The only thing certain is change. This was said to me twice today in two different contexts. One was completely in the business sense and the other a more personal topic. I’ve always loved butterflies, I’ve loved the thought of emerging from darkness and coming out of it even stronger, more beautiful even. In the process of being in this darkness maybe you put yourself in your own thick “pupa”, your layer of protection, your shield from getting hurt. And until you have a catalyst to make you change, it doesn’t happen. Lately, every Tuesday and Thursday I have been addicted to reading HeyAmberRae, who calls herself the creative catalyst. I love reading it because it gives me this new insight twice a week without having to go through life’s natural way of change which is sometimes through pain, sometimes through bliss.
Doesn’t it seem like there are people in this world just allowed to float by, flutter about unattached and unaffected by it all? No such luck, I am not this person. LOL. People like to think I am. Carefree. Easy going. Balanced. Confident. These are words people use to describe me. But I have stress in life as does everyone else. Sometimes I feel conflicted, troubled, hurt, burdened, but I push through. Life doesn’t allow me the pleasantries of wallowing in being stagnant for very long. The funny thing is sometimes the daily hustle and bustle takes you away from reflection allowing you to get buried and not feel or even realize that you have this thick skin protecting you from change. There’s this spoken word artist Sarah Kay who says “…getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much you like the taste of air…” Being a mother I watch her poem “B” as often as I can because it reminds me how beautiful being vulnerable and curious is, and how necessary pain sometimes is in order to feel it.
So what to do when you feel stuck or too vulnerable to handle at this very moment?
-Reflect, pause and think about it. Write. It helps to stop the chaos from over taking your mind.
-Talk about it. Find a friend whose voice you trust. Not to justify or enable your “stuck” but to help you out of it.
-Do something healthy that will lift your spirits. Workout, take a walk, listen to nature, get a hug. (try not to buy things or drink yourself happy)
Embrace change.
STOP; AND SLACKLINE
Very rarely do we stop anymore. We drive from one errand to the next with one thing in mind- finishing the tasks on our list. But on this sunny Thursday before my scheduled dentist appointment I saw these guys at the park who I saw last week- slacklining. Last week I couldn’t, NO wouldn’t stop. I was too busy. But today I veered off my intended path and said, “Self I could spare 15 minutes or so to try this again.” Slacklining is like tight rope walking between two trees except it uses nylon webbing tensioned so that you could bounce off and do tricks and stuff. Lots of people who are into skateboarding, rock climbing, surfing and paddleboarding are into it.
When I approached the guys- Kyle, Matt, and Cory, I thought to myself well they could think I’m a total weirdo, or they could be totally cool and they would let me try it. They were totally cool and call themselves the Orange County Slackers. One guy just hopped on to the line no problem, sometimes they used a pole. Then the magic question came, “You wanna try?” Well, that was the main point of me stopping right? To try? So with one guy on each side of me they held my hand lightly as I carefully placed one bare foot on the rope. Slowly and steadily I began to walk. I laughed while I tried to maintain my center. The line started to quickly give and shake with each step and I was starting to hold the hands of the strangers tighter.
“What’s the easiest way for me to do this? If I walk faster or slower?” I asked.
“Try to gain your balance on one foot, keep your center, and look at the tree ahead of you.” They kept telling me I was doing well and that they were barely holding me up.
Like anything else physical I do, I always apply it to my life in the moment. LOL Can’t I just be a philosopher? (Note: my mom used to call me a pilosopo- to the Filipinos, a “pilosopo” is a smart aleck—someone who engages in meticulous and abstract reasoning, thereby incurring the ire of other Filipinos.)
1. In life when doing something new, before you can walk quickly doing something new you must first gain your balance. Your steady footing.
2. To keep going in that endeavor you must keep your center, whatever that thing is that allows you to keep your core tight and hold strong in that balance. It could be your spiritual beliefs, your friends, your morals and your routine. All these things can help steady you in times where you can feel shaky.
