Living Green in the Nature Isle

From a distance, one might assume that an island with the tag "the Nature Isle" might be one with more sustainble-green-ecological goals at the forefront of its culture. In some ways, yes, the people of Dominica are quite proud of living at one with nature. The people adopt practices that are very green, so much so, that they may even be out of my comfort zone as practice. Things such as river baths and bush medicine, I am open to try, and have, but I just haven't been able to kick my old shower and hot water heater habit. And, while I have been reading up on how to concoct healing remedies Rastafarian style, I haven't yet taken to the bush with the machete looking for the wildest most healing of herbs, grasses, and barks. According to a book that I have been reading, the most healing finds are the ones that grow wild, and I totally accept that. Still, I prefer my pre-bottled bug repellent (while it is made in Dominica and from the herbs and ingredients sourced as locally as possible......they may have been farmed though, darn).

This afternoon, as I stopped my bike to drop off our trash in the bins outside of Kootney, I noticed that almost all of the bins were filled to the brim. The one with some room had brand new empty gallon water bottle jugs nicely propped atop the black trash bags, tops on, no dents, no damage. Contrast that to a recent phone conversation I had with my sister-in-law in Finland who was expressing her excitement that she had virtually no trash for her landfill bag. Although Dominica doesn't have advanced trash disposal and separation systems, we can still do our part to lessen our impact in Dominica and for the Earth in general.

So...here are some tips for us Ex-Pats, used to the recycling systems of the states but unaccustomed to the ways of lessoning our "carbon footprint" in a new culture.


1. Re-Use your water bottles!

No excuses people. Water is free on the Ross campus. Buy as many jugs as you would like to have on reserve from your local grocery, and then re-fill them until the bottles are deemed too banged up to continue use. It will save you $$ AND plastic is a big problem. There is one landfill on this small island, why must we fill it up with perfectly clean and sturdy water jugs?

Oh.. and did I just assume that all people carry a sturdy reusable water bottle for individual consumption? If you don't already, please do. Its a smart and easy way to save money and keep hydrated.

If you are not a member of the Ross community, there are many water sources in the rivers of Dominica that are drinkable... if you're curious, please ask, I'll be happy to elaborate more on these tips to finding/making water clean and drinkable without having to constantly buy new plastic water bottles

2. Buy compostable trash bags.

"Mr. Green" makes a biodegradable trash bag that can be purchased in a variety of sizes at IGA and Hong Kong market in Picard and at Astaphans in Roseau. Why fill up the landfill with plastic that may never decompose or risk that plastic to drift out to sea when there is a biodegradable alternative.

3. Bring re-usable grocery bags to the store and market.

In Paris I was laughed at by the grocery store clerk for not having my own bag to place my groceries, and that was in 2005... US stores are giving incentives to bring your own bags. Anyone seen the Portlandia short: "No bag on aisle (whatever it was)?" Well why not extend this same habit here. You will most often have to lug your own groceries some length of a distance down a road, in the heat, or up a hill. You will be helping yourself by bringing a bigger and easier bag to lug.

4. If you have to take plastic bags from the grocer, re-use them.

Use em for your small trash bins.. or to collect compostables that can be later disposed. Coffee grounds and tea leaves have great nutrients for the soil. Collect em and dispose in the yard.

5. Use dishtowels, less paper towels.

Okay, so paper towels are biodegradable, but they can get expensive... they are packaged in plastic... plus that whole production process to get those things to your home is lengthy. Use less paper towels by stocking up on dish towels and surface cleaning sponges.

6. DIY/Kitchen aisle some of your most used household cleaners and beauty products - Laundry detergent, Shampoo/Conditioner, body lotion, deodorant..

One might be surprised how versatile baking soda, vinegar and coconut oil can be! I am going to have to write a separate post just on this topic, but in the mean time, Pinterest home made natural alternatives to your most used items, you will find a wealth of information. And for shampoo/conditioner alternative, google the "no poo method."

