Food for Thought

"What impacts children the most is the unrealized dreams of their parents" - Carl Young.

Life is a Blessing!

This past weekend my son Timmy and I drove to Rhode Island to welcome our new little cousin Noah. My cousin Christina just got back from Kazahkstan where she adopted Noah. He is a dream. Very sweet, personable and loves to blow kisses and give hugs. May God bless you all now and forever!!!!

My newest cousin Noah. Welcome sweetheart!!! We love you!!! Christina he is beautiful!

Mother and child after a long day!

Noah and Mommy (my cousin Christina) having fun on Newport beach! Noah's first time!

My cousin Tommy with Noah - A beautiful and watchful Uncle!!!

Me holding Noah infront of my uncle's retirement home with my cousins Mia and Tommy and my Uncle Tom.
Namaste.

Right Where I need to Be

As I was reading from my daily meditation book, "Journey to the Heart" by Melody Beattie today - catching up from the missed meditation from yesterday, I had an "aha" moment that I thought I'd share.

Last evening I was lucky enough to spend with a group of amazing women that are my dear friends from high school. Each have strength that moves me to be a better person. Their courage and kindness are truly gifts from above. And their straight talk is based on their love - priceless.

As we picked up from when we were last together, not skipping a beat, sharing all our "news", they helped me realize that people and experiences cross our journey's path to teach us needed lessons and get us to the next level in life. I shared my Baron Baptiste Bootcamp experience and opened my heart. They reminded me to live in the present and to see what a gift it truly is and to release my ego and use my energy to move forward and fulfill a dream. Like I said their straight talk is priceless.

Here is yesterday's meditation:
"You are right were you need to be - on your path, guided, in just the right place for you today.
Many times on my journey I stopped short, convinced I would never find the place I was trying to find, only to discover that it was right in front of me all the time. I had gone there instinctively. Gone right where I needed to go, right where I was heading.
There is a part of us that knows where we need to be and understands where we really want to go. There's a place in us that has the map, even if our eyes and conscious mind can't see it, can't figure it out, or aren't certain it's there.
If you's spinning in circles, feeling lost and confused, trying to figure out where you need to be and not all that certain where you're going, stop. Breathe deeply. Look around. You are right where you need to be. Maybe you've been there all along."

So here is to the power of friendship, listening and trusting our hearts!
Namaste.

New Work for End of School Year Celebration!

I wanted to share a few photos of the completed bracelet that I made for Miss Durr’s end of year gift using the children’s signatures. I added foil from chocolate wrappers and cut out words from an 1890’s prayer book that describe Miss Durr. Here are a few examples: Love, grace, patient, kind etc… Finally I added cut out hearts and a hidden house to the collages. The final steps included sandwiching the artwork between two piece of cut glass, wrapping each charm with copper tape then melting the silver solder and attaching a jump ring and miniature clasp to hook onto the sterling silver chain. Then I made a heart of fine silver and attached that to the end of the chain.

Miss Durr has taught these 4th graders for the last two years and has had a beautiful impact on their lives and we are grateful to her and all her hard work!!!
Namaste.

Happy Father's Day

Now I look into your eyes and see my husband, the love of my life and a father whose heart embraces his family in a way that simply amazes me. Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband, my partner and my very best friend. I love you!
Namaste.

One of my Favorite Readings

Every time I read this in class someone always asks me to post it so here it is again. Enjoy and let it guide you!

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you have collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass on to someone else. Your wealth, fame, and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear, so to your hopes and ambitions. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of our days be measured?

What will matter is not what we bought but what we built.
Not what we got but what we gave.
What will matter is not our success but our significance.
Not what we learned but what we taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion and valor that encouraged others to do the same.

What will matter is not our competence but our character.
Not how many people we know but how many will feel a lasting loss when we are gone.
What will matter is not our memories but the memories of those who loved us.
What will matter is how long we will be remembered by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.
It is not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

Choose a life that matters.


Make today a beautiful day - it is within your power!
Namaste.

A Week in Photos

Namaste.

What has this Training meant to me?

What has this training meant for me is a loaded question to be sure. Baron Baptiste's training for me has meant a break through into awareness. Awareness of my habits; awareness of what is possible once I let my true self out; awareness as to how much I live in the past and future and how little I live in the present; and how much I was concerned to look good and be good enough for others.

I believe change is possible and I will start by taking responsibility for my words and actions. I do see and love the person I am - pros and cons. Change takes effort and understanding and being able to let things go and not creating stories around life events. Life happens to us all - "Let it Be."

As Baron said in one of his lectures "Giving something up is a health Secret." What will I give up? I am giving up self doubt. This is leading to indifference to my thoughts which is quieting my mind. Once this is accomplished it will give me freedom and space within my mind. Also I am talking straight and getting my point across without exaggerations.

This training has been a journey into awareness and has helped me drop some of my many masks of self doubt and has made me feel happier and lighter in my life. It has been an "I" opening experience.
Namaste.

*Note: The photo above is of "Hard Core" the small group I was part of during this training. Each one touched my heart and I am forever changed by their insight, straight talk and eye to eye contact!

What a Week!!!!!

I am back! I just spent the last week at "Baron Baptiste's Bootcamp for Yoga Teachers Level One" and wow - what a week. I am not sure even how to start describing my experience, so much soul searching and finding were done. Putting it all into words seems beyond me at this point. But what I can say is the people I meet, the stories I heard, the tears I witnessed are now part of who I am. Yoga for me has been transformational for a while, but this training seemed to have sent me into orbit. At times I was very confused and by the end I felt grateful that I found peace.

As I go back over my journal in next few days and weeks I am sure I will be writing more about my experience. Right now I feel exhausted yet energized - I know it doesn't make sense however it is true.

Let me leave you with a poem my mom wrote out for my graduation years ago that was recently found. It is by William Robert Lawerence.

"May you dedicate yourself not only to strive for the goals you have set, but to meet them and set even more. Not only to hold to the dreams you have had but to dream greater dreams than before... Not only to enjoy this land and its wealth but to make it a better place to live... And not only to take what you can from this life but to love and generously give."

Namaste.

*The photo above I took at Menla Mountain Retreat Center. The Tibetan bells are by the entrance to the Yoga Center.

Busy, Busy , Busy!!!!

Wow does this time of year fly by or what? Between baseball in full swing (no pun intended), end of the school activities and the normal running around I feel like I am moving at lightening speed with my head spinning like crazy. I need to remind myself that all that truly needs to get done will and the rest will just have to wait! And then of course I need to remember to "BREATHE!!!" (Isn't that funny coming from a yoga teacher?)

It is a fun time of year, remembering all the cool things that the kids did in school, how they have grown , what they have learned etc.., and planning for the summer. Sure there are still tests to get through, concerts to go to, and projects to finish but really you see lots more smiles this time of year!!! I bet the sun has something to do with it too.

As for me I am about to go to my first "Baron Baptiste Bootcamp for Yoga Teachers" starting this Saturday. I am thrilled and a bit nervous but all good energy I can assure you. I believe this series of classes will get me to the next level in teaching and my personal practice.

Things are falling into place so this experience is possible for me and above all I must thank my husband. His support is priceless. The boys have been excited for me too since I was excepted into this program back in January or February - I am having one of my hormonal brain freezes. And I know I am leaving them all in good hands.

Well I am off to watch another baseball game again, I have lost count as to which one this is so far for the week. Oh well go Penfield!!!!

Namaste.