What Is My "Alive"?

Rise Against has this song called Black Masks And Gasoline with the lyrics:

``Simply because you can breathe

Doesn't mean you`re alive

Or that you really live.``

I like the rest of the song, don`t get me wrong, but those lyrics have stuck in my head for my many years of being a Rise Against fan because they speak to me. Yeah, yeah, I know you`re probably imagining me sitting around a camp-fire with a guitar and a tattoo on my wrist that says `John & Yoko 4Ever`, but these lyrics are some of the only words that have stuck so close to me over the years.

I guess it`s fitting as to where I am right now; I'm in a profound transition - a deep metamorphosis - that I cannot control. I've let my inner fire goddess start calling some of the shots and she just goes with no filters, but she gets me what we want: a resolution. It`s hard, and I get in trouble for it... plus my sarcastic side sometimes drowns out the magic of my fire goddess making me seem plain bitchy. Like I said - a transition.

The hardest part about this transition is that I feel as if I am bursting from the seams with life and I'm ready to live. I'm making headway, but, for me, living means getting out there and experiencing the wo

rld beyond money and materials goods and status quos and hypocrisy (though I'll never escape hypocrisy). Calgarians are preoccupied with material goods and money and status - it's sickening. Bigger is better here, unfortunately. Bigger can be better (get your head out of the gutter), but when we're taking about creating unnecessary competition or elitism we're actually setting ourselves back rather than forward. I am lucky to have nice things, I am lucky to be able to have money, but I am starting to transition out of placing such great importance on material goods, status, or money. I just don't care.

This may also stem from my work with Eyes Wide Open Life - through working with this dynamic group of entrepreneurs, I have created in myself a kick-ass entrepreneur building my business around my heart. 

I LOVE to write and, after years of the same old question: "What are you really going to do with an English degree?" and responding: "I don't know"... I'm now saying: "Watch me."

And that's what working for profit is all about, right? You're supposed to enjoy yourself and then be rewarded for it. 

Ah, yes... I hear the laughter and the jeers. And my fire goddess asks: "Why devote yourself to something for life if it does not give you pleasure, enjoyment, and reward in some way?"

Good question! And why do we work in jobs that we hate? Because we are ruled by money, material goods, and status. It's a cyclical thing, and it sucks.

I have no immediate solution to this. I can only follow my heart through this transition and metamorphosis and trust that it will lead me in the right direction and help me to feel even more alive every day.

Namaste, All!

Yes!

Photo from Pinterest

Let's Talk About... Kadampa Buddhism

(Almost) every Monday night for the past couple of weeks, my sister, my husband, and myself have been attending Kadampa Buddhist teachings at the Akshobya Kadampa Buddhist Centre here in Calgary.

Life-changing.

You can check out more about the centre, and Kadampa Buddhism, here: http://www.meditationalberta.org/kadampa-buddhism/

Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school founded by the great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha (AD 982-1054).

In the word, ‘Kadampa’, ‘Ka’ refers to Buddha’s teachings, and ‘dam’ to Atisha’s special Lamrim instructions. Kadampas, then, are practitioners who regard Buddha’s teachings as personal instructions and put them into practice by following the instructions of Lamrim.

By integrating their understanding of all Buddha’s teachings into their practice of Lamrim, and by integrating their experience of Lamrim into their everyday lives, Kadampas use Buddha’s teachings as practical methods for transforming daily activities into the path to enlightenment.

(from http://www.meditationalberta.org/kadampa-buddhism/)

Something To Think About

High River Flooding 2013

My uncle lives in High River and owns just under 20 rental properties. We were down there helping them out (along with several other of my AMAZING cousins who had been at it all week) and these are the pictures...

Our hearts and thoughts are with Toronto and the GTA today, too. Stay strong, we are with you! 

 

Please donate your time and funds to the people affected by these devastating floods!

You can donate to www.redcross.ca

or check the City of Calgary and Town of High River's Facebook, Twitter and website pages to keep in the loop in how you can get out there and help out!

