tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42340008209337025912024-03-12T16:39:07.976-07:00Yelhsa BlissAshleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-66446987136030596482011-12-27T16:30:00.000-08:002011-12-27T16:30:37.500-08:00The times they are a changin'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Loving 2011: Time<br />
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How did you spend your precious time in 2011 and how will you spend it in 2012?<br />
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Hmmmmm...Taking stock of how you spend your time can be a sobering experience. If I am being honest with myself I have to take note of all the time I've spent on the computer. While computer doesn't have to = wasted time, I would like to somehow limit the time I spend on facebook. I also notice that I get very distracted when surfing the web. I will open my computer for one reason and then 45 minutes later I find myself reading a blog or playing on pintrest, having totally forgot why I opened my laptop in the first place.<br />
I would like to reduce time spent on the computer by a bit. Any suggestions for how to do this would be greatly appreciated!<br />
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One thing I've learned about myself is that I am very much affected by my physical surroundings. I am sensitive to the space around me.While in some situations there is not much I can do about it, I would like to spend more time taking responsibility for the surroundings that I can control, my home and my car. Spending a few minutes tidying up can do wonders to lift my mood and get energy flowing!<br />
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In 2011 I have spent a lot of time daydreaming about projects that I would like to try rather than doing them. I would like to devote more time to creative pursuits, including this blog.<br />
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In 2011 I spent a lot of time on going to school and working on assignments. I say this every year but I truly want to manage my time better by not procrastinating.<br />
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I would also like to commit to spending even more time outdoors with my dogs and moving my body with yoga. I want to develop a more consistent meditation practice and more time communing with my angels and guides.<br />
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I will spend less time dwelling on what I do not want and worrying, and more time noticing and expressing appreciation for the good. Less time fretting and tensing my muscles and more time flowing, basking, smiling, and oozing love.<br />
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Peace,<br />
Yelhsa</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-33069513578186443822011-12-26T15:19:00.000-08:002011-12-26T15:19:22.676-08:00Vegucated<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Loving 2011 Day 9: What inspired you this year?<br />
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I like to think that I am inspired by something everyday. For the sake of this post I will narrow it down.<br />
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During my yoga teacher training in 2009 I learned a lot about the implications of what we put into our bodies for fuel. I decided to slowly eliminate flesh from my diet. I chose this for many reasons but the biggie was that I could no longer ignore the atrocities of our agricultural industry while calling myself an animal lover. By late summer of 2010 I had completely cut out meat. This year my decision to do so was re-confirmed. I don't <i>love</i> the idea of referring to myself as <i>vegetarian,</i> but often for simplicity's sake, I do. For one, I think it can turn people off or cause my meat eating friends feel judged. For two, I think it is important to listen to your body, and every once in a while I will get a hankering for some sort of non-vegetarian food item and allow myself to indulge. I would estimate this happens once every few months and half the time I end up talking myself out of it after recalling some piece of information that convinced me vegetarianism was more in line with my values to begin with. More and more often I am learning things that confirm that being a vegetarian at this point in my life is what is right for me. This year I was particularly inspired by the work of <a href="http://www.carnism.com/">Melanie Joy PhD</a>, author of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Dogs-Pigs-Wear-Cows/dp/1573244619">Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows</a></i>.<br />
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Another inspiring ray of sunshine regarding this has been Kris Carr. Kris is so relatable and her energy is magnetic. I have found her book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Sexy-Diet-Veggies-Ignite/dp/1599218011">Crazy, Sexy, Diet</a></i> to be a wonderful resource on living a holistic lifestyle. Her website (particularly the <a href="http://crazysexylife.com/">blog</a>) is an equally valuable resource and has awesome guest contributors such as SARK, John Robbins, Danielle LaPorte, Sharon Salzberg, Elena Brower, and tons more.<br />
