In the Body or On the Train?

How much time do you spend IN your body? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself lately.

To me, “in the body” means that I am present and in the moment. I am here. Aware. Feeling my feelings. Listening, not just with my ears, but my whole self.

When I am in this place, I feel very alive. I actually love myself and am more likely to nurture myself. I am more likely to give myself what I need, whether that would be exercise or eating well or listening to music or dancing. Or, in the fast pace of my day, by taking a moment and calming down and simply closing my eyes and deepening my breath. More becomes available to me in these moments. I open to greater truths. I open to see a bigger picture. I open to my own experience. I am present.

Being in my body really is that powerful.

So what keeps that from being the normal state I exist in? Why can’t I live so comfortably in my vessel day in and day out? In theory it seems so simple. Yet, it eludes me. I find myself in my body, only to be whisked away on the very next train that goes through my brain. Snagged by one little thought that grabs my attention and then pulls me on board. It seems I am much more comfortable there, in my head. And I am sad about that. I miss out on much of my life by being stuck there. I often feel separate and alone. I disengage from self and get caught up instead in the drama of life, my own and others. I find myself constantly seeking something from outside of me, convinced that I don’t have what I need, and so therefore must get it from somewhere else. Along with this comes fear, urgency, desperation, pain, control, stress and other undesirables. I eventually find myself saying, “there’s got to be a better way to live”.

And there is. However, to get there, I realize that I am going to need to give up some things. Namely, my “need” to escape. See, that’s what I believe that thought train is about for me. I convince myself that it will take me somewhere better than where I am now. The judgment I hold seems to be that this moment is not good enough. The belief is that anywhere else is better. And underneath all that, I sense lays something much more revealing perhaps – a belief that I am not good enough, whole enough, loved enough. No wonder I often don’t want to be “here”.

In some ways the thought train is little different than taking a drug. It is an addiction used for many of the same reasons. It’s a promise of something greater yet very, very seldom delivers.

I am writing about this because this is something I struggle with daily – to be present and in my body. It seems to be key to my living a joyful, fulfilled life full of healthy relationships. I believe it is also key to finding a quiet peace cradled in the knowing of the whole, enough, spiritual being I am.

Convention Speeches

Wow! I don’t know about you, but I am a little worried about this presidential election. What I’ve seen at the conventions hasn’t inspired me much. Oh, the speeches were great. Some the best speech writing I’ve seen in a while, but come on. Do you believe any of it? I guess I’m jaded. I simply don’t trust them, any of them. I wish I did. I wish that I could hear all those grand things they were saying and believe any of it.

I mean, for crying out loud, McCain is campaigning with a message that he and Palin will bring change to Washington. Real change. That’s way too much of a stretch for me. When Ron Paul says that I have no problem believing. I don’t back Paul on everything he stands for, but I have no doubt in my mind that he would take the lead on real change, no… actually, REFORM! I trust that. I do not trust McCain changing much of anything, except that he picked a woman for a running mate. I don’t know about you, but I want a lot more change than that.

And what’s up with them using speech writers. Can you imagine if they all had to write their own speeches. I mean from the ground up. The whole thing. If they weren’t good at speaking, that would tell me something about them. Are they intelligent? Can they put words together that express a clear thought or course of action? Or do they stutter their way through it. It seems to me that I would be able to watch and listen and see the real man/woman behind the words. Chances are I would learn more about them by observing them in this way then actually concentrating on where they stand on a particular issue. You know what I mean? You know how you can actually intuit on where someone is at by watching their body language and their eyes and other characteristics? It’s like you are listening with more than your ears. You are hearing what they are not saying. You can read their level of comfort that they have in their own skin. You can get a read on whether they actually believe what they are saying.

When someone else writes their speech for them though, they are more likely to take on a posture that is not authentic and then much becomes hidden. They can rehearse and then bend themselves to fit around the authors words. They can package themselves in a manner that sells the golden words eloquently written. And we, the consumer-minded public, will most likely line up to gladly purchase what’s for sale. Unfortunately.

I hope we find a better way someday. I hope that people begin to demand a more real, truth-telling style of leadership. And how could that happen? Well, not by waiting until the end of a leaders term and then consider impeachment, but rather by demanding a more truthful campaign. One where they are required to use their own words and then be held accountable when their actions do not match up.

Beautiful Film

I love these short films that come around every now and then that pack some punch.  This one speaks right to the heart and seems to have a good message or two in it.  What do you get from it?  I’d like to hear from you.

Rhythm in Relationship

I for one can proclaim that rhythm is saturated all through relationship. It demands that we show up and engage with it, less we be out of sync and then deal with the chaos that will surely ensue.

But how, how do we do this? The answer isn’t complicated.

You just have to practice the dance. It starts by getting in the body.  If you are not present with yourself, you will not be for anyone else either.

Show up and be willing to move. Loosen the postured stance you have and begin to succumb to your body’s impulses which lay underneath.