7. Buy/Find Local

Lessen your carbon footprint by buying products made in Dominica. Consumer products have to make a big trek to reach this tiny island in the sea... why not contribute to this economy by researching and finding local products? Bello is one brand that is produced in Dominica and sells grocery items. There are a number of Dominican soap companies, and the Saturday markets in both Portsmouth and Roseau have all you need in produce, coffees, teas, oils, herbs, and spices!

8. Eco/Organic Products can be found

Fresh Vitamins in Roseau and inside of IGA sells organic. Also, IGA, Astaphan's, and Jolly's stock organic products on their shelves. If the product says "Bio" it is organic. Just so you know to look out. The companies that produce these items emphasize their impact and are required to pass measures to achieve organic or bio status, making them more trustworthy than other products on the market.

9. Bring your own containers to the shacks.

Most shacks serve their food in styrofoam. Uh oh.. styrofoam is a majorly distressing product for me. It doesn't biodegrade ever. It emits a gas when broken. Fishies can choke on it (okay I don't know for sure, but a sad image none the less), and I have found tons of styrofoam trash in the gutters here.. which will eventually be carried out to the ocean where who knows what its impact on the reef and ocean-life are. Bring plastic reusable containers to the shacks and they will even give you a discount on your meal! Also, there is a washing station next to the picnic tables where you can clean them out when you're finished.

10. Re-use your containers, glass and plastic.

Tupperware is expensive here and glass jars can't be found for purchase. Save your yogurt containers to store food leftovers. Save glass peanut butter and jam jars to do the same, or for pickling! Or for making your own jams at home with all the fresh flavorable fruit from the island! Or for salsa.... or for anything!

11. Feed your compostable food scraps to the lizards and birds

I just throw my cooking food scraps into the bushes for my lizard friends... but I don't cook with meat. So my advice is throw none meat compostable food scraps away from the house but in the yard if possible. I have some friends who make bird feeders out of coconuts, too. The birdies love to eat the less desirable parts of fruit... seeds.. skin.

12. Generally try to avoid plastic and styrofoam plates and utensils.

Bring your own dishes to a pot luck. Compostable products are also available on the back shelves at IGA and other stores around the island. Seek 'em out.

13. "Give & Go" at the end of each Ross semester.

There is a relatively new charity on the Ross campus that picks up items at the end of each semester before people leave and especially so usable items don't get thrown in the trash. Why wait 'till your time has come to leave the island. A clean house is a serene house.. do a little cleaning at the end of every semester and donate your things to Give and Go.. and you can also make a few bucks by selling some things on Craigslist.

14. Bring your plastic and paper recyclables to the Ross campus. 

There IS a recycling plant in Roseau, and there IS a truck that has been designated to stop by the Ross campus on a weekly basis to pick up recyclables. Let's live by example and make sure this system is put into use. Bring your plastics, papers, and glass recyclables to campus and dispose in the properly marked recycling bins. Maybe you will want to ask around campus to ensure that others know that this system is being used, and to know that you do care that it DOES Work!



Do you have some tips? Any measures you take to live a little more green in Dominica? Please, do share! We can all benefit from the wisdom of our community.

 Let's live by example and see how far our impact can reach!

Musing Dominica

I remember it well, being back in New York and musing over life in Dominica. I remember mentioning to my MBA colleagues at Baruch about a potential move to the Caribbean for my (at the time) boyfriend to attend Ross. . I remember their reactions: "Oh my gosh, you should go!" or "how amazing," and "I wish I could move to a Caribbean island."

The fact that this became real, wow, I just never really thought it was going to happen. This is what Steve and I wanted, and as I look back I realize life really can become what you dream. Of course, in those distant-far-off-fairytale-like dreams, we never remember to insert fault and difficulty, but nevertheless, I believe that if you can dream it you can achieve it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is why we should be careful what we dream.

