Tuna Breath

WHY!!!, "I exclaimed," as she kept   rambling about her infatuation with Prisons.  Driving, on our way to Taj India for lunch and passing the Prison, she shrieked when she noticed the sign that read Prison Ahead.  Before our visit we ate Tandoori Chicken and rice with fennel seeds, Naan & yogurt with cucumber.  By the time we finished she was beside her self about visiting the prison.  We ventured down, then up and around some bends, finally meeting our destination, Prison.  We drove through the welcome gate and headed toward another large, stone barrier topped with watch towers all around.  I drove slow, entered the visitor parking area and noticed many cars with A similar characteristic.  After parking we walked through a line of people waiting to check in to  make their Sunday visit with their friend of family.  Walking near the stone wall, I felt small and weak, and wanted to leave.  Everyone else bounced on ahead and was first to reach the Prison Museum.  We were greeted by a woman, I call Joan, because she reminded me of my Aunt Joan.  She talked with us about the prison system, men, Hispanic, White, Other, women, transvestites, tattoos and Johnny Cash.  She limped her way through the artifacts showing us the toothpick ferris wheel and wall filled with tools made by the people who live there.  All the while, Joan, at a tuna fish sandwich which penetrated a strong smell of fish through out the small museum.  We walked to the back of the museum where the cell re-enactment was found and here we sought fresh air and escape from the tuna, but found none.  We laughed and chatted amongst our self and wondered if we were on camera and then wondered how silly we must look.  I wanted to leave and found NO amusement in the visit, in addition the tuna smell was affecting me and I choose nausea.  After about 90 minutes of Prison Museum and tuna air we said bye to Joan and left.  I could not walk fast enough to our vehicle, I wanted to run, but thought that would not look good - especially near the stone wall.  Once in the truck, I still had the impulsiveness to flee quickly yet, drove the speed limit to the stop light and  finally on the main road I felt an immediate sense of relief.  I did not like visiting the prison, yet the rest of the group seemed to find interest in the vast institution.  The prison, that is so large it is considered a city, so enormous that it has it's own zip code, fire house, security, post office and hospitals, in addition several churches and temples and shrines.  "Oh, and a Senior center-that offers Starbuck coffee 24 hours a day and card tables  and a looney bin... ", said Joan.  Still, I wondered, WHY, did we have to do that, I mean of all the cool, crazy and fun things to do here- we visited the prison and watched Joan eat a tuna sandwich, imagined Johnny Cash and wondered how those sharp tools were made with such detail?  WHY, so glad it is over, and so happy she loves prisons and that she will continue to visit them- without me.......I still can not eat tuna without thinking of this visit....... thank you Joan.......................................

I am.........

I am alive

I am NOW

I am awake

I am JOY

I am smiling

I am knowledge

I am Choice

I am power

I am free

I am LOVE

I  am grateful

I am passion

I am enthusiastic

I am eager

I am optimistic

I am energy

I am sensitive

I am not

I am Kind

I am Giving

I am DESERVING

I am worthy

I am woman

I am man

I am child

I am animal

I am Loud

I am VIBRANT

I am Here

I am Open

I am compassion

I am tolerant

I am solid

I am diverse

I am barefoot

I am ORganic

I am plant

I am solid

I am recycle

I am Mother

I am Father

I am Friend

I am Daughter

I am earth

I am YOU

You are Me

WE are One

to know ignorance - 71

Knowing ignorance is best.
Thinking one knows is foolish.

Only by being a fool can one avoid becoming a fool.

The sage does not think he knows,  

therefore he is not a fool.   

TAO

A Matter of Things to Sow

Matter and Energy can be neither created or destroyed.  

First Law of Thermodynamics

All things return to their source.

First statement of the Law of Karma

As ye sow, so shall ye reap.