3. And lastly , keep your eye on your destination - where you want to go.
Like HeyAmberRae says doing scary things helps you learn and grow, yeah sure you’re gonna be shaky at first at anything new you try but keep these three things in mind and you’re golden.
WILL SOMEONE MAKE MY WISH COME TRUE AND HOST SHANNON IN ORANGE COUNTY???
Enter me 6 years ago. Close to broken-hearted and trying to find a way to rediscover myself after a relationship I discovered the wonder of music like Shannon Curtis. I remember the first time I heard Before the Sun, her fingertips on the keyboard literally felt like she was painting the sunlight crawling in through the shades just as her lyrics depict. She is one of those musicians that connects so deeply that the emotions in her voice, her phrasing, her lyrics, makes you feel as if the song was written into your soul and she knows you. She knows what you’ve been through. Not only can she be warm, vulnerable and raw but she can also be very powerful and bluesy like in Paris Can’t Have You.
SO it was to my pleasant surprise that I saw a Facebook posting announcing her Summer House Concert Tour. And thought YEAH sign me up. The problem? I can’t fit 20 people in my living room. LOL SO if you’d like to have her sing for you and your friends let her know. Even though she’s touring and has her songs featured on ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars and MTV’s The Hills she is totally awesome and loves her fans… And here she answered some of my questions:
So there it is a little Q&A with Shannon. I’m a little inspired and want to take a road trip now!!
Let’s set the world on fire…
The first time I heard this song on the radio I was in love with it. Who knew someone else would know I’d love the acoustic version. Thanks!!
KEEP YOUR CORE TIGHT AND KEEP BREATHING…
I have never been a person who enjoys fitness or physical exertion just for the sake of it. For me it’s gotta be fun. It has to be zumba, hip-hop, kick boxing, kayaking or rollerskating because running on a treadmill just seems boring. So it came to a surprise to me that on Saturday night watching an infomercial I felt compelled to order Insanity
After my first workout I was completely out of breath during half and couldn’t even complete the first fit test. But after my first two weeks I felt stronger and excited to come home and work out. It is truly insanity that I would enjoy exercise that is asking me to commit to 45 minutes 6 days a week for 60 days. Because I just don’t do that. When I’m gasping for air, Shaun T says stuff like Dig Deeper, Keep Your Core Tight, Keep Breathing.
Like I said I am not a fitness buff, but in every action I find a chance to see meaning. Sometimes in my own life I do find myself gasping for air, like I may not be able to see myself through it. If you know what I’m talking about it’s that same sinking feeling I get in those rare days in Orange County when you’re driving and the fog is so thick you can’t see ahead of you. It’s a scary feeling sometimes, not knowing if what’s ahead could lead to hurt or not so great things. But when unknown opportunities come and moments present themselves to test your strength, YOU have to push back. You hold on and keep your CORE tight and Dig Deeper. Knowing what your core values are and what drives you gives you an unwavering faith. Yes- you can lose your job, your significant other, possessions, but if you know your own WHY then you will most certainly push through.
I’ve had lots of these moments, where the fork in the road seemed lost in the fog and people make comments like “how are you so happy?” or “how are you so balanced?” And the answer is because although I do not always know what’s ahead MY own core values are strong and I always keep breathing.
![HOOTENANNY!! COLLABORATIVE WORLD
What’s that you say??
hootenanny [ˈhuːtəˌnænɪ], hootnanny [ˈhuːtˌnænɪ]n pl -nies
1. (Music, other) an informal performance by folk singers
2. Chiefly US something the name of which is unspecified or forgotten
This past Saturday, Collaborative World hosted a hootenanny at their Costa Mesa HQ and I had a blast. We drove up to the industrial part of Costa Mesa off Terminal Way and thought hmmm, maybe we got the wrong night? Wrong. We were early. Greeted by crates creatively lined up like a fence, lights strung up and eventually a cute miniature pony to take pictures with. In the first 15 minutes there were about 10 people there, then 30, eventually about 200 packed into one cozy room and free beer provided by the Orange County Brewing Co. Before the main acts started guitar players, a mandolin, a cello, and a fiddler huddled around a small crowd and started jammin’ “We’ll be comin round the mountain.” I can say that I never thought a fiddler could rock…There is something about this music that is so whimsical, silly and from my childhood that I can’t help but be happy. There were also other great bands that performed there like Show Ponies which was my favorite, the Calico Kids, Nicole Vaughn and Her Lovely Band and Moonsville Collective. It was amazing because I looked around and there were all types of people of all ages listening to Country/Bluegrass coming together to enjoy good music and support a brand with a passion for helping.