So we moved to Dominica in April, but didn't even really know that this was the plan come December. We decided to finalize our decision by January as we would be headed off to India for 7 weeks and needed a solid idea of what we would do when we returned. Post marriage, post India... back in the Catskill mountains of New York I scheduled flights and made arrangements, apartment searched online, and signed a lease. I daydreamed about what life on this tropical island paradise would be like. I read about the 365 rivers, 12 major waterfalls, and 1 boiling lake. I relayed information about the indigenous people to my friends and dreamt about the many fruit trees. What would I do there? Where or how would I work? I had many ideas about what my life was going to look like in Dominica while also attempting to keep an open mind.

Making arrangements for Dominica - that white is snow

This was my dreamy, far away, surreal projection of life in Dominica:

I would sew. Not sure what, maybe finally I would attempt some decently wearable clothes!

I would snorkel and swim and my heart and mind would be infinitely soothed by underwater silence, bright colors, and mother nature's mystique.

I would teach yoga. I would practice yoga. I would meditate. I would lead meditations, silent walks on the beach and early morning beach meditations.

I would go on nature walks with my friends. I would have time for friends!

 

I would explore the native culture of the island. I would investigate basket weaving. Maybe I would learn, or maybe I would facilitate a relationship between the Santa Fe Folk Art Market and basket weavers from Dominica.

I would further my knowledge of essential oils. I would learn about the process and what was available on island. I would study my new aromatherapy book... or at least use it as interest arose.

I would cook and learn to use a crock pot and experiment with Caribbean cuisine.

 

I would read.

I would ride my bike.

I would hike.


I would explore the hot springs.

I would take care of my love.

