Gain Time, Focus!

Right now, this very second, right right now, I am practicing the thing I am going to talk about today. It's focus. Focus gets pushed aside in our fast paced world, where it's all about multitasking. I used to be a multi-tasker, and I was good at it, and I was proud of it. I could answer phones while checking people in and ringing up a sale and scheduling an appointment and making copies. I rocked that mess! Now, I am a focus fanatic! You see, in all of the whirlwind of activity, I rarely gave any one project my full attention, or my best. Not because I was lazy, or incompetent, but because it is impossible to give your best to 10 things at once, each thing is only getting the “best I can do under the circumstances”.

Just now, you didn't see it, of course, but just then, I stopped writing to go correct some spelling errors, even though I should just be writing and edit all at once at the end. Focus brokus.

As I was saying, when you do each project, on its own, you can give it all of your love and attention, finish it right and probably faster than you thought. The task itself can be a meditation as you take care to really notice what you are doing and immerse yourself in the experience. Even if it is “just “ washing the dishes. Feel the warm soapy water, take care to get the plates very clean, remember when you got that spoon, oh how nice it is to have so much food to eat that I have so many dishes to wash how grateful am I to know how to cook and have family to cook and eat with me how lovely the glasses look as they air dry the smell of the soap and...oh my! The dishes are done and it only took 5 minutes!

You see, when we lump several small projects into one giant combo-project, it takes us longer to complete the mass than it would to just do them one by one. Example: have you ever rented a movie and kept pausing it to do other things until the hour and forty-five minute movie feels like it is 4 hours long? Then, you re-watch it, just watching it and realize it is pretty well-paced after all.

So, today, try to do your list one at a time, instead of setting up the kids' dentist appointment while you are on your phone at the grocery store. Trust me, if you divide and conquer, you will gain time.

Just One Spaghetti at a Time

Childhood and Labels

Here's a little video encouraging you to take an inventory of who you are, and why?

Childhood Perceptions

 

A Letter to My Body

Dearest Body,

You are such an amazing trooper, I tells ya! You take so much abuse on a daily basis when I accidentally bump into things and walk barefoot on rocks. You have supported my every action in life without question even though I am sure I hurt your feelings with some of the things I've called you. I'm sorry.

You have had my back through thick and thin, quite literally. I have starved you, made you vomit, pinched you, punched you, and banged our head into walls. For this I apologize, I was unaware how to control my hormones then. You have been big, and small, and have run fast and long, and lifted for the sake of lifting, just so I could use you more. Thank you.

I love our walks together, thank you for the sensations you allow me to feel, like the brisk wind, the warm sun, the cool pavement, and even the occasion drop of rain. Skin, you are lovely! Eyes, you are the portal to the world, watching the birds play in the air currents, taking in the sun rise, and the faces of those I love. Ears, you add so much to the picture, the tweets and caws, the whoooshes and wooos, the voices, and rustling in the leaves. Thank you.

Muscles, I am grateful for the strength you've given me to lift my baby and hold him when he was small. You allow me to move through life with ease, lifting boxes, and books, and bags, and more! Tendons, I know you help as well! You are not forgotten, and are equally appreciated. Thank you!

Bones, you are the foundation of this amazing body! Were not for you, I would be a pulsing puddle on the floor, sliding around like a mollusk out of water. Spine, you hold me tall and proud. Skull, you are the home of my amazing and crazy brain! Ribcage, you protect my HEART and lungs! Shoulder blades, and arms, I am grateful for how lovely you can be, yet so strong and nimble, don't even get me started on hands and fingers! Hips and legs, what can I say, you are awesome! We run, jump, climb, walk and squat, all day, every day, you rock! Feet, my beautiful and precious feet and toes, the beginning and end of my connection to earth, so delicate and nimble! Toes to support yoga poses and ballet. Thank you!

