Inner Peace: This is so true

If you can start the day without caffeine, If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles, If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it, If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time, If you can take criticism and blame without resentment , If you can conquer tension without medical help, If you can relax without liquor, If you can sleep without the aid of drugs, Then You Are Probably “The Family Dog”!

And ...  you thought I was going to get all spiritual ... Filed under Fulfilling Lives, Inner Peace 101, Inner Peace Moments | Comment (0)

Inner Peace: Weed-Eaters, Chainsaws & Tree Shredders

Perhaps you're anticipating a brilliant article about how to find inner peace when the harsh vibrations of weed-eaters, chainsaws and tree shredders invade your neighborhood...and your eardrums. Well, America's Inner Peace Coach cries "Uncle" in a sigh of defeat. I am humbled. Helpless in my human reaction. In the face of THIS "inner peace culprit," I got whooped!!! Maybe you can relate... I live in a condo complex here in Southern California. Every week, without fail, the lawn maintenance team comes with their trusty weed-eaters and grass grooming devices. Each Thursday, I find myself mildly annoyed by the revving up and down of this "helpful" invention. But, it's typically only a FEW hours each week, so I hadn't given it TOO much attention. But, being as passionate about inner peace as I am, and more importantly, committed to reducing suffering where ever possible...I decided to buy noise-canceling headphones as a Christmas present to myself. I THOUGHT this would help. And, it did...a little. But, a big "Inner Peace Test" was coming my way. For some reason, our Homeowners Association thinks it's a good idea to trim trees. Why purposely scalp a perfectly beautiful tree? Seems silly. Not to mention... NOISY!!! So, I geared up for Day 1... And, they began. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrr! Rrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrr! Rrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I reached for my new noise canceling headphones, with a competitive smirk on my face. Sadly, you can STILL hear chainsaws through noise-canceling headphones!!! But, it wasn't --  AS bad. Annoying, but not annoying enough to write about. On the third day, my schedule was FULL of coaching appointments. The noise was SO distracting, I reached for an ear plug for my outside ear. It too, helped, just a teeny bit. The unsettling noise continued...starting and stopping and starting and stopping. Nothing regular when it comes to chainsaws or weed-eaters!! Arrrrghhh! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrr! Rrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrr! Rrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Of course, everything life dishes out is an opportunity, right? The previous week, my coach had challenged me to push the edges of my ability to be "calm" and "peaceful" by trying to find calm in otherwise non-peaceful situations -- like watching a movie with a lot of violence. During this ear-piercing day, I remembered the assignment -- and knew THIS was my opportunity.  I consciously started focusing on "finding calm" and "inner peace." Could I become ONE with the noise? Could I find a way to ACCEPT it? Could I connect to my own inner peace WITH chainsaws revving? Well, I tried. I really did. And, as long as the "hum" continued I could connect...and embrace it. Though, only for a split second. Of course, there is nothing regular about trimming trees!! Arrrrrgggghhhh! Then it got WORSE. How could that be possible?  %$%??&*%$??@#@!!!!! After chopping down the poor trees, they put the branches into an evil "tree shredding machine." These things should be illegal. Or, at least require some kind of muffler. WAY more ear-piercing than the little 'ol weed-eater I'd grown "accustomed" to. I'm certain all the workers for this company are hearing-impaired. At least I had a wall or window between the noise and me. And, occasionally an earplug or headphones. Lordy!! The symphony began. Chainsaw. Rrrrrrrrr! Shredder. RRRRRRR! RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! Rrrrrrrrr! What? NOT another chainsaw? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! RRRRRRRRRRR! Rrrrr! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! Rrrrrrr! RRRRRRRRRRRRR! RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! Rrrrrrr! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! This is when I knew I'd been defeated. TOO much start and stop for this inner peace coach. TOO loud for my poor little eardrums to handle. TOO much! So...the evening began as any normal human being would do after being tortured by the invasive chaos all day. I vented to my husband John. AND, had a glass of wine. I felt into my agony. I felt into my victim-hood. I complained about how my ears were hurting. Even though the experience was over,  it sure felt good to EXPRESS the frustration! Then, my husband suggested we meditate. So we did. And, my inner peace quotient rebuilds again. (My ears are STILL recovering though!) This experience reminds me what everyday inner peace is all about.  It's NOT about being "at peace" 24/7 -- it's more about embracing ALL aspects of OUR humanity. Hello frustration! Hello annoyance! Hello victimhood!  Hello humility!  When we don't make these experiences wrong...then, we are truly free. And, as far as embracing weed-eaters, chainsaws and tree shredders, I'm still working on embracing these realities of life. In fact, I think it's best to just AVOID these evils - if you can.  In the meantime, you'll see me working with noise-canceling headphones, ear plugs, and insisting on storm windows in our next home. God bless those who rev up these machines. How do you handle these kinds of experiences? I'd love to hear from you. Filed under Inner Peace Culprits, Inner Peace Moments | Comment (0)

