Archive for April, 2010

This is a recording of the meditation I wrote for a workshop on Emma Jones’ raw food retreat last month. It was very well received and I have been meaning to record it and post it here for general use. So after a happy weekend of rest, gardening and chilling at home, here it is.

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It works best if you have external speakers or headphones plugged into your PC I think. Comments welcome!

Well, to be honest, today is ending in about 13 minutes as I start writing this post. I’m a bit (a lot) of a night owl. Still, if you consider, like me, that one sleep marks the frontier between today and tomorrow, these are the totally awesome things that tickled me today.

1) How the web enables all sorts of connections.

Yeah I know, we all know that already. But, listen – I am “stranded” in France (albeit at my mum’s place, it could be far worse and I’m not complaining!) and unable to fly home to Wales due to the cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland hovering in the European skies. The web’s enabled me to reschedule a bunch of appointments, access all my work from my mum’s PC, and get loads done anyway. But that’s just me feeling a bit smug. Magical connections-wise, this is my example in action from today. Read on.

2) The AONC blog post from last Thursday (it’s Tuesday, I’m catching up)

I read 4 blogs religiously. I have subscribed and unsubscribed to loads of others over time, but these 4 are the ones that consistently deliver inspiration and food for thought, and challenge my world view, right in my inbox: Seth Godin’s blog, Chris Guillebeau’s Art of Non-Conformity (AONC), Jonathan Fields’ Awake @ The Wheel, Danielle LaPorte’s White Hot Truth. (In no particular order.) Just thought I’d let you know, in case you want to check them out.

Anyway, today I caught up with a week’s worth of emails that had piled up while I have been hobnobbing and networking in Paris (I have been visiting family – there was a big birthday do to attend – and catching up with old friends and new contacts). Last Thursday, Chris Guillebeau posted on AONC about pondering life in general and happiness in particular, and about asking “If time and money were no object, what would I do today?”. I’m glad to report that after much soul-searching and checking whether I am kidding myself (but no, I’m not), I would still be doing pretty much what I’m doing right now. Phew.

Chris also announced the launch of Neil Pasricha’s book, called The Book of Awesome. I like the fact that a guy I have never met, but whose work and writing I read on a regular basis, can very simply and easily open doors for me onto other really great things. Yes, this happens all the time, I follow links in blog posts, articles, websites, whatever – they’re not always awesome. Today, it totally was. Read on, you’ll see.

3) I discovered the blog 1000 Awesome Things.

By Neil Pasricha, of course. He writes here and chronicles the small awesome things that might happen and make you smile or make your day. Like the smell of rain on a hot pavement (a big favourite of mine); sleeping in new bed sheets; finding out your new place has got a really good shower; the smell of crayons.  Things that make you completely, utterly alive and present in the moment. Mini meditations in themselves. We don’t often realise how much these awesome things are moments of stillness for our soul.

I hereby solemnly promise (to myself) that from this moment on, whenever I experience an awesome thing, I will fully enjoy it, sit with it, and allow myself to be in it for as long as I can. And know that I am.

4) There’s a video on last Thursday’s 1000 Awesome Things’ post…

Last week Neil posted about his book launch under Awesome Thing #526: When dreams come true. Check out the baby’s face in the photo! It had me giggling to myself. His eyes!! (Or her eyes, for that matter. I don’t know. I just don’t like calling babies ‘it’.) Anyway, the post is about reading, voraciously, and late into the night. I can relate to that, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make. The thing is, right at the end, he writes “The Book of Awesome hits stands today!” and there’s a video trailer for said book. I don’t know, I was bored, or curious, whatever: I clicked.

Seriously, go see the video. It’s here on YouTube as well.

It’s got photos of really awesome things; it’s got an email which was sent to Neil by a young couple who read his blog; it’s also got a song. Just GO SEE IT. I don’t want to say any more, it’ll spoil it.

Enjoy.

I’ve got a new hobby.

I did a felting workshop last Saturday, 3rd April, at the Milkwood Gallery – a beautiful art exhibition and boutique space in Roath. (So nice in fact, that I think I’ll try and book it for workshops of my own!) The day was run by Alice and Beth, two friends of mine who are vibrant, creative and quirky, and a joy to be around. We made a 2D piece in the morning, which involved skeins of beautiful-smelling merino wool, lots of hot water, some soap and much elbow grease! The afternoon session involved creating a bag or tea cosy, although I passed on that because I liked the result of the morning’s endeavours so much that I decided to embellish it and tried my hand at needle felting. I found myself completely absorbed and deeply meditative. Nicola – of raw food and cake fame! – who joined in as well, really enjoyed the hands-in-water process of actually making felt, but I see it more as a means to an end and preferred the minutia of stitching outlines and details onto it.

That is the way forward for me! I will be working on pre-made felt ongoing; I have a project in my head to create a piece that I once saw in a dream a long time ago. There is talk of setting up monthly meet-ups, to share the use of the space and spend some time making stuff together – whether felt or other crafts. Interested? Drop me a line.

OK people, listen up. There’s someone I want to tell you about.

She’s a writer, speaker, business advisor, wife, mum. She’s about authentic living, and by that I mean business and entrepreneurship as well as style, money, love and relationships, growth as a human being, and everything else in between. She signs blog posts and emails with love and hugs and kisses. She’s a regular inspiration to me – I’ve been reading her blog for probably about a year now. She’s totally real, and down to earth, and obstreperous. (Yup. Look it up. It’s a great word.) And I mean that in the best possible way, in case you hadn’t worked that out for yourself.

Her name is Danielle LaPorte, she’s based in Vancouver, and her website/blog is at http://whitehottruth.com. This week, on Wednesday 7th April actually, she is pre-launching the fire starter sessions digital book (buy now and get a sneak peek offer, before the worldwide launch on May 12th). It is a digital book + videos + workbook + audio + interviews, which will help you work out your path to success (on your own terms). Watch Danielle explain it here (no need for me to paraphrase her t’ing). The bit I particularly liked though, is:

It’s not necessarily about dreaming big, it’s about dreaming authentically.

That makes a massive difference. It’s not about the millions, it’s about being you… (Although the millions are a nice bonus along the way and they can be worked into the plan also.) To get onto her official “interested” Fire Starter mailing list for announcements and offers, go to this form.

I would say in any case, check out her blog. Just cause I think it’s fab, and I want other people to know about it. Spread the inspiration. There’s a best of past posts (try saying that quick!) here which is an excellent place to start. 

And there’s something else too… When Danielle announced the pre-launch, she invited her blog readers to interview her and post about it, thus creating great content and spreading her word in one fell swoop. So after going a bit star-struck, and hmmming and hawing about it (what *can* I ask someone who I admire lots because she’s so… *there*?!) I finally got 3 questions together. I was going to post them here today but I’ve suddenly gone all protective of these chicks and feel I don’t want to disclose them without Danielle’s answers. With all my faffing about I only emailed her last Thursday though, and she’s in a whirling creative vortex these days (her words) so it won’t be quite yet… but at some point in the near future I’ll post my painstakingly crafted questions and her no doubt sparklingly insightful comments.  (And they will be particularly insightful because my questions are *so* good. ;-p)

I’m thrilled! So looking forward to it.
You should be too.