So generally I read at night. I wander between intense novels and magazines (usually the Oprah magazine...thanks to a subscription gift from my sister), with the very occasional non-fiction book. Last night I was reading the latest edition of Oprah. One of my favorite regular contributors to the magazine is Martha Beck. She wrote an article about lists. I LOVE lists. I think most people like lists. They help us to be orderly and effective. Well the lists she spoke about were a "higher" calling of list... the magic list.
Check it out: http://www2.oprah.com/spiritself/omag/ss_omag_200802_mbeck.jhtml
The basic jist is that you can make a list of anything meaningful (the example in the article was about a woman who made a list of 100 qualities in her yet to be met perfect mate). The list is more of a vision of where you want to be in the future. And, if you make that list from your authentic self (inner core of peace), the majority of the things on the list come true. Like magic. I love it! I can't wait to make this list. I guess I need to add "make magic list" to my to do list. I hope it makes it onto your to do list, too! Let me know how it turns out. -Parm
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
running in the cold
So, I went for a run this morning in the dark & in the cold. The weather channel said the temp was -1 deg.F. No wind. I thought, I've run in colder. My running buddies had bagged on me...one the night before, one this morning. But I was dressed, so I headed out. It affirmed for me that when I am on the fence about whether or not to get outside, just GO! I had a great time. It was quiet, beautiful, no wind. I did not have even one moment of being uncomfortable.
More than any of that, though, I find running in the morning to be a spiritual experience. I move my body, I hear my breath, my mind wanders & then sort of goes blank. Much like yoga & meditation. I've often said that I wasn't able to run distances until I had practiced meditation. I enjoyed that clear open blank mind while doing meditation, but it was so hard to get there. The house had to be quiet, I had to have time at home w/o needing doing other things...it just wasn't feasible with young children. So, I happened upon that state through running & so became addicted.
Now, I find that I only want to run in the morning. In the morning it is quiet & easier to get to that state. Also, when I am with friends, I can lose myself in our conversation & not worry as much about traffic, etc. It is my time that I can cherish & keep with me throughout the day or week or sometimes for years. The moments when it is so cold my eyeballs get cold & I have to laugh about it. Or the beautiful sunrise or moonset. Or jokes & laughter with friends (like when a friend was on a training tun for the Vermont City Marathon & having hard time & another friend asked how her big toe felt, "great" she said...now when anyone complains, we ask about their big toe...the complaints pass but the big toe almost always feels great). Some of those moments will be with me always.
So, lace up your shoes some cold morning soon & head out the door & renew yourself!
Staying warm,
Parm
More than any of that, though, I find running in the morning to be a spiritual experience. I move my body, I hear my breath, my mind wanders & then sort of goes blank. Much like yoga & meditation. I've often said that I wasn't able to run distances until I had practiced meditation. I enjoyed that clear open blank mind while doing meditation, but it was so hard to get there. The house had to be quiet, I had to have time at home w/o needing doing other things...it just wasn't feasible with young children. So, I happened upon that state through running & so became addicted.
Now, I find that I only want to run in the morning. In the morning it is quiet & easier to get to that state. Also, when I am with friends, I can lose myself in our conversation & not worry as much about traffic, etc. It is my time that I can cherish & keep with me throughout the day or week or sometimes for years. The moments when it is so cold my eyeballs get cold & I have to laugh about it. Or the beautiful sunrise or moonset. Or jokes & laughter with friends (like when a friend was on a training tun for the Vermont City Marathon & having hard time & another friend asked how her big toe felt, "great" she said...now when anyone complains, we ask about their big toe...the complaints pass but the big toe almost always feels great). Some of those moments will be with me always.
So, lace up your shoes some cold morning soon & head out the door & renew yourself!
Staying warm,
Parm
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
getting started...again
1/23/08
so, almost a year after i set-up this blog, it seems i'm ready to write my first post. i'm having one of those days, where i can't quite focus, but feel contented to wander along. my journey this morning led me to http://www.ted.com/, where i was inspired by sir ken robinson speaking about creativity and majora carter on sustainable south bronx. wow. what amazing insights and actions. and so today, i find myself wondering where my wanderings will lead. more and more, my work seems to take me into the realm of "public engagement". i'm not sure quite what that means for me yet - but i have a notion that i can be part of helping to inform, engage and connect people to do some good work together. for me, for now, this work centers around our schools...but i wonder, how is it that we find our work, or is it that our work find us?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