Inner Peace Moment – Living Life to the Fullest

Living Life to the FULLEST Honoring...Our Friend Vytas Pazemenas 1938 - 2009 On November 15, 2009, we gathered for Vytas Pazemenas' Memorial at Balboa Yacht Club in Newport Beach. I found myself even more honored to know this unique man. Born in Lithuania in 1938, as a child Vytas was smack in the middle of World War II, between the German Army and Red Army of Russia. His family once hid under a train, protecting themselves from gun-fire. His father was captured by the Russians...and later escaped. They finally fled Lithuania. Vytas was a refugee. As a young man, Vytas came to the USA to attend college, graduating from Penn State with a degree in engineering. He chose the medical device industry, and steadily worked his way into management in Silicon Valley. He had a knack for recognizing and developing talent. In 1999, Vytas was invited to southern California to lead a company in distress. As CEO, he turned it around! When that company sold, Vytas decided it was time to start his own medical device company. Vytas was an avid sailor, and a fan of the book series about Jack Aubrey, a man of high character and integrity...hence the company name: The Aubrey Group. Vytas was a leader.

Vytas built a top notch engineering team through his somewhat unusual interviewing techniques. Nearly every man who spoke at the Memorial chuckled as they remembered how Vytas presented a "puzzle" for them to solve in that initial interview. It quickly revealed one's "on-the-spot" thinking skills. Apparently these "puzzles" were Vytas' secret for culling talent. Vytas was discerning. Collectively, this talent has saved countless lives and silently impacted the world in a myriad of ways. The first time I visited Aubrey Group, tears came to my eyes as I learned about project after project. Aubrey Group has won many awards. Some of the most significant projects include: 1) DNA Analyzer - Uses electronics to detect diseased DNA on a laboratory benchtop. 2) Orthomedical Heart Assist Pump - A wearable device for patients waiting for a heart transplant. 3) Dialysis Machine - a device allowing patients to give themselves blood dialysis at home. Great for patients with kidney problems. 4) Permanent Glaucoma Treatment with a single needle implant...taking less than 10 minutes. 5) Neoline System - an electronic aide for more precise knee replacements. 6) Blood Purifier - a way to eliminate blood pathogens at blood banks. 7) Tissue Genesis - an easy and safe way to extract stem cells from the body. 8) Proactive treatment for breast cancer (that's not yet on the market...funding for this stopped when the market crashed awhile back). No small task to attract projects of this magnitude and then to lead the teams to continually deliver innovations for their clients. For those needing these treatments, Aubrey Groups contributions are the unacknowledged miracle adding more ease and life to the world. Vytas created significant value to the world. But business wasn't Vytas only passion. He was also a poet. He enjoyed memorizing poems, and in challenging situations always had an appropriate poem to share. Vytas was a man of depth. Vytas was also a sailor, rallying his employees (and anyone willing to learning "the ropes") to participate in the sailing races in the ocean. You could also catch him delighting in powder skiing in the winter months. Vytas was an adventurer. For years, his daughter found her greatest bonding time aboard a sailboat. It was one of the only havens where she escaped his "lectures." Vytas was a committed father. Vytas spoke at engineering schools, inspiring more young men and women to choose this path. He was passionate about how engineering could make a difference in the world. Vytas also gave generously, donating money and time to worthy causes in the community. Vytas was a passionate philanthropist who gave back. Vytas adored his wife Cathy. The twinkle in his eyes was always a little brighter when the love of his life entered the room. Vytas was a loving husband.