Would I finally be able to learn and practice fire poi?



~~~~~~~~~~~




These were my dreams as I remember them. It is interesting reflecting back in comparison to snap shots taken once on island. Some of the dreams have taken root, woven, twisted, and taken form as something new. Some of them have become nothing more than a few hours or days of attention. Some have evolved into thriving practices, experiences, and relationships. None of them exactly as I imagined. However, most of what I dreamt, I did feel into existence.

And what do I mean by that? How did I feel my dreams into existence? Some very sage words of advice now arise from my memory. About 2 years ago, I was having a conversation with our friend Pranava at the Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas. Who really knows what we were talking about, but whatever it was brought this from him: (paraphrasing from memory) "It is not so important imaging what we want for the future, but instead projecting what we want to feel in the future." Yep. I digested that and didn't forget it. I used it and it has served Steve and me very well. As I thought of Dominica, I projected feelings of love, contentment, peace, surrender, happiness, and companionship. I have achieved these sensations of the heart. By doing this, and in looking back, I am not disappointed in what I have not done or have not been able to do, but I am satisfied that I have continually sought these positive states of being.

I recommend this practice to all. When you think of tomorrow, think of love. When you think of your next job, feel contentment and success. When you think of success, feel all your most positive associated emotions. When you think of your life down the line a few years out, imbue happiness and peace. This practice is truly powerful and rewarding.

I want to close by saying that life on island now is better than ever. I am blown away by all the many special moments and experiences I am having. Of course, I am making a conscious effort to engage in the the ways I want, but it is paying off. A place between intention and surrender. Life is sublime.

Love to all, Peace to all.

Om Namah Sivaya.

Yoga Instruction

Blessed Friends & Dominican Community,

I would like to invite you to practice yoga! This ancient healing practice has transformed my life. It is truly accessible for all types of bodies and in all places. Because of all the positive growth I've experienced through yoga, I am dedicated to teaching the practice to others. Is yoga calling you?

I have practiced yoga for about 10 years and have both a Yoga Teacher Certification and Advanced Teacher Certification. I am a Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher - RYT 500. It would be an honor to guide all interested in one-on-one private instruction or private group instruction. 

Private Classes - $135EC 

Private Groups - $135 EC for up to 3 people, an additional $25EC per added person

Regularly Scheduled Classes (at your local establishment) - Let's discuss!

Please contact me if you would like to schedule a private, private group, or a regular class at your establishment.

Jenny Jackson Miller

767-225-9243

JennyLynn820@gmail.com

*or leave a comment below

I am located in Picard and am happy to travel to surrounding areas.

Blessings <3 

Love for Coconut Oil

I would like to share with you my love for coconut oil. This aromatic oil has many health benefits, for which I urge you to read the linked article from Wellness Mama who has an informed approach at describing this in detail.

I am particularly inspired by a great website that I've recently become privy: Mind Body Green. From which, I daily find myself reposting articles. MBG posts articles that are info dense in the health and wellness sphere and fun to read. Anyway I was getting a kick out of this article 20 Signs You're A Wellness Junkie (Hilarious). Going through mentally, saying yes.. check to that, yes to that, and definitely yes to You’ve made peace with the fact that you smell like coconut oil. What else would you use to cook, moisturize, remove makeup, floss, and fuel your car? 

So I don't fuel my car with it... yet, but I do use it extensively on a daily basis. I've turned my sister in law onto it for moisturizer, and I myself lather head to toe with it in place of lotion. I also use it for near everything in the kitchen. It can handle the high heat, and it just enhances the flavor of just about everything. (I haven't found a time when I've thought, nope, using a different oil next time).

So why am I so obsessed with coconut oil? Well, a teacher of mine, and Ayurvedic practitioner, Lalita Devi, first turned me onto coconut oil mixed with neem oil for my face due to some tenacious adult acne. (yuck!) While it helped a little, I was able to find that my gluten allergy was the cause... but that's another story. Anyway, in Ayurveda I learned that skin is considered an organ. A major component of overall health is through oleation of the skin organ. Huh?! So I learned that our skin soaks everything up, moving absorbed nutrients (or toxins) into the blood and bones which circulates all through the body. A crazy novel thing I was learning! A real game changer in my life actually. After that I really began taking a close look at ingredients in my beauty products. I urge you all to do the same. Whatever you're puttin' on that skin's going into your whole body!