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There have also been some award winning documentaries focused on the food industry which have come out over the past few years which I really feel everyone should see, notably <a href="http://www.foodincmovie.com/">Food Inc</a>. and <a href="http://www.foodincmovie.com/">Forks Over Knives. </a> The thing is, this issue isn't just about food, but involves so much including supporting community (small local farmers as opposed to mega-corporations), our health care system (including big Pharma), the environment, and animal welfare to name a few. There is a food revolution going down in America and I hope to help fuel it's fire even if it is only by the personal food choices I make each day.<br />
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P.S. I hope this doesn't sound too self-righteous because I don't mean it to : )</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-9395415569766571102011-12-10T12:36:00.000-08:002011-12-10T12:36:32.435-08:00Day 8: Blocks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Where were your blocks this year and how did you release them?</b><br />
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Oh where do I begin? Blocks are a HUGE issue in my life...so much so that on pontificating my 2012 word I am seriously considering FLOW. Stagnation is a challenge for me, physically, creatively and otherwise. <a href="http://fiveoclockdanceparty.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/loving-2011-day-eight/">One of the other participants</a> in Loving 2011 (sorry, I don't yet know your name!) mentioned how she is a perfectionist and sometimes, rather than doing something "wrong" or "badly" she just doesn't do it all. This is also the case with me. A lot of times I will see inspiration for an art project and because I don't know "how" to do it, or for fear that my end result will be sub-par I just abandon the possibility. Occasionally I will allow myself to play with paint and be unattached to the outcome...I would like to do more of this.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzlHHyet3E2R0Gio1XZ5WBGbdEqVjwhGwlVXg3PJKlW2k4AOLHdrr_P0qcAJBDBDU-KL2TmcL4RAqJkPNUgOiKY3aF1YQL00kBiPzi-UtfxKNADZaXLNAvstCtPGgpWZkRfJmmJTQEFM/s1600/Olivia+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzlHHyet3E2R0Gio1XZ5WBGbdEqVjwhGwlVXg3PJKlW2k4AOLHdrr_P0qcAJBDBDU-KL2TmcL4RAqJkPNUgOiKY3aF1YQL00kBiPzi-UtfxKNADZaXLNAvstCtPGgpWZkRfJmmJTQEFM/s320/Olivia+painting.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
This is a picture of my friend's little girl Olivia who I nanny several days a week. I pulled out the paint one day and the picture above is the result. We both had SO much fun!<br />
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</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-70724565535920455782011-12-07T20:51:00.000-08:002011-12-07T20:51:39.972-08:00Loving 2011 Day 7<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How did you honor your body in 2011?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ0YnqdmPtzMPCJpUcJzlHpAjohb-sNsfL8wPLJilmjLPqKnxCZVxRwbJZ9F-SnFdVjr3RR18fihNmSYBzgmpYvpt6ihZfhtvGdr_qBSfIDDL9HYOyT7xBJVFpweSJq9EfZeRq4ZBLmo/s1600/sarah-rogers-420x630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ0YnqdmPtzMPCJpUcJzlHpAjohb-sNsfL8wPLJilmjLPqKnxCZVxRwbJZ9F-SnFdVjr3RR18fihNmSYBzgmpYvpt6ihZfhtvGdr_qBSfIDDL9HYOyT7xBJVFpweSJq9EfZeRq4ZBLmo/s320/sarah-rogers-420x630.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
I wish I could think of an amazing example of how I honored my body this year, and while I do have ways in which I honor my body, I don't do it as much as I would like. I have a tendency to become stagnant physically, emotionally, and otherwise in my life. I think this stems from fear and overwhelm of decision making...anywho... it is a challenge for me-most of the time- to make myself do the things that I KNOW make me feel better in my body and spirit. This is something I am continuously working on. The things that make me feel as though I am honoring my body are: yoga, meditation, rest, and eating well. By eating well I mean fresh, raw (when possible), vegetarian (or vegan if I am being particularly conscientious).<br />
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One way that I did honor my body this year was by reading Kris Carr's <i>Crazy Sexy Diet</i>. This is an amazing book and I feel that the word "diet" within the title can be a little misleading. I am not a believer in diets so to speak. This is more of a prescription or plan for a holistic lifestyle and it's awesome, I highly recommend it. Maybe I will write more about the book later but for now it is way past my bed time! Night, night.<br />
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Love,<br />
