Wednesday, May 31, 2017

I'm in the KDWB Spelling Bee! Wheeeee!

05.31.17.

Good Morning!

I am certain that most of you know what a nerd I am--if not, full disclosure NOW! 

I love words, and I love grammar, and I love S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G!

So, I put my name in for the KDWB Spelling Bee and I was selected! Send me good vibes tomorrow morning around 10:15 at Lifetime Pool in Saint Louis Park!

There will be 10 of us poolside and it will be live streamed--if we get a word wrong, we will be pushed into the pool!

It should be HILARIOUS!

Hopefully, I will return to Valley Middle School of STEM dry and warm!

Wish me luck!

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

LiVe fRoM haPpInEsS . . .


05.30.17.

"When you're happy for no reason,
you bring happiness to your outer experiences
rather than trying to extract happiness from them.
You don't need to manipulate the world around you to try to make yourself happy.
You live from happiness, rather than for happiness."

Marci Shimoff

Funny thing that many of us learn somewhere that happiness is something we need to find outside of ourselves. One thing I have begun to realize in the past few years is that my happiness depends mostly on me, and that I can choose happiness as my baseline state of being--no matter what is happening outside of me.

So here's a random list of things that make me really happy: 

  1. Laughing.
  2. Random acts of kindness.
  3. Stickers.
  4. Amazing food.
  5. Hello Kitty.
  6. Tucking in my kids (when they let me!).
  7. Dance party in the basement.
  8. Cooking for my awesome family.
  9. Rainy days.
  10. Sharing a good cup of coffee.
  11. Puppies (love that puppy breath!).
  12. Swimming.
  13. Pellegrino water.
  14. Naps.
  15. Smiling at a stranger.
  16. Giggling in church.
  17. Getting my hair cut and colored.
  18. Writing.
  19. Listening to my daughter, Chloe's sleeping sounds.
  20. Holding hands.
  21. Meditating.
  22. Mushrooms.
  23. Hanging out by a warm fire.
  24. Giving surprise gifts.
What makes you happy? How do you take charge of your own place of SUPERHAPPY? Leave a comment and share your happy!

Lots of love,
Dana

Monday, May 29, 2017

In Memory (I am) . . .

Memorial Day
05.30.17.

Hey there,
I've always had a tricky relationship with Memorial Day . . . and, sometimes, well, LIFE. Jeesh . . . (don't tell anyone . . .)

Meaning: I live in constant negotiation among the past, present, and future.
It's my sister, Shelley's, birthday next weekend, and my mom and my sister are going to both my dad's and my brother's graves today.
It's just so messy--the grave thing followed by the birthday celebration thing. It's super jumbly to me--kind of like life, I suppose. I may just join them for the lunch part . . . not the grave visit part.

Confession: I've only been to my dad's grave once, and he died over 25 years ago. The time I went, I crumpled to the ground and scratched the dirt and wailed out loud. It was one of those things that was both euphoric and debilitating. After awhile, I strangely ended up "watching" myself in the dramatic movie version of visiting my dad's grave, and felt oddly detached--and I had to be careful that I didn't add it to my story of "what has happened to me," if you know what I mean. He had already died, and I was having a fit at his gravesite-- and I need to be done with adding to my story, my war wounds.
It just gets boring.
I can picture myself telling it over and over and BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
Give it a rest, already.

Flash forward additional confession: I have only been to my brother's grave once-- on the day of his funeral; the day he was buried. I haven't seen his gravestone.
I figure I'll know when the right time is to go there, if ever.
One thing I do know for sure is, that he's not there. He's actually on a beach, or by a campfire, hanging out with our dad.
They're both smoking and chillin' in their Speedos.
Having cocktails. Lucky bastards.

What I know: My life is here on this planet, on this plane. In the present. And I am so grateful to be where I am NOW.
I try to stay present and in relationship with those who are smack in front of me. And I do honor my past, and attempt to stay open to whatever possibilities the Universe may hand me in the future.

But for now, I am going to nap with my dog, Teddy, and my amazing partner, Keith (aka K-dog).

This is happening FOR me (not TO me), NOW!

Amen.

