30 Days of Gratitude – Day 11

♥ A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.  ~Phyllis Diller

 

Today I am grateful..:

1. that I have the luxury of a vehicle – it makes it a lot easier to travel across the length of the state.
2. for my father Arnold Arons. He always makes the effort to visit and create time to share, even when he is slammin’ busy. This year he’s been my biggest sounding board and emotional support.
3. for smiles on baby faces. It’s so easy to drop completely into the present when you gaze into the rapt twinkle of a little ones’ eyes.
4. for these lists – helping me find appreciation when I wake up feeling empty of gratitude.
5. for Bodhi Shine’s (my son) incredible generosity of spirit. I love how freely he gives of his possessions and how much joy he takes in serving others. He has always been like this.

– and to change the list format up a bit:

Cashier Gratitude

6.
i am alive in the soft but persistent twinkle of eyes that meet mine
souls recognizing each other
dancing in the heart space
over the checkout counter at Whole Foods Market

7.
Yes! Healing can happen in time with the beep of the scanner
beep.
recognizing my celery
beep.
recognizing ourselves
when all else is stripped away

leftover peelings of pre-juiced fruit
our bodies such
our eyes tell the story

8.
And you. You recognized me –
and I – I saw you
as we spoke of yoga and surf
smiles melt the barrier of skin, politics, preferences
ideas of you – me – separation.

9.
Later, I’ld become that orange,
carrot, kale, apple, pear –
remembering your beaming grin as sweet green juice
journeys from tongue to belly

swimming in organic vegetable nectared bliss
warmed by a gaze radiant with love
reflected in Agni – blazing digestive fire

10.
There is power in sincere presence
shared with smiling strangers
over scanned salad greens
while slipping through seconds in soul space.

Thank you for this briefest of meetings.

30 Days of Gratitude – Day 10

Today I am grateful..:

1. for an experience in my Next Generation Yoga TT that brought me deep empathy for the emotional and psychosocial needs of a very special being that I work with and love.  I feel better equipped to support this beautiful soul if only in that I can now deeply relate to their inner struggle.
2. for warm tea on a cold rainy night in a cozy Encinitas, CA Coffee shop (E Street Cafe) and random hugs from former-strangers-become-instant-friends over a game of cards.
3. for understanding, soft, sensitive, deeply feeling women who strive to bring their inner joy to rest on the soft smiles of an engaged child’s face.
4. for a sweet conversation I shared with my Nona Mirella over the phone – I am so grateful for her support on my path – her help made this current Kids’ Yoga Teacher Training possible. I have no words to express how much her blessings mean to me.
5. for fresh, decadent salads pregnant with a rainbow of raw, flavor-bursting color, and topped with sunflower seeds, avocado, artichoke hearts and a generous portion of kalamata olives.
6. for people who live their convictions as if ethos + passion = oxygen. Thank you for keepin’ us all AWAKE!
7. for the containment of amorous energy and the patience and faith to hold my own hand until the day I embrace a palm that is firm, steady, kind, with just a streak of untamed nature coursing through the veins.
8. for cafés with dim lighting and capacious well worn couches.
9. for flip flops when it’s really cold and rainy out – that little bit of material between the wet concrete and my bare feet really warms my body up.
10. for social media – even though i never thought I would say this.  FB can be a really cool tool.

30 Days of Gratitude – Day 7

Today I am grateful..:

1. for the alignment of time and resources to be in Encinitas, CA at this moment.
2. for the family I saw crossing the street pulling two little munchkins in a red wooden radio flyer wagon with a surfboard roof rack jerry–rigged out of PVC pipe. This family plays together.
3. for art stores or very kind and hard cover black 8 1/2″ x 11″ blank sketch books. They make the best journals.
4. for the authenticity of very young children. They are so in the moment it is magical!
5. for the joy of being in child consciousness while taking Jodi Komitor’s Next Generation Kids’ Yoga Teacher Training. Amazing! Fun! All over the place!
6. for apple, orange, spinach, parsley, lemon, ginger, kale juice. YUM!
7. for discovering new communities and appreciating a gimps into lives lived out so differently than mine.
8. for Gina Jacobs who has opened her home and shared her story with me during my visit to Encinitas.
9. for sitting with a hot cup of herbal tea – no schedule in hand – feeling full in my soul.
10. for life. As it is right now. So good!

