quick one two three

First of all I woke up this morning to snow - yes, snow!  One to two inches have been predicted however the upside to this is that this weekend promises to be phenomenally  beautiful with bluebird skies and 70 degrees.

Second I know I’m not following through with my promise of writing.   I went to Boulder, CO Memorial Day weekend to see HH the 17th Karmapa; a truly memorable event.   He gave two teaching at the Mackey Auditorium - a beautiful venue.   I really enjoyed being in Boulder and am looking forward to going back and spending more time.

Since then I’ve been busy playing and exploring.   My notebook at home is on the fritz so uploading photos and posting has been an issue for the past two weeks and my time at work has been hectic however no excuses right?!!

I attended the Jackson Hole Film Festival this past weekend - it was amazing and nothing short of inspirational.  Especially the summit panels raising awareness on “Children and Armed Conflict” and “Children and AIDS/HIV.”  Two serious subjects that I was somewhat apprehensive attending however am very glad I did.   My other two (hehe) moments were I got to stand beside a celebrity and it was cool and to top it off I had a great conversation with a random stranger that works for UNICEF (and she gave me her card)!   It’s all about the little things.

mostly beautiful

Warm Red Rocks in the Sun.  Sitting on top breathing in fresh air and new smells.  Rustling of the wind in the trees below.  An Eagle soaring seeing his shadow on the ground………..

Aspire

A post I started and didn’t finish - the Friday before last…..

A perfectly picturesque Friday afternoon with not a cloud in the sky and warm spring weather; finishing up a few last minute things at work; an older gentleman walks into the office waiting on another to also finish up a few last minute things and he asks “what do you aspire to?” Not the general banter that is normally heard.

He had a messy bit of snow white hair and crystal blue eyes with a twinkle in them.    The question took me off guard as I was trying to concentrate on finishing up at the matters at hand.  I replied with an “I don’t know” to which he countered, “why do you say you don’t know?”   I replied after a moment, “Well, what do we really know after all.”   After another moment and attempting to be quick on my feet  I said, “Happiness, happiness is what I aspire to.”  “Stream of Consciousness, living in the present, making the most out of every day, living life to the fullest.”  A standard phrase I know however, how many of us get lost in the present moment thinking about the past, about the future… what about now.   It’s a difficult thing.  As with anything the more you do it the better you get at it.    My new friend seemed somewhat satisfied with this answer.   He gave me homework.  To make a list of ten goals.  Attainable, realistic goals.  And to modify them every 6 months or so.  Go back, evaluate and revise the list.   He also told me to find 1000 Places to See Before you Die and to disregard all the hotel information in there; “It’s crap” however to make a another list of the places to travel to.   Both of these lists have been started and I will post them here soon to share.

What do you aspire to?    “breath toward!!”

aspire

as·pire [ ə spr ]

Definition:

1. have particular ambition: to seek to attain a goal; aspire to public office

2. fly high: to soar to a great height ( literary )

[14th century. < Latin aspirare "breathe toward" (see aspirate)]

uno mas

I have to admit (almost defeat) with this blog….. the past two years have not brought out the writer in me.    However, I am going to give it another go.   Blogging was for me then a secret / something just for me.  To write, be silly and relish in the “unknown” factor.   It’s amazing to see how blogging has become part of the mainstream.  I remember being part of “blogger” and getting excited about having one of the first “gmail invites”…. ahhh ..growth and change!  Part of the ever evolving process.  So here I am once again with my blog.  I might just for fun pretend its still a secret and I’m writing only for me. 

Thoughts on trying

Trying too hard seems to be all around me.    Trying to be something we are not.   Trying to be different.  Trying to fit in.  Trying to ‘keep up’ with our friends.  Trying to be a ‘good friend.’  Trying to keep up with society.  Trying to ‘do the right thing.’  Trying to be a good wife.  Trying to be a good husband.  Trying to go above and beyond.    The very definition gives one thought…

try [ trī ] - verb (past and past participle tried, present participle try·ing, 3rd person present singular tries)

Definition:

1. transitive and intransitive verb attempt something: to make an attempt or effort to do something

2. transitive verb test something for purpose of assessment: to test, sample, or experiment with something in order to assess its usefulness, worth, or quality “You get to try the software at home.”

3. transitive verb vex somebody: to subject somebody or something to great strain. “The long wait tried her patience.”

4. transitive verb law subject somebody to legal trial: to carry out the trial in court of somebody accused of a crime or offense

5. transitive verb law conduct case in court: to conduct a legal case in court. “asked when the case would be tried”

Trying…  yes, life can be this way.   Why not just be.

Be happy, be you, be fun, be alive.    Yes, we should all take steps to make our lives better, to do what is right and good -  doing instead of trying.    We all make mistakes and I tend to with myself - say “yes, I’ll “try” to do better and not make that mistake again” however doing - taking action instead of talking in circles and patting each other on the back…… Call each other out, honestly and lovingly.   The more we try to be different the more we stay the same.    Honesty in our relationships and being you, yourself… your beautiful perfectly flawed self.

This makes me think of one last thing.   Looking at photos of older women and men; faces and hands wrinkled and creased from the years they have spent working and living and the beauty that lies in those wrinkles is something amazing.   And these days we have botox to get rid of the wrinkles…. I welcome the wrinkles as I welcome my flaws in the being and doing instead of “trying.”