Sunday, May 28, 2017

SaViNg SpiDerS . . .

(re) Arrival of Spider
05.28.17.

I've always had a sort of kinship with spiders. I grew up with a dad who used to help me understand the connections in Nature, and he used to capture spiders with coffee cups in the house and release them outside to their freedom (but not really in the winter . . . too cold). 
Killing a spider in our house was a no-no, partly because we grew up on a lake with tons of mosquitoes, and rumor had it that the spiders caught the naughty creatures and ate them. Interestingly enough, while it was completely acceptable in our household to swat mosquitoes to their death, spiders held a special position in the big scheme of life.
Although I didn't recognize totems in my younger years, I absolutely do now--and today, spider arrived for me. Here's the story:
*  *  *  *  *
My amazing husband and I are at the lake (without kids) this weekend, and I lo-o-o-o-ve to cook! So, I was making an amazing lunch today of chicken tacos with mango salsa, shredded coleslaw and broccoli salad, and fruit-infused detox water.

I dropped Keith off for an appointment and began to make our yummiliscous lunch. I checked the chicken, and I encountered a daddy long legs repelling down his string from our new oven/countertop hood. He was heading right for the hot pan of chicken (I don't think spiders like chicken, but one never knows . . .). I scooped him up and took him outside, and tried to rest him in the grass, but he kept crawling back on me. I remembered my dad taking spiders out in coffee cups and I thought, "Tree, apple; apple, tree."

And then I became open to the message in a curious way--and began to write this blog. 

Sometimes animals serve as totems--- Webster's defines a totem as: "A natural object, usually an animal that serves as a distinctive, often venerated  [respected]  emblem or symbol, usually a means of personal or spiritual identity." So, when a special animal appears to me, I  pay attention and try to figure out the animal's message for me.

Here's what I know bout Spider from SpiritAnimal.com:


spider is a remarkable figure of feminine energy and creativity in the spirit animal kingdom. Spiders are characterized by the skilled weaving of intricate webs and patience in awaiting their prey. By affinity with the spider spirit animal, you may have qualities of high receptivity and creativity. Having the spider as a power animal or totem helps you tune into life’s ebbs and flows and ingeniously weave every step of your destiny.

Spider spirit animal: Symbol of creativity & patience:

In many cultures, the spider is given credit for its ability to weave intricate webs that are a miracle of organic engineering. If you have the spider as an animal spirit guide, you may have an affinity with acts of creation and the ability to create delicate, intricate things or ideas that are also strong.
Like the spider waiting for her prey patiently, the presence of this spirit animal in your life could point to the need to show patience regarding a project or some ideas that you are trying to realize. Giving some time while paying attention to how events are unfolding and acting when the opportunity truly arise might be a lesson of wisdom from the spider spirit animal.
Thanks for your arrival, Spider! Good reminder!

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Being Present

05.27.17.

I am at the lake for the weekend, and this morning I took Teddy for a super long doggy walk. I was trying to stay in my senses during the walk--and what I mean by that is smelling the delicious odors (especially the lilacs above), looking intentionally at the beautiful nature around me, and listening to the sounds of birds, the wind, and even cars.
Of course, it's not so easy to be in your senses when you are used to living in your head! I had to keep pulling myself out of my head and back down to Earth, but it's okay. I do it all the time.
When I got home I was pretty tired, and opened up my computer to a  message I get each morning from The Daily OM. I highly recommend it! 

The bottom line for me is that I want to become increasingly conscious. And while I have done things to sabotage that desire, I continually aspire to improve and move towards where I want to be. Here's what the blog written by GINA LAKE reminded me of, that resonated with my experience walking Ted:

Happiness is the natural outcome of being aligned with Essence, our true self, which is experienced when we are fully present in the moment. 

The key to happiness is being very awake and aware of what is really happening in every moment rather than being absorbed in thoughts about the past, the future, your life, other people, and the many other thoughts we tend to get lost in, which don't add to our life or enhance our experience of life but, rather, detract from the potential joy, peace, and contentment inherent in each moment. Happiness is in our control, since where we focus our attention is in our control. When we focus it on what the mind is telling us, we suffer; when we focus it on what is real and true in this moment, we experience happiness, joy, peace, and contentment. 