Vytas and Cathy

Vytas enjoyed dining in style, selecting the finest wines to accompany each meal. And, he loved chocolate! Vytas was a connoisseur. But food and wine was just a way to bring good friends together for stimulating conversations about philosophy, politics, religion and life. Anything to challenge the mind. No subject was off limits. And...controversy was always welcome. Vytas was comfortable in his own skin and free to be himself around others.

Physical fitness was a part of his everyday life, whether running in the neighborhood or pumping iron at the gym. For Aubrey Group, he brought in experts to give his employees access to exercise programs, yoga, meditation and massage breaks. Vytas was a health enthusiast. Words can't quite capture the full spectrum and depth of this unique man.

Banner on Vytas' sailboat the day of the Memorial. This was the toast made with Benedictine before setting sail each time. We're wishing him a safe journey home.

I'm going to miss the birthdays and celebrations with Vytas and his wife Cathy. I'm going to miss toasting with "Benedictine" as we set out for a day sail (a long-time tradition!) I'm going to miss the sparkle in his eye when he greeted me (as he did everyone.) I'm going to miss how I felt in his presence.

I already miss him. But, I know I'm not the only one.

Vytas left an impression on everyone he met. At the Memorial, hundreds gathered...and very few with a dry eye (many, many, many of them men.) Fortunately, so many of the fond memories and stories brought laughter and joy in the room. November 15th, 2009 was truly a day of celebration.

Once in awhile we get lucky enough to meet someone who embodies so many admired qualities. Once in awhile we get lucky enough to know someone who so fully embraces every moment of life with gusto.

Vytas was one of those men. His legacy lives on.

I know I am more inspired than ever to experience my life even more fully. How about you? We never know when our chapter in life comes to a close. I thank Vytas -- from the bottom of my heart -- for showing me what a life well lived looks like.

_________________________ My dear friend Clark Foster wrote this after learning about Vytas' death. Finding in the Good by Clark Foster

"You manage to find something good in every situation " Vytas would say that to me with a distinct cheer in his voice.

I, like many are so saddened by the passing of Vytas that finding good is a major challenge.

Still, I feel compelled to sort through the feelings out of a desire to honor my friend.

So where is the good? Look around a bit and it shows up .

Our sadness reflects how much Vytas meant to us. So it is good that we met a remarkable soul.

Our lives have been improved having met Vytas. Recall his whole person as an example of gracious leadership, so that would be good.

Our minds have been challenged, and delighted having spoken with Vytas. We have grown in both heart and mind, yes that is good.

Our careers have been flavored with gratifying projects and puzzles. Our work at the Aubrey Group makes a difference to the world, good.

Our appreciation of the wonders of the world has been broadened. Vytas displayed balance in work, love, life and fun, good too.

Truly we have much good from knowing Vytas.

We are indeed privileged and with cause, appreciative.

Then there are a few personal flashes of Vytas good that come to my mind .

His sparkle of deep happiness while presiding over my marriage to Janet.

The playful voice of Vytas during the Benedictine toast to Poseidon from the stern of Cyrano as wind fills the sails.

The substantial conversations while dining often seasoned with at least one of the three taboo topics.

The twinkle in his eye when ones work exceeds his expectations.

The wonder in his "Wu Hoo" holler while skiing untracked powder beyond the boundary ropes.

The sincere delight in his voice when Cathy is present.

There is a lot more flashes of good, but I get sad recalling them right now.

I choose to see our sadness as evidence of the good that is Vytas.