From Ayurveda, I learned that coconut oil is particularly cooling for strong and more fiery body types (aka Pita Dosha). For a face that requires moisture, but light moisturizer at that, coconut oil has become my entire cosmetic supply kit. I don't need much else. And since moving to tropical Dominica, due to it's cooling properties, coconut oil is a great choice not just for face but for everything: applied both topically and absorbed through nutrition.

I can tell you from personal experience that when we use coconut oil on our bodies we actually contribute to a healthier immune system, but go ask a holistic/Ayurvedic doctor about the specifics on that one. I also hear that it contains a natural SPF... but I don't rely on it for a full few hours exposed in the sun, only on cloudyish days when I'm not going to be in the sun for long.

Enough rambling, now uses:

1. Face Moisturizer

2. Whole Body Lotion

3. Food!

5. (specific favorites for 5, 6, 7) Coconut rice

6. Coconut curry or Dal

7. Frying (not that frying is so healthy, but I loved my coconut oil fried okra).

8. Adding to anything in your daily diet, as 20 ml a day is good for brain function and memory

9. A tonic for fresh wounds

9. A mild sun block


Now that I'm writing, I'm realizing my list doesn't seem all that extensive, but it really is a big part of this household. Try it for yourself. Read the articles I've linked so that you know some of the super groovy health benefits. And then... never turn back!


Peace Ya'll,

Jenny

Stir It Up

Little darlin' stir it up..... Your recipe is, - darlin' - is so tasty, when you show and stir your pot. (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh).

I have been cookin' lots lately, lots and lots. It's much more practical for us budget wise, and on an energetic level its more healthy. You see, the thoughts and mental juju of the cook go into the food, did you know that? Well, it is true. Do a taste test between one meal cooked with love and another, same ingredients, cooked with depression and anger. I can guarantee the meal cooked with love is going to taste better and effect the body in a more agreeable manner. Maybe I could even find some scientific evidence to prove this. The first thing that comes to mind is the book Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto. This is an experiment that shows the energetic effects of words on molecules of water. Positive words like love make pretty crystal shapes. Angry messages like I'm going to kill you make awful looking shapes. Ick, just thinking about the negative effects makes my skin crawl. Look it up, it's good stuff. 

I have learned through the study and practice of Yoga that not only should we eat the freshest most healthful foods, but foods with the most prana (or life force). For example, freshly picked spinach, all lively and green is much better than wilted spinach, and even better than frozen spinach, which loses its alive-ness when it goes into frozen mode. We literally are what we eat. The food we eat transforms into our flesh, blood, and bones. 

Another facet to my husband's and my mindful approach to food is that we try to avoid foods that will make us unstable. For me, very cold foods can make me sleepy, hazy, and even pretty gassy (I'm sure you wanted to know!) For Steve, acidic foods, onions, and garlic, not only make his breath stinky but give him more tendency towards anger. These specific traits that guide our diets can be explained more broadly in terms of Ayurveda, or the science of traditional medicine which originated in ancient India. If you need any help understanding what foods are best for your body type and demeanor, ask me about it, I can either help or guide you to some useful texts. 



Now onto the Jackson-Miller Dominican kitchen highlights:


Coconut Rice & Lentils
The recipe off of the back of Silk Coconut Milk for coconut rice is insanely good! Add dry roasted coconut flakes on top, words can't explain. 

The French lentils are super easy. Just boil and simmer for 20 minutes, then add salt, fresh herbs like rosemary, and a little olive oil. 

Plain avocado is enhanced with some salt, ground black pepper, and maybe a little olive oil. 

Silk Coconut Rice Recipe:
1 cup jasmine rice
1T coconut oil
1.5 cup coconut milk
1/2 tsp salt
Toasted coconut flakes 

1. Coat rice in coconut oil over medium/low heat 120sec
2. Add coco milk and salt, bring to boil
3. Turn down to simmer, cook 15-20 min
4. Fluff, add toasted flakes on top.

French lentils, coconut rice, and fresh avocado.

Indian Style Dal  
A standard in our house - dal with red lentils. I was stoked when IGA had fresh cilantro AND red lentils, so I made this.

Ingredients:
Chief Brand Curry Mix
Oil of your choice (I used almond I think, which I brought from the states, but you can use any as long as you don't over heat the olive oil)
Ginger
Whatever other veggies you have - here we used some red potatoes that our neighbor brought by
Fresh cilantro if you have some
Salt
Jalepeno Pepper

Coat the pot with oil and heat
Add ab a T of curry powder and stir in and mix, opening up the tumeric but not overheating cause it will burn!
Stir in ginger coat and cook for a few minutes
Add in potato (or other root veggies) coat add salt to taste