To my fat, who I have the hardest relationship with, I do love you, and I am so so sorry for all of the names I've called you. You are there to support me and store fuel, it's not your fault I couldn't control myself at times. I love you, as you are a part of me. You are soft and comforting to babies, you will serve me well when I am hugging my grandchildren someday and they aren't bumping their little heads into fragile old bone. My bosom adds padding for loving embraces, and my behind protects my butt bones when I sit down.  Thank you!

To my cartilage, hair, and nails, thanks for everything you do! I love my nose and ears, and having nails protecting the tips of my feet and hands, and hair keeps my head warm and retains moisture and senses things, like wow!

To all of my internal organs, and external one ;), you are so wonderful, you keep me going, you process everything I do all day, what I take in through my mouth, eyes and ears, you digest even the nastiest things and do your best to suck out something nutritious. Brain, you know...mad love. Heart, what can I say, without you, I would be dead. Lungs, boy howdy have I messed you up over the years. Thank you for your continued strength and amazing ability to bounce back! You truly are Rock Stars.

Body, each of your parts is amazing by itself, and when I get all of you in one place, Me, we become greater than the sum of us all! Again, thank you, thank you, thank you. Now, let's go have some fun today!

Giving and Receiving-Video Blog

Giving and Receiving

Grieving and Moving

In the interest of getting used to being in the house since Kitty's passing I have started rearranging. When you move things, you move energy. Whether you believe in Feng Shui, or not, you know you feel more comfortable in some places than others. Crowded little dusty cluttery places are are not motivating me to work, they are making me lazy! 

The grieving period is still in full effect, I sobbed the first day, removed her things the second. Erasing “cat food & cat litter” from the grocery board was surprisingly hard, it made it seem so permanent. Although, I am almost positive she switched bodies with Puppy when Puppy was so sick...can't prove it yet. 

Little things like putting clothes on the bed and having a thought about Kitty laying on them, she won't. Or doing laundry and throwing things on the bed and wondering if I'll hit Kitty, I won't. I feel like I'm in a good place now. It's an opportunity to live a litter-box free life for the first time in my life (I have always had cat(s), even growing up), and I could finally take the baby gates down that gave her refuge from the Mutt Pack. I have more space. Hooray. 

It's good to mix things up, change your timeline, do something different and see how it affects your day. I have been taking different streets lately, and doing things in a different order, and at new times of day. The computer is back in the library right now, I like to work in here, I feel grounded and inspired. The Living Room is not conducive to thinking. There are too many electronics, and the couch is very low and I have to slump over. In here, I can lean back, lean back, do the Rockaway... 

Will I still cry later, maybe, but I feel that, for once, I faced something immediately, and felt it. It hurt, but I did it. The mystery now is what is bothering my belly? It's been two weeks and I still feel funky. I thought it was stress of sick Puppy, then of departed Kitty...maybe it is. Maybe it's “coming up to come out”. Have a great day, try something new!

Kitty's baby picture: She is between my legs, Selena is in my arms, this was 16+ years ago.  I haven't aged a day. ;)

A Coffee Tale

Freya's Day Video Blog

Good Morning, I am beginning this blog before tasting my first sip of coffee...dun dun dun...the spelling looks good, but my mouth tastes terrible, so it's coffee time! Oh, that's hot, hot and delicious! It's also a story. It's the great story of How Jo Anna Got Extra Coffee for FREE! I was at the TJ's on Gilbert shopping for coffee. I tasted the coffee of the day and decided to buy. I carefully peeled away the silver seal on the canister (extra careful since last time I ripped the tab clear off and had to get creative) and enjoyed the bean aroma as it wafted up to my nose. Then, I stuck my nose in it and sniffed deep. Ah! That's the stuff! I pour my whole beans into the grinder and start the process. Grrrrrrrwmmmmmmmmeeeeeeewrrrrrrr.....goes the machine as ground coffee pour into the container, I tap it down, and move the container, it's getting like really full. I stop the machine and push the coffee in, then some more. I must've been making noise, because an angel came and asked me if I needed help. I told her there was a lot of coffee coming out vs. what I put in. She, being taller than I, peeked inside. “Oh, there's a lot more.” she said. She informed me that what I ground was probably a blend, and I was welcome to start over, I said I like to live on the wild side and I'll take the blend. She emptied the remaining ground coffee into a ziploc, as I turned to walk away, she handed me the baggie, “If you don't mind blends, you can have this, too.” I love my life. 