Thank You Vytas .............................Clark

Filed under Emotional Muscles, Fulfilling Lives, Inner Peace 101, Inner Peace Moments, Inner Peace Strategies | Comment (1)

Inner Peace Moment: One Wagging Tail, One Happy Dog

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Inner Peace: Remembering 9/11 Behind The Big Black Curtain

It was about 3:45 am in Hawaii, when I received a phone call in our hotel room. In my semi-conscious state, a friend shared the news: "The World Trade Center had been attacked by an airplane and it is all over the news." My first thought, "Doesn't this only happen in the movies? This can't be real." I hadn't yet turned on the light.  I resisted the urge to turn on the television. For one, my two roommates and I were all crewing a Tony Robbins' Life Mastery program in Hawaii and we had to get up in a couple hours. We were already working on a less than optimal sleep regime.   Secondly, my two roommates were sleeping soundly and they BOTH lived in New York.  No doubt they would be in hysterics. I could spare them the news for a couple hours... I put my head on the pillow and closed my eyes. But, I couldn't get back to sleep. A few minutes later, we received another phone call. Michelle's husband John called.  His cousin worked in the World Trade Center, but fortunately had chosen to golf that morning and was spared. He urged us to turn on the television. We did. In disbelief, we witnessed the second tower being hit. About 30 minutes later we decided to get some sleep. We needed to be at our best. 1500 participants from 80 different countries, many from the New York and Boston areas (50 of whom had family members impacted directly), were attending Tony Robbins' 10 Day Life Mastery University program. It happened to be "Emotional Mastery Day." How appropriate. I kept appreciating we were so many miles from the travesty, safe on the Big Island of Hawaii. Then a wave of emotion came over me as I remembered my "just-ex-boyfriend" Domie Quintana was in New York.  Was he okay? I felt a dance within my being..."caught up in my personal emotions" while simultaneously wanting to be strong, especially because of my support role within the event. (It was several hours later when I learned Domie was fine...and had filmed the second tower being hit on his own camera. Lordy!) At 9am Hawaii time, the event began in a rather surreal and somber way. I've never admired Tony Robbins' more as a leader. Here's what he said in those first five minutes. So much wisdom on this video. Regardless of what happens in life...it is up to each of us to assign "meaning."  That can be either positive or negative, empowering or debilitating.  Neither is more "right," but some paths allows us to be of greater service to the world (and to ourselves). And...what's most important is the actions we take as a result of the "meaning" we give something. I also remember Tony sharing that if we want to acknowledge all the travesties in the world, we must also be willing to acknowledge all the goodness in the world.  At any given moment there are 216,000 of babies being born each day. There are millions of people in love and making love, people laughing and people offering acts of kindness.  Are we willing to take in ALL the world is offering? It was beautiful to see 1500 people processing a wide array of emotions through exercises.  Imagine having your own personal coach with you all day on 9/11. Plus 1500 people open to creating empowering lives. Here's another snippet of how 9/11 impacted a few people at the event, and a glimpse of the transformations that occurred. Most heart-wrenching was the woman who spoke with her fiance calling from the 101st Floor of the second World Trade Center tower at 8:56 am. (She later aided in raising millions for the 685 Cantor Fitzgerald families who lost their loved one that day.) Later on, Tony supported two men -- one Muslim and one Jewish -- through a trans-formative process. (They went on together to bring Muslims and Jews together by speaking at mosques and synagogues.) As the day continued, the energy and vibrancy of "Life Mastery" returned. Music, smiles and breakthroughs galore.  By mid-afternoon the weight of the morning's news was largely in the past. But, the rest of the world was deeply focused elsewhere. As a volunteer crew member, my job required I spend time in the "green room" behind Tony's stage.  A live feed of Tony "on stage" and the main room allowed us to see what was happening from behind the big black curtain. Because of the tragedies of 9/11, security brought in a second television to stream "news" into the green room. I'll never forget... Standing in the green room, looking at both monitors simultaneously. One screen replaying the airplanes crashing into the towers, smoke everywhere and heart-wrenching accounts of the chaos on the ground. Emotions filled my being. Tears coming to my eyes again and again.  The visual images... horrifying. Yet, all around me I could hear the vibrancy of life. It was all just on the other side of the big black curtain. 1500+ people acknowledging life, exploring their souls and embracing new empowering visions for themselves and the world.  I could feel my own authentic joy, as I too, was a part of this extraordinary experience. There there I was...living in the heart of the paradox. Witnessing devastation. Witnessing joy. All while witnessing the ever present inner peace within my being. How surreal. And such is life. At any given moment we can focus on tragedy. Or we can focus on life. Either is on the other side of the big black curtain. And...regardless of what we choose, underneath it all... is an all pervasive sense of inner peace. Never forget it's there. Filed under Inner Peace Moments | Comments (3)

