holidays

hey so i am in st. louis... today it is in the 60 and raining... i am ill...

so it is interesting to try to maintain health when everyone is sick around you... and it is interesting to decide what of your routine is important and what can fall away... i fear that too much fell away... and that is one reason i am feeling this way... but it is a good question in general

life in a society is full of compromises... which ones are healthy which are not?

i think it is a process of trial and error... for instance, the next time i travel, i am goin to bring more of the things that are staples to my morning routine... my spices and herbs... this time i brought my herbs but not my spices... since food is the fastest way to fall or excell, i will consentrate my efforts on food... this time i consentrated on herbs and practice... this is a mistake; because although those are important, herbs are maintainers whereas food in the big important thing...

today i made sweet potatoe and taro dish with risotto rice and coconut sauce... yummy... i am looking forward to eating dinner... and i am feeling a lot better than yesterday...

life is a funny thing... in general... there is a major distinction between when a person is being selfish and when a person is doing what is best for themself. when a person is doind what is right for themself it is a giving thing... because they are present for the other people... when people are being selfish they are not present for those around them... they cannot see beyond themself...

this is a thing to consider when lookingat your own practice...

add life to your years.... rather than years to your life

good morning

so this morning marks the last week of the semester... and a week before i return to st. louis...

i have to say that i really started feeling the holiday bug and I am really looking forward to seeing everyone... especially, i hope i don't hurt anyone's feelings... but especially my little claire...

there is a gentle snow coming down and it is quite a sight to behold...

i would like to wish every one warm wished and happiness...

sanskrit exam today

finals are here...

this is my sanskrit final verse...

i don't have a sanskrit font, so here is the transliteration with english:

mano vie gaganakaram
mano vie sarvatomukham
mano, teetam
manaha sarvam
na
manaha paramaathataha

Truly the mind is like space; it seems to face in all directions, it seems to transcend everything, it seems to be everything; but in reality the mind does not exist.

and this is a quote that i love:
"to sit with a nice girl for two hours feels like a minute; but to sit on a hot stove for one minute feels like two hours. That's relativity.' albert einstein

I've been away...

Wow... I have to begin by saying that the time since mid terms has flown by... between thanksgiving and finals... i am swamped...

i thought i might let people know what is going on in the real life a little bit.

I went to Tuscon to see my very good friend, Candace... and it was really nice to be there and make jewelry with her son, Preston... some of you received a picture... We visited the san xavier mission... very nice, very relaxing... and what a drive... it was some of the most extraordinary scenery ever changing... very highly recommended.

I have my first show! jewlery show a week from saturday... i am hoping that is goes well and that i can make a lot of stuff by then... I am also communicating with people down here who are interested in the work for spring... :) yippee!

My sanskrit final is monday... yikes
and the big finals are a week from tuesday and a week from wednesday.

wish me luck...

i will be in st. louis and washington DC over the holidays. and i CANT WAIT TO SEE CLAIRE... and of course every one that i am able to see.

I think if i were to summerize how i feel and what i am learning... it would be this...

Be aware of as much as you can... When you hear a song, how does it feel in your body? Does you heart rate change, does your breathing change. When you eat, how does it taste, what does it do in your body, how do you feel afterward? When you are with people, friends, family, work associates, how do they resonate within you, how do you feel? How do you feel after they leave? Does you heart rate change, your breathing. We have a choice what our life looks like and how it affects us. Be Aware... and make a choice in perception or company or food or movies. Purposely fill you life with the things that you want in your life.