Buddha v. Dad

I'm officially in count-down mode. This time next week, I'll be home! .... and I'm so freakin' excited, I simply can't stand it. Mississippi is calling my name (my double name, of course...).

Admittedly, If I were not a complete miser and were willing to dish out 'even more' money to Qantas to bump my flight up, I'd be coming home today. But, alas, I'm a cheapskate and am happy (ier) wasting time until 11:00 a.m. rolls around next Sunday....

So, I'm in Brisbane now with with my official pen-pal. Who has pen pals these days? I do. "Old school & Proud" should be my motto. Rebecca & I lived together for only about 6 months in 2005 in Melbourne. She is one of the best roommates I've ever had. We became fast friends and life was good.  After all these years, despite the international-ness of our friendship, we have managed to stay very close. I've spent Christmas with her family in New Zealand, ended up in Brisbane with her after her 2 years in Tonga with VIDA and we've written letters to each other for more than 5 years! I feel like we've barely been apart. We hardly ever talk, ever email, only letters. I love it.


Plus, as if I needed even MORE alone time, I've somehow come to the decision that I should spend this week at a Buddhist Retreat. This is interesting given that I've spent the last 6 months in a near silent mode with plenty of reflection and getting-to-know-my-soul-time. What am I thinking???
However, this place comes highly recommended to me and I'm very curious, so I decided to make the plunge. I've never really done the 'meditation thing' except for several weeks at an ashram in India. Meditation was not my goal there (doing medical work was) but indirectly I was brought into the folds of the place and the next thing I know I'm in silence, eating only vego food and dressed in white! Interesting times....

Anyways, I'm sure my time at the Buddhist retreat will be great and just as memorable as my last. My protestant-loving-bible-belt-thinking-Dad naively told me to tell Buddha Hi. weirdo. ha

Here's to even more centering...

 

If I was a....

If I was a month, I’d be April.

If I was a day of the week, I’d be Tuesday.

If I was a planet, I’d be undiscovered.

If I was a sea animal, I’d be a turtle.

If I was a direction, I’d be due North.

If I was a piece of furniture, I’d be a secretary.

If I was a liquid, I’d be glue.

If I was a gemstone, I’d be in a showcase.

If I was a tree, I’d be a weeping willow.

If I was a tool, I’d be a sander.

If I was a flower, I’d be baby’s breath.

If I was a kind of weather, I’d be warm and breezy.

If I was a musical instrument, I’d be a harp.

If I was a color, I’d be mustard yellow.

If I was an emotion, I’d be security.

If I was a fruit, I’d be a Fuji red apple

If I was a sound, I’d be rustling leaves.

If I was an element, I’d be wind.

If I was a car, I’d be a 70’s volkswagon camper.

If I was a food, I’d be farm fresh, in season and organic.

If I was a place, I’d be a hidden valley in the mountains.

If I was a material, I’d be chenille.

If I was a taste, I’d be unforgettable.

If I was a scent, I’d be moss.

If I was a meal, the first of the day.

If I was a game, I’d be tic-tac-toe.

If I was a food, I’d be comfort.

photo credit: 12345

My Own Stitching

After being inspired by this work, I decided to try my own stitching. Now officially in party planning mode, I've stitched this onto an invitation, emailed it around the world & Mom is now printing it out and mailing it for me. (Did you know that the Postal Service in Australia is a private business? ... thus, postage is more expensive than at home (where it is government run)! Mailing a plain-old-letter to the US is $1.20 or $2.10 and one in Australia is 55 cents, I forgot...either way, pretty dear in my opinion. What does postage cost now in the US?)

Elizabeth & Benjamin, I hope you like!

Is this correct?

After making a purchase yesterday of a beautiful watercolor named "Bush Lady", I was forced to fill out this paper upon checkout. After a few attempts of explaining to the nice lady that truly I had no address, she took the paper from me and wrote this....

Community Life. Imanpa.

New Music: Elephant Revival

Elephant Revival

Love, Love, Love their style. Easy, Beautiful.

While you're reading this, listen to them!

(Deb, you'll love this!)

To sum them up, they say it best on their site:

In performance, Elephant Revival reveals hidden treasures deep within a vast repertoire of original material and a few carefully selected traditionals. In one show, the quintet can be seen delving into Scottish/Celtic fiddle tunes, original folk pieces, traditional ballads, psychedelic country, indie rock, powerful reggae grooves, 40s/50s jazz standards and an occasional hip-hop beat amongst other styles.

Aside from the fact that they have a beautiful sound, they tour in a vegetable oil powered 1989 International School Bus! (cool as....) They're on tour now; Unfortunately NO where near me!

April Review: Mighty Goals

pardon the indulgence.....

I’m a planner. This I cannot change. In many ways it is good: I’m the most efficient multi-tasker I know, I process a large amount of ideas into realistic, concerted goals, I am 100% reliable – If I say I will do it, I will, and I make a lot happen in many areas of my life giving me a lot of ‘ticks’ in my own prescribed boxes.


This, however, does not come without a few negatives: I can be annoying as hell when I’ve got a plan in my mind. Come hell or high water, I’m going to make it happen. My father can attest to this on our ‘free’ weekends together – I have him up at the crack of dawn, building, digging, making, or loading, depending on my imposed agenda for the day. That, or I sent him ‘to do’ lists (for me) electronically while I’m away.

Furthermore, I can easily zone out into my own world, ignoring the conversations or needs of those around me. Then, I can get really, really grumpy when something interferes with my flow or my agenda. I’d like to say I’m easy-going (and if I’m not on a mission, I am), but I’ll probably be short and snappy, especially if I have a deadline.

***

I say all this as part of a recent “1/3 year reflection session” I had with myself. As I discussed in a past blog post, I spent a big chunk of time this past New Years preparing for my year ahead. I diligently mapped out a large scale plan with 3-4 goals in 10 areas of my life : Work, Helping Others, Producing Creativity, Health & Fitness, etc. … Calling these my 'Mighty Goals'.

I used this template to help me.

As part of the large goal, I set aside Review Sessions in April and August to help me stay on track. (And secretly, I’ve been eagerly waiting for this to happen) I’m happy to report that I’m meeting/exceeding a majority of my goals. Things like: buy a farm, complete a Sprint Triathalon, attend an outdoor music festival will have to wait until I emerge from “the bush”!

In case any of you are as nerdy as me in your self-progress (i.e. having an Excel spreadsheet!), I highly encourage you to also take the time to outline your goals & know yourself more. Oprah says this is the what makes a person successful. (And if Oprah says it….!)

I’m happy to share with anyone interested any of the ways that work for me. This can be my financial spreadsheets tracking debt and savings, Life goal outlines, Mind Maps, Lists that I keep posted on visions, pipe-dreams, life achievements and partner qualities…as well as just my mindset. I’ve found that it’s an extremely personal journey of owning and defining one’s own life, but I’m happy to share! As well as….please share your own methods with me. I’m always open to new ideas.

Another bit from my NYears 2010:

What I commit to myself:

Just be Stephanie Jane.

Ask for What I want.

Trust that life will give me what I need.

Relish in my own unique, natural rhythm.

Attempt each day to purposely do one thing for my body, mind and soul. Balance.

Invest in those people and things that edify my spirit.

Be open to all the possibilities. Live life with energy and a 'Yes' mentality.

Don't be afraid to go for the love I want.

Let the people I love know. They deserve to know.

Act the way I want to feel. Own it!

Continue to respect myself more than anyone.