Inner Peace Moment: Sack Lunches

On Friday, I'm leaving for Texas to visit my brother Bill and his family. My brother is a Major in the US Army, and heading back to Iraq for his second tour in January. When I read this...I immediately wanted to share it here. I don't know who wrote this...but, perhaps it will stir some inner peace for you. Enjoy. Sack Lunches I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. "I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap," I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. "Great Lakes Air Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq." After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago , and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard the soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. "No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago." His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. "Take a lunch to all those soldiers." She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. "My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him." Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, "Which do you like best - beef or chicken?" "Chicken," I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of the plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. "This is your thanks." After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. "I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this." He handed me twenty-five dollars. Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, "I want to shake your hand." Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, "I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot." I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm. When we landed in Chicago, I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. "It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You." Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little... "A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America for an amount 'up to and including my life'. That is HONOR, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." Filed under Inner Peace Moments | Comments (5)

Inner Peace: My Favorite!

When I attended Byron Katie's School years ago, I was introduced to the following piece. It's still helpful in creating little "inner peace moments." Hearing this read out loud created quite an impact. However, I'm trusting you'll get the point as poignantly as I did. READ S-L-O-W-L-Y. Below are two excerpts. On from the "life of a dog," and one from a "life of a cat."

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary

Day Number 180 8:00am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 9:30am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 9:40am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE! 10:30am - OH BOY! CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 11:30am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 1:00pm - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE! 4:00pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 5:00pm - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 5:30pm - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Day Number 181 8:00am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 9:30am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 9:40am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE! 10:30am - OH BOY! CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 11:30am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 1:00pm - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE! 4:00pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 5:00pm - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 5:30pm - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Day Number 182 8:00am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 9:30am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 9:40am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE! 10:30am - OH BOY! CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 11:30am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 1:00pm - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE! 1:30pm - oooooooooo, bath. bummer. 4:00pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 5:00pm - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 5:30pm - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Excerpts from a Cat's Diary

Day Number 752 My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me from going insane is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.

Day Number 761 Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair...must try this on their bed.

Day Number 765 Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I'm capable of, and to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was......Hmmmmm. Not working according to plan.

Day Number 768

I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo". What sick minds could invent such a liquid. my only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.

Day Number 771 There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes they call "beer". More importantly, I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies". Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.

Day Number 774 I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured.

But, I can wait -- it is only a matter of time...

Mary's AFTERTHOUGHTS - Does your perspective on life mirror the life of the dog -- or the cat? Interesting how similar events can be comprehended in different ways. It's all a matter of perspective and choice. Imagine embracing each moment, event and person in your life - as "my favorite." It sure beats the internal suffering of the cat's life.

As I was introduced to this at the Byron Katie School for the Work, it became a "favorite" saying...to add "MY FAVORITE" after the tiniest of pleasures. It's also fun to add "MY FAVORITE" to things that aren't necessarily "pleasurable," but happen to be a part of your reality in the moment. These simple two little words bring more joy to what you already love, lighten the everyday occurrence and bring humor to less preferred gifts of life.

