A Wee Note of Thanks

Last week we learned of  the power behind random acts of kindness and appreciation. Both pertinent steps in gratitude and thus happiness.

So tonight I wanted to share a wee thank -note that I wrote. I chose this note to share because I have been feeling guilty and creating a story around how often, where and how I choose to sweat. But the truth is I sweat all the time everywhere, I love and do yoga for how it makes me feel far beyond just my body but my heart.  Admittedly running is driven a bit by ego in that its the best way to burn fat and I am good at it, and let’s keep it real humans gravitate towards things they are good at, which makes me equally love running. Then yes as you have learned I recently found crossfit so now instead of a perfect pair I have a trifecta for endorphins all equally attended and adored for extremely different reasons. I have shared with you fortheloveofyoga, and fortheloveof26.2 so tonight I share my gratitude for my gym and the owners.

 The reason I hesitated sharing and the ”story I created” was because I have a complex that all of a sudden people think I am all crossfit all the time which couldn’t be further from the truth and is exactly why sharing this note is pertinent to me escaping my self inflicted story, because as you will read and likely read-into I misplaced my identity somewhere and with it I left my laugh but now I am whole. I can’t let a story define me because only I know the truth and it is my responsibility to myself, and thus you, to stand powerfully and proud in that place of truth. For me, yoga and run make the most perfect line, but it’s just that a line- point to point, what I needed was something to connect the points at both ends hence my trifecta. An equilateral triangle  to close the lines and create an all-encompassing me.

Hi Team Dogtown,

 Tonight I got my first rip.. so I should be wanting to curse at you for my always manicured girly hands now being flawed but instead I am chilling on my couch with the lekster in my lap near tears with gratitude for you guys and what you have created at your gym.

 Despite my often ridiculous giggle and poker face, I like most have my down days (shocking I know!) recently so down in fact that Liz  busted me with near see-thru glossy eyes a couple weeks back when I walked in the gym. Why I share this is because instead of being a total chick and playing Adele on repeat  while gorging on chocolate I came to the Dogtown.  I came because  you guys have created something super special.

In 2011 I ran 4 marathons, some may think that’s stupid and there is probably some truth in that, but  I fell in love with 26.2 miles because a few hours later I knew I gave my all to something and at any given moment absolute strangers cheer you on and believe in you when every so often you don’t even believe in yourself. I find freedom in running. Then like you well know I love and appreciate yoga. I find peace on my mat.  But at your gym I found myself again. A place where I can bellow in laughter at my idiosyncrasies, get outwardly pissed at myself for not being able to do something, feel a spark of passion that’s been missing, and instead of strangers cheering I have new and amazing friends not just cheering but coaching and pushing me to be the best I can be.

 So I guess what I am trying to say is thank you. Thank you for welcoming me to your gym,  for putting up with me when I still can’t remember what weight I can lift, and most importantly accepting me for me and everyone else for them.

Jo 

p.s. it kind of sounds nerdy but the laughing piece is big for me, I have always been known for my giggle and no joke until I saw Scott’s video where Mike and I were rocking our dolphin burpees I had almost forgotten what my laugh sounded and felt like… so thank you for that reminder too.

 Note-to-self: Share dolphin Burpee video with you guys.

In light of…

I have a pretty vivid image of a future moment in my life. The apartment I live in, the people I am surrounded by, the smell escaping from the lilies on the kitchen table, the sound of lekkie’s feet on the hardwood floors. I can’t see specifics of people but I can sense all emotion and feeling. For example, I can’t see the color of my fiancée’s eyes but I can feel the sun warm the backs of  my shoulders as it floods through our french pation doors and can sense an air of joy wafting in with the wind. It’s a beautiful life.

Today is also a beautiful day.

Life doesn’t start when the lease is signed, the promotion is given or the proposals been made. Life is happening everyday. Someone recently told me to be grateful that when you open your eyes you see color,  that you can envision the afore-mentioned future moment, that your life already is beautiful and you that you have the space and capability to make it electric.

Somethings, people, places and perceptions have shifted in my environment in the last couple of weeks and it wasnt so long ago that those very things would have floored me for days (because as you know I have a habit of self obsessing over what others think of me). I was not shattered tho, no day passed without a smile and everyday I still woke up and could see color. In fact I would go so far to say I saw vibrant spectrums of light beam out of even the dullest of scenes.

Life happens- yes. But we are an active participant in it. So when such shifts happen I remember I played my part. You will also remember that I coined my personal brand as hardcore radiant love, well hardcore is not light and fluffy its hard, fast and radical so thats how everything came at me. So now I am poised for radiant love.

Everything aligns as it should perhaps not as expected but as it should. Having appreciation for that and faith in that, I know that my life, my everyday and my future is beautiful because I have that vivid image and I stand powerfully in my truth to make it so.

So in light of that :

3 things I am grateful for today: My strength, girlfriends, and mentors.

