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

Wabi Sabi Pansy on a Monday

This is a wabi sabi Pansy.  I spotted the little gal or guy on my walk with Sally this morning.  Sometimes something unexpected shows up in the most unlikely of places and brightens your day.

Happy Monday to you,

   Denise

Ah-ah moment into my own procrastination

Have I told you I'm taking a course called Zero Procrastination?  I'm taking it to improve my skills in clutter clearing to help others, but you know how that goes...I'm learning a lot about my own procrastination.  Funny how life works out.  Anyway last night before dropping off to sleep I was reading from Natalie Goldberg's book called Writing down the bones.  It gave me a serious ah-ha moment into my own procrastination tendencies.

For those of you who are kindred spirits in procrastination this is for you...and me;-)

   "  Some days you don't want to run and you resist every step of the three miles, but you do it anyway.  You practice whether you want to or not.  You don't wait around for inspiration and a deep desire to run.  It'll never happen,  especially if you are out of shape and have been avoiding it.  But if you run regularly, you train your mind to cut through or ignore your resistance. ...
   "That's how writing is, too.  Once you're deep into it, you wonder what took you so long to finally settle down at the desk.  Through practice you actually do get better.  You learn to trust your deep self more and not give into your voice that wants to avoid writing."
               Page 11, Writing as a practice

Isn't that perfect for clutter and procrastination??? Now I can't wait to feel that moment of resistance and see if I can learn to turn and face this resistance and ask what and why am I feeling resistance.  And then with practice just do it!!!  Ha!  Love it!  

   Wishing you all ah-ha moments into your spirit and soul,
            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