A New Blog Post - MY FAVORITE! Hot Tea - MY FAVORITE! Traffic - MY FAVORITE! A Hug - MY FAVORITE! A Phone Call - MY FAVORITE! More Email - Uh...MY FAVORITE! A Personal Tweet - MY SUPER FAVORITE! Yoga - MY FAVORITE! Blue Sky - MY FAVORITE! Lawn Maintenance Noise - MY FAVORITE! (not!) Red Zinfandel with my Vinturi aerator - MY FAVORITE! Anything on the Grill - MY FAVORITE! Clouds - MY FAVORITE Rain - MY FAVORITE! Virus on computer - ooooooh. bummer. Comments on a blog post - MY FAVORITE! An unexpected check in the mail - MY FAVORITE! Blockbuster Online - MY FAVORITE! Snuggling on the couch - MY FAVORITE!

You get the idea...

Have fun with this. It's definitely one of MY FAVORITES!!!

What is among your favorites? Would love to hear your version of "My Favorite."

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Running out of Gas and INNER PEACE

I was running late for an appointment with my new gynecologist for my annual exam. My gas tank was running pretty low, but I thought I could easily make it to the doctor's office. No problem. I made it. After my exam, I realized I had mistakenly grabbed the wrong insurance card. Bummer. If I left immediately, I could zip home AND back - BEFORE the doctor's office closed for the day at 5:30pm. Great! I was up for the challenge. So, off I went...about 15 minutes home. I expeditiously found my insurance card and dashed back out the door. As I drove back, my body was becoming a little more anxious. By now, I *knew* I was cutting it close, as the light on my gas gauge became brighter and brighter red. I pulled up to the doctor's office, parked in front...and dashed inside to complete my transaction. Whew!! Close call. But, I made it! Back in my car, my car started right up and I pondered my next destination. Should I get gas now or pull into the parking lot at Macy's? It was maybe 30 yards away. You see, I needed to pick up some mascara. I consciously checked in with my own "inner guidance" and felt the tug toward Macy's. Seriously! My conscious mind thought "getting gas" seemed like the more pragmatic and superior choice. But I make a practice of honoring my "inner guidance," so I responded accordingly. After all, it felt like a clear "yes." I pulled right into the driveway and parked. A few minutes later, my purchase made, I sat happily back into my car seat. One turn in the ignition -- and NOTHING. My car didn't make a single peep. It was flat out of gas. And, as I was so clearly reminded...cars need gas to operate :-) That was the REALITY of the situation. I immediately thought to call my husband John and share the drama of my situation. But, before I could dial, I came to my senses. What can he do to help 15 minutes away? Sharing this drama was only going to interrupt what he was doing. I could handle this. I talk so much about "inner peace," could I experience "inner peace" now? Suddenly, I surrendered to the reality of the situation and recognized "all was well." "Hello, inner peace." My car simply needed some gas. So, what WERE my options? I stepped out of the car and way on the other side of the mall I could see a Shell gas station. I thought to myself, "Wonderful. It's a warm, balmy evening and now I'll get my exercise in! How perfect is this?!!" I still remember walking across the parking lot, feeling the warm air on my skin, appreciating my walk, appreciating how close the gas station was, embracing every detail around me and within me. There was another blessing waiting at the gas station. They sold gas cans!! Once again, a wave of gratitude perked up my already perky smile. How lucky am I? I filled it up and paid up $12.59. On the journey back, I had to refrain myself from skipping. I felt so much joy inside. As I approached my car, I thought to myself, "Gosh, it would be really great to get some help." Sure enough, the moment I arrived at my car, a clean cut gentleman in a black Mercedes was placing his bags in his trunk. In a heartbeat he offered, "Would you like some help? I'm from Texas." I graciously accepted, which was a very good thing. After quite a bit of fiddling we somehow figured out how to transfer the gas into the car. Then, sure enough, my car started right up. Thanking this gentleman, I offered him a copy of my book, The Power of Inner Choice since he mentioned he was attending a Landmark Forum workshop (a personal development seminar) in the coming week. Yet another magical outcome of this auspicious "magic moment." Who says you can't experience full-on INNER PEACE when one runs out of gas? Filed under Inner Peace Moments | Comments (3)