Allow them to surface.
Offer them expression by simply beginning to rock back and forth.
Breathe.
And again.

Drop your consciousness down your spine.
Then let it go.

Feel the sound all around you.
Let it penetrate.
Let it move you.
Let it go.

Give yourself the gift of your own presence.
Allow your body to tell it’s story.
Move with it.

Breathe your thoughts.
Don’t fight them.
See them dancing all around you
And then off they go.

Feel the dance dancing you.
All else is but a blur.

FEEL IT!
EXPRESS YOURSELF!
NOW IS ALL THERE IS!

An Olympic Event

What a great Olympics. Even I had to put some of my political judgments aside (believe me, I have them), but it was worth it. While I didn’t watch all of it, the parts I saw were captivating.

What great human spirit is in these games. Behind all the announcer talk and commercialism and political stuff, behind all the gold, silver, and bronze, lays the pure energy of human spirit. Giving it all. Putting all of who they are into those few seconds, or minutes. Pouring all of themselves into that one brief moment, to do what they trained themselves to do.

Amazing. I stand in awe of these true world-class athletes who showed up in China to give from that undeniable place of soul!

I witnessed incredible triumph:

Wonderful creativity:

Beautiful celebrations

Extreme fitness

Personal success

and the agony of defeat

See these photos larger (and many more) at one of my favorite blogs on the net – THE BIG PICTURE. They have brought the old style “Life Magazine” back to life on the internet. Great photojournalism done in a very clever way. READ WHAT THE AUTHOR HAS TO SAY about his blog.

To Live as an Adult

I recently came across this great quote that really nails a huge part of what it is to live as an adult. By “live as an adult”, I mean to BE an adult. It’s not something that comes simply with age. If that were only true. No. Living as an adult is so much more than how many birthdays you’ve had.

This quote came from Barry Lopez in “ARTIC DREAMS” . Here it is:

“How is one to live a moral and compassionate existence when one is fully aware of the blood, the horror inherent in life, when one finds darkness not only in one’s culture, but within one’s self. If there is a stage at which an individual life truly becomes adult, it must be when one grasps the irony of its unfolding and accepts responsibility for a life lived in the midst of such paradox”.

Then he goes on talking about the idea of “making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light”.

This is good stuff. It helps me by offering new perspective about the maturing process. Something I’m quite interested in. I write more about this subject in my post called Chasing Thoughts.

86 Wives

That’s right. You heard me. 86 of them. Wow!

I saw this story in BBC News. This Nigerian man is being threatened with his own death for taking on 86 wives. Now I don’t know about you, but it seems like he should be getting some kind of trophy or something. How does he do it? I can’t imagine. Or at least I don’t want to.

Mr Bello Abubakar is being told by Nigerian Islamic authorities that he has to choose only 4 wives and repent within 3 days or face execution. Apparently this is “legal” under Sharia Law – the legal framework within which the public and private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on Islamic principles (Wikipedia). But Bello is fighting it. According to BBC News, he says there is no punishment stated in the Koran for having more than four wives.

Bello also advises other men not to follow his example (no worries bro). He says, “A man with 10 wives would collapse and die, but my own power is given by Allah. That is why I have been able to control 86 of them”.

Control 86 of them?  Crap, I can’t even control one of them.

If all that wasn’t crazy enough, this “gifted” man also has 170 children. When asked about that he says that he is able to cope only with the help of God.

Now I don’t know what you believe, but that’s some powerful mojo he’s dealing with. 86 wives all going through their cycles together and wanting attention. Then add to that 170 kids with needs. Damm, that death thing all of a sudden doesn’t sound so bad.

I wonder what it’s like around his house on any given day.

Beautiful Voice

This guy is incredible. He is a cell phone salesman who says he’s always had a confidence problem. And the whole time he’s been keeping his voice to himself. Until now…

His name is Paul Potts and he is fast becoming a world-wide sensation singing opera to packed theaters.  This short video shows him being “discovered” on the British equivalent of American Idol.

What a great reminder to share the talent and gifts I have.

Beach Business Trip

Whew! What a relief. Spent a couple hours today editing and publishing some photos from the recent business trip to the beach. Yeah, you heard me. A business trip to the beach, to DJ a wedding on the beach. What great fun. My wife and I loaded up the equipment and headed south for Mexico Beach in the panhandle of Florida. Spent a few glorious days in breezy, sun, salt drenched air and loved every minute of it.

I hope these photos convey some of the beauty that saturated my senses and calmed my restless spirit. SEE THE SHOW.

Symbiosis

Treat yourself to this beautiful, stunning, and sensual performance by Pilobolus. I had seen one of their shadow performances before on youtube and it was amazing, however this one captivated me from the start of it. It spoke to me at a soul level. It captures the beauty of the human form, the flow of relationship, the essence of spirit. Enjoy!