1 positive thing that happened today: New friendships

Smiles given out in even the most unexpected places

The Universe does not ef around..

..especially when it has a message to send.

This morning in my daily facebook check, my girlfriend posted a great TedX video about happiness.

The message 21 days to happiness- Daily you should:

1. Write down 3 things you are grateful for

2. Journal about 1 positive thing that happened to you today

3. Excercise

4. Meditaion

5. Random acts of kindness

Then at work we had part 2 of a call series with Mr. Brian Tracy himself. Topic: gratitude. Message: Your outer life is a result of what is going on in your inner life. i.e. You express what is impressed on you. In english, your thoughts create your reality.

Actions-THe 5 A’s:

1. Acceptance- SMILE

2. Appreciation- THANK YOU

3. Admiration- COMPLIMENT

4. Approval- PRAISE

5. Attention- LISTEN

I hear you load and clear world. Its time to step up, hold your head high, give thanks, be grateful, and  smile widely for all to see.

Busy

I have a strong dislike to the word busy. Dont you think it has somehow taken on a negative connotation?

I could tell you that I fell short of my post everyday for 30 days because I was sooo busy, which as the word means I was but when push comes to shove the truth is I either saw other things as more of a priority, or I wanted to do something else. All in all I made the choice. Often  I wasnt happy with the choice like when I chose emailing over blogging  BUT in that moment I believed my inbox took precedence. Other times there wasnt even a question or a conscious decision, like an invite for fresh squeezed green juice at dusk with Cindy, or going to dinner with all of the Texas Store Managers in Dallas, or even falling asleep over my laptop. Things came up and I chose one course of action over another. People often call that busy which I suppose by definition it is “actively engaged” but as a word don’t you kind of think it’s a cop-out? I mean I hope everyone I know is always actively engaged- isn’t that living? Otherwise whats the alternative doing nothing and waiting for life to happen.

I am bummed I didn’t hit my 30 for 30 as I think the small wins in life are super important.  However, I have no regrets of falling five or so posts short because I have no doubt that a habit formed and love affair began..and I intend to always choose sunsets over solitude (as I hope you do too), because in those moments between the sun falling into the ocean and the sky going dark life always  seems a little less “busy” and a little more beautiful.

 

Sh*t Chip Says

Today wa s a monumental day in the land of  lululemon. We said goodbye to our founder, our leader, our teacher and the man who gave us the space to be the best version of ourselves. Since we are, well FUN, we had a toast/roast to our man of the hour/week/month/year/our lifetime- a parody of the Sh*t Girls say viral videos. The video rolled, we all  laughed and I am sure some cried but it was what Chip said out load and in person after the movie that captivated the room.

“I have everything I could ever want, there is no reason why you too can’t have everything you want.”

A husband, a father, a self-made millionaire, a mentor, an entrepreneur, an innovator, risk taker and a believer. The list could go on but the vitals are there and they enabled him to live a life he loved and stand for everyone in his company to do the same. In his words we have the freedom to create our lives. Chip says we can have it all. So let’s do more than just listen.

Improv

I have an incredibly admirable friend that is chasing the dream in the city of Angels. Well I have a few friends that are, some succeeding, some just beginning,  all inspiring but this chick in particular is just flat-out brave.

Living in LA I often think of (and am sure have even referred to) the opening scene in Pretty Woman where the homeless man is preaching “everyone that comes to Hollywood has a dream, whats your dream?” As I am sure you have guessed by now my friends dream is to act. Now she didn’t initially come to LA to “make it”, she came as a travel nurse, stayed for the beach and a few months ago declared that she grew up always wanting to act and since she lived in LA she couldn’t not give it a fair shot. Suitingly I believe it was Lucy Ball that said ”i’d rather regret that the things I have done the the things I havent” . So my gf quit her steady income gig, joined acting classses, got her headshots done, and is going for it. For sure there are moments when concern for the future sets in or anxiety for the unknown pays an unwelcome visit but those sensation are nothing compared to the exhilaration she feels when she walks on stage for the first time or the strength she confidently embodies because she didn’t let fear stand in her way.

Just last Saturday night I attended her first ever on stage improv show which was so incredible because once again she made it happen.  For those of you that are unfamiliar to improv its is off the cusp comedy where the audience shots out a topic, then you and your team members break into a timed dialogue with no script just freestyle. Not an easy task. Adapt to what is thrown at you, be comedic, go with your gut, play with your team, listen and be fully present. Makes me think if my friend can risk all she knows in her career to do just that then we could all have what it takes be the leading lady in our on productions.

Inspiration Station

We hear of fashion designers going to the streets for inspiration or artists to nature so I figured it may be a worthwhile exploration to determine where your inspiration station is. Where do you need to go to reignite the spark, light the fire, blaze a path.

I don’t think its uncommon for our days and weeks to blend, for things to plateau or worst of all consider your journey  a little vanilla for a moment. So when that happens where/what or who  do you go to for a slap back to life.

