Pretend and the world changes

"What you are looking for, you already have"  Denise's brain

These are the words I heard years ago while searching for a book at Barnes n Nobble.  What I was searching for was already within me.

I don't normally hear voices but on this day I kinda did.  It was a message to me that didn't really seem to come from me.  I understood it's truth immediately. I can't say I have always followed this wisdom but have never forgot that moment or message.

 I received this message over twenty some years ago.  Recently it has come back into my thoughts.  I have been practicing a form of walking called breath walking.  My version of breath walking is intervals of: moving Kundalini yoga; play; sense connection; manifestation; mindfulness; pretending; power walking and on...  This practice takes walking to a new level.

 Part of this practice involves pretending.  I act as if I am...

 I pretend I act as though I'm a 5 year old.  I walk as if I'm a panther or giraffe.  I pretend I've just been given a check for $50,000.  As I pretend a funny things happens...my body responds as if it is truly is what I'm pretending to be.  My joints, legs and arms change. My breath changes.  My eyes and focus change.  This new walking practice has opened up my brain to a new level of play.

The shift in perspective and how my body and mind moves is fantastic-amazing and almost magical!! It has taken my breath walking to a whole new level and has brought be back to those words I heard years ago.  "Denise what you are looking for you already have, what you need is within you."

The fact is we are amazing beings, capable of far more than we can comprehend.  By shifting how we think-everything shifts- for the better or worse depending on your thoughts.  That's where setting intention and being present comes in.  When we don't know how to do something, go back to what you did when you were 5 years old:  play and pretend.  Act as if you are a tiger or a 20 year old or a prosperous artist or a race car driver.  Your imagination can go wild.

As always wishing you great joy and light in your day,
      Denise

How to get unstuck in your clutter

When I was in high school we took our cows up to a ranch in Wyoming for the summer.  The ranch perimeter had supposedly been walked to ensure there was a solid fence. The ranch hand who supposedly did this - did not. As it turned out, the fence only existed where we let our cows out.  The rest of the summer we looked for cows.

What in the world does this have to do with being stuck?  This morning as I was doing my morning yoga/exercises I pondered being stuck.  And I thought of that summer.  On one of our cow hunting trips my mom, dad and I got stuck. We were in our 1/2 ton brown Chevy pickup truck.  This truck did not have 4 wheel drive, front wheel drive or anything else that would have helped us get unstuck.

We got into a meadow of muddy soil and got insanely stuck.

 If you have ever driven a rear wheeled pick up truck you know the last thing you do when you get stuck is to gun it.  Trying to get out in full speed only gets you more stuck.  Instead you need to rock, back and forth - hopefully gaining momentum with each motion.  If you are stuck enough you might need help.  Two of us got out and pushed, one stayed on the gas- back and push- back and push- back and push- all together this time... back and push and with the a bit of good luck, timing and team work we popped out of the mud hole.  We were all caked in mud, tired but free!  

And there you have it!  Getting unstuck requires a gentle rocking motion, determination, teamwork and a gas.  Good tires don't hurt either.  Trying to get unstuck in one day or one giant push on the gas might just get you more stuck.  Gently start rocking to gain momentum.  

After getting unstuck- take a shower- you will need to rinse off all the mud! 

 Funny thing about that summer, it was one of my favorite summers of all time.  The mountain was beautiful, aspen trees, green meadows, fresh air.  Each time we found a cow or a small herd we all squealed with joy.  Spending the summer on a cow searching adventure was priceless.  Of course, I do realize my perspective as a teenager was different than my parents.  Perspective is 99% of the equation.

This memory of our summer spent looking for cows reminds me to enjoy the journey- where ever it might take you.

Wishing you all unexpected discoveries while looking for cows- or whatever you are searching for.
         Denise

A little less tension a little more flow

Yesterday my sister, 8 month old niece and I walked the Seattle Half marathon. Since we had a little baby in tow, we took our own sweet time.   Instead of racing we strolled, carrying baby through Seattle and all the runners and walkers.  With our thoughtful pace we got the worlds best view of the Seattle marathon- they ran right by us!!  At one point it did feel a little like we were in a stampede but besides that. it was amazing

  While meandering, there was plenty of time to wonder and contemplate.  We got to see the beginning and the finish of the top marathon runners and most of the 1/2 marathon walkers

   As you can imagine the variety of running and walking styles were off the charts.  I really started to notice the different postures and gates of the runners and walkers.  Did their style look easy or did it look like the following day was going to be very painful?  Were they fluid or tight?  Did they have healthy posture or did they somehow look twisted or bent over?