Bible

Balasana

I held, silent, with deep, courageous, oceanic, ujjayi in the pose of Balasana.  Arms, straight and forward while the palms   pressed down and forward.  Knees bent and touching the edges of the mat, the glutueus maximus rested on the heels, while the tops of the  feet pressed toward the earth.  Eyes closed and forehead gently resting on the mat I released all  abdomen muscles and felt a shift of relaxation ease up the spine area.   I deepened the breath and continued to welcome thoughts and dismiss them with the same grace.  I brought  attention to Muladahara (base chakra) and let go of   gripping and tension.  I continued ujjayi, breathing in and exhaling with equal amounts of energy.  Moving upward I noticed Svadhistana (sacral chakra) and here I let go of tension with breath. Slowly shifting to Manipura (solar plexus chakra), I released muscles and relaxed.  Ujjayi pranayama helping keep the  focus I stopped  at Anahata (heart chakra), I inhaled loved and exhaled love, released and continued breathing.   I met the  breath at Vishuddha (throat chakra) and here I inhaled deeply and loudly and exhaled with  peace and continued constricting the back of the throat to feel the vibration.  At  the place of Ajna (brow chakra)  I evoked peaceful thoughts and put  the monkey mind to rest.  And finally at   - Sahasrara (crown chakra) ... I imagined an empty space with a brilliant golden light.  I moved the  focus away from the chakras and emptied the thoughts.  I continued ujjayi and remained here stretching the spine, opening the  heart, letting go of what does not serve  in goodness me or others and found bliss in silence, in  this yin, opening posture.  I continued my practice with grace and love through each posture and  when  the session was complete I found myself in Savasana  Slowly I rolled  back into Balasana... Here  I felt rejuvenated,   invigorated  and inspired. Reborn unto self!

Thank you...................

Again, a day of more miracles than I can recount in one breath.  Today, I awoke with such a bundle of gratitude in myself that I felt heavy.  I began unloading the thank you's right away.  First to Sidd and Five for being here with me, always, then I noticed my self walking, so, I thanked my legs for working, and feet for moving and having balance, I thanked my hands for the ability to scoop the coffee and I silently thanked all the coffee bean working people for helping make it so that I can have coffee, and I thanked the people who made the coffee grinder, and the people who transported it, and the person who donated it to Snowline so I could then but it, I thanked the electricity for giving me hot water, and I thanked the sky for the water, I thanked the people who built the roof I live under, I thanked the coffee cup and people who made it and again the people who donated it so I could then purchase it from Snowline, I thanked all the neighbors for loving me and the family of creatures so much..... and on and on, the day went like this and I realized, just now that I still have a ton of gratitude in my belly!   So much  gratitude, I wonder if it is the same concept that goes like this....

  GIVE IT AWAY TO KEEP IT.... 

and.... 

  THE MORE WE GIVE THE MORE WE  HAVE...  
(The ripple effect)

THANK YOU,   YOU! for being you and I will definitely awake tomorrow on the right foot and begin again with the gifts of gratitude to all and any, for this or that, for something or nothing, for loud or silence, for beauty or non, for the sake of something to do.... instead of nothing to do.... And for NOW... in this moment.. to you, again... Thank you !!!!!!!

The Wheel

I LOVE IT .... I LOVE LIFE......

 

Today included more miracles than I can list... WOW..... A huge thank you to self for allowing such greatness!!!

I said to her, " We are all apart of the success here, It is like a wheel, I am one spoke on the wheel, and there are countless spokes that keep the wheel balanced and moving."  She said, " AH!!!! yes, there are many spokes, and yes you are one of them.  But remember you are also the hub, the center, the place where  all spokes begin,  you are the connection, the energy, the power." 

  

Safe Way

We jetted in  to pick up some parsley and water.  Cortni spotted them down the first aisle.  I quickly began cackling like a rooster and they both turned to see what was shaking.  When they saw us we all laughed out loud in the aisle near the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard.  He said they were buying fixings for a tuna melt, this sounded  soooooo good, but we were buying fixings for a healthy, healing lunch at  home of spaghetti squash, cauliflower, jalapeno, quinoia, lentils, brown rice, feta cheese, parsley and cilantro.......! We  all hugged and kissed once on each side and parted ways, still laughing and cackling like old lady hens...   We met again at the express check out line.  I noticed, SHE, (instead of he)  was carrying the basket which she set down and rechecked the items they were going to purchase.  He said, " These stickers are for the chart, so when she does not have cig, she gets a sticker."  This triggered a thought I had the night before of something Jake said regarding Haiti and all the turmoil.  He made reference to being aware of the catastrophe and mindful of ways to help out.  As I stood there staring at the stickers, thinking of Haiti I was squirming for words to say, they both looked at me blankly and then he said, "Well did you like what I said about Haiti?"  I said, "No, I mean YES, I mean NO, I mean I like what you said, however I just notice so much poverty, turmoil, death, tragedy and so on HERE, I just do not understand the reason for one helping people thousands of miles away when they don't help their neighbors."  He looked at me with a smile and I attempted to talk and explain myself about what I wanted to say and what I was saying is that Yes, it's great to help out, however why do we find such glory and honor in helping only occasionally  and on a large, global scale, is it cool, is it in, is is a fad, is it like a ribbon sticker on a car?    It seems that  helping is a continuous offering, especially between our neighbors, family, friends,  community and village.  Is it noble to mail socks 3000 miles away when the man 2 doors down has cold toes, but last year he put dog poop in our mail box, so I am not giving him socks- I will mail them to strangers because this makes me feel good. And in addition everyone else is doing it! HUM.... We continued to jabber jaw, I attempted to swipe my card, and still talking, not paying attention, and the man said, "Mam, this is an EXPRESS LANE!"  I said, " Oh, Oh, sorry."  And he smiled and laughed at me cause I continued to talk and still fumble with the payment part of the deal.  I said good bye  to the clerk and uttered the name on his tag, he corrected my pronunciation and laughed harder at me, really he did.  We left and I laughed too, cause I was having goofy  behavior, failing at multi- tasking.  On our walk to the car Cortni said,  "Did you hear what the clerk  said before he scanned our items, " I said, " No, of course not, are you kidding, I was talking a hundred miles an hour, I would not of heard an elephant walk by."  She said,  "He said- Welcome to another day in  Paradise! Note to self-

PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS!

LET GO OF SELF IMPORTANCE AND EAGERNESS TO EXPRESS BECAUSE SOMETHING ELSE IS ALWAYS MORE IMPORTANT- THAN BEING RIGHT..

Would I rather be right or happy?    HAPPY

A random act of kindness is negated the moment I am boastful about the act!

It no longer becomes random rather intentional and purposeful and demonstrates   a platform for attention,

external kudos and admiration form others. 

Eucalyptus Toothpaste

Feeling free,

I heard the tires squeal and door slam with a rat-a-tat-tat on the aluminum garage door, he arrived.

The pitter patter of paws I missed and when I asked where Hannah was he said, " AH, I have work today, yes on Saturday, so she is home."  Siddhartha her brother scampered about sniffing high and low for her  and instead of finding his sis  stopped at Scott and collected love, hugs, kisses and snuggles.  Sidd smiles for Scott barring teeth high and wide, just like all the other Campbell Clan.  The chain saw was powered on and away he went making small pieces of the 50' Eucalyptus tree that snapped in half from a neighbors yard.  In 20 minutes the job was complete and the back up crew  of 1 arrived on time to help clip and trim the excess Eucalyptus twigs.  The yard reeked of sweet,  spicy  sap that reminded me of  Montana De Oro.

When the  task was complete Scott rounded up his equipment and again turned to Sidd and asked for a smile.  Up went his lips with white teeth blaring against his black skin and fur.  Scott noticed something on one of Sidd's canines and gave me a scowl saying, "plaque, don't you know about dental care for dogs, it is very important."  I said, "NO, that is not plaque, just the color of his tooth!"  He applied very  little pressure with his fingernail and a thin, flake of disgusting crud peeled from Sidd's  tooth...... It was so nasty and  I quickly realized, "ok, so he has some plaque."  He continued to scrape  and scrape and scrape some  more. 

Thank you Scott for chipping away at the scum- ness on his teeth.
Like dog son of a Mom human, like human Mom of a  son dog- 

I too have a scrapping appointment tomorrow and just hope the Dental Hygenist does not feel the queasy  nastiness that I felt as I  saw what loosened from Sidd's teeth.

It is always an interesting feeling to lay back, relax  as my teeth  are scrapped, brushed, picked, flossed and polished.

I use this time to meditate- They  used to always ask if I would like the TV on and so I suppose that my aghast reaction led them to NEVER ask me again.  I think they may have even purchased a new cover since my ungodly reaction to the contraption was so OVER the top.

So, for tomorrow I get to go to a place, recline, close my eyes, have happy thoughts, no thoughts, be centered, grateful and peace.

I also will work on keeping my hounds' choppers clean-

Thank you again Scott for the really cool experience !

I think a great flavor for toothpaste would be Eucalyptus- maybe I will take a few twigs with me to Dentist and see what they think!

Koalas love it!

