Post-it

I'll be honest.  I have an addiction to post-its.  Whether it was keeping them in every room (and in my purse) during college to keep tabs of funny moments and ridiculous quotes or decorating my walls and planner with colorful to-do lists that I get more joy out of creating than actually using, post-its have become a staple of my daily semi-organized life as well as my personal favorite office accessory—or necessity in my book. 

Flipping through my planner this morning, I came across several neon green post-its with random notes and quotes that I collected in Switzerland and didn't have the heart to part with at the time.  Removing them from my planner, I add them to the growing quilt of colorful squares I already have started on the wall of my cubicle.  Healthy reminders that keep me smiling all day long.  Here are a few of my favorites that I hope you'll enjoy as well:

"Because even when you're not sure where you're headed, it helps to know that you're not going there alone.  No one has all the answers, and sometimes the best we can do is just apologize and let the past be the past.  Other times we need to look to the future and know that even when we think we've seen it all, life can still surprise us...And we can still surprise ourselves."

"May your mind learn to love with compassion."

"Do what you love."

"Keep up."

I have no idea where I'll be two months from now, but I do know that these sticky collectables will be right there with me, perhaps a little faded or crinkled or worn.  Ah, transportability... one of my favorite qualities, especially considering my tendancy to avoid committments that keep me in any certain place for too long.  Or is it a relentless committment to change and evolve?  Eh, I'll save that for another time. 

Happy Friday!
xox

Back in action

That's right friends.  After being MIA for, hmm, way too long, I'm back.  And ready for more.  I could go on and on updating you on my latest adventures, but now that I work a normal eight to five job like most ordinary people, well, there isn't that much to tell you unless you want to hear about the watered down coffee or my latest paper cut (it was pretty gnarly if I do say so myself).  I'll admit, however—in my own defense—that my lack of posting for the past few months is only a reflection of love/hate (okay, there wasn't much love there at all) relationship I built with my computer during the dreaded job search.  But now that I'm not spending hours writing cover letters every day or impatiently waiting for rejection emails (or those "Thank you but no thank you" emails that never come at all), I can actually sit down with my computer and enjoy her company again.  Granted, I sit at a computer all day at work, but it's a Dell so coming home to my Mac makes me feel pretty damn special (and spoiled).

I have to admit, I've thought about this blog every day since I stopped writing (except those few days during Coachella that merely exist as a hazy memory of fun, sun, skip and go naked's, and dancing... oh yeah, and some life changing live music).  I've been wanting to write, willing myself to write, but my voice stayed trapped behind a cement wall that just wasn't budging.  I even thought that maybe this blog would turn into some sort of forgotten shrine of my time in Switzerland and the few months following my return.

But then today came along.  Without anything to do at work and my patience for webinars dwindled at best, I went to one of my favorite websites: yogajournal.com.  I perused the newer articles and let my mind wander to asanas and how great my tight hips would feel to bust into half moon right there in my cubicle.

That's when I came across an article that had me so mesmerized and enthralled that all I could thinking about was how much I wanted to write again. Somehow over the last couple months, I lost touch with that voice that keeps everything alive and interesting around me.  In my world, writing gets me to the heart of things, the meat of meaning, but not just of what topic I may be writing or thinking about.  It gets me to the heart of myself and allows me to access this world of thought and curiosity and strength that brings an entirely new perspective to everything else that I consider and observe.  It makes me feel like myself again—finally.

At the risk of getting too mushy, I won't dwell on the day's epiphany or my love affair with words—at least not right now.  Instead I will leave you with a piece of advice from Sally Kempton, a contributing writer to Yoga Journal and author of her own book The Heart of Meditation.  She says,

"There is nothing more radical than the moment you realize that it's possible to reinvent your life."

Today, I reinvent myself through writing, and through rediscovering that mindful process that brings me back to one of the deepest commitments I make to myself.  Maybe it doesn't sound like much, but if you have the chance to reinvent even the most minute aspect of your life (and yourself), it has to mean something. To me it does.  In fact, it may just mean the world.

With love (and more to come),

Mel

Hello My Dearest Pacific Coast!

Two weeks and the blog posts that I still need to write keep adding themselves to my mental to-write list.  But don't worry, they'll eventually make it into print—that is when I have a free moment to sit down and spend some quality time with my camera and computer.

