Letting Go - Attachment to Outcome

Letting go will always be a work in progress for me, especially letting go of attachment to outcome. We get a vision or an idea and lock it in, sometimes it may seem too grand and we get overwhelmed or things aren't playing out the way we planned and we get frustrated. A great example of this is a wedding, so much planning, so many details, so much dreaming and it's almost a tradition for something unforeseen to happen. When my daughter recently got married the most important thing I wanted her to keep in mind was that no matter what happens, just breathe, or better yet laugh, do not let anything upset you. When you look back you will see how minor it was and you will have regrets if you let it ruin your enjoyment of your day. While we do need to set goals and make plans for our life or certain events, once it is set in motion we need to release attachment to the outcome, it may not all go as we originally envisioned, a lot of times it actually ends up better.

Finding Center

My favorite playground equipment when I was younger was the merry-go-round. I loved spinning around on it, but it seemed more time was spent running beside it to get it going than riding it. Where you sat changed how fast the ride felt, if you were on the outside edge the world seemed to be zooming by in a big blur, but move to the center and the ride became much calmer. Life can feel like sitting on the edge, teetering on falling off as things spin faster and faster out of control with no vision of where you are or what lies ahead and you feel you are aimlessly burning up energy running in circles to keep it all going. The spinning can be fun for a while but after some time you can get "sick" of it and burn out in an attempt to keep it going. Mindful Awareness is like moving over to the center of the ride, there your vision is clearer, you won't become dizzy and you'll be safe from falling.

Through learning mindful techniques, children will be equipped with the ability to always find their center when the world starts spinning around them.

Journey

One of my favorite sayings is "It's not the destination, it's the journey". When at the beach I sometimes imagine the journey the sand and water have traveled and what it has been witness to. We are all on a journey, sometimes alone, sometimes with others or we may just briefly cross paths. At times the path is clear and the footing easy, other times it may seem rocky, treacherous, or we feel like we are wading sluggishly through a bog. Where ever you are on your journey be present for that moment because good or bad there are lessons to be learned, joys to behold, laughter and tears to be shared. Don't get so lost in the past or fixated on a certain destination that you miss all the beauty in the present. Things change along the way just as the currents move the water and sand to other beaches and we need to be present and open to each moment. My friend Rosie uses the analogy of someone wanting to go to California, but along the way they fall in love with Montana. If they had not been enjoying and living each moment of the journey or have been so obsessed with California, they may have missed Montana all together.

With K A P, we hope to teach children there is beauty in each moment just waiting for them to behold, to learn to be present and enjoy the journey and also to be aware and respectful of others on the road.

Connections

We are all unique and individual but at the same time connected and interdependent on each other and the planet as a whole. This dependence is illustrated within our own bodies. Our bodies are made up of many parts and each of these parts are separate entities that handle different task, yet each one part, down to the smallest cellular level, is dependent on the health and functioning of the others. It is much the same with our planet, we are like separate little cells living and working together on this one big rock, and just as the parts of our bodies are interconnected so are we connected to each other and our environment. We need to be aware of how our actions directly impact our lives and the lives of future generations. In doing so, we can learn to use but not abuse our resources and to respect one another. This planet, and all that's on it, is one big living breathing organism. Just as each of us would not consciously damage any part of our body, we should have the same awareness of our fellow humans, animals, plants, down to the smallest microorganism. We need to understand that everyones' well being is dependent on (interconnected with) the well being of others.

Kids Awareness Program will teach children a respect for their world and everything in it and what they can do to protect it. There will be environmental walks and lessons on the roles that different elements play in our lives and in keeping the planet healthy. An awareness will be given on the importance to get out in nature and stay in tune to their surroundings.

Where Are My Keys?

Tired of losing things, late for work because you can't find your keys in the morning, try doing things on purpose. We have become a society that is proud of their abilities to multi task but are we really doing any of it well. We drop our keys and other objects mindlessly as we enter the door while we are on the phone or preoccupied with the days events and then think we are losing our minds since we can't remember where we put things. In essence we are losing our mind because we are not using it, but it's not a sign of lost memory capabilities, since we were not really present during the action there is nothing to remember, we never experienced putting our keys down. Just take one thing, such as your keys, and pay attention to them, do not let them leave your hands without stopping all other thoughts and actions, decide where you want them to be and witness yourself putting them there. Do things on purpose, be present. This is never more important than with our interactions with others especially our children. I heard it said of John Travolta, "that you can be at a crowded party full of interesting people and if you are speaking to him he makes you feel like you are the only person in the room and whatever you are saying is so intriguing". Imagine how it feels to be that passionate and focused, to be that attuned and respectful in each moment as it's happening, now, in the present, whatever it may be, and to be living that moment on purpose without judgement.

With Kids Awareness Program, we hope to instill in children the ability to live their lives on purpose, be present in the moment, and not be hampered and stressed do to living mindlessly.

A Matter of Perspective

While at the beach on a warm July afternoon, I was standing in the surf watching the scene play out before me on the beach. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and there was really no where else anyone should be but in water somewhere, so it seemed most everyone had come to the beach. As I was looking and seeing hardly a spot of sand not occupied I thought it sure is crowded here today. As quick as that thought passed through my mind I turned back to the horizon and looking out across the vast blue sea, all I saw was water and sky, not a sole, and then I thought no it's not (crowded that is), it's just a matter of perspective. Perspective can be a view or vista or also a viewpoint. Your perspective or opinion about things is based on how you view the world around you. How anyone views things is based on a multitude of different factors, from genetics, birth order, age of parents, environment, culture, exposure to religious beliefs, events that happen and on and on. With all the infinite possible combinations that go into making who we are and shaping our perceptions how can we possibly be so confounded by the fact that everyone does not share our every opinion, lifestyle, reactions etc. In order to find harmony in our lives, whether it be with co-workers, family, or friends, we need to come to an awareness that we are not the same and we cannot possibly judge another when we cannot see from their perspective, it's hard enough understanding our own selves. Look first at yourself and try to learn the reasons for your own reactions to others. You cannot change others, you can change your reactions and if necessary your environment but we all need to learn to respect others for who they are not what we want them to be.

Kids Awareness Program will help children identify with the differences in all of us and that it is ok, even good to be that way and help them learn to respond rather than react in situations. It will also help them learn to be secure with themselves where ever they may go in life, to have that safe haven within themselves always.