Outta the Box

I  noticed the thought while I was standing near the sacred, Native American Rock,  that tiny boxes are so limiting that I  almost tripped and  landed in a thicket of berries.  The bold lines which define  the plain,  white squares are  statements to human kind.   The separating line between two clans, teams or groups is boldly part of our culture.  The walls separate  and segregate.  It is because I was completing a form and disliked the taste of the arrogance of the thing  that created the paper with tiny boxes that led me into a tail spin.    Yet, I  found gratitude and  made an opportunity to find peace and love on the page- once I made my own tiny boxes.  I understand the section where it says name- That is clear, we are born, we have names, and we use these names to call upon each other, I get this.   Yet some people and creatures names are numbers. Does this confuse the computer or scan tron?   The gender question, are they serious, only two choices, male and female, and clearly there should be more boxes here. However I find this section quite irritating- because why does it matter which gender?  It does not!!! Hallelujah!!!! Marital status, this is no ones business, so I argued this and it was explained that there may be a discount if you are widowed or otherwise, well I thought, "That's special."  And my most favorite is the section about race.  I always thought African American had something to do with where someone was born.  I recently learned that this box identifies color as do all the other boxes in this section.  Why in the world would color matter?   That's like asking, " List the size of your liver."  And, my most favorite, favorite, favorite is;  Military Status,   this should read; Mood Status.......  Why then I could answer.    Have you purchase a toaster lately, yes or no,  exactly why dos it matter,  who reads this?  Does it all really matter?  Or are these small boxes put here to remind us how insignificant our lives are that the whole of it fits into a box?  Or does it matter so much that we hold   value to what  fits in the box .  The Age section.... I had to stop here...... because I was told,  " Mam this is a security question."   So it was about this point that I found my self frustrated and irritable with the box nonsense, not feeling peace and love, decided to make my own peace and love  boxes on the form and this is how they read-

• Peace Party
  
• None of your business
• All of your business
• Yes Please
  
• No thank you
• All Colors
• Homo sapien
• Happy Person
  
• Very Energetic Person
• Sort of Tired
• I think I am a man but feel like a woman today
  
• Androgynous
• Every Religion
• No Region
• Seeking UFO intervention
• Sober for 10 years
• Super High
• Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple
• ALL Colors: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary & HUES
• I am, I am, Sam I am!
  
• Call me what you like
• 108
  
• Thank you
• Have a great day
• List 10 things that are great about your life
• I like dogs
• Old and Young, thank you for asking
• Earth
• Military Status- I own camo pants and owned a jeep once
• Abel-ed  Body
  
• Disabled Body
• I LOVE my BODY
  
• I love you
• I love myself
• I am brilliant
• You are brilliant
• Life is GREAT
• Let's Party!
  

 After I made my own boxes I felt better about the form- also doodled some YIN YANG, Peace signs, many hearts, of course the Om, tons of stars, squiggles and circles and more hearts a sun for kicks and smiley face cause it  fit.   I handed it over and said, " Toodles."   All of this nonsense and some sense of boxes kept  racing through my mind as I stood near the rock, berries and creek.  I stopped, took a deep breath, noticed the oaks, water falling over the rocks and blue sky.  I relaxed, felt gratitude for small boxes and small energy as well as outta boxes and dynamic energy.  I continued walking and kept focus on the moment, the grass and sky.  Feeling Free! 

See the Good!

I was walking the creatures earlier this evening through the wet grass, under the rain and between the buckeyes when I realized I DO NOT LIKE Wonder Bread.  Seriously,   what I associate  with  Wonder bread is a woman wearing a dress to the  mid calf, curls in her hair, pointy, high heels,  vacuum in one hand and an iron in the other, with a loaf of Wonder bread on the counter that is olive green and  gold curtains hanging in the background.   The  logo with the colored circles, red, blue and yellow.... just not for me.  I do not think I have ever bought a loaf, but probably have eaten a slice when I was younger.  I recall a friend telling me it tastes so good smooshed in a ball.  So I tried it with the whole, wheat, grain bread I had and it was like eating a non-deep fried doughnut, ewww!  If I were going to buy bread it might be Earth Grains, but I rarely buy bread and so with this  I was stumped as to why all the hoopla and association with the soft, delicious and nutritious Wonder  bread.

