Great loves

Welcome to 2015! A you let go of the highs and lows, the gritty and the grand, all that was 2014 for you... What are your great loves?  What makes you stir inside with feelings of freedom,

clarity, curiosity?  I feel very much alive in:

♥ Pausing to look at the sky and breathe. At least once every day
♥ Setting an intention for the day- even a small idea of where to focus my energies is a big help
♥ Letting go of what felt not-so-great about yesterday, to make room for today`s beauty
♥Leaning into what is creative, interesting or marvelous about myself- being curious about a quality or perspective that is unique
♥ Dancing and moving to music on a regular basis
♥ Reading materials that are out of my comfort zone.... to a degree at least!

Noticing when we are out of our comfort zone feels important in cultivating a rich life. Not over-pushing oneself, feeling regret or guilt- simply noticing where you are feeling stretched can invite new awareness that both embracesyour current emotional comfort levels , and gently suggests some areas of life where you`d like to grow, learn and explore.

What are your great loves turning out to be....

Wholeness or scarcity?

Learning to listen The work of Jon Kabat-Zinn is powerful to me. Somehow he distills the essence of an idea into a meaningful, thick and juicy morsel-

while not being too weighty. Learning about meditation and mindful living is an ongoing process, one that likely happens slowly over time. Perhaps we also see growth in little spurts, to tell us that we're engaged in the process.

'Perhaps the most "spiritual" thing any of us can do is simply to look through our own eyes, see with eyes of wholeness, and act with integrity and kindness.' -Jon Kabat-Zinn. Wherever you go, there you are.

How often do you notice what you're seeing as you go about your day? Learning to honour, respect and listen to our own perspective takes practice. I find that seeing with wholeness has an important connection to its opposite, which can be called seeing with scarcity.

Seeing with scarcity has to do with being fearful that we won't have enough, do enough, or be connected with others in ways that we need. Scarcity drains energy and stops life force from moving freely, keeping people from living in wholeness. Wholeness relates to thought patterns that allow appreciation for what we do have, affirming the greatness in who we are and what we are becoming as we grow and expand our hearts.

I invite you to set your intention for 2015 in terms of wholeness. What will you make a regular part of your life that will nurture your mind and spirit?

How will you maximize the use of your unique kind of energy, intelligence and passion?

Dare to live with abundance.

-KD

Giving yourself a mini holiday

Does having a mini holiday sound appealing right now? The thought of having a break from the often-hectic season of December strikes a chord with many.

Some look forward to the festive gatherings, the bright lights and decorations, exchanging gifts and singing along to carols. For others, life has brought about changes or losses that stir feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, sorrow or lack of ease during the holidays.

And still yet, you might embrace some aspects of celebrating the holiday spirit, while experiencing sadness about dear ones you've lost, dreams that haven't come to be, or conflict in the family.    Wherever you are, here is your invitation to pause and give yourself a mini holiday.  I am a BIG fan of taking little breaks to nourish the soul!

Ways to take a mini holiday:   Pay attention to what makes you smile, or breathe a little easier:)

Make a playlist of your favourite songs and take them on a walk in your neighbourhood. Give yourself the freedom to stop and notice small details around you, like beautiful trees, the scent of the fresh air, or a child riding their bike.

Pull out a vacation photo album and make yourself a cup of tea as you remember some great moments.

Discover a cafe in town that you've never been to, and bring a lighthearted book with you to enjoy as you take in the ambiance. People watching with book in hand can be a lot of fun.

Invite a good friend to go on a surprise outing together. If they're up for choosing the location, even better!

Be gentle with yourself for all the things you 'should' do. Pay attention to what your inner voice is telling you about what feels meaningful for YOU. Practice telling people no thank you when you need to protect your energy levels.

I am looking forward to some unhurried time with people I love.

And to reading some poetry, trying homemade eggnog, and letting my spirits rest. Along with some fun and laughter of course!    

What are you needing right now? Here's to pausing and giving yourself a mini holiday, in whatever ways you can.

7 ways to re-energize your holiday season

Starting to feel the busy energy of the holiday season coming up? If you're wanting to shift the way you live during this high-activity month, check out Karyn and Dr Carmen's workshop:

7 ways to re-energize your holiday season

Tools to release stress and nourish balance

Create a herbal wellness kit to keep or gift

Dr Carmen Tanaka is an insightful Naturopath who supports people to reach their health goals. She is full of vitality and I enjoy being in her presence!

For myself, working with groups is delightful. I appreciate seeing people make discoveries and come alive in ways they haven't experienced before. I help others find ways of being creative  in how they approach a stressful or energy draining situation.

Connect. Learn. Nourish.  That's what our afternoon of re-energizing is all about.

Nov 29th from 1.30 -4 pm

at Heartwood Community Café, 317 East Broadway in Vancouver.  Cost: $35.

Please register with Dr. Carmen via email at: Carmen@drcarmentanaka.com

www.drcarmentanaka.com/

Sharing your voice

To me, sharing your voice is about allowing others to see the wisdom, understanding, stories, questions, and the beauty of who you are.  A less-filtered you  than you might be used to showing at work, in public, or among family and friends. This takes some courage and an intention to live with freedom in who you are, believing that you DO have something great to offer in the world.     

Voice can be shared in many ways, such as: Answering honestly when you're asked 'how are you'; sharing an opinion that is different than the group of people you're in conversation with; wearing colours that you feel good in, regardless of what the 'best' shades are for you; writing a note to tell someone you miss them; speaking up about an unfair policy in your workplace. Voice is about expressing your song in the world, your unique sense of what life is, in all its mystery, amazingness and sorrow. 

I invite your voice to be bold in its coming forth.   

This beautiful poem by Sally Atkins speaks to me of how extending your voice can be quiet and yet powerful in its subtle existence.  I hope this encourages you to honour the stories alive in you, the voice that is you, your beauty.

The Imperative of Song

You who have only heard

The sound of tension

From your throat,

Know that the ancient ones

Mapped their land by song.

To sing is to get somewhere;

Know that song

is your incarnation,

Whether an aria

A prayer

Or a single word.

To speak from the inside out

Is to witness

To your own humanity.

Listen,

The heartbeat

Of an ancient beast

Moves through you.

You can only listen

And love it,

And weep,

The sound

Of your own voice

Singing.    -Sally Atkins