You can find inspiration in the most unsuspecting places. This month I transcribed for you a closing thought from a podcast host for a home improvement show. When I first heard this, it was exactly what I needed to hear to help get me back to a “beginner’s mind” approach to life. I’ve listened to it several times, and now that I typed it out, I can read through it anytime to get me back on track and out of any ruts I find myself in.
The following is from the July 7th episode of the “‘Home’ with Dean Sharp - the house whisperer” podcast. Enjoy!
“ Somebody asked me this week, “How is it that you are working so hard and yet having so much fun?” which is a great question. The secret is that I am a big kid and every day I spend absolutely as much time as possible utterly captivated by wonder and playing as hard as I can. And that may seem a little irresponsible, but…
Read moreAbout two months ago I was playing in the pit orchestra for a small production of the musical Big Fish, an adaptation of the movie directed by Tim Burton which itself was based on the novel by Daniel Wallace, and if you know anything of the story you know that it is similar to the events in my life last year. I was familiar with the story when I took the gig, but I had no idea how emotionally painful an experience it would be.
Without even realizing it I had withdrawn internally into a sad and angry place all while keeping a cheerful and unaffected exterior facade. I felt empty. I had nothing to give to my family and friends, and I felt as if I was barely keeping my head above water. I had reached another emotional low point in my life, and upon realizing that I knew it was time to do some more self-work.
I dug into my self-help toolbox to see what I could use to work my way out of the darkness, and after observing the consistent thoughts that were circulating my mind, I knew it was time to revisit some inner child work.
Big Fish weaves a story around a father-son relationship…
Read moreThree years ago I had the opportunity to study with my favorite reiki author/researcher, Frank Arjava Petter, when he was traveling through San Diego to teach Jikiden Reiki seminars, and this year he will be teaching in Los Angeles at the end of the month. Arjava sensei has authored several books on reiki including Reiki Fire, The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui, and This is Reiki, and was the first to publish a translation of the memorial inscription at Mikao Usui’s gravesite.
Having read many reiki books and websites on the subject I like Arjava’s easily accessible writing style and his dedication to getting validated and verifiable information regarding reiki and Mikao Usui out to the public.
Having met and studied with him in person I can say…
Read moreAfter several attempts over the last few years to maintain a cold shower practice through the winter months, I finally succeeded this year, and since we’re into the spring months it will be a little easier to keep the practice going through the rest of this year and into the next winter. Now to be clear, the entire shower I take is not cold. I do still enjoy a nice warm shower, but at the very least 30-60 seconds of the shower uses no hot water at all.
Thirty seconds of cold water may not seem like much to you especially those of you that live in LA like me, but I’ll challenge you to take a 30 second cold-water-only-shower in Pittsburgh between Christmas and New Years. That cold water is icy cold, yet it was somehow easier than the cold water in LA. I think it’s because it was so cold that it numbed my skin, and I couldn’t really feel how cold it was. Whatever the real reason is I was able to do it and keep up with the practice.
For those of you that might be wondering, “Why would you torture yourself like that?” there are many physical and mental health benefits that come from a cold shower routine.
Read moreYou’re finally doing it. You’re booking that dream vacation, the one you’ve been wanting to go on for years. You go online to book your tickets, and you start weighing your options. Do you go with a non-stop flight for convenience or save money by choosing one with a layover? Do you choose your itinerary based on departure or return time? So many choices.
You’re getting more excited as you continue thinking about this trip and before you make your final decisions, it happens…
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