It is  like having a relationship with someone you know, and liking it ,then falling asleep and waking up  and looking at that person  to then see something different and yelp for help.    In the beginning there are so  many similarities and good qualities to notice that all else goes unnoticed.  AND then hello and good morning, the lights are on and wow are they bright, the things that we never liked are so huge and gigantic like the Loch Ness Monster.  I suppose the Wonder bread relationship lasted 24 hours and is now over.  Yesterday I noticed lots of amazing qualities and found gratitude and delight in the similarities and today found disgust in the fact that I related to something I don't even like, have in my home, nor would  probably ever purchase.  Just like me to find the good then bash it hard and then roll back around to notice what is great about the bread , bless it, adore it and  see why and how we are similar.  Rich, Wholesome and fortified with goodness- the same.... By the way- I had to check out the Wonder Bread website just because I was so curious.   And, I like it!!!!!   www.Wonderbread.com  

Wonder Bread

BREAD=ME  

The seed company of 1000

sold seed to the farmers of 1000

who hired  transportation of 1000

to move the grain to a silo on a farm of 600

who hired transportation of 1000

to move the grain to the processing plant of 5000

who hired transportation of 1500

to move the bread to a distribution site of 5000

who hired transportation of 2000

to move the bread to stores of 14,000

who sold the bread to me,

After 32,000 people

planted, watered, harvested, moved, touched, scooped, scrapped, baked, wrapped, tied,   held, packed, unpacked, stored, repacked, priced, stacked and sold the loaf of bread.

And of course, to add to the  list  the other people,   security including; fire, police and private,  water companies, utility companies, workers comp and insurance companies, land holders and landlords,  automotive manufactures, tractor and farm equipment companies, paper and packing supply companies, families, friends, plants, animals, the moon, sun, stars, earth, water, natural resources  and the list goes on and on -  To where if I continue you and I are connected to the success of one loaf of bread.  Just like my life, I am an accumulation of all people living and non-living.  We are joined by a seed of similarity and spirit.   Connecting the fibers of the simple web of life I am  reverent about noticing the bread in the store and seeing my face reflected from the wrapper.   The bread was my mirror!  Fantastic, "I thought, as  I noticed  the same; baked, over baked, raw,  white, wheat, dark, crunchy, smooth, lumpy, hard, soft, whole, salted, fat reduced, fat removed, grains, multi-grains, seeds, flax, wheat, rye, oat, potato, living yeast,  amaranth, sweet, sorghum, honey, French, Italian, American, deep fried, boiled, dunked, nutritional, purified, processed, roll, baguette, loaf, sliced, dried, dunked, balled, de-crusted, imported, pressed, risen, rolled, spun  and nutty."  Just like Me!

 

Stuck to  the  loaf of bread  wrapper was a   neon, orange sticker  that read;  $l.29.  Something seemed strangely odd to me about this price, label and color.  Why, 32,000 people had something to do with this package of bread and the sale price was  $1.29!  WHAT!  With this, I stopped in my tracks and walked out of the store with something to Wonder about my life. 

Ashes to Clay

Her face was different in a sort of way that looked lifeless.  The  twinkle in her eyes dimmed and she seemed frail and cold.  I hugged her and held her wanting to make it all better.  She cried, shook and trembled with grief.  She said, "I am sorry."  I laughed, awkwardly, and hugged her again.  Her grief  reeked of agony and pain only a daughter might choose.  She said, "I have not seen her since 2002, she never met my son, and now she is gone, really gone, gone for good."  I held while she sobbed and told the story of how her mother passed away.  Living in Iran with her husband in a small town they shared a house with family.  Her back was hurting as it often did, so they walked to hospital for a check up and possible remedy for the pain.  The Dr. suggested a specific medicine and she said ,"I am allergic to some medicine."   The Dr. convinced her that it   was different medicine.  They said, "Okay if it will work, we want it."  The Dr. injected the medicine, she coughed and died within 30 seconds.  I listened feeling pain, sorrow, death in my heart.  The family had two services one in Southern California and one in Iran.  This seemed to accommodate all the family.  My friend continued to grief and seemed to have no concern about the details of how she died just that she was not here.  I reminded her, that now she is here, here in this moment.   Her lips turned down, eyes tearing and my words failed me so.  In these situation I always wonder, "  What would I want now and here  in this tumultuous time?"  Not sure, I felt helpless and lifeless myself .   I told her, "NOW, you get to have a different kind of relationship with your mom and   now you will be with your mom always and  can let go of the guilt of not visiting and not calling as much as you wanted too. because she is with you."    I said, " My mother and I have had the best relationship ever, the past 5 years and I have memories of she and I doing everything together."  My mother has  joined me in  hiking, biking, boarding, walking, shoeing, riding, traveling, singing, mountaining, oceaning, and rivering   and wow, I never thought we would do all  of these  things together.  I love that she is so silent about it all. She just goes along for the ride, is peaceful, happy and clear.  I told my friend,  "How when I received my Moms ashes, I felt weird about having them about and my brother told t me to make sure, that whatever I do I give the container air, because mom does not like airless spaces."  So I placed the ashes in a chicken near the altar,  without a lid,   and up high near the bell and Buddha.  I continued with more of the ashes story and my friend looked at me with square eyes.  Shortly after I received the  ashes I placed some in a ziploc and toted them along  for a day snowboarding.  When I got to the spot I wanted to share with my mom  I opened the ziploc and sprinkled the ashes about.  I zipped the bag and placed it back in my parka.  The bag remained in my parka for two winter seasons.  I  eventually laundered my coat.  Recently I was on a snowy, wet, cold chairlift and reached into the pocket where I had placed my phone.  What I pulled out was my phone covered in white , wet, gritty,  sandy , clay like goop.  I could not figure out what it was that caked my phone.  I reached deeper and  pulled out the bag and  realized it was my mother, in my pocket.  My friend laughed at this story and I laughed too which is better than how I felt when I realized my Mother was basically in my phone, small bones and all, it was really interesting.  We stood, laughed, talked some more and soon the twinkle was there, just a little.  We hugged, again and again, both said, "I love you," and she was off.  I wondered if I ever took that bag out of my parka. 