The present moment is all that exists, since the past and future are simply thoughts about the past and the future. But because we are programmed to pay attention to our thoughts, we often fail to notice what is actually going on now. Most people live in a mental world. When we drop out of this mental world into the Now, we experience a depth, a richness, and a joy and peace that feel sacred. This is the experience of our true self, or Essence. So, when we talk about being in the Now, we are also talking about this experience of Essence. 

Whatever you are doing, enjoy it! You have another option, of course, which is to not enjoy it. Notice what keeps you from enjoying whatever you are doing. It's your thoughts, isn't it? Even if you are experiencing pain, for instance, or something unpleasant, like going to the dentist, if you don't listen to any negative thoughts, fears, complaints, and desires related to that, you won't suffer. You will just have the experience. 

You can go through life this way if you want, but when you are not fully in contact with what you are doing, you miss out on the potential joy and pleasure in an experience. Any experience can be interesting, since you have never had it before. And any experience can be enjoyed, because when you immerse yourself in it, you lose the false self (the sense of I or me) and discover the true self, which is always enjoying life. Essence is always in-joy. And from Essence's standpoint, every moment is an opportunity to serve life and love, which is another source of joy. What if you approached each moment as an opportunity to experience, serve, or love? 

Friday, May 26, 2017

Let Go . . .

The Universe has got my back.
05.26.17.

Hey! Happy Memorial Day Weekend--

Lately, I have been stretching myself a lot. Specifically, I am opening myself to the possibility of a career move. 
Scary.
Surrender, Dorothy!
But (secretly), I am exhilarated. Although I have tried to avoid change my whole life ('cuz I want to feel safe, damn it!), I think change is super exciting.
While I used to cling to safety in relationships, and in my life circumstances - - I have been reminded lately that I am my best in change.  
And the Universe rewards me when I am open to it. As a matter of fact, I approach change with curiosity, respect, and wonder. 
What will life offer me that
I would have never imagined for myself?
It's a great place to be . . .
And I always get feedback about my open stance toward life! 
Here's the message from the Universe that I received this morning from tut.com:
Release me, Danarelease me to do your will, to move heaven and earth, to orchestrate the players and summon the circumstances that will change your life completely, by doing your all out best with today. 
That's all the leg-up I need,

    The Universe

I did my best today, and I am grate(great)ful!
Happy holiday!

Thursday, May 25, 2017

gOt nEw mOOn?


05.25.17.
New Moon

When I was a kid, one hot summer day, I was lying in the sun on a towel in my backyard and it was so, so hot! It was a bit before noon, and I had my iced tea, my journal, and my transistor radio (you can Google that!). I looked up in the sky, and to my right, I saw the bright, beautiful, radiant sun! It was scorching hot, full of energy, and I could literally see the beams reaching down to our beautiful Earth. I glanced across the sky to my left, and I saw the faint outline of the moon. The mOOn! And I was like, "OMG! I can see the sUn and the mOOn at the same time!" 

I felt a deep connection with the cycles of nature, the sun, the moon, the Earth--ALL OF ITIt was an epiphany (which means, according to dictionary.com): a sudden, intuitive perception of, or insight 
into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence 
or experience.

Here's what I understood in a deep and timeless manner:

Everything is connected.
Absolutely everything.

So, tonight marks the Gemini new moon, and I do rituals and special prayers and intentions around the cycles of the moon. So, when the moon is new and it waxes (gradually gets larger . . .) we are supposed to call in new attitudes, ideas, relationships, behaviors (fill-in-the-blank) that will serve our highest good! 

For this moon cycle, I intentionally bring in: balance in work & play, gratitude, peace, feeling my feelings, daily rituals & meditation, self-care, & purpose.

 . . . Here's a cool moon ritual from a site that I subscribe to each month called MoonCircles:
La LuNa RiTuaL
Happy new moon! It's so amazing & magical & full of possibilities!

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Pets are Presence & (presents) !