Inner Peace, Earthquakes and Calming “The Adrenaline Rush”

Yesterday, at 11:42am Pacific time the walls started shaking vigorously. As millions of southern Californians, I wondered what this was about. My first thought was our beloved neighbor. When he runs up and down the stairs, our condo shakes and reverberates throughout. Perhaps it was his washer or dryer going haywire? Could he be blaring his music LOUDLY, once again? Uh, no. This was something more. An earthquake? Uh, maybe so. The last time I was in an earthquake, I lived in a home up Laguna Beach Canyon -- on stilts! I had never seen my roommate RUN so quickly to the front door!! Thus, when the entire room was shaking, I thought to myself, "Maybe I ought to get outside BEFORE the house tumbles as proof it IS an earthquake." I bolted. By the time I got to the bottom of the stairs to meet my husband, the shaking stopped. Whew. As timing would have it, I was scheduled to interview best-selling author Cheryl Richardson at 12 Noon. Over 300 people had pre-registered for the call. There was now less than 15 minutes before the call would begin. Uh, no problem, right? Except my heart was pounding uncontrollably. My inner peace quotient was out of reach. In fact, I felt EXACTLY as I did after climbing a 30 foot trapeze platform. You know that feeling? Okay, so maybe you haven't flown on the flying trapeze yet. But, you know that feeling, where you FEEL okay, but your BODY is sending loud signals that you are NOT okay? Breathing is tight. And, you can't quite shake the pervasive anxiety rushing through your nervous system. I took the advice of the "trapeze instructor" and did a few breathing exercises, to reconnect to my breath. Deep breath IN. Hold 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. Exhale slowing, and drop your shoulders. I repeated this several times. Deep breath IN. Hold 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. Exhale slowing, and drop your shoulders. Deep breath IN. Hold 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. Exhale slowing, and drop your shoulders. Deep breath IN. Hold 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. Exhale slowing, and drop your shoulders. Okay. A little better. It was time to dial into my conference call. Of course, the first time, I received the message, "All circuits are busy." What? Yikes!!! Was I going to be able attend my own live conference call? Gulp. Fortunately, I got on the line on the second try. Whew. As hundreds were assembling on the live call, talks about the earthquake started bubbling. Turns out it was centered in Chino Hills at 5.8!! Hearing this ADDED to my own underlying angst, even though I was trying my best to remain calm, cool and collected. (After all, I am an inner peace coach, right? Uh, yeah.) It was time to start the call. Cheryl Richardson was present and ready. To start the recording, I attempted to patch Audio Acrobat into the bridgeline, as I've done thousands of times. But, because of the earthquake, I was getting static, thrown off the line, and that annoying "all circuits are busy" message. After several attempts, and a note to my Virtual Assistant to record the call for me, I knew I just had to get started. As I came back on the call, Cheryl Richardson asked about the earthquake, realizing it had JUST occurred 15 minutes before our scheduled start time. Grace moved. Cheryl softly said, "I invite everyone on this call to focus on sending Mary peace, and anyone on the call from that area who might feel their adrenaline system got a little tweaked. Let's just send some really calming energy your way." By the time Cheryl finished this sentence, I felt instantly transformed. What is it about RECEIVING loving support from another human being that alters every cell in our body? It's magic. Her calming presence and the supportive energy of my listeners was just what I needed to reconnect with my own sense of inner peace. It's like basking in the warm sun. As I recognized this angst for what it was, an adrenaline rush, it disappeared instantaneously. And, after a deep breath...I stepped into my role as host of "Conversations with the Masters of Coaching," and began the call. All of this occurred in a matter of 30 minutes. From peace, to an adrenaline rush, and back to peace. It really got me thinking about the role adrenaline plays in interfering with our inner peace. And, one of the best remedies of all -- is simply LOVE. You simply MUST let it in. Thank you Cheryl Richardson and all the loving listeners yesterday. I'm so grateful for this "inner peace moment." BTW, if you weren't on the live call, it WAS recorded by one of the angels listening in. Thank you Martha Carnahan! Just follow the link below. I'm still reflecting on all the wisdom and inspiration Cheryl Richardson instilled during this remarkable one-hour interview. http://www.lifecoachmary.com/cherylrichardson1.htm Did YOUR adrenal system get tweaked yesterday by the earthquake? Or has it been tweaked in the past? What do YOU do to return back to inner peace? I would love to hear from you. Filed under Inner Peace Culprits, Inner Peace Moments | Comment (0)

