Daily Archives: November 16, 2010

A whale of a good time…

Darlings,

On November 14th 1851 The Great American Classic Novel, Moby Dick or The Whale by Herman Melville was published. (It was first published on Oct 18, 1851 by Richard Bentley (the same name as my daddy) in London)

In short, a lost wandering soul, Ishmael was on the search for truth and a better life. He encountered some people that showed him a path that seemed, on the surface a good path to lead. He followed it in trust, but it revealed and unfolded themes revolving around good and evil, purpose, faith, power, trust and forced him to question his place in the universe. He believed in the people he surrounded himself with and it reflected and brought up all of the issues he was trying to escape on his search. And of course, those issues came right to the surface and faced him head on.

When we look at ourselves we often look to see who is around us. Those people are there, whether we know it or not, to support our highest purpose. And sometimes, it brings forth our demons. Through both good and the bad, alone or with others - we find our truth.

What do you believe in? What is your truth? What length will you go to live your purpose purely?

Today, our collective intention is to invoke our truth, power and potential, like Ishmael on his voyage in the vast sea and the vast mind.

Is there some principal of nature which states that we never know the quality of what we have until it’s gone. Herman Melville

It is better to fail in originality than succeed in imitation. Herman Melville

Truth uncompromisingly told, will always have it’s ragged edges. Herman Melville

We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibres connect us with our fellow man. Herman Melville

Whatever fortune brings, don’t be afraid of doing things. Herman Melville

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. Mark Twain

You never find yourself until you face the truth. Pearl Bailey

Don’t let the noise of others opinions drown out your own voice. Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. – Steve Jobs

Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters. – Albert Einstein

For every beauty there is an eye to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it. Ivan Panin

The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end there it is. Winston Churchill

If you want your dreams to come true, don’t sleep. –Yiddish Proverb

Whatever’s meant to be will work out perfectly. Just stay strong. There’s no other way, when it comes to the truth. So, keep holding on. Cause you know we’ll make it through, I’m here for you, we’ll make it through. –Avril Lavigne

The search for the truth is more precious than it’s possession. – Albert Einstein

Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time. But it ain’t goin’ away. – Elvis Presley

Rist. Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth. – Katherine Mansfield

True holiness consists in doing God’s will with a smile. – Mother Theresa

The love of truth has it’s reward in heaven and even on earth. – Friedrich Nietzsche

Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence is the key to unlocking our potential. – Winston Churchill

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who ha mastered himself is mightier still – Lao Tzu

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. – Leo Buscaglia

He is most powerful who has power over himself. – Seneca

Knowledge is power. – Francis Bacon

Whether on the vast tumultuous sea or serene wake of water, we are in this together. Stay present and ride whatever is present with the calm collection of intention against the rough or smooth.

Dramamine sea stalking love,

Lady

Kennedy

Darlings,

On November the 8th, 1960, our country elected John F. Kennedy as our 35th president. He was an icon of hope in the physical sense, in his speech and in his essence. He stood for peace, freedom and courage.
He started the peace corps. He set the goal to land on the moon by the end of the 60's (the space race). We did!!. He was integral and representational during a time of war (Vietnam's beginning), the Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missle Crisis and the building of the Berlin Wall.
Often, when we watch the news and see what's going on around us in the world, we are overwhelmed with the need to help and what we could possibly do as individuals to make a difference.
We often think our actions are small, from simple gestures of gratitude, holding a door open for someone, offering our time or money to a cause that means something to us. What we do everyday effects the fabric of our community and country as a whole. When we act in right thought, speech, action and live our purpose, what is in our heart, we are inwardly and outwardly changing life as we know it for the higher good of ourselves and everyone around us.
I know, what an overwhelming responsibility? Are you up for it?
Every day we have a choice to decide how we will respond to what is going on around us and within us. It's easy, in the still quiet of the morning, to feel peaceful and calm and set forth good thoughts for the day or week ahead. But it's when life throws us for a loop - we are running late, we forget to turn off the stove and have to run back home, have a fender bender - our fault@!, have an uncomfortable altercation at the dry cleaner, the 405, our workplace, that we are really challenged towards our greatness.
It's hard not to let the little things get to us. But, we have a choice with each test, each uncomfortable situation, to pick the peaceful, amicable, higher path to get through.
In fact, we will keep having the same daily challenges until we learn the right way to get through it.
I can't tell you how many times I've been cut off in traffic with my shoulders creeping up towards my ears and screaming profanities until I realized that it will never serve anyone to react that way. Now, it happens every freekin' day. I live in LA!!! And it doesn't bother me a bit. Not one bit. Just ask my mom. I'm usually on the phone with her when I'm in traffic and she can tell you how annoying I was screaming at traffic when she was in the middle of a story and now, it doesn't happen anymore.
And I know it might seem small, but energetically speaking, every little thing you encounter during your day attaches to you on some small level and it builds up. Little barnacles on pretty salt scrubbed rocks become laden and heavy with attachments.
Why not start practicing kindness, even if you are served with utter crap in your day?
I PROMISE you, it will come back to you. The things that used to bother me so much, I would carry with me for so long, it would make me sick to my stomach.
Now, I don't have room for it. The more I practice being kind, smiling, relaxing, being aware of my surroundings, even if it's uncomfortable, the easier it is to respond in an easier way.
I can attribute a lot of this to the fact that I am teaching Hot Yoga.
It's transformed my life even though my home base is in Hatha Flow yoga - linking breath to movement in balance.
Students and teachers alike, CHOSE to walk into this externally challenging environment (um, like 108 degrees!!!) with a mirror in front of them to FACE whatever is coming up for them inside and out. This practice sets the stage of uncomfortability. YOU then get to chose how you will react. I see a lot of people freak out in anger and frustration. Ahh, they will learn. I hope to help them.
I chose to get through it with slow calm ease. Even if I'm dying inside, I chose to be cool, calm and collected. This keeps me cooler, calmer and more collected in the heat of life that comes out from long lines at the post office and long holds on the phone with the DMV. ANNOYING, but I remain calm and remember my breath...then call my mom and vent.
All this...
to let you know that WE are great, right now. Whether we are president of the United States, Student Council or PTA. We are great. Be that role model, that icon for others to live up to in right speech and right action.
When you become confronted with whatever, external circumstances and internal tapes of negativity, turn the channel and find the happy show of laughter and goodness.
On inspiration, John F. Kennedy...
Change is the law of life. And those who look only to past or present are certain to miss the future.
Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.
Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
Leadership and learning are indispensable of each other.
Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.
The best road to progress is freedom's road.
The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment but it is no less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy.
Things do not happen. They are made to happen.
There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.
Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.
Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers quietly building new structures.
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
Be peace. In your core. Be your own peace corps. Join it, be it, share it, live it.
Be the president of your own united state.
Smooches,
Lady