SoulPancake: Pet Teachers
WoOf WoOf! 
Barkie, bark, and BaRk and barK!  (you speak dog, so you know what I mean . . . )
So back to the dOg (GOD) thing. Dogs have a lot to teach us.
DoGs (Gods) like I said before, . . . are pReSent. Like, they are right there with you in the MoMeNt, like,...hElLo dog, wag, WaG, lIck, liCk, LiCk . . .
When I was hangin' with Teddy, it reminded me of what it's like to be in the moment, or be PRESEnt. When a dog is snuggling us or licking our lips there is no yesterday, and no tomorrow. Dogs live in DOG time, which is in the now . . . no regrets about where they took their last poo, and no worries about what tree is their next potty victim...when you are with a dog, time slips away (which is why a dog is (wo)man's BesteSt (beastest) friend, right?
Thanks, Teddy, for the reminder . . . (cuz that's the kind of friend I want to be, too . . .). I want to be PRESENT to the people I love, and I want to pAy attend-tion to my friends and family folk. (note: attention has the word "tend" in it, which means to nurture, like, as in a garden . . . we nurture plants cuz we want them to grow and thrive, right?)

Which leads me to the NeXt thing. . . aNiMaLs. . . and (LEAP) nature (more about that later . . .).  Animals teach go(o)d lessons from Go(o)d; watch this video from SoulPancake, about the presen(t)s of pets!

Your pets love you soOoOoOOsoO  mUcH...
and you don't have to do anything to earn it, so cool!
Unconditional LoVe feels amazing !#$!

Love and more LoVe!
;) dana

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Hugs are the Best Therapy!

"Hugs are the Best Therapy"
05.23.17.
This video literally made my day!

You for sure now that I believe in the POW-POW-POWER of animals and nature. Touch is so very healing, and animals can be such healers by being present with us ridiculous head-liscious (made-up word) humans.

Give your pet a hug today!


Monday, May 22, 2017

I'm iN LoVe!


WoOf WoOf! funfreeMe folks!

Barkie, bark, and BaRk and barK!  (you speak dog, so you know what I mean . . . ).

My family and I were so very lucky that Theodore Duncan Curry Bradach III found us two years back. He is the sweetest ever--see above!

We give him baths, and feed him, and take him for walks. He is only a puppy, and he needs attention.

We all know about the dOg (gOd) thing. Dogs have a lot to teach us. DoGs (Gods) . . . are pReSent. 

Like, they are right there with you in the MoMeNt, like, . . . hElLo dog: wag, WaG, lIck, liCk, LiCk . . .

When we hang with Teddy, we have to be in the moment, or be PRESEnt.
When a dog is snuggling us or licking our lips, there is no yesterday, and no tomorrow (and it doesn't matter who is president, btw). 

Dogs live in DOG time, which is now . . . 

No regrets about where they took their last poo, no worries about what tree is their next potty victim . . . when you are with a dog, time slips away

(which is why a dog is (wo)man's BesteSt (beastest) friend, right?

Thanks, Teddy, for the reminder . . . (cuz that's the kind of friend I want to be, too . . .). 

I want to be PRESENT to the people I love, and I want to pAy attend-tion to my friends and family folk.

(note: attention has the word "tend" in it, which means to nurture, like, as in a garden . . . we nurture plants 'cuz we want them to grow and thrive, right? same with relationships, as far as I can figure . . . )

Sunday, May 21, 2017

DOG is GOD spelled backwards:sdrawkcab!

Pick Me!!!!
Teddy (2 years ago)
05.21.17.

My daughter and I watched A Dog's Purpose yesterday--what an amazing movie! I am so so lucky that Teddy, our yummy Cavapoo, found us online two years ago.

So, what's the deal? What is it about DOGs that makes them (wo)man's best friend? And, do you find the fact that DOG is GOD spelled backwards a coincidence? 

Well, you already know how I feel about that . . .