Inner Peace Post-Surgery: Why not?

I had a little surgery today. And... in those first few minutes of consciousness, a wave of gratitude and inner peace overwhelmed my entire nervous system. Almost to the point of tears. All I could think of was capturing this precious slice of life. When was the last time you had one of those moments? Seems like a rather personal share for my second blog post on "Everyday Inner Peace," but I try not to argue with inspiration. And, I am lying flat on my back. What else is a girl to do? Turns out the surgery was VERY worthwhile. I had Stage II Endometriosis, which via laparoscopic surgery, they zapped off. They also removed a polyp and drained a cyst -- creating a much happier environment for a fertilized egg to implant and grow into a baby some day. Very productive day if you ask me! Tummy is a bit sore, mostly from the inside out. Not a good day for a round of sit-ups, or sitting upright. But, all is well. My last moment of consciousness was right after I scooted onto the operating table in the surgery room. Then, POOF! "Lights out." This must be what time travel will be like. Now imagine, I'm in the post-op recovery room lying on the gurney, nestled under a blanket. The IV is dripping. As I "came to" with a fuzzy mind, an automatic flood of emotion had me smiling on the inside AND the outside. The nurses might've thought it was the drugs. Little did they know... I was having an "inner peace moment." You know those moments, where you were simply overwhelmed with gratitude? The kind that has you noticing the tiny details and the every single element leading up to THIS moment? HUGE gratitude. Gratitude for being awake and alive. You know, not everyone IS alive or awake. After being unconscious for 90 minutes, it's nice to come back. Gratitude for the countless hours and years of training my doctor, anesthesiologist and all the nurses put in, so I could have my insides transformed in a matter of minutes. That's a lot of hours of study, late nights and raw experience. Doctors sometimes get a bad rap. We forget all the blood, sweat and tears they invest to provide us with top-notch care. Gratitude for all the colorful scrub tops, and the jazzy head covers all the nurses were wearing. It really does brighten up the post-op experience. Gratitude to witness several nurses smiling and connecting with each other, as they simultaneously cared for me (and the dozens of other patients!) How beautiful to see people authentically "loving" their jobs. That reminded me of just how grateful I am to do what I do...to coach, to support others, to witness non-surgical transformations on a near-daily basis. To inspire a greater sense of "everyday inner peace" in real lives. What a gift. How I wish I was always that connected to the passion I have for my life's work. Great reminder. This triggered memories of the endearing wishes from the participants in my Success and Inner Peace Boot Camp, that flocked my inbox this morning.  Nothing is sweeter than receiving love and support from the "students" I lead.  Perhaps this is what triggered my "gratitude flood." So grateful to have "students," friends and family who care. And, of course... gratitude for my husband John. Wanting his presence by my side. Appreciating his willingness to be there for me, with me. Finding a sense of acceptance that I had to wait an entire 45 minutes before they'd let him in to see me. I even enjoyed the sweetness of THIS longing, since it reflects his importance in my life. Sometimes we forget to appreciate "wanting" as a signal to what's important to us. This flooding in gratitude diffused the burning sensation on the right side of my tender belly. And, a little extra pain medication from the nurse helped too. Who would think...a post-surgery-recovery could become a beautiful inner peace moment? What "inner peace moments" showed up in your life today? Keep an eye out for them. They are precious. And, sometimes they show up in the most unusual places. Filed under Inner Peace Moments | Comment (0)