Adorable!!

Now this is a boy with passion -- He may not be able to sing all the words yet,  but he is amazing :-)



Here's to keeping our childhood dreams alive!!

Childhood Dreams

I remember being a child and truly believing that if I were to play hard enough and emerse myself in my dreams deeply enough, that they may actually come true. I'd spend hours upon hours pretending that I was a baseball player, a basketball star, a football hero - and it all felt so real. In the summer evenings, I'd play barefoot outside as the crickets would begin their song and the sun drifted beneath the hills.

Many adults would give me a hard time because the activities I chose to pursue weren't in line with what little girls should do. But there was something within me that propelled me to keep doing the things I loved to do. I loved the smell of the freshly cut grass in our backyard, mixed with the fragrant eucalyptus  trees. I enjoyed feeling the California sunshine on my skin...and the Santa Ana winds as they regularly swept through my neighborhood, providing electric energy that breathed added aliveness into my being.

It was fitting for me to grow up where I did. With trees that I could climb, grass that I could make into imaginary baseball fields, a pool that I could dive into and swim in for hours, vacant dirt fields that I could ride my bike on...

I sometimes wonder why I am who I am? Why I was born with a love for things that many women can't identify with? Why did I prefer throwing a ball against the wall to playing with Barbies? Why did I prefer playing in little league to ballet classes?

Don't get me wrong...I'm not unhappy about this. I'm 33 and I still ride my bike on dirt paths, shoot baskets with the guys and can't help but jump in during BBQs to toss the football while the majority of the women can't figure out why I'd want to leave their conversation circle to act like a kid.

We each have our own thing...my question is...where should we go with it all? Do we banish who we were as children to become serious adults? Do we merge the two?

I constantly crave the ability to return to those days -- to feel the freedom of believing in my dreams, no matter how silly they seemed to others. To feel the sun shining on my face and the winds blowing through my hair...to end the day grass & dirt stained, green haired as result of hours in the pool...exhausted because I exerted every ounce of energy I had to give. To sleep sweet sleep, with the knowledge that my dreams were waiting for me the next day.

Childhood dreams...I wonder what significance they should play in our adult lives. And what happens when we decide to become adults and leave them behind?

Thoughts on Perspective

I've been reflecting lately on what makes us most happy, most fulfilled and most at peace. A friend of mine asked just recently how she lets go of 25 years of conditioning -- the things that keep pulling her back to reacting to people and life in toxic, non-progressive ways.

My advice to her was that she needs to live in the present -- to breathe. I found myself this evening reflecting on the future, wondering how things will come together for those I love, for myself, etc. and I began holding my breath and my stomach began to clench -- my heart skipped a few beats and I had to take myself back to the conversation I had with my friend just yesterday. "Breathe Jen, breathe! For goodness sakes."

We have a full house here tonight, and I'm sleeping back in my childhood house for a night. Before I jumped on the computer, I found myself staring off into space wondering what my dad would do if he were me (or what he'd advise me to do if he were alive). He was never one to sit around and wait for life to pick him up and determine his destiny. He was the one chasing after destiny...and crazily enough he won often.

I've been watching people a lot lately -- in the store, on the street, wherever I go. And I've been noticing that many are like the walking dead these days -- smiles are hard to come by for some -- the pounds get packed on for many -- I saw a few yesterday that were even kind of grayish in skin tone, with zombie-like eyes.

The problem is that we are all to often buying into the philosophy that we are powerless, that it is too late, that it is too hard to let go of the baggage that we are carrying around. My friend asked me the other day how to get out of a rut and my answer as result of my reading and yoga practice was just "be present to the moment" and "make monumental decisions at crucial moments that can help you begin to reshape your life." For instance, instead of sitting down on the couch to watch Kobe get a good workout...and living vicariously through him...choose to go for a walk, a run or hit a yoga class. Or at the moment when we would usually say something hurtful to those we love, STOP. Don't say anything...just let it be. Breaking a pattern leaves room for magic and change.

One of my favorite yoga philosophers, BKS Iyengar says in Light on Life that when we choose to take the right path or right action we are infused with lightness -- our decision to proactively take the reins of our lives makes for simplicity.

Another great man that I know told me the other night that we can't be proactive or reach our goals when our souls are conflicted.

How do we know when we are on the right path? Many say that you can't trust the human mind. But I think that's an excuse. We know what's right and what is wrong more than not. Sometimes the right answer is just too scary for us, and we choose to pretend that we don't know our heads from our toes.

I believe that we as humans have the ability to do amazing things -- we all can choose to eat the right things and amounts, move our bodies, find flexibility, use our minds wisely, love those around us unconditionally, and more. But in order for us to live effectively we must live second to second -- breath to breath -- one moment at a time. Make bold decisions at crucial moments. Choose to be proactive. And above all to remember that we can change our perspective at any given moment.

----

Something that I've been doing lately for energy and clarity of mind each and every morning is filling my body with powerful foods. Every morning I juice the following:

- Broccoli - 2 heads
- Kale - 3-4 leaves
- 2 large carrots
- 1 apple
-1 orange
- 1 inch ginger
- Handful of berries (blackberries, blueberries or strawberries)
- One TBS Flax seed oil

It has made a huge difference in my energy levels, focus, and more. I suggest giving it a try!!!

Thanks for reading if you've gotten this far!! :-P