Yelhsa</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-34766216994890554552011-12-06T15:28:00.000-08:002011-12-06T15:28:39.522-08:00Loving 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year bloggers <a href="http://www.gwenbell.com/blog">Gwen Bell</a>, <a href="http://www.kaileenelise.com/">Kaileen Elise</a>, and <a href="http://blog.caligater.com/">Cali Harris</a> created a passion project they dubbed Reverb 2010. It was an online community initiative with daily prompts for the entire month of December. I didn't find out about it until mid-month and for whatever reason that kept me from joining in. I guess I felt like I was already too far behind. I enjoyed reading other people's responses to the prompts on their blogs and thought "oh, I'll do it next year." Not my finest example of seizing the day- carpe diem!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had forgotten about it until I saw an article on Elephant Journal today which reminded me. I became a bit frustrated after doing a little digging online today to start my first Reverb response. Then I found out that for whatever reason the original creators are not hosting the project this year. They did however encourage former Reverbers to host their own version of it. That's when I realized that that must be what one of my favorite bloggers <a href="http://www.dreamlifewellness.com/">Lori Lynn Hurley</a> must've had in mind with her Loving 2011 project. LL has described her version as "a project of remembrance." I have also seen it described as "reflecting on 2011 and manifesting for 2012". I LOVE the idea and will not be content to sit on the sidelines this year. I will do my absolute best to answer each prompt-though I am already 6 days late so I am not promising to finish on time! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loving 2011 prompt for December 6th, 2011: Share an image that you created this year.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This photo was taken in Golden Gate park in August of this year. My boyfriend and I had dreamed of driving the Pacific Coast Highway so we decided to do it for our 10 yr. anniversary. We knew we would have to stick to a <i>very </i>tight budget and with me being back in school I was not able to contribute as much financially as I would've liked. There were several times before we left (but after flights had already been purchased) that I honestly didn't know if that trip was gonna happen. I just couldn't see how we would be able to come up with the money we would need to travel from L.A. to San Francisco over the course of 11 days. But my amazing honey, in his easy breezy way, assured me that there was no way we were not going, and all would be well. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sure enough he was right and we (mainly he) was able to amass the amount of money that we thought would allow us a fun, yet frugal adventure. In the spirit of adventure, or procrastination, we only made reservations for our first two nights in L.A. and that was it. We were craving a sense of freedom and wanted to pace our trip based on heart and intuition rather than the fact that we had reservations somewhere on a particular day and had to be there. We planned on camping in state parks all along the coast and from what we had researched we found that campsites were typically available as long as you checked in to your desired campground by 9:00 a.m. Needless to say, this wasn't necessarily the case and many of our days were spent racing other campers to desirable campgrounds only to be told there was no room at the inn-so to speak. I would work myself into a panic each day worried that we wouldn't find a vacancy at a campground and would have to sleep in the car in some dangerous roadside situation. So here I was driving one of the most beautiful stretches of road in America, with the love of my life, and I am sitting in the passenger seat consumed with the scary stories my mind was telling me instead of allowing myself to surrender fear and drink in the moment. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now luckily, I became aware of this irony within the first day or so. I thought to myself, "hmmm, isn't this a golden nugget of wisdom just</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> presenting itself on a silver platter." And it was. It was a total lesson in several ways. The first thing was, surrender. Sometimes we just don't have control over certain situations and sometimes we should just roll with it knowing that we are safe. The next thing, and maybe the more obvious, was to remain in the present moment, however challenging that may be, and not let those voices in your head scare you. The third is faith, blind faith. Things don't always look the way you think they will or should (nasty little word, that should), but in the end, every little thing is gonna be alright, in the wise words of one Bob Marley. While I knew early on that a huge lesson was making itself known to me on that trip (as with all travel and one of many reasons I love it so) that didn't mean that I relinquished all worry and completely chilled out from there on out. But I am grateful that I at least recognized it for what it was as it was happening. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The photo above was chosen too, in honor of my boyfriend. My anchor, and safe harbor. There were times during that trip when I thought to myself, "we should have just rented a beach house with friends in Florida, that would have been so much easier!" Not that there is anything wrong with beach houses in Florida, but looking back I am so so so grateful for our PCH adventure. And there is no one I would have rather experienced it with than him. </span><br />