Cook and simmer in oil and spice for 10-15 mins, feel it out
Add 2 cups water
Add 1 cup washed red lentils
add salt
Bring to a boil, then turn down and simmer about 15-20 minutes - lentils should be all mushy
Stir in fresh cilantro
Add some pepper

Finished!

Indian style daal with West Indian curry mix

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
We've participated in 2 bake sales now, Ross is home to many of these. I am using bake sales as an excuse to perfect chocolate chip cookies because I can't buy them already made here. I found a recipe on the blog Peas and Thank You - Find it HERE 

I found the flours I needed (oat and brown rice) & xantham gum at Fresh Vitamins in Roseau. Everything else came from IGA - though I had to stalk the baking isle for the arrival of chocolate chips. Oh, and haven't used vanilla, cause haven't found the gluten-free-certain kind yet.

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Granola
I finally gathered enough unsalted, un-roasted nuts and dried fruit to make some granola. It was pretty good, though a little chewy. Next time, I'll have to boost the heat up higher. But first... will have to scrounge for all my nuts again... like a squirrel.

Gluten Free Granola Mix

Chia Seed Breakfast of Champions
I spent entirely too much on these Chia Seeds and Hemp Oil from Fresh VItamins, but I've been enjoying my Aztec super food. I feel the body getting stronger with every chewy chia seed. I add the organic Dominican honey that I've been getting from another spouse on campus who is helping out an organic farmer, Jah Call. We're calling his products Nature Warrior I believe, and a bunch of us have banned together and voted on starting a co-op. I can't wait! We've heard that Jah Call is humbled by our interest. It's one of those special win-win things that brings sweetness to all of our lives here on the island.

New breakfast habit - Chia Seed with hemp oil and Dominican honey

Gluten Free Mac & Cheese
And finally, the jam - gluten free mac and cheese. Today was my first attempt, and Steve and I both were amazed by the magic that happened in the oven. Here's how this process went:

Cook the gluten free macaroni purchased from Astaphan's in Roseau
Grated as much cheese as possible - white cheddar, mozzarella, and orange cheddar. Almost too much to fit in the baking dish.. almost.
Rinsed mac with cool water - put in baking dish
Added olive oil, about a T of milk, butter, salt, cracked pepper, and the very large bowl of cheese. Saved it for after Yoga class to bake.
Baked at between setting 3&4 - 325ish - (most ovens here don't seem to have temperature markings) It was a little lower than the standard baking setting which is between 4&5 at our apartment (350ish to 375ish)
Baked for about 15-20 minutes

Gluten Free Mac & Cheese

Next time I go to Roseau, I'm picking up ingredients for making pies.... so stay tuned. I'm thinking mango pie. Never made a pie before. It's going to be awesome.

Love to all, Peace to all.

Mamma Says: Don't Forget to Drink Your Salt Water

What's that mamma says? Drink my salt water, elhhhh!

Actually you should, and here's my story to share to prove why:

Not too long ago, in March to be exact, I was traveling in India when I had a funny thing happen. After flying from Rajasthan --> Chennai, taking an ambassador taxi from Chennai --> Thirivunamalai --> Climbing a steep sacred Shiva mountain (Arunachala) --> Driving back from Thirivunamalai to Chennai in the span of two days, I had an intense headache and some symptoms of vertigo overcome the body. Woah. I'm not going to go into details beyond offering the dizzy travel schedule, but trust me, it was a strange hazy weird experience.

Visiting Fatehpur Sikri outside of Agra

Well, thank the good Lord that we were staying at the Sivananda Yoga Centre in Chennai, where the angel of a director, Haripriya, took us in and give us a comfortable place to stay. I was feeling horrible for feeling horrible at the Chennai Centre. I had hoped that I'd be of some service there. I had wanted to close off our trip with some hefty last minute India shopping before coming back to the States, and I had wanted to teach a Yoga class of two. Well those desires were nubbed by the trippy illness that had overcome me. And, anyway, thank god I didn't buy a bunch more stuff that I didn't need to carry around with me for the next 2 to 5 to 10 years. But importantly, what did I learn from this?

Drink your daily salt water! I was experiencing an intense level of dehydration. Like Dominica, South India has a hot tropical climate. I hadn't enough water during the travels, nor on my way up and down Arunachala. It got to me. Big Time. Haripriya had also experienced dehydration when first moving to Chennai a few years back, and salt water is what now keeps her healthy and balanced.

Even if we do consistently drink water throughout the day, sometimes it just wont be enough because of the high level of perspiration the body releases.

Here's the solution:

1. Really good salt, the good healthy stuff. Not table salt that is highly refined. What she recommended to me was Himalayan Rock Salt. In Roseau, there is a health food store called Fresh Vitamins on King George V that carries Himalayan Salt. I snagged this. Before I found Fresh Vitamins, I was using sea salt from IGA.