We humans can learn a lot from DOGs; here are some reasons why I believe DOGliness is next to GODliness:

  • Life is simple for dogs: eat, play, sleep, pee, and poop. No drama, whatsoever. Wouldn't it be great if we could live like that?
  • Dogs are present, like, as in, they live in the moment. Have you ever seen a dog with regrets? Or worry about where to take the next nap? No way!
  • Dogs follow their instincts. Like, when a dog is tired, it just goes to sleep . . . doesn't matter where---car, sidewalk, lap (more about laps later . . .). And, if a dog gets a bad vibe from a person or another dog. . . it barks! 
  • Dogs are forgiving. I don't know about you, but I've never witnessed a dog who holds a grudge. When something happens, a dog just moves on to the next thing!
  • Dogs are loyal. They have your back. They will protect you and stand by you. Have you ever heard of a dog leaving home or breaking up with its owner?
  • Dogs listen. (. . .without interrupting you, unless they're giving you little doggy kissies . . .). They will hold space for you while you cry about your stupid breakup or your crappy algebra test . . . (they also understand that your parents don't get it a lot of the time . . . true dat cuz dogs just give you that knowing dog look).
  • Dogs accept what is. Dogs aren't haters. They don't care what brand of clothes you're wearing or whether you sit at the cool lunch table. They also don't care what mood you're in or if you have morning breath.
  • Dogs love and serve. Dogs are full of gratitude and joy. Basically, a dog's job is to hang out, be present, enjoy life, and receive and give love. In other words,  
 Just be(Love)d! 

What if that's all we have to do, too?
Love and be(Love)d?

What if life is that simple?
Just sayin ' . . . Woof!

Saturday, May 20, 2017

everYthIng iS oN pUrPosE . . .


****************************************************
beware...the content of this blog may apply to gRowN uPs ;)
****************************************************

One thing I have said to my own kids and my students, too, is that: 

everything happens for a reason. 

We may not always know the lessons in the stuff that happens to us, and that's because we sometimes get so caught up and attached to what WE WANT TO HAPPEN! 

In other words, WE WANT CONTROL, RIGHT????

FLASHBACK to my chubby, freckly, middle-school self: 

I can remember trying to get other kids to like me or be nice to me. That sounds so weird to me as I write it down as a grown up (although I must admit I still catch myself doing it!!!! YIKES! Please don't tell anyone!)

STORY:
In 6th grade, I remember "liking" a boy named Kenny (last name to remain anonymous... shout out to Kenny if you're reading my blog!), and I wanted him to "go" with me (whatever that means in middle school...). I gave him, like, over 20 packs of gum, wrote notes to him, took ridiculous detours through my school so I would see him between classes, and lots of other cRaZy stuff.
...what we do for love... ;)

GUESS WHAT?... Kenny never "liked" me back :(  sad face  and, of course, in my mind I made up that it was because I was chubby and freckly (he never told me that, though--he barely talked to me at all)!   DANG!@@#^%&% . . . that was a lot of gum . . .

ANOTHER STORY:
I know you can all relate---like, for example, thinking:
If I keep kissing butt to the kids who (I think) don't like me . . .
  • maybe they'll stop treating me like crap
  • maybe they'll quit taking my stuff or copying off my homework
  • or even stop hating me on Facebook
  • or at the very least maybe they will LEAVE ME THE HE(LL)CK ALONE
  • (I can remember actually praying about this one as a kid...)
When I was really in a fantasy land, the stuff I made up in my head was even more wishful--like, for example, thinking:
  • maybe they'll invite me to their lunch table (that's a huge one!!!!)
  • maybe I'll get to go to one of their sleepovers
  • maybe we could go to sUmMeR CaMp together!
You get the picture, right? 
Trying to manage what other people think or feel about us is living from the OUT:SIDE IN. Living from the OUT:SIDE IN is, quite frankly, a butt load of work. But here's the good news:

You can relax... (actually, take a deep breath now! I am controlling you! LOL!)

Living from the IN:SIDE OUT, not the OUT:SIDE IN, is much easier! And(top secret information) even some of GrOwN uPs don't know this...but you can share it with them, if you think they are ready...

What I know now, is that I can't get other people to like me, be nice to me, or anything else! My job is to be myself (who, BTW, is very likable!), like myself,  and surround myself with others who like me for me. I don't actually have to DO anything; just Be myself. Whew!