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Recently I've really been intrigued with the Day of the Dead celebrations. The holiday is a Mexican holiday that honors friends and family who have passed. "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_skull" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Sugar skull">sugar skulls</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagetes_erecta" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Tagetes erecta">marigolds</a>, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Aztec">Aztec</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Festival">festival</a> dedicated to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Goddess">goddess</a> called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mictecacihuatl" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Mictecacihuatl">Mictecacihuatl</a>" (Wikipedia).</span></span><br />
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I think it is so cool the way people express themselves through the makeup and costumes. I was perusing the amazing blog <a href="http://oraclefox.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-of-dead.html">Oracle Fox</a> and came across these images. Mandy, the author of the blog apparently got the images from a photo shoot for Planet Blue. Planet Blue also provides a <a href="http://shopplanetblue.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-to-dia-de-los-muertos-make-up.html">tutorial</a> for the Day of the Dead makeup, awesome. I'm definitely gonna have to give it a go.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSeIeOjoAtABghieRyVg9a9GPBhZ2Cb9Oh7PZkLzLPFr6Wg2hFAsZazDmGk1MSZjGmc7gXlffZmQ0Wq1VnpenLBIde3Tes_s9BzIHsUC7VZc8sLxf5xi1TRmCCfDoxvjBWg-nF4hY_dc/s1600/PlanetBlueDayDead7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSeIeOjoAtABghieRyVg9a9GPBhZ2Cb9Oh7PZkLzLPFr6Wg2hFAsZazDmGk1MSZjGmc7gXlffZmQ0Wq1VnpenLBIde3Tes_s9BzIHsUC7VZc8sLxf5xi1TRmCCfDoxvjBWg-nF4hY_dc/s320/PlanetBlueDayDead7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBy_JZrW938V6j9ZQfgpdFh-oEWflk7nOwGl3aPSgTl9WnwKjP2YukHr0aGHAIykxReaFbW8rKJ_dA1zWCgSfxFLnbjwDjXmas4Zwqk2W7r3L8_4swYbBurfVA-_s8JreliaA0MnKMPZo/s1600/PlanetBlueDayDead3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBy_JZrW938V6j9ZQfgpdFh-oEWflk7nOwGl3aPSgTl9WnwKjP2YukHr0aGHAIykxReaFbW8rKJ_dA1zWCgSfxFLnbjwDjXmas4Zwqk2W7r3L8_4swYbBurfVA-_s8JreliaA0MnKMPZo/s320/PlanetBlueDayDead3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGyW0JrAoscYmWdeLYH8j02B_vLggAuxE4GfeXI3G-Qf6Q4nRePumX6AQuJ2OK8Jjd4TueQBsAOhytKyYDkrKgS2b2XeBMlWlxZWNbu7oVfugqZFFjfjmeK5z6ILtPUULVrx2_lP2jPo/s1600/PlanetBlueDayDead4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGyW0JrAoscYmWdeLYH8j02B_vLggAuxE4GfeXI3G-Qf6Q4nRePumX6AQuJ2OK8Jjd4TueQBsAOhytKyYDkrKgS2b2XeBMlWlxZWNbu7oVfugqZFFjfjmeK5z6ILtPUULVrx2_lP2jPo/s320/PlanetBlueDayDead4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSmzJzsp96vPW6dl3LPBNsyEt1Jt7sZyiWoRnPxoy8I4sqz6x5tBcqubK1WjWavqeDiguIir6IqKtDur0KQ4QURTz6X2HRpuDtVIhALLhAnpQ3qtR1r25zISGOSXUKz5_Kf9irivw4Gg/s1600/PlanetBlueDayDead8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSmzJzsp96vPW6dl3LPBNsyEt1Jt7sZyiWoRnPxoy8I4sqz6x5tBcqubK1WjWavqeDiguIir6IqKtDur0KQ4QURTz6X2HRpuDtVIhALLhAnpQ3qtR1r25zISGOSXUKz5_Kf9irivw4Gg/s320/PlanetBlueDayDead8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYUnDn5JddesXOMNSveyXIZD2ZzBqnM_MSzqPYUNs93vhkkPgR3CkF2EHm3ZnnXZvb7-VE8wvX-I2umEcwFZpxpP1-2nRjcAF35Sx55FTgeuMXJOh4_oLrQUnen0jf-sdf8EJNyYf6p8/s1600/PlanetBlueDayDead11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYUnDn5JddesXOMNSveyXIZD2ZzBqnM_MSzqPYUNs93vhkkPgR3CkF2EHm3ZnnXZvb7-VE8wvX-I2umEcwFZpxpP1-2nRjcAF35Sx55FTgeuMXJOh4_oLrQUnen0jf-sdf8EJNyYf6p8/s320/PlanetBlueDayDead11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-44485173394028215392011-07-20T19:44:00.000-07:002011-07-22T22:16:22.615-07:00Healing with Horses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArFyV9P5RphtnfG2TrbgcAKJRaWcPfPdoyAs_VVd2k4EkqnewYUj01Aojoeu0FYS2Wl3DKx7NjQAhh91EI4FI0Du3FsrfmQs24aRwall_3tc4e3edylFp0oHoTmCXTWDMdtAJtbtBhu0/s1600/ethereal+horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArFyV9P5RphtnfG2TrbgcAKJRaWcPfPdoyAs_VVd2k4EkqnewYUj01Aojoeu0FYS2Wl3DKx7NjQAhh91EI4FI0Du3FsrfmQs24aRwall_3tc4e3edylFp0oHoTmCXTWDMdtAJtbtBhu0/s320/ethereal+horse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometime in the mid 1970's a wild hearted, dreamy eyed girl moved to Kentucky to be a horse trainer. This girl, much to her dismay, ended up becoming a lawyer, marrying my father, and giving birth to me; not necessarily in that order. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Horses remained a big part of my mama's life, and when I was old enough she brought me along with her to the stables to ride. I have so many early memories of those times on the farm with mama-most of them idyllic, warm, and wonderful. Except for the time I got bucked off a horse at about age six. Mama insisted I get back back up as soon as I was finished feeling sorry for myself. I did as much, and was proud of myself for doing so.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life happened and my parent's marriage ended. Mama ended up having two more kids from a second marriage and I became a teenager. There was no time for the two of us to be in LaLa land at the stables anymore. I know I have looked back on those times with great nostalgia but I had never been so aware of how much I missed it all until recently. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I saw that my program at my University was offering an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) class I jumped all over it. For anyone that is unfamiliar with EAP, it is not therapy for horses but rather a type of experiential therapy using horses as a teacher or a tool and/ or a catalyst for healing. Sessions are conducted on a farm (or similar horse facility) and include hands-on activities with horses which help facilitate learning about oneself.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the beginning of my class on EAP I had an emotional connection to it. But as I got further along in the class I found myself falling head over heals for this type of therapy. I started to write how amazed I was by how powerful EAP is but the truth is, I knew instinctively all along that I was onto something special when I signed up for the class.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are numerous reasons beyond my own personal emotional connection to horses as to why I believe EAP to be so powerful. In many cases clients see positive results and breakthroughs so much faster than in traditional talk therapy. There is no BSing the horses. They pick up on a person's energy and mirror it back to them. This seems to happen without fail and is an incredible thing to witness. Being in nature and sharing space with these magnificent creatures is cathartic in and of itself. For some, horses can be intimidating so when a client feels they have been successful in an activity with a horse it can do wonders for confidence building. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are so many reasons why this therapy is so amazing and research is just now beginning on this form of healing. Below I have posted the trailer for a documentary about a family who's son was diagnosed with Autism and the journey they began which led them to Mongolia and Equine Assisted Therapy. It is a beautiful, awe-inspiring journey that I feel could help many and I am honored to share.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe width="560" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cYkT_GndKtE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </span><br />
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I am visualizing each one of these things as a bright red balloon. I am holding the strings attached to each balloon. I am in the country on a sunny spring day. The air smells of mud and newly sprouting grass. I feel the sun on my skin as a warm breeze kisses me hello and I let go of the balloons. They softly float up into the clear blue sky. They become smaller and smaller until now there are only a few tiny dots remaining in my view... just before they completely disappear. </div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-90574614224853782732011-02-26T21:12:00.000-08:002011-02-26T21:12:47.991-08:00Rainbow Bridge Meditation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szF1my0ShV4&feature=related<br />
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Let this blow your mind. More to come. xoxo</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-60509245600561601242011-02-14T10:15:00.000-08:002011-02-23T18:59:03.462-08:00Valentine's DayHappy Valentine's Day!<br /><br />I have always enjoyed V-day ever since I was a little girl. Tomorrow is my birthday so these two days are extra enjoyable for me. This time of year I am usually at my wits end with winter. While I have learned to view winter differently the past few years, by this point I'm dying for sunshine and warm breezes. My birthday and Valentine's day are a nice distraction.<br /><br />It is fascinating to me what V-day brings up for some people. It's kind of like brussel sprouts, you either love it or hate it. I understand the tendency for some to view it as a capitalistic, commercialized excuse for a holiday (what isn't these days?,) and can be a painful reminder for some who are single and wish not to be.