A community is built by it's people... and boy, are there some amazing people!

 

FOSBlog's Tom and cousin Sophia covered after cleaning out one rental property

Boat floated here and has not been moved (this is 1st street)



A Wee Bit Of Wisdom

There will always, always, always be people and situations who are there to challenge you, cause drama and controversy, and upset you throughout all aspects and times in your life. The solution isn't to expect them to change or to immediately sway to how you would like things to be, but to promote positivity and bright energy in how YOU handle that person or situation. You must be the driving force in conflict resolution and creating a sense of balance to create peaceful happiness for all. Be open to change, be open to other's opinions, be peaceful. Practice mantras... they even are working for me (formerly known as The Most Impatient Being) slowly but surely.

 

YOU can do it!

 

Namaste

 

The Importance of Giving Back

Tonight was amazing; I am so speechless. 

We drove down to a low-lying NW community and stopped at the first house we saw and asked if they needed help. After 2 1/2 hours and a promise to return as soon as possible, we came out of it with a lifelong memory of the incredible, amazing resilience and spirit of the homeowners and our fellow volunteers. We are so much more than just a city - we are community!

Below I've shared pictures of the incredible homeowners and our volunteer group. We were complete strangers, but it was harmony - not one negative thing was said, not one frown to be found. The smiles were plenty and the hugs were too. I will forever be inspired and humbled by Joan and Ray and all of our volunteer team from tonight!  

Please donate to www.redcross.ca - Tom & I have donated as much as we can right now and it feels amazing.

Make sure to monitor the City of Calgary's & Calgary Police's Facebook and Twitter feeds for opportunities. You can fill out a form at www.yychelps.ca or visit www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca to keep up to date. Everyone needs the help that they can get!

Muddy but so worth it!

Muddy Tom

Thumbs up for helping out!

Us and some incredible people

Amazing people!

Daily Dose Of... Zen

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”- Thich Nhat Hanh

Namaste

Getting Active In Alberta

It's shoulder season for Alberta hikers, and while the snow is still deep, the trails are marked and ready for your boot-clad hiking feet! Such was the case when Tom and I visited the Baldy Pass trail this past Saturday with our energetic and surprisingly awesome hiker dog! I've posted some pics below; what an awesome day to enjoy the incredible beauty that our Earth has given us! We felt incredibly fortunate.

 

Here's a quick-fix for beginners from beginners: If you can, buy a Day-Hiker backpack (specifically) - Atmosphere, MEC, and other outdoor stores will have them marked. They may have male/female varieties for weight displacement, but the big difference between a day-pack and a backpack one might use for school is the rigid back. If you don't have time or funds to acquire a day-hiker pack, a quick-fix (keep in mind this won't work for long-term) is to take a cutting board and place it against the back of your pack. This will mimic the rigid back of a day-hiker pack, and will save your back 

from getting overly sore like a soft-back school pack would.

What An Amazing World We Live In

So often we hear people complain about how "stupid" or "soft" children these days are. This kid is a shining beacon of light and he has wisdom way beyond his years!

What an amazing human being!

Make Yourself Drink More Water!

Thanks to my former love of pop and my forever love of Crystal Light, I can't really drink just plain old water anymore... I know, I know - terrible!

But, instead of pumping myself full of aspartame, I've recently been drinking water infused with real fruit and herbs! It's got many benefits; the vitamins from the fruit, it tastes great, it offers a bit of a natural 'filter', and it also prevents you from downing the water- especially during a workout! While staying hydrated is key during the day, you cannot down glass after glass of water! You have to pace yourself or else your stomach will protest very obviously and you'll throw up - making yourself even more dehydrated. Oh, and you'll feel better... trust me.

My favourite water so far has been watermelon and fresh rosemary. It's delicious!

Pinterest has a bunch of tasty ideas for infused 'spa' water! Or, create your own infused water concoction!

Animal of The Week!