  Towards the end of our walk, the marathon winner flew by us.  He was fluid, strong and looked as if he was out for a weekend run and not at the end of a 26 mile race.  His ran with little effort!!  Not everyone's race looked so easy.

   As I walked, I was ever mindful of my own posture and tensions.  When it comes to tension and constriction- less is more.  The same as it is in our homes.  Think of clutter as tension.  Lots of clutter causes stress and tensions in our homes and bodies.  As we clear out the clutter in our lives, our ability of flow becomes more like the marathon winner and less like those who finished- with maybe great toughness, but lots of tension and whole lot of struggle.

When you struggle life is harder than it needs to be.  By letting go of tension, clutter and anything that causes you to tighten up, your life can start flowing.  Your walks, runs and days can start to flow with an effortless and inspiring ease.

May you be blessed with less tension and more flow.  And congrats to the Seattle Marathon winner- beautifully done!!
         Denise

Finding inspiration in a frying pan

  This past week I have been prepping for an upcoming presentation.  My topic is:
 Less is More- minimizing your chemical exposure.  I'll be speaking at the Piece County's Cancer Survivorship Conference on Sept 13th- over at the University of Puget Sound. 
   
                 If you would like to attend- please do- I loving having friends around!!

                                                  Here is the link with details

Go to Web site for Cancer Survivorship Conference

  My talk was inspired by a frying pan.  Several years ago, I was in AZ with my mom visiting my grandma and grandpa Biddle.  My mom and I were cooking away- which we always did on these trips.  I think we were making pancakes.  My grandma had a 14 inch stainless steel skillet- it looked brand new.  I asked my mom when did grandma get this new pan?  Her reply is what inspired my presentation... Oh this skillet?  It must be over 50 years old!!!

  50 years old!!! That pan looked so good, it could have been purchased that same week.  At the time, I still had some teflon coated frying pans.  I was probably on my 3rd or 4th set.  They were cheap, chemically laden and totally un-sustainable.   What a waste of money!!  

  When I think of less is more in Chemicals what I really think about is Simple.  Simple means of living that are sustainable, healthy, easy, money saving, time saving and effortless.  Maybe a stainless steel pan costs more than a cheep teflon pan but think about it..    How many pans would it take to replace that one single pan over the course of 50 years?? 

 We would save a mint.  We wouldn't be throwing anything into our land fills.  We wouldn't worry about what chemical had chipped off the coating and where was that chip now?  We wouldn't have to go shopping and researching to find new pans.  How simple is that?  

Life isn't always that simple but when it is grab it!   Our home should be a place where we can thrive.  Where we can make pancakes with our mom and not have to wonder what chemical fell into the batter.  Where our time and energy can be spent enjoying our family. Being grateful for conversations around the breakfast table where we are present enough to enjoy every bite.

As always wishing you a happy, healthy and radiant life,
            Denise

Your home is a reflection of yourself

   After 24 years in homes, I have come to many conclusions.  First of all, there is simply no such thing as a perfect home.  There may be perfect moments but a perfect home is a stressful and unattainable goal.  Some homes are full, some are almost empty, some dancing with people, some are peaceful, some are stressed and some are funny but perfect- nope!

    Have you ever heard the expression, "your home is a reflection of yourself"?  This would be like saying I am a little white house, built in the 1960s.  That is silly- of course I'm not a little white house.  Houses give us a reflection of where we are at the present moment.  I do believe our homes can be great teachers.  I can always tell when I'm too busy or too rushed- I start throwing my shoes in my closet.  When I see a pile of heels and laces, it is time to pause and breath! 

    Just like our bodies we are always in search of balance.  Our homes surround us, keep us warm, safe and let us rest.  Our homes are where we can be free to express our lives and enjoy our families and friends.  Sometimes our homes- just like our bodies- get a little out of balance.  They can get stressed and even sick.  Our homes are living structures, there is no such thing as perfection or completion.  They are every changing and in search of balance 

    Growing up we lived on a farm with cattle.  I always found it funny, that when a pen was empty of cattle it would quickly start falling apart.  Homes and pens need life and movement.  Seasons chance, energy changes and our lives change every day.  Using our homes to re-connect to ourselves is one of the simplest ways of finding our balance.  Using clutter clearing as a way to find your personal balance gives you the added benefit of accomplishing your to-do list at the same time!

  If your life or home feels a little out of balance, pause a second and breathe.  You are probably judging your life and home too harshly.  Take a few minutes and clean out a drawer.  The little tiny act of cleaning out often gives us comfort and de-stresses our beings!

Wishing you a home that nurtures and a life that flows with the seasons.
            Denise