travel – LIVING IN THE WINDOW

I was sorting through my google drive this morning, and came across some writing of Dean’s. There were so many lessons we learned through his suffering. So many practices we put into place to make the most of the time we had together. Always keeping things on the bright side. I would often fire questions off to him or give him homework assignments when I saw things looking down. Dean was a little dark if you let him slip. With time against usI felt it imperative to keep focused on what could make us most happy. Here’s a good one: a bit of his writing, and a bit of my edit. Sort of like a ghostwriter in the realest sense of the term. I hope it brings a smile to those who miss him most and gives everyone else a sense intention on this summer like hump day in New Jersey.

What makes me feel alive?

(Ok so let’s do it different. Not sure sure how many times I’ve said that but Nikki gave me an assignment so let’s try it)

I feel alive when:

Dropping in and a backhand Indo barrel at Ulus (I guess it’s finding your edge…the limit…when you are pushing the being alive part)

Surviving the next set of scans

Seeing the sun, feeling the sun, being in the ocean facing your fears

To feel alive. Facing your fears and challenging them. Know your physical limits – however that’s not your limiting factor – you’re only limiting factor are your excuses.

Being in California:

Things are green here (California) I like that. You can grow things in your yard and eat them. I like that. This happens all year long. I like that.

They have all three seasons in one day. Just be prepared.

Sitting in the kitchen with Nikki and Hil while they talk, cook and laugh. That makes me feel alive. The little things, Bearing witness to the moments.

Setting expectations: realistic expectations and prioritizing what is most important:

“Dads are supposed to be brave. Consider the things you want to pass on to your kids.Set a good example. Promote honesty and ask if you don’t understand. Be kind and be strong! (strong like bull) try and hear more than say more, try to feel more and Pray some too. – I worry I wont be able to instill all the lessons I want instill in the girls. Life is fleeting. Make a list. Face that truth – create action around it. That makes me feel alive. Intentional living.”

Seizing the moment:

“New break. Love seaside Cardiff by the sea. Today had it all. Little rippers Jersey style and John was getting Gianna and Fia in on some bombing rights. As I sat with Nick grabbing this little left on the corner of the channel with a perfect view of the girls ripping down the line working on their backhand. They probably had 5 years of East Coast experience in two days. Wish I had a Go-pro for me it was fantastic to experience for real. For my girls this will probably not be as memorable as some future trip.”

These are the literal – alive which is a good start – and certainly are actual as they are personal challenges that allow us to learn about ourselves and what we do.

In the past few days, I’ve had several people ask when I will get back to teaching yoga. My response has been : I’m not ready. I have no words. My yoga has been life these days as it actually always is. The practice of Yoga (Asana) arms us with the tools we need to face our everyday challenges. The work we do on our mat, we take into our lives.

What Makes You Feel Alive? A question I will often raise while keeping a room in the most difficult pose : the long warrior holds (for those of you have have often been in my class) rooting down through your right big toe mound, widening your foot and peeling your arch from the floor. Grounding the blade of your left foot behind you, energizing you quads, softening your knees, dropping your shoulders, lengthening your neck, while staring down your right middle finger and growing your arms by an inch or three.

Facing Adversity. Reminding ourselves what we’re up to.

What Makes You Feel Alive?

It still happens every time. Layer after layer I go through his things – It’s not a job that I dread, it just takes commitment and care, and often a lot of thought as to who to give things to, so – chunks of time. Crazy, 21 months later and I’m still going through things.

Today it was the little shelf under my side table. Possibly the most constant piece in my bedroom, other than my bed. The place where magic happens apparently, but a story for another time – the side table story that is.

Always a stack of books, favorites or to be read, some have tattered, from a drop or two in the bathtub. Dogeared, filled with post-it’s paperclips and things of sorts. Photos, of memories past, placed for safe keeping while traveling away from home as a daily reminder of my people. Today I found three separate catalog pages, in three separate books, all featuring the same beach towels I’ve had my eye on for years. I like what I like.

And a set-list.

Most times I know what show they were from, who we were were with, what we were celebrating – we were always celebrating. They represent so much, a little slice of time, not unlike the photographs. They hold memories recalled in my body, thats the magic in the music, its a full body experience for most.

I’ve always been a sucker for a set-list.

It’s something about being a part of that quiet frenetic energy leading up to a show, writing the night out. The moments before. It’s a privilege to me. I’ve always felt that. In the case of In The Red, I only knew the latter days, where rehearsals would be non-existent although intended, and set-lists would be compiled over days of emails and text messages – often with cheats and notes included – the fellas are all getting old. I recently went through some messages on Dean’s phone, and the majority of emails saved were exactly that. Mindfulness in creating an experience – making sure it was as big and as much fun as we could possibly fit in the room.

(It’s a quality I admire in people and believe to hold in myself: creating a vibe, ambiance, taking care of everyone and everything, with joy from love. little things, energy, details)

What a way to live.

Every once in a while I get to sit in on this with friends, and I’m like a kid on Christmas Morning. (click that blue sentence to catch a glimpse)

Looking so forward to this week’s adventure in New Orleans, filled with sweet sounds, get downs, great friends and good vibes. There’s a piece of my soul that is only fed with the music of that city. The horns, the heat and the slow steady vibration that you can feel in the streets, the undercurrent. Tradition, history, culture and new experiences. Something about that Crescent City that will hold my heart forever. The intention and energy behind the music, the easy attitude of the people, the smiles of the faces I see but once a year, front row, loving it all as big and full as I do, like we’ve been waiting for this week all year – because we have. Right there at the edge of the stage where if you tilt you head the right way, you might just catch a peek of that setlist taped to the floor by the mic.

We’ll be missing some of our regulars, for sure, but will carry on for you, and you newbies, we just can’t wait to bring you into our world! There is just no place like New Orleans, get ready to live a little piece of your heart down south. Laissez les bons temps rouler!