2. Heat about a cup or so of water of the stove and stir in one teaspoon of salt at a time. Continue stirring in spoons of salt until the water is fully salinated, hence the salt no longer dissolves. It doesn't take too much, maybe three spoonfuls. Maybe a little more or less depending on your location and other various factors.

3. Store that salinated water in a cup. I keep mine in a tea cup and store it in the fridge.

4. Daily, Take another small cup of water and add one teaspoon full of the salinated water.

5. Drink.

6. Listen to your body. If it wants more, you can add a little extra of the salinated water, or drink a whole additional cup.

You may want to supplement your salted electrolyte beverage with a coconut water - I get some from the shacks - or some sugary fresh juice. You need both salt and sugar to replace that Gatorade. BTW this is much healthier than Gatorade...

In still adjusting to the heat of the island, I have experienced the body actually feel that same dizzy sickness, and I know now it's from dehydration. Drink lots of water, and please don't forget your simple, healthy salt water.

I mean, I guess you could just go down to the sea, take a swim, and swallow a few sips. It's up to you!

Just one side story before I go: founder of Guerney's Inn, a famous inn in Montauk, NY lived until 90. You know what he swore by? A nice solid gulp from the Atlantic Ocean everyday of his life. From India, to New York, to Dominica. Go figure.

Peace ya'll. Try it and let me know how it goes! I'd love to hear your experiences. 

"I wish I could share All the love that's in my heart..."

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I present to you the Goddess herself, a true genius of modern time, the one... the only... Nina Simone...

"I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free" 
Lyrics

I wish I knew how
It would feel to be free
I wish I could break
All the chains holding me
I wish I could say
All the things that I should to say
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole round world to hear

I wish I could share
All the love that's in my heart
Remove all the bars
That keep us apart
I wish you could know
What it means to be me
Then you'd see and agree
Everyone should be free

I wish I could give
All I'm longin' to give
I wish I could live
Like I'm longin' to live
I wish I could do
All the things that I can do
Though I'm way overdue
I'd be starting anew.

I wish I could be like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be
If I found out I could fly
I'd soar to the sun
And look down at the sea
And I sing 'cause I know

And some commentary:

After a really lovely time this morning on a trip with the Ross Spouse Org, I returned home sleepy but happy. Often when I go out for some time, chatting and playing, then return home, I like to do a little (let's call it) mindful check-in. I assess where I am, how I'm feeling, and see how I can help myself... you know soothe hunger with a papaya fruit smoothie, pet the kitten cause she's being super cute and cuddly, nothing too eccentric. Today, I came home and read this super sweet blog post by a fellow Sivananda teacher, Danielle Snoddy, and I felt inspired. Like Danielle, I felt that right now, in this present moment, I am a great path. Danielle opened up her heart to share, with humility and gratitude, how she is fulfilling her dharma. Then...doo dih doo... I scrolled through facebook and saw this youtube post of Nina Simone. More inspiration came. I thought, "Yeah, Nina, me too! I feel that." 

Combining an adventure to waterfalls, happiness from another's success, and this Nina song, I got to thinking: I have so much love in this little heart for everything and everyone. Although I work so hard to keep it very open, it often gets crushed. And despite my efforts, I cannot always say or do the things I want to do. Little things make me easily sad, not like emotional breakdown sad, just a disappointment kinda sad. And I get bummed when I cannot properly share what's in this mind and heart. I just want to give all my love to everyone and in everything I do. But when I can't for one reason or another, bars build up around my heart; I get stepped on or I let myself down, and then I become guarded. 

Building bars around our hearts keeps us more distant from others due to negative experiences in our past. When we dwell on these bad experiences and think about them in a continuing negative way, we not only harm ourselves but those around us. Why? Well, thoughts are powerful. They originate in the subtleness of our minds, and then actually take energetic forms. When we send out negative thoughts, we directly effect those we think of, as well as those in our relative space, of course not to mention ourselves. And in terms of thought forms, like attracts like. Wwhen we have "bad" thoughts we attract more of that... however, fortunately when we have good, happy thoughts, we attract more light and love in our lives and for those around us.

 I don't want to attract any dark thought clouds, life has enough challenges! I want to be free! So, in thanks for some profound inspiration, and in dedication to the grooviest Song Goddess of all time, Nina Simone:

Though I'm way overdue, I'm starting anew, I'm striving to do all those things I can do. I'm going to learn how it feels to be free.