30 Days of Gratitude – Day 6

I left Humboldt County in the early evening yesterday and drove through the night to be with my family at a funeral this morning.  (16.5 hour total trip.)

Today I am grateful..:

1-10: for SLEEP!

30 Days of Gratitude – Day 5

Today I am grateful…:

1. I woke up feeling very hungry. I am grateful that organic, whole foods are readily available and that chronic hunger is not my daily experience.
2. that my son is healthy and has access to clean water, sanitation, health care and education with no struggle on my part. I feel for the mamas and papas who must raise their children in refugee camps or in the midst of war.
3. for forests and trees. Specifically redwood forests. Thank you redwood folk for holding onto the pre-industrial memories and providing a haven on the far northern coast.
4. I am still grateful for my job. I really love Om Shala Yoga.
5. that in a few days I will be immersed in the fun of a Kids’ Yoga Teacher Training with Jodi Komitor & Next Generation Yoga.
6. that my best friend Giselle Rezai found love with a guy that is everything I want for her and she is happily planning her wedding.
7. that I live one block form the Arcata Marsh. It’s inspiring that what once was a large landfill dubbed “Mt. Trashmore” is now a sanctuary and marshland for hundreds of bird species along the Pacific Flyway.
8. for peacemakers and visionaries and their willingness to travel a hard road against the current to create positive change.
9. for the classmates who came over last night for a study group and dinner and washed all my dishes before they left.
10. Allison Pals & Amy Day. These women (and new friends) really made my heart smile this week.  Thank you.

30 Days of Gratitude – Day 4

Today I am grateful…:

1. for right now. Today. This moment. No need to start over, go back or move forward. NOW. As I write this here.

2. that I got to visit with my Uncle Mike/Carlos in January before he passed away this week.
3. that I can be in LA for Mike’s funeral & the birth of my brother’s 2nd child because I was already heading down for a Kids’ Yoga Teacher Training.
4. for Breath — bringing me back to HERE. I forget so often.
5. for the outpouring of love from the people around me.
6. for my body – that right now I get to be in skin, trying out the shape and feel of asanas, the warmth of good deep hugs and the smile inducing satisfaction of delicious whole foods on the tongue.
7. for access to information and the abundance of inspiring articles, books and recordings on living well: health, spirituality meditation, yoga, ALL OF IT!
8. for warm showers and the delicious feeling of jojoba oil and vanilla on freshly bathed skin.
9. for the tribe of amazing, strong, beautiful women that I have met through Om Shala. They inspire me daily and provide direction by living example.
10. Giselle Rezai. The best-est friend I could ask for. We’ve seen each other through so much in the past 13 years.  I am blessed to claw, scream, cry, laugh, grow and shine alongside her.

(+1) Today.  Being alive. Doing it. Yes! 🙂

30 Days of Gratitude – Day 3

Today I am grateful for:

1. friends that randomly say “i love you.” yay!
2. running water – mine was turned off today (back on tomorrow) and i realize how fortunate i am to have clean water coming out of a tap ON DEMAND!
3. Emily Trutt‘s Vinyasa flow. So so good.
4. that I live in a community that embraces my son with wide open hearts and arms.
5. sweating all my toxins out in the sauna alongside impromptu healing conversations about deep personal work
6. dusky footed wood rats and the fossilized plant records contained in their middens
7. the endless patience and forgiveness my son has for my fallibility
8. people who work with children – and love every minute of it — thank you.
9. Albert Einstein and the abundance of written revelations he left behind.
10. the opportunity to go to India!!!