I talked to Andrew of Collaborative World and he just welcomed us in and showed us to the BBQ. The clothing line was founded by Dave Goodman and Tyler Carroll and they are passionate about their clothing that exists to give 50% of their profits to non-profits who already do good in the world. Saturday night their partners were A21 which is a non-profit that fights against human trafficking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stxmmQqKL0E
www.a21campaign.org
And also Akshaya Trust who care for the helpless in the streets of Madurai by providing food and other help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH_eqDwTDRY&feature=related
www.akshayatrust.org
When I went to look at the shirts I loved them. Comfy, soft, cozy cottons with simple designs with a bit of edge. My favorites are the SquidArt and the Voyager, great designs with great design placement. This event and clothing line has resonated their purpose within me. The Brand is Giving. And I love that.
www.thecwmovement.com](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzqhruft111rockl5o1_500.jpg)
HOOTENANNY!! COLLABORATIVE WORLD
What’s that you say??
hootenanny [ˈhuːtəˌnænɪ], hootnanny [ˈhuːtˌnænɪ]n pl -nies
2. Chiefly US something the name of which is unspecified or forgotten
This past Saturday, Collaborative World hosted a hootenanny at their Costa Mesa HQ and I had a blast. We drove up to the industrial part of Costa Mesa off Terminal Way and thought hmmm, maybe we got the wrong night? Wrong. We were early. Greeted by crates creatively lined up like a fence, lights strung up and eventually a cute miniature pony to take pictures with. In the first 15 minutes there were about 10 people there, then 30, eventually about 200 packed into one cozy room and free beer provided by the Orange County Brewing Co. Before the main acts started guitar players, a mandolin, a cello, and a fiddler huddled around a small crowd and started jammin’ “We’ll be comin round the mountain.” I can say that I never thought a fiddler could rock…There is something about this music that is so whimsical, silly and from my childhood that I can’t help but be happy. There were also other great bands that performed there like Show Ponies which was my favorite, the Calico Kids, Nicole Vaughn and Her Lovely Band and Moonsville Collective. It was amazing because I looked around and there were all types of people of all ages listening to Country/Bluegrass coming together to enjoy good music and support a brand with a passion for helping.
I talked to Andrew of Collaborative World and he just welcomed us in and showed us to the BBQ. The clothing line was founded by Dave Goodman and Tyler Carroll and they are passionate about their clothing that exists to give 50% of their profits to non-profits who already do good in the world. Saturday night their partners were A21 which is a non-profit that fights against human trafficking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stxmmQqKL0E
And also Akshaya Trust who care for the helpless in the streets of Madurai by providing food and other help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH_eqDwTDRY&feature=related
When I went to look at the shirts I loved them. Comfy, soft, cozy cottons with simple designs with a bit of edge. My favorites are the SquidArt and the Voyager, great designs with great design placement. This event and clothing line has resonated their purpose within me. The Brand is Giving. And I love that.
The mechanics of the heart are amazingly complex yet take no effort for us to complete the action of a heart beat. It is beautifully raw and the fact that it is something that we don’t have to perceive or analyze is what makes it so hard to write about. The heart has the inconceivable job of keeping us alive and beating in accordance to our activity. Yet our hearts have this intangible, unscientific affect on us all. Have you ever laid on someone’s chest and just felt peace hearing a heart beat, feeling in sync with that person? Have you ever felt your own pulse in your fingertips from being completely aware of your body? What if we listened to our hearts in every aspect of our lives instead of always being rational and always analyzing?
