
The proud delight of that keen sympathy
Is gone; no longer riding on the wave,
But whelmed beneath it: my own plans and works,
Or, as the Scriptures phrase it, my ’inventions’
No longer interpose ‘twist me and Heaven.
Today, for the first time, I felt the Deity,
And uttered prayer on hearing thunder. This
Must be thy will, — for finer, higher spirits
Have gone through this same process, — yet I think
There was religion in that strong delight,
Those sounds, those thoughts of power imparted. True,
I did not say, ‘He is the Lord thy God,’
But I had feeling of his essence. But
‘’Twas pride by which the angels fell.’ So be it!
But O, might I but see a little onward!
Father, I cannot be a spirit of power;
May I be active as a spirit of love,
Since thou hast ta’en me from that path which Nature
Seemed to appoint, O, deign to ope another,
Where I may walk with thought and hope assured;
‘Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief!’
Had I but faith like that which fired Novalis,
I too could bear that the heart ‘fall in ashes,’
While the freed spirit rises from beneath them,
With heavenward-look, and Phoenix-plumes upsoaring!

Margaret Fuller

CultFit Bloom


Hello My Old Heart

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure-

We all have dreams and aspirations. Most of our dreams are left to the dark confines of our mind(s), acting only as seemingly unattainable realities that are nice to think about one busy summer morning in July,a means to escape the daily reality we find ourselves in, right now.

Does it have to be this way?

Each one of us has the incredible ability, the unwavering will and desire that can be a driving force for attaining the most amazing dreams and aspirations we can possible dream up. Why settle for anything less than the life you imagined for yourself?

It doesn’t have to be this way…it doesn’t have to be this way at all.

When we realize the barrier to living our lives in a way (our way) that we feel would make us content and happy sits comfortably between our ears, our own mind? We toss aside the self-imposed limits, socialistic norms, expectations of others!

I want to live my dreamsmy life and chase away the doubts that burden me!

Notes:

Why settle for anything less this on this beautiful morning than that which brings you incredible joy, ecstasy, and happiness … Today, tomorrow and forever?

CultFit Dream


Other Direction(s)

I 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.

CultFit Tender