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.

Somethings gotta give

Sometimes you’ll find yourself in the scenario where something has gotta give. Often this can be a life changing recognition of change and a necessary need to give something up, other times a minor adjustment to reclaim balance or adjust priorities for a hot second.

Just over a week ago I shared the TedX video about trying something new for 30 days. 1 of my 3 was to blog everyday. Yesterday only a 1/3 of the way through my 30 I missed posting a blog.

Instead I went to a juicy yoga class, had a oustsading dinner with SCI who is in town, and gabbed about passion for hours.

I wouldn’t change a thing and I am not at asll disapointed that I couldn’t rock out 30 for 30, as 29/30 is equally awesome . What is important is that I didn’t let an intention stand in the way of an experience and sometimes somethings gotta give in order to grow.

xo

Stop, Drop and Roll

A part of my “homework” from my time with Kara is to journal daily. Or in her words keep  a daily environmental scan in which you record your thoughts, emotions, and actions through out the day but hold no point of view on them. Whatever you call it: journal or environmental scan, the point is to acknowledge your current headspace, release attachment, and continue on.

I am sure it will come as no shock to you that I have not been doing homework (that damn commitment piece again!) although I do consider my nightly Blogging a comparable alternative. Plus I am sure it is minimal surprise that the acknowledge release combo is not easy for me. You see I fester on thoughts and I care far too much about what others think to just forget and roll with it.

For the most part though my waves of emotions have been limited, negative thoughts minimal, smiles big and a sense of focus/achievement and value moderate. I have found myself acutely aware of my language and reactions in conversations which has caused me to be more self conscious and for some reason apologize more becuase I replay interactions hours after they occured. It is almost as if I have taken on this third person perspective and am watching my own life play out-  my own reality show- without the drama.

Hmmm food for though tho does drama boost ratings? We have all heard the line “the most dramatic rose ceremony yet.” Seriously, how do the get away with that episode after episode, year after year?! Ratings equate to popularity right, popularity derives from a large population, and isn’t there a rule of averages? In other words the more people I know surely the more chance of meeting my prince charming.

So all along is drama what I have been missing?

Those silly rose ceremonies are considered dramatic because of the cat fighting, emotions, disappointment, failure, competition, immaturity, the list could go on. Not necessarily my bag.. But the real core meaning of drama is to take action.

To take action.

Environmental scan, acute awareness, reality, popularity, take action.

Acknowledge, digest, no judgement, give back to the universe, proceed.

Sort of reminds me of: Stop, drop, and roll.  

Not a bad mantra. 

 

I Have a Dream

In light of Martin Luther King day tomorrow it seems appropriate to pay homage to such a great leader of change by contemplating what our dream for the world would be.

It has been said that MLK was  inspired by Gandhi’s success with non violent activism. So probably safe to assume his “I have a dream” speech  was also influenced by the famous Gandhi quote ” Be the change you want to see in this world”.

Gandhi starved himself for social equality in India and MLK marched to turn America into a color blind society. Both assassinated for fighting for what they believed in, and both shifting the world.

I say goodnight to you all with the suggestion that you think about your eventual demise and how you intend to make a mark on this world through your dreams and  actions.

Pride

Being proud is a funny thing? Being proud of someone else- by all means! But proud of yourself? Almost seems a little pompous don’t you think?

I mean, for sure, we encourage people in our lives to be proud of themselves but usually that’s when they are being hard on themselves. Or we tell others to take pride in a, b or c, but that’s more about projecting the feeling on something or someone else.

Well today I got my ING NYC marathon finisher certificate in the mail (yes we get mail on Saturday’s, crazy America?!) and although it is 2 plus months later I got this incredible wave of pride come over me.

I have already walked you through the race so I wont bore you with more details, but it was tough as sin and I did it, I did it with a kick ass smile, I did it when 24 hours earlier I questioned if I should even bother starting the race at all, I did it 3 mins slower then my goal time but 25 mins faster then 11 months earleir, and best of all I did it with my dad by my side.

You know what too: I am also proud of my 9 minute mile, and ranking in the 23rd percentile of my age group. Heck yes. Go for it, tell me I’m bragging, I probably would if the role was reversed. But you have got to give me credit (and take some for yourself too) that it shows us that we can in fact do anything, and even cooler we often even leave ourselves room to grow so that next time we can do it even better. For the most part,  it us that overthinks the situation; we are hold ourselves back for various reasons that are absolutely logical in our head; or the worst scenario: there are people pulling you back instead of pushing you forward. I think back to the 4 races I ran last year and each time there was someone I was running to. 

On Jan 1 many of us  plotted out our 2012 intentions and 2 weeks later statistically speaking and generalizing we have probably lost the spark. Commonly- We had a glass of wine, couldn’t resist dessert, we had to stay at work late and were too tired to go to the gym. or we shared the dream and someone suggested how hard it would be. Resolutiuon squashed.

If I can offer up some advice, some straight from the horse’s mouth, and some sayings that no doubt someone far more famous than me said:

• Unfortunately the Debbie downer that told you it was going to hard is right. It is going to be hard. But isn’t it supposed to be?!  I mean if it was easy it would probably not be a goal or resolution.
• Phone a friend, have a team, create a support network. People want to see you succeed!  …and if they don’t they suck so ditch them.
• So you dropped the ball? Pick it up you still have 11 more months to try try and try again. If you’re not failing you’re not up to enough.
• Re-evaluate what result or sensation you are truly after. For example do you really need to go to the gym everyday to get there, or do you need to do a combo of things? Eat right, sleep well, drink water etc….  (Then again if you are anything like me it is usually just because you want to see if you can.)
• Strategize. What preparations do you need to make in order to succeed?

Lastly: be proud. Be proud of yourself for even thinking to set a goal. Be even prouder when you embark on the journey. Be the proudest when you get to celebrate and if there is sadness  instead  of streamers be equally proud that you were brave enough to try.