Horoscopes

I like reading my horoscope. They have always intrigued me, ever since I read my Mom's little pocket astrology books. You know, the ones that used to be by the grocery check out along with “Prevention's Walking Workout” and “25 Great new Corn Recipes”. I read the Horoscopes in Sassy, and Cosmopolitan, and when I felt like splurging I'd get one of those cool monthly scroll specific to my sign, Aries. The scrolls never resonated with me, but I kept on buying them because they looked so cool.

Then, it was Linda Goodman and all of her books that spoke to me, and I poured over them,
reading about my friends and family an they related to their sign. Then, Eastern Astrology appeared in my life, wow. Mind Blown. "The New Astrology" is a great book that combined both Western Zodiac and Eastern Animal sign, I found it to be much more accurate than the one or the other.

Now, I have a magic box that connects me to the whole wide world! I get several horoscopes a day,
liking some, and dismissing others as “For some other Aries.” or, these are only suggestions, not hard
facts. We are human being, we are the “X Factor” in the game of life. At any moment someone,
maybe you, will change their mind about a decision, therefore changing the timeline completely.
Sometimes, I'll do it just to see how differently my day goes if I start by taking a different route to
school, or eating a new food.

It's your life. Take suggestions, and then do what feels right in your heart. It must be right for you,
because you FEEL it so intensely, not because your Horoscope/Mother/Bestie/Boss/etc. Says you
should, or are “supposed” to.

Here's mine from today, two of them, these I like, they speaks to my heart.

Astrology.com says: Hi Jo! Here is your Daily Horoscope for Wednesday, April 23

Set goals today -- you may need to replace a few, as you've had some serious success lately. Now is a
good time to figure out what you want and how to get there. Things are moving along nicely for you!

Astrocenter.com agrees: Your horoscope for April 23, 2014

Congratulations, Jo Anna! A goal you have been working toward for a long time has finally
been reached. Success and advancement are on their way, and you should be feeling extremely enthusiastic and optimistic about your future. Some vast changes may take place in your life, but they all promise to be positive ones. Expect some travel, and a lot of expansion of knowledge. Make the most of these energies.


Kitty and Facebook
And then, there's this from Tarot.com:
 Your world is full of invisible fuses today and you are carrying a lit propane torch. You might be concerned about making it through the day without accidentally setting off an unwanted display of emotional fireworks. A personal meltdown may be inevitable now, so don't waste your energy trying to sidestep the conflict. If you must express your feelings, at least do whatever you can to minimize the collateral damage.

Ha!

"That's Done"

At the end of every TV show produced by Marc Summers, thee is a voice over that states simply, "That's done." That's how I am feeling today as I accomplish many things on my to-do list.  Instead of being overwhelmed, I am allowing myself to enjoy the challenge!

Too often I find my inner voice complaining about the chores of life, yet in reality, it is a blessing to have so much trivial stuff to do.  If you need to put away your clothes, that means you have clothes.  If you need to do dishes, it means you have food,and dishes!  If you need to clean up your living quarters, that means you have a roof over your head.  Gotta get your oil changed?  You have a vehicle!

You see, all chores are the result of having good things in your life.  Think back to when you really wanted that car, or that house, or those shoes, and you were willing to do anything for them, they were the "bees knees".  Now, they are something you curse as you dust, and pick up.  They can be loved again!  Stop looking at them as the enemy and instead be happy you you have them.

Don't pile on duties as though they are obligations.  Remember, you HAVE to do anything.  You can leave your socks on the floor, you can let dishes pile up, and dust accumulate, and then, like the Incredible Hulk, you will one day rise up and clean everything in one day!  Maybe even one hour.  Task by task, or just puttering, and because you are grateful and you WANT to, you will happily declare "That's done!"  as you mow through the heap with happiness.