For now though, I'm happy to have a break from job searching and stressing, to finally let loose in this sunny state of California that a huge part of me still calls home.  Tomorrow, another adventure begins: road tripping the coast with Papa Ormos.  A few days of quality time with PCH—my personal favorite stretch of pavement—and my dad in one adorable red Prius.  Sounds like heaven to me!  Let's just hope the brakes don't fail us around Big Sur.  I prefer hiking by foot and not in the car.

Oh, and did I mention that this Prius is seriously set up in the stereo department?  Um, yeah.  It rocks, literally.  Three whole days to blast my favorite Coachella tunes with a stunning view of the sparkling Pacific to my left?  Ah, life is good.  Even if I am still unemployed.  Got to enjoy it while you can, right?!

Happy feet belonging to Carleigh.  From our road trip up the coast after graduation.

Temporarily out of service

There is this little musical event down south in the desert of California called Coachella.  And me, along with a fantastically random group of people, will be attending in all our glory covered in body paint, beads and California sun.

So instead of yogaing my life away like usual, I've chosen a new path.  Detox to retox, right?!  Here's to Coachella 2010!  And for those of you that can't be there, trust me.  You'll be there in spirit (and I'm sure we can dedicate some dances to you in the epic dance tent as well).

Until next week!

Sand in my shoes (and I love it)

The stars must have aligned for us this past Friday.  Sabrina AND Sam had the day off, and I worked it out so I could take a break from my incredibly hectic schedule of yoga, job searching, and wandering—but trust me, it wasn't easy.

So Sam and I hopped into the car and headed west to Lincoln City for a glorious day of beach strolling, chatting, and laughing harder than I have in weeks. . .  It was just one of those days that makes you feel light and happy and warm from the inside out.  And spending some quality time with the ocean wasn't so bad either.  Especially since it stands as my favorite place on earth.  Give me some sandy toes and a little laughter and I might just be the happiest person in the whole wide world.

Companions.  Isn't it wonderful to look at your friends and see just how beautiful they (and their minds) are?

Treasures!

Consider this

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love."  
—Rami

(Thanks Mare.  You nailed it.)

Hello friend

I talk a lot about my friends.  How wonderful they are, how much I miss them on a daily basis, etc. etc.  I suppose some of this comes from my tendency to be nostalgic (not that you've ever noticed), but it also stems from the deeply rooted belief I hold that your relationships largely define you.

I hesitate for a moment here because it's hard to realistically say that any one thing really defines a person.  In this case, however, I stand behind my words and with gusto.  Who you choose to spend your time with, why you hang on to certain relationships and not others, and how you treat those people all say a lot about what kind of person you choose to be.  Hold on to negative relationships and you'll quickly see how your life seems to be polluted with negative energy.  And likewise, surround yourself with positive, inspiring people and your days carry a certain brightness and clarity to them that make you happier as well.

And the funny thing about great friends?  They have a magical way of walking right back into your life when you need each other most, even if you don't realize it that very moment.  I guess that's where the beauty in friendship lies.  The connections and understandings you share and the selves that you are with one another bubble to the surface and re-instill your own faith in yourself.  Not only that, but you look at those people—those beautiful people and incredible minds—again with an unparalleled sense of admiration and appreciation because they just get it.  They get you.  And that, in my opinion, is worth everything.

OB-Sessed

Like O.M.G.  This song by the Swedish band Miike Snow is seriously amazing, along with the rest of their stuff (duh).  Okay, so the video is a little creepy, but hey, the song rocks and so do the Swedes.  Check 'em out!


Oh, and did I mention that I will be getting up close and personal with these guys at Coachella in nearly a week?  Granted thousands of other people will be doing the same, but I can't imagine them being any less than spectacular (and weird).  What a combo.

And if you haven't heard their song "Plastic Jungle," do yourself a favor and listen to it on repeat for a week.  One word: orgasmic.

Go on with your story

Today was a good day.  One of those days that leaves you feeling awake and alive, as if you're sparkling from the inside.  And shockingly, this has nothing to do with the weather (the rain has only ever quit to regain strength and then begin again) or the endorphins I got from my morning run (though, I'll admit they do work their mood-shifting magic).  Nope.  Today was a good day because it just was.  And I love that.

And I also love this and hope you do to:


                             Now I'm aware that I alone am in the vast
                                  openness
                                  of the sea
                             And cause the sea to be the sea.

                             Just swim.
                             Just swim.
                             Go on with your story.
                                                          —Dainin Katagiri Roshi

"This is what I wish for you: comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, [and] love to complete your life."
                                                                                                      —Winnie the Pooh