Half the Sky

I'm watching a powerful movie that speaks to my heart and inspires reflection.  It's called Half the Sky.  This documentary is based on the book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.  Through story telling, it sheds light on issues of sex trafficking, education for girls, genital mutilation and rape in countries all over the world.  It's shocking and difficult to imagine living through the challenges that these girls face.

My initial reaction is to get on a plane and volunteer for one of these incredible organizations.  I also know that I can make a difference here at home in my daily life.  As a teacher, it makes me want to further empower the girls in my class.  Perhaps a lunch book club with stories of women leaders.  My students are in an important position with so many advantages to make positive change in the world, but first we need to build their confidence, ease their anxiety and tap into the power inside of them.  I can see the nervousness on their faces as they look up to me for approval.  My role is to teach content, but I know that I can help them find strength on the inside.

I want to live through example.  I am the product of a strong education for women.  This movie makes me extremely grateful for all of the opportunities I've had in my life.  It also makes me wonder, "Am I doing everything I can to make the most of this gift?  Am I contributing to my community?  If not, what's holding me back?"  I have no excuses.

Here are 3 small things I can recommit to right now:
1. Speak positively about myself and other women.  No gossip.
2. Be nice to my mom even when I'm feeling impatient or grumpy.
3. Take care of myself and be thankful so that I can be of service to others.

When you educate a girl, she tends to take better care of her herself and her kids, create a business, get married later and invest in her community.  When you educate a girl, you educate a village.  To care about a girl, is an enormously powerful thing.  Girls education is transformative.

Please watch this movie or read the book.  Join the conversation that impacts everyone.

Transition into fall the Ayurvedic way!

Cozy blankets, colorful leaves, walking in the brisk sunny air....  Fall can be a beautiful time of year when we follow the Vedic recommendations for how to transition our mind and body.  Here are a 5 easy steps to make this the best fall of your life.

1.  Begin your day with meditation.  Even 10 quiet minutes will create a calm tone for your day.  For amazing guided meditations visit:  http://www.chopra.com/library/guidedmeditations

2. Start transitioning away from cold, raw salads and towards warming stews and soups with vegetables, beans and your favorite spices.  For soup inspiration, check out: http://www.101cookbooks.com/soups/

3.  Obviously wearing warmer clothes is a smart idea as the seasons change.  It's especially important to keep your neck and throat covered during this blustery and chilly season.  In additions to jackets and scarves, add orange, yellow or red colors to harmonize with the shift.

4.  Fall is dominated by VATA, a mobile, dry, cold force.  It's easy to feel trapped in cyclical thoughts and worries.  Therefore, we have to add the opposite qualities in order to create balance and stabilize our mind.  Give yourself permission to rest, take a warm bath, slather on nourishing oil and wrap up with a blanket and some relaxing tea.  Avoid loud music, driving too fast and violent shows that will further aggravate Vata.

5.  If you have trouble sleeping, indulge in a sesame oil foot massage.  Sesame oil is warming, and this self-massage will relax your nervous system before bed.  Pull on some socks so that your sheets stay nice and clean.

Enjoy this beautiful season!

 

Slowing down for gratitude

The manifestation is complete.  I handed the keys to my ideal renter this week.  Kaley appeared a few weeks ago and fell in love with the place.  She is excited about the area and appreciates the old building charm.  It is the perfect fit.  This entire process has been incredible practice for me to let go, release my attachments and welcome the inevitable change that life brings.

As I adjust to living at home, I am committing to enjoyment.  I vow to cherish each day at home with my parents.  As we all get older, I realize that my time with them isn't infinite.  I promise to savor cooking with my dad, having coffee with my mom and snuggling with my dog.  As I relaxed with a magazine in the hammock today, I exhaled and felt complete relief.  Instead of rushing forward to the next goal, I'm going to slow down and feel thankful.  Thankful for yoga in the morning with my mom.  Thankful for good water pressure in the shower.  Thankful for delicious coffee, a lawn and a wonderful family.  These are my four precious months to take it easy and soak up this time.  Are you willing to slow down today for gratitude?  What are you thankful for?

Dating and Renting: The Parallels

"Hi Nicole!  I got your message.  I'm sorry but we've decided to look elsewhere."  The gasp that came out of my mouth showed me how invested I am in this rental process.  The wave of rejection that washed over me in that first instant was undeniable.  As silly as it seems, this process of renting my condo feels a lot like dating.

Excitement, connection and hope filled me this weekend as I showed Sara and John* my condo.  They loved the his-and-hers closets and extra storage unit for their snowboarding gear.  She loved the chandelier and wood floors.  She confessed to walking by the building the other day to daydream and get to know the neighborhood.  These comments felt like sweet nothings being whispered into my ear from a lover, promising devotion and security.  I felt like this couple would take good care of my place.  Plus two jobs can pay the rent easier than one!  It felt like the perfect match. 