I wish I would have known this stuff earlier...(which is one awesome reason I started this blog, really).

Actually, knowing now that this stuff is just plain out of my control is such a relief! 
And guess what? I get to relax, enjoy myself, and just be the best person/mom/teacher/friend/partner I can be... and I think I actually do a better job of all those things when I am not freaking out trying to control things on the OUT:SIDE all the time!!!!!

Friday, May 19, 2017

aLL is weLL . . . On pURpoSe . . .

05.19.17.

"With Synchronicity,
all the resources we need are made available to us
at the precise moment that is appropriate.
The people who come into our lives are the ones we need at that moment in time.
Everything is perfect.
We only need to recognise this to tune into the flow.
Everything happens for a Reason and Every Experience is a Learning Experience."
 - Alex Chua

This past couple of days I've been remembering a Celtic symbol that showed up in my life a very long time ago, and how it has supported me in my journey all along . . . but especially in the past few years--maybe cuz' I have been increasingly present and open to the Universe.

I started out with one of these symbols to keep in my pocket, to serve as a reminder to me that I am loved and there is a Higher Power working in my life. But one day, my token went missing out of my pocket . . . I looked for it everywhere in my house, at my job, and in my car, . . . even in my yard; it was nowhere to be found.

I actually took losing my token as a sign in and of itself--that I was not paying attention and that I needed to get more conscious. I prayed to find it at the right time, and continued looking for weeks and weeks.

One morning, I was one my way to school and I decided to stop at one of my favorite coffee shops, Dunn Bothers, which was kind of strange because I was already running late. I just was kind of bummed out and lonely, and hadn't been in for months--and wanted to touch base with my coffee shop peeps whom I've known for years (what up Clare and Paul!).

I ordered my coffee as usual, chatted with Clare, and as I looked down to leave a tip, I saw the very same coin with my symbol on it sitting on the till. I got the chills. I asked Clare where it came from, and she said someone had "accidentally" dropped it into the tip jar in the past week (it couldn't have been me because I hadn't been there, and you know I don't believe in coincidences!). 

I told her it was the symbol of my Celtic rune that I'd lost weeks before, and she gave me a big smile on her face and pressed it into my hand saying, "You can have it. It's yours. It was totally waiting for you, Dana." I was so speechless. I walked out of the coffee shop with my special (but not my original) Celtic symbol safe in my pocket, and I pledged to become more present so I wouldn't lose it again.

Have you ever experienced a synchronous event? They can be some of the most powerful life-changing experiences we have, and guess what? 

WHAT IF we lived our lives as if EVERY EVENT and EVERY RELATIONSHIP were a sacred confluence, created uniquely FOR us to get our attention and to help us learn (even the painful stuff . . .)? 

WHAT IF we could be grateful for it ALL, even if we aren't clear about the agenda or the Universe's plan for us?

Remember, we are only humans and our vision can be limited, at best. The Universe, however, may just have bigger plans for us that we can even imagine.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Appreciate Relation-SHIPS. . . .

The journey is the reward.
-Chinese Proverb

I have been thinking a lot lately about the delicate dance of relation-SHIP, and by relation-SHIP, I literally mean SHIP--like, as in relation-SHIPs are journeys, not destinations. 

Sometimes, travel is smooth and beautiful, and the water is crystal clear and the skies are baby blue. Whew! and Yay!

Other times, waters are murky and tumultuous & filled with predators, and the sky is pitch black, rainy, and thunderous--Scary! . . .not.

Most of us have a destination in mind when we go on a journey, and this is often true of a relation-SHIP, as well. We have an idea of where we want it to go, and so often, we have OUR PLAN (destination) in mind . . . and we forget to really see and appreciate the person in front of us and we don't live authentically in our own skin.

This is also true when we meet someone and assume they have nothing to offer us. We never see the gifts they potentially could offer us in our life 'cuz we think we have it figured out before we even allow the relation-SHIP to develop.

I don't know about you, but some of the coolest journeys I have taken are just getting in the car and starting to drive--without knowing where I am going . . . OR (even better) . . . having a set destination and then getting lost or going on a detour and ending up somewhere even more amazing than I had ever imagined . . . (I'm sure you know where I'm secretly going with this by now!)