Paradise!

I walked down my drive way and there he stood, arms waving upward, fingers spread and he said, " Welcome to Paradise."  I looked around, wondering who he was talking to and realized it was me and I said, " What?" with a twang of attitude, as if are you serious, open your eyes, this is not paradise!  He said, " Welcome to paradise,"again, smiling and a twinkle in his eye.  I looked around to see what he saw that I did not  and I wondered am I really in paradise?  I asked him, " Where is paradise?"  He said, "Here, NOW."  So, obviously I became immediately and somewhat over the top irrational with my willingness to   rationalize to him why this absolutely is NOT paradise.  He and I walked, he in silence and I babbling at the top, crunching my eyebrows together and feeling irritated that I was not aware I was in paradise and why did he have to go and say that and almost ruin my day because I thought I was in just a neutral place, not paradise.   He rattled my world, shook it and I was tipping and toppling over and over with nothing to grip.  I fell hard.  I was thinking that someday I would be in paradise, that eventually I would create or be part of paradise, that I soon would be experiencing paradise. (The grass is greener on the other side syndrome)  It had not occurred to me, EVER,  that NOW is paradise.  We continued to walk, he listened, laughed and I talked still attempting to grasp the message.  He said again, " You know this is really paradise."  Then I understood, that paradise is where, when, and how we make it real.  We parted at the end of the walk, he smiled and I thanked him for wake up call and he disappeared into the abyss of paradise on the hill.   I think about his words often especially when I am not feeling IN paradise and this reminder shakes me to my sense and immediately all is well, paradise arrives and I breathe with ease. 

Today I walked down my driveway, Sidd on leash, visor strapped to catch the sleeting rain and fleece zipped to shield the strong wind.  I began to feel my fingers and toes tingle with a chill and thought about Paradise and, Yes- I am in Paradise, NOW, yes I am, yes, yes.  I ran uphill and chanted most of the way ..paradise, paradise, paradise............  This continued until I reached the top and  the view  was clearly paradise.   In gratitude for rain, wind, Sidd, my neighbor with the orange hat and words that revealed change.  Peacefully in Paradise... 

108=9

"Why 108?" He asked, She asked, They  asked!!!!!!!

A sacred number followed by 109.

108 is the same as 9 dozen!

One hundred eight is divisible by the total number of its divisors (12).

108 is the hyperfactorial of 3 since it is the form of 1 to the first power times 2 to the second power times 3 to the third power.

Hindu deities have 108 names.
 If you divide 108 by 2 or multiply by 2 the total of all digits again equals 9,  this is true for any number divisible by 18.   

In Hindu Astrology there are 12 Rashis or Zodiacs and 9 planets or Navagrahas.  

In Japan, at the end of  a year, a bell is chimed 108 times, to finish the old year and welcome the new year.  Each ring represent 108 temptations  a person much achieve to  reach nirvana.  

Zen priests wear  a Juzu which contains 108 beads around their wrist. 

There are 108 holy temples of Vishnu. 

In Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine, there are 108 pressure points in the body where consciousness and flesh intersect to give live to the living being.   

The distance between the earth and moon  is 108 times the diameter of the moon.  

The  distance between the earth and the sun is 108 times the diameter  of the sun.  

The sun is 108 times the diameter of the earth.   

Chinese Astrology and and Tao philosophy holds that there are 108 sacred stars.  

108 is the atomic number of hassium,  HS,  a synthetic element. Yum!

108 is sacred within Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Yoga & Dharma.

A Mala ( string of beads) contains 108 beads made of sandalwood, seed, shell or bone and is used for repetitions of a Mala (Japa Mala).

The sum of the numbers in 108 equals  9.
In numerology 9 represents: tolerant, intuitive, fortunate, compassionate, aesthetic, eccentric, strong, decisive, elegant, loyal, active, reliable, expressive, artistic, witty, innovative & inspirational.

Peace-Love

Tell me What Is GREAT!

At night, when my children were young, we asked two questions, "What was the best part of your day? and What was the worst part of your day?"  As a family we all answered these two questions.  Often the attention was greater on the response to the worst part of the day.  At the time, and as a new parent- we thought well attention on both the negative and positive is healthy.  Yet, what we  did not realize was that slowly the worst part of the day had become the center of discussion.  Eventually these two questions evolved into, "What was the best part of your day?  and What was the most challenging part of your day?"  For years this worked and there appeared to be a balance.  One night we had a visitor and they commented on how effective this method seemed to be for processing through a day and focusing on the positive as well as the challenging.  Then she moved to dialogue more about what was most challenging and in this minute  I realized that there was a shift and maybe the nights dialogue was not as balanced  and positive as I thought.  Time  went by and the two questions evolved into, " What was the BEST part of your day?"  Some people ask well that's nice to ask your children about the best part of their day, but don't you want know about the most challenging part and help them and be part of their lives in a  more proactive way.  I said, "no."  I want to share only the best part of my day and want   to hear  about the best part of their day.  I reassured my children that discussing challenges are important however we can focus on what  is great, grow it, feed it, nurture it, and with intention make more of the good part of our day and life.  I eventually began to feel a sense of relief with our nightly routine.  These questions grew out of our home and were asked to all our family and friends on a normal basis.   We say, " Tell me what's great?"   I notice most parents when they see their children after being away from them say, " What's wrong."  Definitely when someone asks me, "What's wrong?"  I could respond quickly and with many words.  When I am asked, "What's great?"  I usually stop in my tracks, think, look at the person and wonder are they serious, then think some more and realize I am so programmed to thinking about what's wrong that what's right just seems like an odd question.  So this question is part of our greeting and goodbye as a family.  Recently I had a house guest from Japan.  One night I said, "Kumi, what was the best part of your day?"  She said, well I do not usually  have one good part of my day.  At night before I go to sleep I rehearse verbally to myself all great parts but at least 10.  I said ok, well what are the 10  best parts of your day.  She said, "  1.  I am alive, 2. I am walking, 3. I have food to eat, 4. I am warm, 5. I have a family, 6. I like your coffee, 7. I can breath air that is fresh, 8. I see the sky and stars at night, 9. The bed I am in is cozy and warm, 10. I am grateful for my mother."  So......... NOW  I ask to hear about 10 great parts of the day. 
Today here are mine:  1.  I awoke next to a gorgeous hound with a long tail. 2. I drank coffee that was hot. 3. I assisted with family to make living easier for others. 4. I ate something different and found gratitude for the cook. 5. I drove in silence. 6. I listened to birds while I ran. 7. I sat.  8.  I held a puppy. 9. I heard someone say I LOVE YOU.  10. NOW!    Peace-Love

The SMILE

Today he smiled,  teeth white and  grin ear to ear.  His clothes brown and shoes black, his smile simple, words none and body language blank.  I looked twice, he continued  to smile, I smiled and then wondered why?  Why am I smiling, how odd it was that that one smile removed me from the mental chatter, moment of a day filled with children, parents and shoe laces, velcro too.  I instantly  felt gratitude for his smile and realized  how it inspired me to smile.  I continued this smile and immediately 3 people smiled  back at me.  I was still thinking   about, why the man in brown smiled  and then I  was comforted with the thought that it was  his job to smile.  And then  I realized as humans, yes it is our job to smile.   And if we only have one job and the job is smiling  our day will be occupied with this conscious and purposeful effort.  People smile, children smile, babies smile, dogs smile, flowers smile, the sun, moon and  earth smile, we all smile from time to time and how simple to  exist  unconditionally, freely and  naturally with a smile.  I smiled and I felt so organic about the whole thing I wanted  an oval sticker for my forehead that read:  ORGANIC.   Thank you man in brown, Mr. UPS for the smile and changing my moment, allowing me to realize that I choose to notice what's around me in a positive way  and I choose to be part of that consciously and smiling.     Now I done a smile effortless and simple, really authentic and definitely organic. 

