With Awareness Comes Choice

  Sitting on a plane having just left Miami where I delivered a leadership workshop to approximately thirty sports based youth development coaches, I look out my window and begin to reflect.  I reflect on the day, the week and yes, even this past year. Low oxygen and being away from my puppy for over a week gets me in these sappy states! The experience I had with this amazing group of people who have dedicated this stage of their life to helping youth from all backgrounds realize their human potential through the medium of sports leaves me filled with joy, love and a sense of pride in the work that I have done for so many years and for the new work I am blessed to do at this juncture. The two organizations I represented have been integral parts of a powerful non-profit movement that serve youth from across the United States for a combined twenty plus years.  Reflecting on that reality leaves me humbled and grateful to be part of such a movement. But that was just my mor...

Thanks to Neil Diamond, performer extraordinaire, I felt inspired to use this simple title after such a long time away.  So, hello again, hello .  Hello, my friends, hello. Go ahead, click on the  link, I won't tell.  And to those of you who saw my Facebook post about going to see him in concert last week, he didn't disappoint.  Just sayin.... I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to write about, but knew I wanted to write.  I have missed it.  I have missed you.  Therefore, in keeping with the title, I shall just update you on my life since our last correspondence.  Consider this my handwritten letter to you, my friends.       It took about three weeks to fully recover from India.  Seriously, I'm sensitive.  That left me about one week to wrap my brain and gut around the idea that I was leaving again, for Spain.  This was a trip I had purchased over three years ago at a silent auction from Burke and ...

I have to be honest, part of what I have loved about this blogging experience is the exploration of words.  While I still enjoy throwing a word or two out there that may or may not fit the bill, I have also become more mindful of the true meanings of a word before I gently place it into my ramblings.  If you consider the fact that different sources may have slightly different definitions and that we, as the funny little creatures that we are, have our own spin, this English language becomes much more complicated than you can imagine!  Having said that, I am firmly rooted in my belief that clear communication can lead to world peace, but that post is for another time. Pretty advanced thinking, yes? I guess it depends on how you define advanced.  At this point, you are probably once again asking yourself "where is she going with this?"  In fact, there is a really good chance that question comes up every time I open my mouth or put something in print. I'm okay w...

Although it seems like eons ago, I have found myself thinking about what it was like to attend professional development gigs during the last few years of my career.  My standard response when asked about a conference or workshop I attended would be "you know, I don't always learn something new, but I always walk away either having something old brought to the forefront of my brain or being re-energized about my job.  And occasionally, I learn something new." Before I tie this to my India experience, let me explain my position. I so don't think I know it all, far from it.  However, after 22 years in my field(s), it was sometimes hard to run across something new, so I always relied on the fact that I would gain something important, no matter what. My experience in India provided both opportunities.  Tantric philosophy, Vinyasa Flow and Indian culture were new, while looking inward at my life; my relationship to self, others and the universe was in many ways like...

Tomorrow is the 19th day of my Sacred Lasya yoga training in Kerala, India.  With everything that I have experienced thus far, I am amazed I have not posted a piece a day; alas, I seem to have writer's block!  On one level it is frustrating because I had hoped to share my experience as it was unfolding, but on another level, it is what it is.  For those of you who have been anticipating my witty banter and sage wisdom, my humblest apologies.  To those of you who have never experienced my posts as witty or wise ....we will talk when I return. Speaking of talking, in 9 hours we will begin three days of silence.  During this time we have been charged to have our own vision quest type of experience.  The only thing that is mandatory is three hours of asana/meditation practice each day.  Other than that, it is up to us.  I would love to share what I am going to do, but I still don't know.  I imagine one day will include several hours of sustain...

the real story Good day to you all and by the way, Happy St.Patrick's Day! I have been waiting for so long to have the opportunity to tell you the "real story" about mom's adventures.  First of all, however, for those of you that don't like it when we dogs refer to our owners as "mom," get over it.  I mean, you are reading a post written by a dog.  What does that say about you? If you know mom, you obviously know where I get my sense of humor and sarcasm, so sit back, relax and enjoy the post.  Seriously, that's all you can really every do, regardless of the author.  She asked me to give folks a little preview into this upcoming trip as her most recent inquiries make it quite obvious that no one really knows what the hell she is doing...present company included. Fortunately, this gives me a very unique perspective. Let me start off by saying two things; I'm glad she isn't going back to Arizona and I'm glad she isn't taking me with ...