Monday Musings...Another Daily OM

Another Daily OM check out their website it has been very "a propos" for me lately

February 11, 2013 Giving Excuses Prioritizing over Smokescreens by Madisyn Taylor When we offer nothing but excuses in our lives, we are not being honest with anybody, mostly ourselves. Excuses may seem like rational reasons for us not to do something, but if we’re not careful we can allow them to keep us from reaching our goals. Too often we accept our excuses as reasons why we cannot accomplish what we set out to do, and instead of finding alternatives we give up. But if we can be honest with ourselves and take responsibility for our choices, we will begin to notice that we no longer give excuses. When we keep our minds focused on our goals, we will find that excuses fade away in the light of our priorities, and issues become challenges that can help us become wiser and stronger. Sometimes we may give others excuses rather than be fully honest. We may think it is kind to tell someone we are willing to do something with them, whether work or play, but then keep putting them off. This diverts our energy into keeping the truth at a distance while continuing a falsehood. But when we can take responsibility for our feelings and express them honestly, but gently, the other person is free to find someone who is better suited to accompany them while we are free to pursue the things we like. When we can do this, our energy can be invested in building better lives and relationships. There’s another way in which excuses rob us of energy—and that is in the power of our thoughts and words. If we find ourselves in a situation, for example, where we are being asked for a financial contribution but we use the excuse that we can’t afford it, we create and attract lack and limitation into our lives. The same goes for seemingly simple things like pretending to not feel well or any other false statement. We may think that excuses make things easier, but they complicate matters with smokescreens. When we can commit to our priorities, take responsibility for our choices, and communicate them honestly to others, there will be no need to make excuses, and we will have much more energy to dedicate to all the things we love.

I am Nostalgic.

I have started playing guitar in the past few months. I'm taking it seriously and plugging away at it every single day. I have learned about 5 songs at this point. My son says that he and I are campfire ready. There are tons of great Canadian Musicians currently to listen to but in my latest effort to learn "A Case of You" by Joni Mitchell (little tidbit according to Joni Mitchell's website 211 different artists have covered this song!?) has totally and completely humbled me and drawn me to her website where she actually gives tips and tabs to play her songs along with a whole bunch of other amazing stuff.

I have been going through her Library of videos on the site and I am seriously blown away by the cool strange little shows that CBC was doing to feature Canadian Musicians and I fell upon this gem called "Mon Pays, Mes Chansons" which was to feature Canadian Folk musician's music against the backdrop of Canadian Scenery. It may be some of the first videos EVER. I don't know but it is so beautiful and sort of campy and moving somehow.



    
Joni Mitchell - Born to Take The Highway from JoniMitchell.com on Vimeo.

GIRLS... Dancing on My Own Scene

I can't say I love this show yet but I know I REALLY REALLY LIKE IT ALOT. I tape it and I have watched this scene at least 5 times. I love Lena Dunham all around, I think she is brilliant and audacious and brave. I just love every moment of this scene. I find myself walking around singing "Dancing on my Own" by Robyn all day long and just today I craved this scene so much that I decided to look it up on youtube and there it was. Hope you enjoy and if you're not watching girls yet what are you waiting for? It's so fun.

Monday Musings...Daily OM

If you go to this website Daily Om you can subscribe to these little articles for a moment of meditation. Sometimes it is amazing how much you need to hear exactly what they sent.

February 8, 2013
Letting the Curves Take You
Control

by Madisyn Taylor

The answer to control is practicing surrender.

Trying to maintain control in this life is a bit like trying to maintain control on a roller coaster. The ride has its own logic and is going to go its own way, regardless of how tightly you grip the bar. There is a thrill and a power in simply surrendering to the ride and fully feeling the ups and downs of it, letting the curves take you rather than fighting them. When you fight the ride, resisting what’s happening at every turn, your whole being becomes tense and anxiety is your close companion. When you go with the ride, accepting what you cannot control, freedom and joy will inevitably arise.

As with so many seemingly simple things in life, it is not always easy to let go, even of the things we know we can’t control. Most of us feel a great discomfort with the givens of this life, one of which is the fact that much of the time we have no control over what happens. Sometimes this awareness comes only when we have a stark encounter with this fact, and all our attempts to be in control are revealed to be unnecessary burdens. We can also cultivate this awareness in ourselves gently, by simply making surrender a daily practice. At the end of our meditation, we might bow, saying, “I surrender to this life.” This simple mantra can be repeated as necessary throughout the day, when we find ourselves metaphorically gripping the safety bar.

We can give in to our fear and anxiety, or we can surrender to this great mystery with courage. When we see people on a roller coaster, we see that there are those with their faces tight with fear and then there are those that smile broadly, with their hands in the air, carried through the ride on a wave of freedom and joy. This powerful image reminds us that often the only control we have is choosing how we are going to respond to the ride.

I needed this one today and I thought I may not be the only one.