Our hearts race when we are excited, when we are nervous or scared. It aches when we are in pain or in sadness. Our hearts can be full and we can literally feel light when we are inspired and in love. The heart can move us if we allow it. Love can inspire if we let it in. It does not have to be a romantic love with a person, it can be love for children, for art, for order, for justice, for whatever you believe in that grounds you. I call us to listen. Listen to our bodies, our minds, and our hearts and be aware. Be aware of your fears, your passions, and your strengths and own them. Because even in fear we can succeed, we can push the limits. In these recent months I have come to many revelations and I have felt so alive by taking the steps to be as creative as I can. Not to analyze my actions, but to feel them, actually know where they come from and own them.
One of my many mentors shared the essay piece called iPencil and in it was a quote, “We are perishing for want of wonder, not for want of wonders.” Although this may not tie into Valentine’s Day or Art or Love I stand in awe of how my heart craves wonder. How my heart can be so magnificently mechanical, yet allows me the pleasure of the shift in palpitations with every emotion. So in everything you do, do it with heart.
Jump. Laugh. Play, says FROG
I’ll be leaving weekly letters or origami like this in random places hoping someone will stop and think. I am one of these people. An odd note or picture on the ground will catch my eye. Once there was a happy face drawn on a sticky note on the ground and I had no choice but to smile.
We as adults get so caught up in the mundane, that we forget that playing and being silly keeps us young. We wake up at the same time every day, usually eat the same breakfast, see the same people and go through our tasks like we are on auto-pilot. This week has been great for me. I played basketball (even though I suck), sang, and did Zumba. Zumba is a fitness craze that involves salsa dance and hip hop and if you are open to it there is room for interpretation and creativity.
Folding this frog was time consuming. Making sure the creases were hard, and that I was following direction was something I really hadn’t done since I was 10. But we can’t forget. We can’t forget about the little things that make us smile and giddy. So if someone finds this tomorrow morning and greets FROG with a smirk or thinks I’m a little cooky or nutty then FROG has served his purpose. Maybe man in Mazerati will think girl who glanced has a crush. Or maybe girl in said heels too uncomfy to walk in will pick FROGGY up and think of all the frogs she kissed to find her Valentine. Either way, whoever finds it has the blog, and my email theinconceivables1@gmail.com. If you don’t find it, you can email me a picture of something that would make you stop or a folded piece. I just thought I’d be a little quirky.
Life is too short to be stuck in auto-pilot trust me. We blinked and it is now February in 2012. So be crazy. Sing in the grocery store aisles, jump in your cubicle, play basketball even though you are positive you look silly… Just do something that is inconceivable for once. Yeah you, us adults need play to open up our minds just as much as kids do. Whether we make pottery, draw, sculpt, skip, run, play any sport, it’s not always about the product, but it is equally about being in the moment. SMILE
BUTTON WILLOW LOCOMOTIVE- OC MUSIC AWARDS
Ok, is this not the most inventive name you’ve heard? What is that? Mode of transportation? A form of crafting? Nope. It is the sound of an indie band that brings you a folksy, bluesy sound that stirs your soul. The lead singer Amanda Carson has a warm, yet sassy sound that draws you into their world of accoustic guitar duetting with a mandolin. There is something magical about that combination. Her co-vocalist is Alex Heflin and they were joined by Kyle Gustafson and Albert Law on the bass and drums.
I first heard them at Malone’s Bar as part of the OC Music Awards series on Tuesdays. Malone’s Bar was very unassuming from the outside but when you come in you are greeted by friendly bartenders, an inviting crowd that takes the time to have random convo and the Western Cheeseburger was a feast! I recommend that everyone take the time to stop on a Tuesday and come listen to free music. Whatever your passion is- whether it’s painting, writing, reading poetry, even being logical, it can definitely be unlocked by getting lost in the music.
http://ocmusicawards.com/showcases/
The next show is tomorrow at The Continental Room in Fullerton at 7pm!