Great music helps, too.

 

You Be You

Video Blog

Down Day

We all have down days.  Those days when despite the fact that there is nothing "wrong", you feel sad and weepy anyways.  Okay, maybe it's just me.

When faced with a day such as this, you must decide, do I raise my energy level by watching videos of kittens playing in a dandelion patch, or do I vacation in the doldrums?  Both options are valid.

Both are valid.  As an optimist (natural, I don't work on it) I get few opportunities anymore to have a good old fashioned depressed day.  A day of weeping and being wrapped in blankets and tuning out the World as you pick up the pieces of your own Soul.

Sometimes I don't want to be rational and look on the bright side, or know that this too shall pass, silver linings, blah blah blah....I know it's going be okay, but I still want to cry about it.  Crying releases so many things!  It is purifying!  Let the poison go!  I catch myself crying for real and I suck it back in.  I 'll openly weep at TV commercials, but scratch my own soul and I'll never let you see.

Perhaps this is why I have emotional blocks to my ultimate success that my subconscious refused to clear.  MINE.  It is my secret pain, so secret I won't even let myself see it.

Today, I intend to walk to the park and record a lovely hypno session for myself on releasing old pain.  I'll post it here if it is not too personal, then you can use it too.  Until then, I will suck my feelings in deep and wait for the house to empty so I can openly cry about it.  Whatever it is.

Park Walk

Sunny Day

Today my wonderful child is off of school and I get to spend some time with him.  I really don't know how we got so blessed to be his parents, I certainly take no credit for his behavior, but rather give him kudos for putting up with ours!  Soon, he will be 13, and no longer a boy, but a teen.  Scares the breath out of me!

I am grateful that he still likes to hang out with me, he enjoys our walks to school, and when I chaperone field trips, we even have a favorite place to munch on cheese fries and root beer floats.  I always assure him that I will fade into the background when he is ready, but he assures me, he will always have room for mom.

I can't believe I am tearing up right now.  Okay, I can.  If there is one thing that fills me with such love, joy and pride that it overflows my eye sockets, its my family.  Any one of them.  If you get me talking, I'll end up a sentimental blob of red eyes and boogers.  I'm cool with that.  I have great parents, and parents-in-law.  I love my sister and brother and my in-siblings and my nephews.  I love all of the Aunts and Uncles and cousins, law and in-law.  I am so grateful.

I am going to use this feeling of love and gratitude for family to drive my Spirit today.  What drives your spirit?  Please, post!  I love to hear happy things!

Also, this puppy:

Have a great day!
Farmer's Market Friday  Check my video blog!

Funnergetics

Funnergetics is a term I've coined to describe the act of doing things simply to amuse yourself, raising your funnergy level. It is the science of FUN.

Funnergy is what you had when you were a kid and didn't censor or judge your instincts, you played with abandon and amused yourself everyday.  You would collapse into laughter and run around in the wind, do it!

Here is a video I made just playing on my YouCam with various effects

 Funnergetics with FX

Please post your videos and share how you practice the science of Funnergetics.

But, You HAVE to....NO, You Really Don't

How often do you catch yourself saying you "have to" do something?  Probably more than you'd like to.  Guess what, it's a trick.  For starters, you don't HAVE TO do anything.  Sure, every choice has its own special consequences, some good, some bad, some challenging, some delightful, some benign, and some deadly.

For instance, you wake up and your mind starts running with the "have tos", maybe they even woke you up.  Stop.  Do you really HAVE TO do those things, or are a lot of them choices based on personal preference or even old belief patterns?  Do you really have to shave your legs every day even if you wear pants, or do you do it because you CHOOSE TO?  Do you have to prepare an elaborate delicious healthy breakfast for yourself, or do you do it because you WANT TO?  Do you have to go to school to continue your education, or do you GET TO?