This week's featured animal is Puddecombe, rescued and being cared for by Calgary's Meow Foundation. He was found severely dehydrated and was possibly hit by a car, yet he has soldiered on. But he needs our help; if the Meow Foundation can raise $3000, then a local Calgary company Follow Your Light will match the $3000 to cover Puddecombe's medical expenses of $5000. 

Please visit The Meow Foundation's website here to donate to Puddecombe!

The Meow Foundation holds a very dear spot in both Thomas and my hearts since we adopted our littlest kitty, Bella, from them. Bella has brought so much light and love to our lives and we are better people because of her. She is the most cuddly, beautiful little ray of sunshine and, for humans like ourselves who will not be having children, animals like the ones that we have been so fortunate to bring into our lives are our children forever.
There are many tragedies in the world that people can get behind and I support that fully. However, we must also remember how to be compassionate to the animals that be often take for granted. They become part of our families and capture our hearts, yet there are so many animals out there that are subjected to terrible, unjustified cruelty; abandonment, abuse, etc. when all they have to offer us is unconditional love. I wonder what the world would be like if we adopted the same compassion that our animals carry for us and had that for all living things.
 Don't let this cruelty happen; do something about it! Whether that means donating, volunteering, fundraising, or becoming directly involved with any cause that strikes you- the more we build compassion, the brighter future we build for ALL living things on this fragile, precious Earth.

"World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion."

- The Dalai Lama XIV

Let's Talk About... Being Proactive!

"I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done."

- The Buddha

 

Daily Dose of... Zen

 "If you want to cut directly through... just always let go and make your heart empty and open."

- Ta-hui

 

Namaste.

Merry Happy!

A very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all!

We will not be blogging to you for the 24th and 25th, but will return on the 26th!

If you need some gluten and dairy free Christmas inspiration, click here for our Peppermint Brownie recipe.

Namaste.

Pet of The Week!

Image courtesy of Shannon J.

I guess I wouldn't describe horses as pets per se, since they become more like a friend and confidant than a pet....

"Can you ever really own a horse?" - Jeff Winger, Community

My sister and mother have horses: my sister's horse Ricky Bobbie and my mother's horse Gucci. Both horses have provided them with a sense of healing, love, learning, and... of course... exercise!

Below, my mother has submitted a picture and excerpt about her horse, Gucci. My mother grew up on a farm in rural Alberta, and has had horses since she was little, so when she got Gucci, it brought back memories - especially about her Dad, who unfortunately passed away before I was born (the man was born in 1899!)

Image courtesy of Shannon J.

"She's good karma for me; she makes me calm - sticking to one thing at a time - and she teaches me more than I teach her. It feels so good to have a horse again, especially in such a beautiful part of the country and at such an awesome stable with awesome people; I have new members of my family out there.
Her stable name is 'Gucci', but her registered name is 'Only If You Ask.'
My husband really encouraged me to get a horse; I never thought I'd have one again! I'm so grateful that he did- I didn't realize how much I missed it until I had a horse again. It was my childhood passion, and I am so grateful that my husband encouraged me to go for it!"
- Shannon J

There's Always Time If You Make Time For... Music

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music."

- Aldous Huxley

I love the quote above, and I also love who said it! Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World and, if you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. 

 

Music is such a huge part of our lives - we hear it when we're shopping, traveling, working out, everywhere! Some of us may even imagine it in our heads as our "life soundtrack".

 Funny story; the reason Tom agree to get set up on a date with me is that his best friend told him that I love the Beatles (when I was doing some gentle Facebook stalking before we met, I saw a Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band shirt on him and I knew that he would get me).

I know how diverse and how impossible it is to even begin to describe music, but I think that we can all agree with what Huxley has said; music can move people, it can inspire and invigorate, and it always conveys a message... whether or not it has lyrics.

We should be grateful for music, and we should celebrate it! 

So, challenge yourself today! Don't be afraid to belt it out in the car, or rock out with your earphones in while you're waiting for the bus. 

How did you celebrate music today?

Let's Talk About... The Power of 'Thank You'

In many religions, national traditions, and in every day life, we are taught to be thankful. We are taught the a simple, 'Thank You' can turn a day, or even a life, around!

