You have to make time for these things.

May I have your attention please....I did it! I've been itching to paint and definitely did not get enough beach days in this summer. Well, guess what - I finally took a day for myself and my art at the beach! Big deal, you say? This takes effort, people. Just me, my watercolors, and my journal. Bliss. Although, when I got to the beach I realized that I would be dealing with some of the leftovers from Hurricane Irene. The boardwalk was broken and the beach was shortened due to the high tides. The Bulldozer was out pushing sand around beeping every time it backed up and shooting smoke out the top. Not my ideal situation, but I wasn't letting it wreck my day! I sat on the jetty, took out my watercolors, brushes, journal, and use the ocean as my wash cup. I stuck my headphones in, put my iPod on shuffle and enjoyed the sunshine. Life is good.

Beach Day Soundtrack for the artist in you:

Dogs - Damien RIce

Somedays - Regina Spektor

Giri's Song - Trevor Hall

Friend Like You - Joshua Radin

Never Too Late - Micheal Franti

Hannah - Freelance Whales

Are We There Yet? - Ingrid Michaelson

Why Waste More Time - Rosie Thomas

Every Tear Drop is a Waterfall - Coldplay

A Little Opera Goes a Long Way - Sky Sailing

Better - Regina Spektor

Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons

Just Breathe - Pearl Jam

The Heart of the Matter - India.Arie

The Glory of it All - David Crowder Band

Secrets - One Republic

Everybody - Ingrid Michaelson

Samson - Regina Spektor

The Lime Tree - Trevor Hall

I Know I'm Not Alone - Michael Franti

The Gratitude Dance

It's about doing what you want, wherever you want, and making people smile along the way.

How could you not love this?

http://www.wherethehellismatt.com

I am.

How much do you care?

Joy

Good news. Joy now comes in a bottle.

Young Living Essential Oils

Right in Front of You.

Hands to Heart's Center

"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,

but to be fearless in the face of them.

Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain,

but the heart to conquer it.

Let me not crave in anxious fear to be saved,

but hope for the patience to win my freedom."

-Rabindranath Tagore, Indian Poet

Prayer: A Moving Art

There is a new class at Alluem Yoga and tonight was the big debut: Body Prayer.
The description: Let yoga be more than a physical practice. Explore the effects of yoga on the mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Our bodies speak volumes. Flow with grace and strength as you offer up your intentions and vibrations into the universe. Prayer is the act of communicating with something bigger than ourselves. What ever that something is for you, connect through movement and prayer. Pray for peace. Pray for happiness. Pray for serenity. Pray for your loved ones and those in need. Come with an open mind and an open heart.


This class with Gina was amazing. When you add intention with the physical art of movement you find yoga to be, you open in a way that you may not have on a normal basis. Your mind and your heart connect. Your thoughts have meaning. Your body moves with integrity. Everything seems to align. Being on your mat makes you feel complete.
I thought my night was complete when I bowed my head to my heart after the final Om. I could sleep soundly after that moving mediation for sure! Then I came home and found a post from my brother...you have to watch the video below. My jaw dropped...

David Garibaldi: Jesus Painting from Thriving Churches on Vimeo.

This is David Garibaldi. (http://garibaldiarts.com/) I like to think his "performance" type painting style is much like a moving meditation - a moving prayer - a lot like yoga. I know for myself, when I'm creating a piece of art or deeply involved with a sketch with pencil moving quickly across the page like it has a mind of it's own, I get lost in the art...just like I do when I'm on my mat practicing. It's the best feeling. To watch someone else get immersed in that same feeling almost feels wrong! Like you're stealing a personal moment! Ha! Then again, David is a "performance" artist - and his hope is to inspire the audience to use their passion to benefit and inspire others. After all, we are here for one another...we inspire one another.

Whether you're stepping on to your mat or in front of an empty canvas...it's all about quieting down and looking inside - for your inspiration, for your voice, for your passion...it's about finding that stillness inside and then exploding out with thoughts, prayers, and intentions of love, peace, serenity, hope, and inspiration. That is what David Garibaldi calls "Living with passion and purpose." I can't wait for next week's Body Prayer to practice with that same passion and purpose. (Mondays 7:30-8:45pm)

Never Forget

From "The Golden Present" by Sri Swami Satchidananda (copyright 1987)