I can tell you that my defibrillator takes a few forms: Magazines and coffee, fresh powder days , road trips, and you-tube videos. But the best place is:

Sunshine, Santa Monica and seriously sic athletes. Strength, flexibility, cross collaboration, trust and bravery. For sure a loaded message but a message none theless.

Never let Outside Perceptions diminish Inside Projections

This week was full to the brim with every emotion under the sun. Happiness, confusion, sadness, anxiety, joy, gratitude you name it I felt it. Not in a negative way at all, more of in a completely present way.

 Yesterday morning while at breakfast with all of the managers from our area was an ever so minor low for me. I looked around the table at these 9 stunning, fit, passionate, ladies that radiate sparkle and realized that all 9 were in relationships. Needless to say, I began to feel incredibly inferior. In that instance I think the term comparison kills would have been an ever so suiting slap in the face for me. But instead I flat lined for the remainder of the day and felt next to nothing.

Until the truth bomb hit that I was letting my perception of all of these phenomenal woman outshine my own brightness. We never know the full story of what other people are up to or dealing with, the only thing we do know is the work we are doing on ourselves. So how dare I make assumptions on the perfection of someone else when all I need to do is be aware of who I am and what I have done. There is no finite dosage of joy. Happiness is not a first come first serve basis. In fact life is like a buffet table- you could gorge,  make  a plate similar to everyone else in line, or you could just pick what served your needs. So why the need to look up in awe, we are all on our own journey, all on our own all you can eat buffet where the only thought should be to be fueled with healthy yumminess.  The tank should always be full and it is only negative thought processes, the comparison kills and our own assumption of the outside world that burn one down to empty.

What do I mean be this?

You shine, I shine.

Your success does not take aways from my opportunities.

Your relationship does not narrow the probability of me getting in one, in fact it may likely increase it- assuming your man has friends

It means that desperately or devastatingly single is no longer an acceptable answer to anything.

That, most importantly,  I don’t pale in comparison but that I am a brilliantly bright compliment.  

 

Every Minute is Precious

I have been fortunate in my life to have been faced with minimal death to date. Obviously I am grateful and recognize my fortitude in that, but  by no means does that mean I can’t empathize nor do I take for granted the gift of life.

Life is so precious and for the most part we have a choice in how we want to fill every minute hour and day physically, mentally and emotionally.

Today was a sad day for the Ski Community, Elite Athletes,  Canadians, and the world as a whole as life far too young was taken from us. Sarah Burke, whom essentially is the pioneer of  female freeskiing, passed away after suffering injuries in a training run 10 days ago.

While I was fortunate to have met Sarah in my early 20′s  and partied with her a couple of times in my hay days in Whistler it would be misleading to elude that I knew her at all. But my facebook feed was inundated with countless love notes, articles shared, and videos about Sarah that I learned quickly the effect she had on many of my friends and her various communities.

From what I can see this woman was a Yes, she didn’t let anything get in her way or settle for a no, her passions were clear, she was determined, she experienced true love and she would be a leader of change. We talk about leaving a legacy and this young girl did just that with only 29 years under her. Again I didn’t know her personally but  can only imagine she is looking down from heaven and not regretting a moment because she followed her heart.

When tragedy like this happens I think it would be unnatural to not be effected and as a result reflect on your life and gain a deeper appreciation for every breath brought in because there is only one certainty and that is that life is valuable. We talk about goals but how are the juicier ones coming that will actually positively impact more than you.  Dont ask people what they are up to over the weekend care about what they are “up” to in this moment. Don’t reminisce with friends and as a result live in the past all together, instead create a brighter future for one another Get clear on what you believe is right and support the cause. Laugh, cry, scream just do something that shows you have emotion, emotion shows you care and you should care about every second because every minute is precious.

Dreams in Action

Abosuletely unplanned co-relation between todays events and last nights post, was one of my close friends making a BOLD move towards her goals.

This chick took action. She is making her dream come alive by action.

Mpat has always wanted to live in New York, but has always hesitated to head east because the timing hasn’t been perfect. Weell perfect doesnt exist. Be it career, a lease, a boyfriend, the goal was never big enough to trump lifestyle variables because responsibly so the thought process was NYC will always be there, a promotion may not.

Then after what I can only assume must have been a very juicy conversation (that sadly i wasnt apart of) about speaking with intention, setting by whens and getting into action, I get an email from Mpat with a ticket confirmation for  a one way flight to NYC. Boom.

Her logical reasoning: One rarely trains for a marathon unless they sign up for a race. Now she has a drop dead date- everything that may have waited a day, a week a month now happens now.

Putting the cart before the horse is without a doubt a risky move  but the inspiration is incredible.

In life there rarely is a “right time” to move, break up with someone, start something new and tomorrow will always be tomorrow. But for Molly tomorrow isn’t another day away,tomorrow is now a day closer to seeing her dream in action.