<br /><br />It's like everything else in life. You get out of it what you put into it. You have the power to make it a miserable day or an opportunity to bask in love. I don't believe you must be romantically involved with someone to partake. It is a day to celebrate loved ones and yourself. After all, the relationship you have with yourself is the most important relationship in your life. Take today to pamper yourself. This doesn't have to cost money but it can if you wish. Meditate, practice yoga, take a bubble bath, have an artist date, watch a indulgent movie, call your grandmother, your best friend, your dad, or all three. Today is the ultimate day to partake in Radical Self Love. I hope you have a magical day...it's all up to you.<br /><br />xoxo-<br />YelhsaAshleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-38484801292783778132011-02-04T21:28:00.000-08:002011-02-23T18:59:03.476-08:00Yikes!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Much has happened in the 30+ days since I last posted. I lost a loved one in an unthinkable tragedy. What's more is that my beloved lost even more than I dare to say in said tragedy. I picked up SARK's book <i>Glad No Matter What </i>immediately. Books are where I turn in times of turmoil, uncertainty, fear, and almost ANY time I don't know what the f*** to do.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>One thing has become crystal clear in the last month or so. It is that I am going to commit to this blogging idea. I have long been a person that trusts and follows my "gut" instincts. I went to Ecuador for 3+ months leaving everything behind including my beloved, my "child" (dog, Molly) an apartment, job, etc., simply because I just knew it was right for me at the time. (I was right.) Several years later, I invested a significant amount of $ on attending a 9 month Yoga Teacher Training program (here in my home town) based solely on the prospect that I felt it was my next step. Now I am getting the same strong messages about my next endeavor which is to commit myself to this blog. The feeling, impulse, whatever you want to call it is all too familiar. I have to do my part. That means showing up. I don't have to make any promises that it will be monumental (though I don't doubt it will in one way or the other), I just have to visit this place and spill what I am called to share. This causes me to recall something that the great Elizabeth Gilbert graced humanity with at a TED conference. I do not pretend to come close to possessing the talent that Liz does, I merely resonate with her message. http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html</div><div> That's all for now. MUCH more to follow. I can't wait. Or as Louise Hay would prefer me to say, I am very much looking forward to it.</div><div><br /></div><div>All of my love,</div><div>Yelhsa</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-86372519121100189132010-12-14T18:48:00.000-08:002011-02-23T18:59:03.487-08:00A Study in Contradiction"Wow. It's been almost a full year since I've been here." This is my first observation upon revisiting the idea of this blog. I am in pretty much the same place emotionally as I was (almost) one year ago the last time I wrote here. Some external changes have taken place.<div><br /></div><div>I am still living in my humble but adorable (to me) condo. It still needs some work. I have less money than I had last year to do much about it. Ever the optimist I still have my plans though. I still have my beloved pups Molly and Finn by my side, and my best friend and love for the past nine years, Chino. </div><div><br /></div><div>I heard Jessica Seinfield say something the other day that made me think. She was talking about how she cherishes her friendships with women and how she always hears other women refer to their husbands as their 'best friends.' Jessica said "my husband is not my best-friend, my best-friend is my best-friend."</div><div><br /></div><div>At first I thought, "Yeah! Exactly. More power to us women friends." I still think this way to some extent. I cherish my friendships with women, sometimes I feel I cherish them more than my women friends do. I think I'm on the sensitive side, though I may protect this fact about myself fiercely at times. Anyway...for better or worse, right or wrong, politically correct or not. My boyfriend IS my best-friend. I do have a handful of girl friends who I consider my besties and who I would do just about anything for. I hope to gain even more meaningful friendships with women as I continue on my journey. There is one friend who I have had the longest and have been through it all with. I consider Torch and a few others, my <b>sisters.</b> Torch however, lives across the country and she doesn't experience me in the trenches of daily life <b>every single day.</b> Neither do my other lovelies, as we are all engrossed with our own stories, drama, triumphs. This doesn't make me love her/them any less or value our friendship any less. It's just that, I also consider my boyfriend my best-friend, I consider myself somewhat of a feminist, and I'm okay with both. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Only idiots fail to contradict themselves three times a day."-Friedrich Nietzsche</div><div><br /></div><div>"Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself. (I am large, I contain multitudes.)