i am grateful for…
1) evolutionary organics at the park slope farmer’s market. heirloom tomatoes, dragon’s tongue beans, jalapenos, summer squash, lemon basil, peppermint, mustard greens, fingerling potatoes, tiny red onions, super fresh, white garlic. mmmm.
2) skype. so nice to talk to a friend across the world, be able to “meet” her doggy, see her digs, connect.
3) not getting an early appointment to the chiro yesterday–i could’ve been right there, at the empire state building, like i am all the time. such a crazy world. and a crazy arrangement with time and space. the same corner can be a spot of reunions, engagements, boredom, peace, terror.
4) the things i want to say, but don’t.
– to the mom screaming at her terrified kid on the subway, i wanted to say: “choose love” or “take a class” or “do you know you’re scaring and scarring her?” or “you are loved.”
– to the daughter: “she loves you, she’s just nuts. you’ll be free of her one day and can take refuge in people who respect your heart and honor you as a separate, worthy being.”
– to the 11-year-old girl who came up to a yoga teacher i know after class to ask about how to get rid of her belly fat: “picture a beautiful, adorable baby. if she could speak and said, ‘i don’t like how i look,’ what would you say to her? i’m not saying you’re a baby, you’re a beautiful girl on the brink of womanhood, but rather than questioning your belly, question the thoughts you have about your belly. are they kind, loving thoughts you would say to a sweet baby? if not, don’t believe it. keep moving in ways that feel good, keep knocking the mean thoughts down like bowling pins, create, laugh, do things that make you happy.”
– to the teenager jogging through the park today who said to his buddy, “fuck this. this is my last saturday practicing, this is BORING,” i want to say: “there are no boring activities, only boring minds. write a movie to yourself about a more exciting version of this day. count people wearing purple. count people hugging. notice how much people look like their dogs. spot a tree and notice how it changes every week. think of 10 things you’re grateful for.”
– to paul ryan et al: “SERIOUSFUCKINGLY?” and then i take him and all the main political boneheads on a 10-day yoga/shaman/inner quest intensive retreat with 10 of my favorite spiritual teachers and they have to do the osho mediattion dance thing, journal, share, give and receive feedback, and be spoken to directly by the universe while deeply, safely high on ayuhuasca. the goddess will tell them some things, and maybe, tenderized, they will listen. and then we can begin some change. let love into the veins of power, that is one way. love growing outside and inside. that is the only way. otherwise we’re just fighting with our clumsy brains and scared egos. love needs to get in and implode everything to the better.
5) bc liking the sprouted ezekial tortillas. i’m trying to avoid GMOs in all non-organic corn, and this seems like a yummy option, since organic corn tortillas are basically unicorns.
6) unicorns. j and i saw like three unicorn mentions in an hour. what does it mean? grace, elegance, innocence, says the internet. i say magic, kindred spirits, a little girl’s safe space and dreamland.
7) bizarro breastfeeding dreams. feeding my old cat tasha to keep things flowing. what does that mean, aside from the fact i have talked to many friends lately about their breastfeeding challenges? it still amazes me that something so “natural” is such a pain in the boob. how did we get this far as a species?
8) purging some things from the apartment. ahhh, decluttered bookshelves. they’re like chatchke magnets. sweep!
9) feeling lonely. with b. at his new job, i’m like a lonely pup tempted to chew the sofa. but this is a good reminder, falling back on myself. assessing what is here with me as a solo person sans distractions. i’m not saying i like it, but i am saying it feels like spiritual broccoli.
10) having so many things i want to learn: energy healing, pastry cooking, memoir writing, kick-boxing, self-defense, painting with perspective, translating dreams, money management, acro-yoga, SCUBA diving, tree-climbing, proper typing, fearless driving, etc. it makes me feel full, all that curiosity.
11) the trees in the park singing with cicadas.