"Did the dentist call?" my mom asks tentatively.  "No, mom."  After 4 showings on Saturday and multiple email threads with various prospects, I expected to be running credit checks on Monday.  Instead I sat contemplating a price reduction and checking my phone every 15 minutes.  Is the price too high?  Should I rename it a studio with sleeping alcove instead of a one bedroom?  Did I sound too eager?  Was it something I said?  Uggghhh...these feelings of doubt and frustration are enough to drive a girl crazy. 

Then I decided to reframe my perception.  This rental process is new for me and a huge growth opportunity.  Just last week I became landlord-certified and passed a site inspection with endless paperwork, copies and signatures.  We cleaned, decluttered and strategized.  It's going to take some time for my perfect renter to find me.  She is already on her way.  I just have to stay optimistic and cultivate patience.  Of course there are tasks I can do in the meantime to prepare (make copies of the keys, get rid of old paint cans, donate more unneeded things, etc).  This first round taught me (again) the importance on non-attachment to the outcome.

A miracle also happened last week.  I bit the bullet and paid $115 to join the Rental Housing Association.  This gave me access to all the rental paperwork I need to stay legal and protected.  It was an investment that I knew would benefit me and my renter.  As I shuffled through all of my condo papers, I found a check.  It was from 2009.  For $117.  I take this as a sign from the Universe.  Invest in the right things and the money will appear.  What you need will always find you.  I deposited the check, and it went through.  Thank you, Universe!

Just like in dating, the Universe has my best interest in mind.  I can sit back and relax knowing and trusting that divine timing is at work.  Breathe, meditate, take one step forward.  I'm going to keep showing my place, giving love away, and it will find its way back somehow.  It always works out.  I'm eager to see what miracle will happen today.  Universe, show me what you've got!

*Names have been changed for privacy purposes.

One action today

Inspiration.  Excitement.  Possibility.  Aren't these the feelings that we all want?  Lately I've experienced a shift in my perception around a big life change.  I have decided to ditch the doubt, fear and insecurity and infuse my experience with creativity and learning.  This is my decision to make, and I choose happiness.

This month I am becoming a landlord.  I am renting my beautiful condo, my baby.  I see this opportunity as a financial reset that will help me achieve my goals, bring freedom into my loving relationship and secure my dreams of travel.  On August 1st, I started to stress because that was the internal deadline I'd set for posting my ad on Craigslist.  I had to recalibrate through meditation and realize that I can extend my personal deadlines to best suit my needs.  Once I took the pressure off myself, things began to flow.  I met with a friend that showed me leasing agreements, addendums, insurance information and an amazing shutterfly site for displaying additional pictures.  This one hour of discussing and note-taking blasted me with new confidence and excitement.  Just as the fear of the unknown brings anxiety, the fresh infusion of information brought me positive inspiration.

I have decided to take one step each day.  Whether it's clearing clutter and donating clothes, building my picture site, talking to my Home Owners Association or writing my Craiglist ad, making one small move daily brings me closer to my goal.  I plan to take this attitude with me whenever tackling a new project.  Giving myself some credit and congratulating myself for accomplishing something new (regardless how small) motivates me to keep going.  I also use my emotional gauge as a signal of when to stop.  When I'm having fun and taking inspired action, I keep going.  When I feel hot, irritated or tired, I take a break (possibly until the next day).  Respecting my limits and bringing self-love to any project allows me to flow effortlessly.

To see how far I've come so far, check out my shutterfly site.  http://charmingcapitolhillrental.shutterfly.com/

Join me and take one inspired action today!

Basil tastes like summer

It's basil season, and I can't get enough.  This fragrant and delicious herb makes any meal feel alive and fresh.  This week I made a Spinach and Basil Pesto using produce from my Tiny's Organic CSA bag.  The recipe is so easy and goes with everything.  One meal I put the pesto over quinoa pasta.  Then I put it over mayacoba beans and broiled asparagus.  I'm excited to try it on pizza and other grilled veggies.  The major hit of nutrients (calcium, fiber, folic acid, magnesium, lutein, vitamins A & C) explains the happy glow after eating.  For a fun, fresh dose of summer, just add ingredients and blend.

Spinach and Basil Pesto
2 cups spinach leaves
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 cup basil leaves
4 cloves garlic, peeled/quartered
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper

Blend ingredients in a food processor until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula as necessary.  Makes enough pesto for 1-2 people.

For another fun dose of basil, try Chaco Canyon's chilled Avocado and Basil soup.  It comes with toast, rice or quinoa.  Perfect for a summer day.

Photo credit: Shoot to Cook

Ayurveda and Miracles

Why do you believe in miracles?

 

Gabrielle Bernstein posed this question to her readers.  She's picking a few people to be in a commercial for her next book, May Cause Miracles.  It's a beautiful question that helped me reflect and verbalize a piece of my path to healing.  Enjoy!

""Healing begins in the mind." Check out this amazing Spirit Junkie Nicole... You too can send me a video like this and be part of my May Cause Miracles book commercial! Thank you Nicole!"

-Gabrielle Bernstein

"Another guru to add to my ever increasing list of amazing women. Love you blogs, keep 'em coming :-) xx"  -Dawn Barrington