Re-Creation

- A little housekeeping. Spreading The Chi's facebook page is doing a 25 days of kind-chi group, and you should join. It's becoming pretty fun. Okay. Back to the post. -

I'm about to hit you with a super cliche statement that is about as lame as it is true.

Life. Starts. Now.

The past does not exist past it's ability to effect how you view the present moment. That is entirely in your control, though more often than not it takes time and practice and patience.
But the point is, your life is and only ever will be right now.

So what are you doing?
What aren't you doing?

I recently made a pretty major change, and in the fresh start I saw so so many beautiful opportunities it was overwhelming. And I realized that if I keep doing the same blah-de-blah living I've been doing, I'm going to find myself craving a fresh start all over again! So what's the solution?

This morning I went to church and I listened to a sermon about using the holidays as a time to check in. To "take inventory" with your self, with God, and with others. Which immediately brought me to the three Kai Chi Do connections, self source and others. Now, I don't know what words work for you, and I don't claim to know what's best for everyone, but I can tell you this. When I allowed myself time to sit down and check in with my whole being, top to bottom, inside out, I realized what I needed more of and I realized what I needed to phase out.

But let's backstep for a second. Before you find yourself re evaluating, take a moment to be completely honest with yourself. What is holding you back right now? What is in the pit of your stomach? That thing you just wish you could make go away and your life would be perfect?

Why is this negative for you? Is it not a good situation? Or is it not being handled as it should?

Now comes the hard part.

Fix it.

Whatever it is, however scary, fix it. Cut the part of your life out, or change the way you do something drastically, or eliminate a way of thinking that you've ignored for so long. Free yourself, because no one is going to do it for you.

And then, suddenly, you have the big open space in front of you. You're looking at a blank and beautiful page.

So my strategy is to make two lists.

First, make a list of things you want to bring into your life. Put everything on the table and re do your priorities. What do you miss? What is that thing you find yourself thinking about all the time? "I need to read more" or "I don't call my sister enough." Maybe its something you've never tried, or something you want to do more of. A habit you want to get into. It's important that this list stays positive. Don't shoot yourself in the foot by bringing it down already. This is your chance to lighten up.

The second list is a bit trickier. This is a list of things you want to "phase out". Now again, stay positive. Don't use "stop" or "don't" or "eliminate" words. Instead, make a kind and non judgmental list of things you don't feel are helping you in life anymore.

During my Kai Chi Do training I learned that the easiest and most comfortable way to remove negativity from your life is to squeeze it out with positivity. Make it so there's no more room for those things you don't want, instead of just trying to cut them out. When you replace them first, you don't get left with empty space that you need to fill.

The last step is simple, and also difficult. You've made your game plan. Now take a deep breath, and go for it. You've already laid out a straightforward map of what you do and don't want. And it won't change in one day. But slowly and confidently start molding your life into those lists. Because your worth it. Because life is today, and that piece of paper is going to get filled up whether it's with what you want or it isn't. Don't keep wasting days that don't line up with the truths you just wrote down. That's your heart. That's what you want, you said it yourself. And there is nothing stopping you.

I love you all. Godspeed.

And we're back

This hurricane has been hard on us all in the Northeast.

I want to take a minute, first, to say I love each and everyone one of you that is suffering. I send you all of my best, and I am confident that this too shall pass.

Throughout this weekend, there have been a number of instances where I've seen beauty in the destruction.

People sharing water and electricity, businesses going out of their way to support hurricane relief, people coming out of the woodwork to help those who needed it most. Support from friends and family giving the strength to offer support in return.

And for my family specifically, with the loss of my grandfather... so many have reached out. Thank you.

This world is beautifully messy. There's no easy way out, but there is a gentle way through, and that's what I wish for all of you.



That aside - we're back online, hopefully for a good long while!

So posts will begin again as before.


In the meantime, I was reading my bible, and found a verse that spoke to me.
So I exchanged a couple words.

I exchanged "Lord" for "Purpose" and "God" for "Love"... because aren't those the same things?

And here's what I got:

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same purpose. Love works in different ways, but it is the same Love who does the work in all of us.

I don't know how I feel about the church, and I don't know where I fall on the religious spectrum. But I know I am spiritual and i want to open myself up to all avenues of that. I love this world and the magic that runs through it, no matter what name you give it.

God and Medication

In the interest of full disclosure I will say that due to unforeseen circumstances I am off medication temporarily. As in until thursday when I can get a refill.

I know those of you who know me know that I'd rather just be off medication totally, but when I do that I'm going to do it right. So I can eliminate these headaches and dizzy spells. And I'm definitely noticing a change in my mood, so there's work to do in that department also.

That being said, today was a pretty amazing day. I met with the Pastor at my family's home church. Her name is Wendy and she's new to us.

I don't go to church much anymore, mostly because I work. But also because I've been all over the place in my spiritual life. But I do see it's beauty and the peace it brings to so many people's hearts. And I do believe in... something. Just the words get all jumbled. And church likes to un jumble them in ways that don't always sit well with me.

Anyway, Pastor Wendy was intriguing to me, so I went and sat with her. We ended up talking for hours. About so many things. What stood out for me was the idea of sparating the "church" concept and the "god" concept. Which I think doesn't happen nearly as much as it should. And they are two entirely different, though related, things. You can have God without church, but not church without God.

Anyway, it's a lot to think about, which we all know I'm good at doing. In fact I can almost guarantee I will over think it numerous times. But the point is, I got some very good fuel for my spiritual discovery mill today. And I'm excited to see where it takes me.

I want to get into the event I'm planning, but enough is enough for one night. I will touch base tomorrow again, hopefully.

I love you all. Sweet Dreams.