Changing those words is a very powerful way to change your perception of your tasks.  Looking at them in a new light of CHOOSE TO, WANT TO, and GET TO, makes them friendly and approachable.  From there, organize them by what is most urgent.  Like going to the bathroom may over-ride paying the bills, and getting dressed will probably happen before you go to work, etc.

You can decide whether you want to go to work/school/meeting/lunch today, it is valid.  You may decide to keep your commitment, or take time for yourself.  Empower yourself to see that you DO have a choice, even if it doesn't seem like it.  If you choose to skip work, you may be fired, or if you miss that lunch you may be hungry, so you choose to go.  You choose, nobody makes you, you don't have to, you are choosing to.  Own it. 

What about SHOULD?

Now is the Time

The moon is waning, and I am feeling that it is finally the time to start releasing my weight. It has protected me during duress and now it can be safely released as I no longer need it. I am safe and I am calm. I am grateful to have access to so much delicious food. I am grateful to have a husband who accepts my body no matter what it looks like right now. I am grateful to have a body that can function and perform all of the things I like to do. I am grateful for my muscles, and tendons, and fat, and skin, and organs, and all of my cells. I am grateful for my continued health and for all of the opportunities I receive every day. I am grateful to have access to a gym, the outdoors, and a yoga studio as well as my own wealth of knowledge on fitness and nutrition.

Having undergone several rounds of hypnosis recently I have been able to do some nurturing on my own self and realized I had been neglecting certain aspects of my being. I am supported spiritually, and mentally, and physically, but my emotional self has been ignored, overlooked because her composure hides her feelings. The truth is, she is sad and lonely. I know, it was a shock to me, too. I am seen as a happy, energetic soul with a huge open heart, surrounded by many friends. That is true, and I am grateful for that! I have been neglecting myself, overshadowing my emotional needs with my need to complete tasks for school, or take care of my family, or do nothing but numb myself so I don't feel the sad loneliness that seems so out of place.

This blog doesn't have a happy ending, this is only the opening sequence up to the inciting incident. The story will unfold over time. Join me on this adventure of self-discovery and I aim to find and hug the sad part of me and allow her to become another happy part! When this occurs I am sure my protective armor of flesh and fat will be metabolized into outstanding awesomeness that I will graciously share with every living creature I meet. Blessings.

Be You B U- Video Blog 

Exercise is Awesome

Had a lovely night last night with new friends and Yoga buddies.  We Yoga-ed by the pool, it was the first time for a couple of our group, but they all loved it!

Physical movement is amazing in it's ability to heal.  Moving our bodies, moves our blood getting vital nutrients to our cells.  It also raises the heart rate making us feel excited and energetic.  The sweat makes us feel a little piggy, but even more triumphant that we were able to squeeze out some old toxins!  I can feel a difference when I stop moving, sluggish, grumpy, surly...hungry, discontent....all those pleasant adjectives.  Moving on the other hand makes me joyful, energetic, loving, nurturing and healthtastic!

It only takes a few days to fall out of a habit, but it only takes a choice to fall back into it.  Whatever it is you love to do, that is the exercise that will work for you!  Skating, biking, running, jogging, walking, skiing, going to the gym, Jazzercise, Bollywood Dance, Zumba, Hot Yoga, Bellydance, basketball, football, soccer, boxing...I can go on and on and on...like dancing in your living room (my favorite), hiking, tennis, badminton, raquetball...you get the idea.  Or, just pretend that Ranchie the Bull is chasing you, aaaaauuuuuuugggghhhhhhhh!!!!

Holostic Practitioner, Heal Thyself!?

At this point I am utterly exhausted.  While my spirits are still high, I wake up with a crick in my back and anxiety in my heart.  Why?  It's my schedule.  I have my clients, I have my family, I have school, and I and I have household chores.  Right now, almost nothing is getting done.  It's all suspended, as I just stare and try to make sense of it all. Give it some order.  Finish everything I started.

This is very common in our society, overloading ourselves so we can achieve faster, better, now.  Is it really worth, does it even work?  Or do you reach the finish line to tired to care?    I woke up early fretting about the future, specifically my responsibilities in the future, and of course, I am awake now.  I am awesome at convincing myself of things! 