CONSIDER THISRelation-SHIPS are journeys, not destinations, and if we open ourselves to fully experiencing another person, while being authentic at the same time, the possibilities are endless! Hello!

For those of us who have ever chased a relationship, this notion can be a huge relief. Personally, I'd rather be my imperfect, crazy, awkward self--with someone who appreciates me for all of it--than try to be perfect with someone who constantly corrects me, criticizes me, and wants me to be different than who I am. Bye-bye!

When we open ourselves up authentically to others, we may be surprised where the journey, the relation-SHIP carries us. Where has an unexpected relation-SHIP taken you? 

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Got Water?

"The Bucket"
05.17.17.

Water. It's a Universal need for all creatures, including us humans.

Did you know our bodies are made of about 60% water? It's no wonder that when we are dehydrated, our brains start to feel fuzzy and we get lethargic and "off."

Did you also know that water molecules carry energy, and our thoughts can change the composition of the molecules?

Since our bodies are composed of so much water, it's important that we manage our thoughts so they do not effect us negatively with the energy we create.

When Dr. Masaro Emoto exposed water to a number of different words and sounds, and he found that the molecules rearranged themselves in patterns in response to the stimuli. Check out this video:


What strikes me with this research is that the health of our bodies--in connection with water--could be directly related to our thoughts, our words, and to the people and situations we choose to surround ourselves with.

And how we treat others can physically effect them, as well.

Have you ever noticed a shift in yourself, physically and psychologically, when you are around negative people? It's almost like you can feel their energy--it's real.

Our thoughts and words matter. Let's consciously choose them.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Let it Rain . . . Let it Be . . .

“For after all,
the best thing one can do
when it is raining
is let it rain.” 
―Henry W. Longfellow


This morning as I was driving to work it began to rain. I noticed that I felt calm and comforted--almost relieved--by the soft falling drops on my windshield. I didn't even turn my wipers on, and I opened my window to feel the wet spring raindrops in my hand. Amazing!

I've always loved rainy days. 

There's something, well, snuggled in about rainy days . . . (and snow days, too). They sort of give us permission to turn withintake care of ourselves, and listen to our inner whisperings.


I was reminded of a sunny day one summer when I was walking around Lake Harriet with my daughter, Chloe:

We had gotten about half-way around the lake, when a light rain shower began. It actually cooled us down very nicely, and Chloe and I just kept walking, hand-in-hand.

I remember smiling at the other people who were walking around the lake-- a knowing smilelike we were the lucky ones to experience this soft hum of rain on a hot summer afternoon.




Then, it started to rain harder . . . and harder. I noticed those who were walking started very quickly toward their cars, and people who were biking, rollerblading, or running--alone, in pairs, or with their pets--began to go faster and faster to get safely out of the wet rain.

I wasn't sure what to do . . . Chloe and I were still almost a mile and a half away from the car. We both started to complain to one another, and then we went under a tree for some shelter from the rain--and then something in me shifted. As I watched people scatter to get out of the rain, I realized Chloe and I really had no choice but to finish our walk around the lake . . . IN THE WET, COOL, AMAZING RAIN.

And, we could either complain about it and continue in complete misery, or we could step out and  fully experience and celebrate the gift of rain.

"This is awesome!" I laughed. "Now we don't have to take baths tonight!I winked at Chloe, pulled her out from the under the shelter of the tree, and we skipped out into the rain.

We jumped in puddles, sang songs about rain, raced and ran in the downpour--and noticed people smiling at our ridiculous antics.  


Forty minutes later, we arrived at our car TOTALLY drenched and thrilled. There is grace in simply accepting WHAT IS, and I learned something about shifting my thoughts that day (even though I didn't realize it until this morning) . . . these moments happened organically, and come from a place larger than our egos; they emerge from deep within our spirit, the place that knows the this truth: We are born to experience joy, and that depends on how WE choose to experience life--ALL OF IT

Thank GO(o)D(ness).

How have you shifted your perspective and experienced joy? How have you accepted the moment for WHAT IS?

Lucky us,
;) Dana