Veterans Day

I'm grateful to the veterans who fought battles I didn't have to fight. Got their hands dirty, so I could get mine dirty in a different way. Thanks for doing the work I wasn't cut out for this time around. My trust is that my path has supported and freed you as well. 

I'm also grateful to the veterans for the little things like Veterans Day, because today is less traffic just when I needed it a little more space and ease. Not to mention the day off from street sweeping.

#weloveourvets

Do Less. Relax More.

Yes. I'm back on that train again. If you want to work hard, work hard at doing less and relaxing more without guilt or fear.

From a physiology point of view, in order for us to digest, assimilate and absorb nutrients, the more relaxed we are, the more we can get that job done. If we want to experience a state of steadiness, stability, and the joy that comes from a place where fear isn't driving the bus of you, start by digesting our physical food as optimally as possible. If we can at least wrap our brain around the benefits of relaxing in that capacity, it might make a nice bridge to embracing the benefits and by products that come with living from a relaxed point of view.

When we are relaxed, we are more apt to see a bigger picture. We are more apt to make a clearer decision. We are more in tune with "the right amount for me." We are more able to hear and respond to our inner Voice of Truth. And there is no guilt or fear in that Voice. Just our Truth.

So if we are "relaxing" and feeling guilty, are we really relaxing? It could take some practice, but the benefits are well worth the "effort" to learn effortlessness.

Yep. It's a can of worms. And it's open.
Enjoy your lunch.

#wormsforlunch
#artofdoingnothing
#relaxdammit
#improvedigestion

Day of the Dead

Coming off the heels of Halloween, we celebrate the day of the dead. In my view, this is the perfect kickoff to the holiday season. What are we celebrating? House cleaning! As we ride the energy of the demons and the dead, then proceed to surround ourselves with thanksgiving, sugar plums, and #108whateverthehellyouwant , we have the perfect recipie to clean our house of those houseguests in our mind that have started to stink. 

As those ghosts of the past, those old patterns that lead us into tizzies of confusion, doubt, fear, self hate, rear their ugly heads, at the very least - remember who you really are! Remember who the fuck you really are! Just do it! Remember now! And don't stop remembering until you are. 

#happyholidays

#108daysoflettinggo

#108daysofchoosingyourSelf

#108daysofRemembrance

The new black

Grey. The new black. Red. The new black. Orange. The new pink. Me. The new you. You. The new me. 

Sometimes you need a brush

Sometimes it works to roll the paint on, but when you need heftier coverage, Ya gotta use a brush. 

The bigger the samskaras (impressions), the more paint you need to clean the slate and create a blank canvas.

#paintingandyoga

Things come back around

Yes they do. Ooooo baby oooo. 

When we moved to the Bay Area in 1996, I stopped painting. I tried to keep it going, but since I paint large, and space came at a premium, I put it on the back burner until the stars realigned and I could pick up a brush. Yes, I could have adapted, and I tried, but it wasn't my expression. What I did, however, was trust. And wait. And without forcing and grasping, we are now sharing a large creative space. All the art is in. Resistance is out. And the heat is on! Bring on the primer and staple gun!

God I love my life.

#artallday

#paintinggames

#letsgetmessy

Happy anniversary!

Happy anniversary baby! 20 years! 

20 years. The result of putting one foot in front of the other. Staying present. Welcoming growth. Self study. And then you look at yourself, each other, whatever, and say, "yeah, we did that." 

20 years. 20 years in relationship with another person is just part of the equation. There are all those other years in relationship with Self as well. And the combination of both can be really powerful. At least it has been for me. Thanks to the mirror that has been my husband, my partner, I have had a constant reflection of what I look like, how I operate, where my buttons are. Where it was easy to hide from certain aspects of myself, ignore or even justify the righteousness of my personality, in relationship, I had, and still have, a constant litmus test to see what is driving me. And for this I am truly grateful. 

One of the big things that I got to look at was the ideas around justice, fairness, and the behavior of others. I got to ask myself the question, why do I want a person to behave in a certain way? Is it based on my concern for them, or out of concern for my own well being? Did I want them to treat me a certain way because I feared being hurt or inconvenienced in some way? And what would be the fear around that inconvenience?

Great questions. And over time, great answers. Life isn't about convenience. Marriage may not be convenient sometimes. And like life, may hurt sometimes. But over the long haul, I am grateful for the process, for the partnership, for you husband. 

My public hallmark card. Marriage may not be easy, but from where I sit, it has been worth it. So worth it on many levels and dimensions. 

Thanks for you. Thanks for us. 

And would you please pick up your socks? Or not.

I love you.

:)