-Walt Whitman. </div><div><br /></div><div>More to come on ch-ch-ch-changes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Besos,</div><div>Yelhsa</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-48157403770186445852010-03-17T20:14:00.000-07:002011-02-23T18:59:03.515-08:00Caveat<div>I've heard this word "caveat" literally 5 times today. From several different media sources. Public radio, the newspaper, an internet article, magazine article, and just now on Gossip Girl. Yes, I do indulge in mindless t.v. from time to time. Anyway, I thought the universe must be sending me a message with this word today and felt it only right to acknowledge it.</div><div><br /></div>So...I'm just getting home and settled after a long day of working my "real job" at the magazine, as well as my job waiting tables. It is 11:15 p.m. I am trying not to think of how dreadful I will feel when my alarm goes off in the morning to scream at me with it's jarring "Beeeeep Beeeep Beeeep" as if a 18 wheeler is backing into my bedroom and even scarier, about to crash into my actual bed. I will snooze it approximately 4 or 5 times, maybe 6, before I actually arise like a zombie, do the "thread the needle" yoga pose on each side, while still in bed and then finally as if I am walking to my death, will stumble into the bathroom to rid myself of the inevitable morning breath. <div><br /></div><div>My mornings have been this pathetic for quite some time now. I hate to sound cliche' by using the term, "vicious cycle", but it is the best way my numb mind can describe my weekdays. Staying up late at night due to my evening gig waiting tables. Coming home and trying, but failing to decipher the most valuable use of my time. Will it be playing with my beloved dogs, tidying up my condo, journaling, reading all the yoga material I'm totally behind on, blogging, paying bills, working on my goals...the list goes on and on. Inevitably I stay up way longer than intended, before I finally shame myself to go to bed. Six or seven hours later the lovely "morning routine" I described above ensues. </div><div><br /></div><div>I won't even bore you with the ins and outs of my actual work day. I know, I know, I am REALLY feeling sorry for myself. Things could most definitely be sufficiently worse. I do remind myself everyday of how lucky I am to have a job, two (jobs) actually, that between the two of them pay my bills. No there isn't much left over after that but...well that's what I'm working on. I have a condo that I feel at home in and definitely needs some work but I do have a vision for it.... somewhat.... with the help of a very talented interior designer acquaintance. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anywhoo...I'm actually feeling pretty damn optimistic today, minus the usual exhaustion, burnout, ready- to- find- my- life's- purpose- urgency that pervades most my days. I'm feeling very confident that I'm on to something. More than just something. I'll keep you posted.</div><div><br /></div><div>XOXO~ Ashley</div><div><br /></div><div>p.s. Did I mention about the classes I taught at Shine Movement Studio last week? My first ever real yoga classes. So empowering!</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-34064659152968452882010-03-01T18:33:00.000-08:002011-02-23T18:59:03.528-08:00High DiveDo you ever make plans with a friend of yours who you have so much respect and admiration for that you start feeling a bit small right before you rush off to see them? <div><br /></div><div>I do. I probably feel this way about more than one of my friends. I know that it's nobody's fault. It's surely not theirs for being so awesome and I refuse to take the blame for feeling so tender.</div><div><br /></div><div>I tend to have a lot of shame about the place I am in career wise and financially at this stage in my life. I feel like most of the people I know are so much further along the path than I am. It's not for lack of trying, that's for sure. I feel like I have been on an archeological dig for the last 10 yrs. with no bones to show the boss man.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last week during a visit with a lovely friend of mine, one who is in law school and practically engaged to a Harvard medical student, I found myself saying to her with a certain amount of self pity, "I have just never been one of those people who has always known exactly what they wanted to do." She said something back to me that struck a chord. It is not something I had never heard before but yet it was as if I was really hearing it for the first time. "I don't think most people <i>do</i> always know what they want to do. I just felt it was time to decide on something, and I really liked law. It is something I feel even more passionate about now that I am this far into it. At this point I've committed and sacrificed so much to this path there is no going back." </div><div><br /></div><div>Hmmm...It was a light bulb moment. Maybe I've been looking so hard for"the work I was put on earth to do" that I have been eliminating things (careers) that aren't PERFECT. Now, I