I try to put this into effect wherever I go... even at Walmart!

Yes, I know, Wally's World? Why?

Well, Tom and I go there a ton for their produce. Not only is it cheap, it tastes good, and they (apparently, mind you) buy locally. Anyways, I always try to strike up a conversation with the cashier. Tom tries to tell me it's embarrassing but he's just jealous that I'm so outgoing (or so I tell myself).

The cashier that night had a very sad air about her and, as I asked her how she was, her eyes teared up and she said, "Not so great."

I told her that I was sorry for that, and ended up talking to her a bit. Turns out that her grandmother was in the hospital and she was very worried about her, but her supervisor wouldn't let her have even 15 minutes to just chill out and relax. She was close to bursting into tears, so I grabbed a Caramilk bar from the candy bar rack and put it on the conveyor belt. Tom looked at me and was like, "You can't have chocolate!" 

I told the girl that it was for her to get her through her shift and she smiled and asked if I was sure. Of course I was sure about a $2.00 candy bar for someone having such a terrible night!

She smiled and said thanks and finished processing the rest of our groceries. 

After we paid, I said, "Thank you! You did a great job!"

The smile on her face warmed my little heart and I had a comparable smile on my own face.

Moral of this story is that no, I am not a saint, but by saying "Thank you" and seeing even the tiniest smile on her face and knowing that, even if for a moment, I did something to help her out... then that's what it's all about! Plus, I got a warm feeling from it which is fabulous as well.

Challenge yourself today! Say "Thank You" to everyone you meet and watch the positivity and love take flight!

Thank you for reading!

Knowledge is Power!

Sometimes I just have to laugh looking at people's political debates on Facebook or Twitter - it comes to a point where neither person is going to agree, so why can't they just agree to disagree? I'm not saying giving up on standing up for what you believe it, but (from my observational standpoint) people generally tend to get mad when others are very 'in-your-face' about some things!

I think the best thing that we can all realize is that we all have different opinions. I'm not just talking about politics or religion, but about some topics as simple as your spouse not making the bed right, or having a difference of opinions on where your TV should go! We all differ on most everything, so why can't we just accept it?

 

One of the things that drew me to Buddhism was the fact that it revolves very closely around tolerance (among many other things) and encouragement of positivity and love... but never journeying far from reality. The Buddha taught what he believed, but he did not expect others to see it the same way - he never decreed war on anyone else because they did not believe the same thing he did. He had an, "if you believe it, great! But if you don't, that's okay too!" attitude. I see The Buddha's life and teachings as a never-ending study, a never-ending lesson... and thus, should strive to live this way. We must take it all as a lesson.

I wonder what the world would be like if we spent more time on Education. What if we brought other religions into our schools' curriculum? I'm not saying force children to believe in one religion or another, but simply presenting an ... alternative... and information about that other religion or belief. What if our teachers spent some time teaching about other countries and their customs? Again, not saying that this or that is right or wrong, but just offering information about these different places in the world. Would this not encourage tolerance? Education is our greatest resource, and our next generations our greatest gifts. What would happen if we educated every one of them?

I know that there will be many people who speculate that giving each child in the world an education could prove dangerous, but I hold steady to my belief that we can only help the Earth with education.

Remember, everything is a lesson!

 

So, try to learn something new today? My best friend told me about these incredible sea creatures called Blanket Jellyfish that literally look like giant, transparent blankets! 

Or, do you know how to say, "I love you" in several different languages?

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”

-The Buddha

 

Namaste. 

A Wintry Kiss

Happy November 1st! Remember to love the Earth, even if the land around you has frozen.

 The Buddha said, "Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.”

The Earth has many treasures for us to uncover, and it is because of the Earth that we are blessed with human life, and the power to make our lives the best that they can be!

So, even though you may live in unbearable heat, humidity, or up here in Calgary where even -15 feels like the end of days, remember that the Earth is giving you opportunities everywhere you look. 

You can overcome the freezing or blistering temperatures, and you can overcome any obstacles that you face.