On another note, not so peace and love- I was running earlier and saw from afar a large truck idling  on the side of the road.  Inside sat a man smoking  and talking on the phone.  As I got closer I  read the words on the truck:  Larry's Pest Control.  As I moved closer my thoughts were running faster than my feet:  What a creep, he is smoking and polluting the air, HE IS AN ANIMAL KILLER ( I wanted to protest), all the toxins in his truck,  pesticide polluting the earth and on and on....... my heart was racing, chest tight, breathing choppy and legs cramping.  I immediately realized the negativity I had created with my thoughts and how my body was instantly affected.  I stopped in my tracks, took several deep breaths, let go of the negative thoughts and found gratitude for the man, the cigarette, the toxins, the truck, chanted forgiveness for myself and   negative thoughts.  I saw his job as worthy and purposeful making small critters non living so people could live in peace, yet still wondering which came first the mouse or the house.  I   sent loving kind thoughts to the man in the truck, apologized for my thoughts in hopes he would receive them- even though this all took place within me.  My breathing became steady, my feet began to move, I felt calm, centered and thankful for the opportunity to have the ability to want to scream- ANIMAL KILLER to the man in the truck -and  just then noticed I  squashed a beetle with my running shoe.  I am thankful for tolerance, for the ability to let go, for the man in the truck, to value his worthiness and see the good.  I too am human with judgment and opinion that separates and divides.  I am thankful to experience hatred and love, life and death,  in the same moment, to be real and alive and want to shout to the world how simple and difficult it  is  to be organic, peace, love, real,  negative, positive and forgiving.

Choosing Peace

Today- I was reminded of my Mother- her beauty, wisdom, energy and challenges.  The gifts she gave me, the gifts I kept and the ones I tossed all flooded my mind creating an overwhelming and somewhat anxious feeling.  I chatted with her sister, Marsha, today,  who I recently connected with via email.  We wrote back and forth about recipes, vinegar and peaches.  Somewhere in between the vinegar and peaches I realized, again that I must begin something new- like the new year.  So instead of hiring a publisher to help me write a   book, with a big peace sign on the cover - I thought I would start here with key tapping and random thoughts sending them into the universal pool of love.  The topic I most wonder about is peace and the subject matter surrounding the daily challenges and success with this as humans.  I promote, teach, advocate, role model, give, share, regenerate, tolerate, see and  want PEACE for all life in a way that is reverent, kind and loving.  Daily I find myself in a conversation discussing a situation where I choose peace-  I immediately think about all the times I do not choose peace with actions or words.  So, this is how and why I am here now.  For the purpose of helping myself be accountable for Peaceful acts daily.  Today on my run I thought, "Well I can commit to blog for 365 day, or maybe 108 days, or maybe 2 years, I definitely have that much to say,"  then I realized how silly it is to limit such a random, big, act of kindness to myself and why in the world would  I put any limit on such a beautiful and challenging task.  So, my goal and purpose is   to be kind, loving and peaceful daily, to share of these events, through thick and thin and learn from   the experience as well as reflect  about  the events and choices involved that give the results I will share.  I am excited, nervous and a bit peaceful about the whole thing....thinking, writing, sitting, tapping- what am I doing?

Today, a student came to me and said, " Ms. Krista, now I know why you said you and Ms. Ali are sisters, because all people are brothers and sisters, because we are all connected and created by God or you know some people call it different, and now Ms. Krista I understand, because before I did not get it- we are all brothers and sisters."  I stood staring blankly, nothing to say, mesmerized by the words of a 6 year old and said my thanks for the experience of life, that I could be in the moment to share such joy, his and mine just for a second.  And I  thought how we are all connected, the great web of life and  how the ultimate goal  is to   ALL live together in harmony, happily and with peace at the core. To be and show reverence to all life always and find a balance that creates a synchronicity where all life flourishes, this is peaceful choosing........ today, choosing peace.