Mileage Metaphor

Typically my worst mile in running is my first and depending on the length of the run the last. Which pretty much sums up everything I take on! Getting started with a project or anything new requires a great deal of discipline. The thought of daunting tasks are sometimes too much to bear so we/I procrastinate. Procrastinating is just like those annoying leg cramps in the first mile you either succumb and walk or work through it and complete the goal.

After Getting through the first mile you gain momentum and a rhythm and all goes along well. Until the tedium and length weighs you down, and you quit or stall. This is when training and experience will get you through to the end.

Completing tasks requires practice just as long distance running does. So train the same way. Start with low mileage/or small projects and build up until you can complete your marathon…

My brain is running wild today!

Ginnie

Exiting The Fast Lane…

We’re all suffering from “chronic busy” and we need to exit the fast lane before we crash and burn!

Summers used to be fun! The pace of life slowed down. We were outdoors from 8am–8pm. There were bikes to ride, places to hide, homemade popsicle to eat, and stars to gaze at. I’m not just waxing nostalgia, I’m trying to figure out what the heck happened! Is it I just got older? That’s true, and times have changed. Now we’re inconvenienced with conveniences. iPods, computers, phones, video games, even cars, have taken us further from nature – From our source.

I for one will be trying to reconnect with some of the above this weekend. The only danger is I might create an itinerary for relaxing and getting back to nature! So to quote Bruce Lee “Be like water.” I will attempt going with the flow. I hope you’ll try do the same.

Exiting…

Ginnie

Oh, That’s Where…

It amazes me when the spirit and the person finally link up – I believe these are what Oprah refers to as “Ah-ha moments.” I experienced one of those yesterday. Ironically not in deep thought or meditation but, after arguing with the Sync System on my Ford Focus. When I finished shouting (which doesn’t work with computers, another Ah-ha moment) and settled back into driving I thought about the previous weekend. How I enjoyed Carolyn Myss, and how amazed I was to find out that she discovered spirituality at age eight. Then I recalled cleaning my closets and all the pictures, letters, and journals I revisited. Then it hit me (not another car) My Ah-ha!

Joyce Amaral, at a retreat sometime in the early 70’s she started me on my path to spirituality! Although Joyce was extremely devote (she became a nun) it was her spirit and her light that attracted me to the bigger picture – to seek my soul’s purpose.

Sadly Joyce died of Leukemia at a very young age, and I didn’t stay the straight and narrow Roman Catholic course. Eventually I was drawn to the Eastern philosophies and found they were a better fit for my soul’s curriculum. However I shall always be grateful to Joyce, for starting me on my path and I’m excited to finally realize where my souls searching began…

FYI the Sync is still out of Sync in a Focus of all things! How’s that for ironies!

Ginnie

Whispers…

I know some of you are going to think I’m crazy — I’m not. You may have had a few of these experiences. You just don’t recognize them as I do. I get intuitive whispers and I believe they are from family members who’ve passed…

Today for instance: As I approached an exit from a parking lot, I heard in my head “move way right.” This was a two lane exit. I pulled over almost into the right turn lane. A few seconds later, a car sped into the lot on two wheels missing me by a foot. I would have been hit if I was where I should have been.

Coincidence? — Maybe, I like to think it was dad helping me from the other side. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened, just the most recent. It is my belief we all have spirits looking after us. We just need to listen closely tho their whispers…

Peace,

Ginnie

Caretakers …

There has been a major shock in my professional circle… The kind of news that shakes you to your core — Makes you reevaluate who you are, and ultimately makes you choose to either do something or do nothing…

I’ve chosen to do something, starting with this blog post. We all need to become ADVOCATES for those who are dependent on us to care for them. More importantly to keep them safe… In these next few weeks I will be exploring ways that I can educate myself, and my staff and maybe even a few of you on Preventing Abuse of all types.

We need to come together as a community to protect those who can’t protect themselves. This past weekend a friend told me about a recent hike, where she witnessed three bucks protecting a fawn from a coyote. The bucks surrounded the fawn. Isn’t this the least we can do to protect our young?

Ginnie

Harsh Realities…

I’ve had a lot of difficult news to absorb in the past thirty-six hours. The problem is this type of news happens everyday. I’ve listened to and read about, child abuse, and molestation, suicide, alcoholism, health disorders, emotional outbursts and heartache! These are the harsh realities of the world we live in…

The flip side is, we have a choice on how we process this “reality”. Do we allow ourselves to spiral into a deep hole of despair or choose a better way? A way in which we turn hopeless into helpful. We need to use our inner resources to come up with ways to mentor, comfort, raise awareness and funds to combat these horrific issues.

We need to face our own demons and learn to love ourselves. Then we can move forward to help others, and become part of solutions rather than the cover ups…

Blessings,

Ginnie

Fallen Idols

I was informed today of a recent suicide. The person who called me said, “I’m in shock, he had everything.” “Why would he do this?” How often have we heard these very words, when someone who is thought to be an icon in the public eye, does something we believe is out of character? The truer question, out of character for whom the icon or the person?

My dear Portuguese grandmother used to say ,”What’s for you is for no one else.” Truer words were never spoken. In this world of Idols, American and otherwise, we spend too much time with the persona. Not enough time with the PERSON! So many of us are looking to sports, entertainment and personal heroes to idolize, we forget to realize they are human. While its okay to appreciate, talent, accomplishments and good works of people. We can’t lose sight that they are still people, struggling to find themselves in the world.

We need to look inward to the God within us, and revere that part of us and that part in others. This way we don’t end up idolizing false gods and being shocked when we find out they were human after all…

Namaste,

Ginnie

Focused Intention…

I love things that I can focus my intention on, especially things that may appear simple to the untrained. Two examples are drawing a sword in Iado practice and swinging a golf club. I’ve attempted both. I say attempted because I’ve yet to even gain novice status at either. Both are extremely frustrating and calming at the same time. This sounds paradoxical I know, but unless you’ve attempted either it is impossible to describe any other way.

At the driving range today I practiced my swing with focused intention trying to coordinate my breath and my movement with the outcome. Needless to say I had only two very good swings (as related to the outcome), but the exercise was very zen.

Is it any wonder the samurai practiced archery, sword, and calligraphy. It makes me wonder if they would have enjoyed a round of golf?

Ginnie

Last Word…

As I’m writing this there is a thunderstorm passing through with torrential rains. This whole scene reminds me once again, we (people) don’t have the last word. That’s left up to the universe and in this case Mother Nature!

It doesn’t matter how much technology we’ve developed or how much wealth we’ve obtained or any of the discoveries we’ve uncovered. We don’t control our ultimate destiny , death…

Ultimately I wouldn’t want control of all that,nor would I want anyone else to have it. Life should be a mystery and we should let go of our egos and be humbled by the universe. Otherwise life would be rather dull, imagine never being caught in the rain?

Ginnie

Getting To Know You…

We spend so much time building relationships, yet we rarely take the time to get to know ourselves. I don’t mean knowing the image you created; A martial artist, teacher, former nurse, armature photographer, runner, Aries… The list of descriptions of what we do and have, are not who we ARE!

I’m talking about the soul of the 55-year-old martial art master. Who is she? Who are you? Each of us needs to spend time with ourselves listening to our hopes and dreams. Finding ways to nurture and love our soul-selves. Pushing that soul to its fullest potential! Seeking new ways to learn and to serve…

The only way I’ve been able to do this is through meditation. The spirit speaks softly and requires our full attention, and a quiet mind. Have you ever seen your reflection on a still pond? How about a rough sea? Sit quietly and breathe, be patient and be committed. You may just meet your next best friend, You…

Ginnie