So, what can I do to make peace for myself?

First: Breathe

Second: Prioritize

Third: Meditate

Fourth: Just start doing things and suddenly they will be done, one at a time.  Just this.

It's amazing to me how quickly I slip back into the "old thinking" when I am tired or stressed.  It's almost as if my body says, oh well, let's just slide back into our last rut, shall we?  No!

I Can Heal My Life-VideoBlog
Grampa is Locked in the Car!

Pupdate

This morning I got back into bed after checking the time (too early) and was snuggled upon by a cute doggie who feels better.  If you have never been snuggled upon, I will explain.  You are lying there and suddenly, as if out of nowhere, something soft and warm squirms over your shoulder and nestles in the crook of your arm, or on your chest, fully under the blankets.  It is so nice!

Pixie-Doodle is on the mend!  I brought her out with me when I made my coffee, as I was putting grounds in a filter I heard teh faint sounds of a tiny mouth full of sharp teeth just crunching away.  I wondered if it was kitty being dramatic about eating the dogs' food, but no, it was our girl!

I served her some of the high-fat food the Vet prescribed and set out some clean fresh water, as soon as she is eating consistently she will be free of IVs.  Soon, soon....Now, she is snuggled against my back as I type.  It's a good thing when I am running down the hall to put up a baby gate to keep her out of rooms instead of securing them to keep her in.  :)  Owls Well.

She also needs new parvo-free toys to chew on, it will be fun to buy those. Thank you for owl of your prayers and well wishes.  

 

Good Morning- VideoBlog

The Pups and Downs of Life

This is an excellent time for me to begin posting some Owls Well Moments, as it feels that right now, very little is well.  Our dear puppy came down with Parvo and we have been nursing her for days now.  She is pulling through and we are doing all we can.  Meanwhile, sleep deprived, we wander about the house sad, scared and snapping at each other.  I really never wanted to poke my dog with a needle in order to force fluids under her skin.  I promise.

Meanwhile, we are also dealing with the life occurrence I call "Friend Shifting".  That moment when you realize that even though you have a great history, your present and future no longer align. It happens at many points in our lives, like right after High School, or College, or when a friend gets married or has a baby, or you do.  It is not a bad thing, it is just uncomfortable and a little painful in the adjustment period.

And then, there's me, sitting here and writing, finally writing, it took all of this pressure to squeeze words out of my hands!  That is the silver lining as I see it.  All these things are happening and my head is overflowing with sentences, I may as well put them here and get on with life!

Life is ever changing, and we can sit there and try to control things, or we can do our best in the moment to make them as pleasant as possible.  Puppy won't even remember being sick once she's better.  She'll just start stealing shoes and biting faces.  I am the same way.  I will agonize and sweat and stress and then when it's over, I wonder why I was so worked up.  There are going to be all sorts of things that pop up in life and I need to roll with them, or collect moss.

Here are some of my favorite coping mechanisms: going for a walk outside, dance break, primal scream, shake it off w/ audible exhale, movie I've seen 100 times, talk with a friend, have a drink, have a smoke, eat something comforting, write about it, meditate, take a nap, go to the mall and just watch people, take a drive w/ good music, go watch the mice at PetCo., hanging out with my kid and seeing things from his perspective.  Then, I get over it, I let it go.  One of the most annoying things about being an optimist is that I miss having a good depressed FUNK.  The thing is, those are times for recharge and reboot and introspection.  Use them. Sometimes I wallow, but I don't get stuck!

 So, bottom line, life is a highway, or a roller-coaster, or a track meet, or a chess match, or a poorly directed silent movie, or whatever metaphor suits yours right now.  It is a living thing, it's LIFE, live it!  Enjoy the ups, hang on during the downs and be excited to find out how this will all play out.  One way or another, this situation will come to an end and let you rest just long enough to recover before the next big event.  Or not...;) 

 

The Pups and Downs of the Day- VideoBlog