know every career has it's ups and downs, but I have had this idea in my mind that there is one specific job out there for me and I have refused to settle until I found "it." Maybe there isn't just one perfect job for everyone but many that would be great for each person. Maybe it's time that I just leaped into what I love and think I might be great at, even if it doesn't fall into the diameters of a title, or even a job or career I've ever heard of. Perhaps I have thought that if I looked hard enough I would one day stumble upon the perfect job for me wrapped up in a neat little package complete with a manual on how to get from point A to point B and a list of all responsibilities and what to expect. Has this been my problem? </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe it's time I quit watching all the big kids jump off the high dive and go ahead and do it</div><div> myself.</div><div><br /></div><div>xoxo ~ Ashley</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-16537662797178810482010-02-18T18:42:00.000-08:002011-02-23T18:59:03.544-08:00Hit Upside the Head<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So after leaving my day job at the magazine today I head over to the restaurant where I wait tables a couple nights a week. I don't mind it here too much as it's a family owned joint, pretty laid back, with only a handful of employees, all of whom I like for the most part. The place is especially drama free for a restaurant. I can come here and do mindless work, earn a few extra bucks and go home. It's a bit degrading to me (my own issue, I know) when I have to wait on someone I went to high school with or the like. I always find myself explaining why the hell I'm working here in between "what would you like to drink" and "would you like any parmesan cheese for your pasta?" <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Anywhoo...I'm going along playing the role of cheerful servant all the while mulling over in my head the same thing I mull over 99.9% of my day; "So what IS IT EXACTLY that I want my life's work to be? What was I put here to do?" I get an epiphany. It's one I've had before but came on especially strong at the soda fountain tonight. "I want to work with kids. Yes, I definitely want to work with kids on expressing their creativity, building their self confidence, doing art projects. I can incorporate yoga, movement, and breathing exercises! I will have a</div><div> really cool office and it will be amazing!" I get really excited about this and get all warm and fuzzy inside. I start heading to the back of the kitchen to grab some rags to wipe down a counter where I encounter one of the chefs's sons playing with a ginormous nurf gun. I smile at him when suddenly he aims his gun at me with a calculating 11 yr. old grin on his face. He fires, narrowly hitting me in my face. "Roberts, don't shoot me with that thing, o.k.? I mean it. " He proceeds to stick his tongue out at me and smirk then aiming the nerf gun at me again. "Who cares?!" He shouts in a bratty, and antagonizing tone. "I do. I'm trying to work and I don't want to be plowed in the face with a plastic suction cup." I am so irritated with this boy that I become aghast at myself. "Oh shit. Maybe I'm not cut out to work with kids" I think to myself. A few minutes later I talk myself down. "Well maybe this is the Universe's way of saying 'Yes. This will be challenging, but yes'." </div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234000820933702591.post-59627378214331034612010-02-11T18:46:00.000-08:002011-02-23T18:59:03.562-08:00Listening to a WhisperI don't know what I'm doing. I don't know much about technology and computers, like math and science, technology and computers in general have always felt a bit intimidating to me. I have always said "Oh I'm terrible at math." Or "I'm not a science person." However, in eighth grade I had a talented teacher that had the ability to show me the way to figure out an equation and it was thrilling. And I know there are some scientific things that can stir some interest in me...even if they do lean towards the metaphysical. <div><br /></div><div>I am on a journey. A journey to find my calling in life. I refuse to settle for a job. I refuse to settle for what my parents may deem a respectable profession. I want fireworks. I want heart racing, breath taking, "Ah, this is why I am here" moments- I want them on a daily basis. And I will stop at nothing until I figure out just what it is that will provide this for me. I am ferociously searching, the way a starving person would search for a morsel of food. I am following the bread crumbs. I don't know why but my gut says to start this blog. I am "trusting in the process" as one of the hundreds of self help books I have read recommends. Maybe this blog will just be a sort of captain's log that only benefits myself. Maybe it will be something more. At this point I don't have the answers, I'm just following orders.</div><div><br /></div><div>Love,</div><div>Me </div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01422053385036027610noreply@blogger.com0