And…

What if our happiness and personal fulfillment in life is entirely dependent on the way we label whatever happens—whether in the world at large or what directly affects us?

Life just happens. People put in all the meaning. What if our unconscious or learned expectations that create a mind of shoulds is a source of anxiety, because we listen to these voices without ever asking if they are currently true for us? Let’s play with this possibility for a bit.

To live in the world in peace with what is and at ease with who we are is an invitation to the wisest and humblest in this world. It is not merely the purview of the wealthy or socially powerful. What if we all have access to ease and peace AND what if the key to our access is deep within the heart’s wisdom of each of us? Read the rest of this entry »

 As promised, I am reprising the initial unedited entry for this blog in order to help set the context for the 2012 focus on AND What If…?—which begins next week. Enjoy.

Welcome to “And.” As a sociolinguist, I am intrigued by how we use language consciously and unconsciously to create the kinds of lives we live today. This space for thoughts and reflections is entitled “And” as a reminder that nothing said or written is ever the complete picture. Whatever you tell yourself about your day or the value of something you say or do, it is never the entire picture. Why does this matter? Read the rest of this entry »

As I was reflecting on various media programs and their focus on the state of the world and projections for 2012, I was struck by the impact of how a situation is framed. Like a wonderful piece of art, how something is framed causes us to see different things in the picture, enhancing some features and diminishing others. This is a very special year to watch the frames or lenses through which we define situations. We can either continue to get caught in repeating the past by unconsciously assigning the labels and frames we have always used, or we can step up, become more present, consciously choose how we want to be and how we want to bring our gifts to the world, AND reframe how we see things. AND changing how we think will change how we act AND the impact in 2012 could be amazing in terms of the quality and positive impact of our lives in the world. Read the rest of this entry »

 I was watching an old YouTube video about a homeless Korean boy who sang on a Korean talent show. The beauty of his gift shone through, as the judges and audience connected not only with his singing and voice. They also connected with the story of a boy who, abandoned at three and beaten as a child, learned to live on the streets. He did not use his past to limit his present. He saw a vocalist and practiced his singing. He did not rely on others to tell him he was good. He says that he sings because when he sings, he becomes a different person. Read the rest of this entry »

As I was wrapping Christmas gifts, I noticed that the process of wrapping and unwrapping gifts holds many parallels to living a conscious life. AND that a life of presence is also a life of presents.

A few observations on wrapping:

Some wrap their gift with great care; some don’t. Some take great joy in making their gift look appealing from the outside; some don’t. Some can make old newspaper look enticing; some can mess up even gorgeous paper. Some add finishing touches with fine details; others are satisfied with the grand gesture. Some playfully try to disguise what is inside by placing the gift in bigger or odd-shaped packages before wrapping; others put everything in the standard-sized box. Some choose wrappings that are perfect for the receiver; others use whatever they can find in the house. Some take great joy in wrapping their own gifts; some find others who will wrap for them and still others give their gifts to volunteers whose wrapping serves charities. Read the rest of this entry »

For different people, the holiday season seems to evoke feelings of joy, a sense of wonder, or dread. Some revel in the lights, decorations, and good tidings, feeling generous and energized. Others just wish the holidays would pass quickly so they don’t feel so blue.

In these times of belt tightening, when so many people feel financially pinched, this season is one that lights up smiles when people receive warm greetings, kind thoughts and generous gestures from friends or strangers. It is also a time when we are invited to recognize that all of us have something to give that brings light to other people’s lives. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you ever pay attention to songs playing in your head? Do you ever notice that they invite moments of synchronicity–times where many things seems to happen quickly to direct you towards your dreams and intentions?

I was recently reading Rosie Deer Heart’s book, Awaken.  As I read her stories on intuition and her journey, I stopped to notice the song playing in my head. It was the theme song from the TV show Cheers.

I don’t know all the words to the song. The melody, rhythm, and refrain “… go where everybody knows your name” played vividly. The reflections and stories about Rosie’s spiritual journey coupled with the song’s refrain caused me to notice our individual and collective desire to be in a place where we feel embraced for who we are, a place that is familiar, safe, and connecting us to others who see and love us, a place where “everybody knows your name.” Read the rest of this entry »

Three men won a multimillion-dollar lottery. It was not just any three men. It was three asset managers, men who both have and earn a great deal of money. Often when the winners claim their lottery winnings, people root for them, especially if they are middle or poorer income earners in our society. We love to root for the underdog, the one who is down on his or her luck.

Something different happened when the three men claimed their lottery winnings. Many people didn’t cheer for the winners. Some made up stories, not based on facts, about their not being the real winners. Some even turned their resentment and disgust towards these men, simply because they were the winners. Read the rest of this entry »

I bought a fountain pen a couple of weeks ago. It is a little thing AND yet it brings such joy. It is messier than a ballpoint pen. It takes longer to write because I consciously shake it when I begin to start the ink flowing and wait with the ink until it flows. I pause to enjoy each letter as it forms on the tip of the pen. Read the rest of this entry »

 I love Thanksgiving. For at least one day of the year, we focus on being grateful for what we have and not what is missing or undesired. Thanksgiving is a time to search our hearts for all the blessings and gifts that grace our lives. Read the rest of this entry »