PS

Reason number 314 to love PS: the art museum.

Fantastic permanent collection and exhibits.  

Easy to tackle in an hour.

Art inspires.  It. Just. Does.

GIRLS and . . . boys

I LOVE the girls in GIRLS, but it's the boys, particularly Adam, who surprised me in season one.  Admittedly, I initially put him in a box, labeled him as a certain type of guy, a boyfriend Hannah could learn from, but should ultimately move on from.  His profundity in The Bushwick Warehouse Party changed my opinion.  "You never ask me anything, besides ‘does this feel okay?’ or ‘do you like my skirt?’ or ‘how much is your rent?’ I’m not gonna fuckin’ talk your ear off about shit you don't ask about. You don’t wanna know me."  He called Hannah on her narcissism, and my attention immediately shifted to his point of view in the relationship, how he'd been responding to her behavior.  Hearing his side of the story was a brilliant shift in story telling.  It underscored the importance of communication and gave the relationship validity to grow.  In anticipation of tonight's season two premiere, The New York Times writes about the boys.

Tinto

I certainly don't need another reason to love Palm Springs, but if I did it would be Tinto.   Iron Chef and James Beard award winner Jose Garces has a new sophisticated restaurant in the Saguaro Hotel.   The experience was delightful and DELICIOUS.

Forward Bend

This is one of my favorite postures.  I love the release in my shoulders, and lower back, and setting free the tension in my head and neck.  Naturally, I responded to this poem by Claudia Cummins.

Counting to 10, biting the tongue, walking away, closing the door.
Falling forward. (Uttanasana, although any forward bend will do).

Strong legs, softening heart.
Waiting, settling, breathing.
Feeling the stretch, sensing the resistance.
Noting the invitation to let go of it all.
Settling the mind, the breath, the body.

Heavy, light. Dense, open. Draining, filling.
Restoring, regaining balance.
Relinquishing the melodrama, the storyline, the angst.
Just breathing, just being. Recovering faith.
Finding space again to breathe and move.

Standing back up. Opening the door.

Luck

Someone just asked me if I'm feeling lucky, and without hesitation I responded, "I am".  That's the ingredient I need right now, luck.  The work is done, and although I know it's good, it's all about timing and what is supposed to align or not.  I still don't have attachments to specific outcomes because there are so many scenarios, but that doesn't stop me from feeling lucky!

Peace

If you are depressed, you are living in the past.

If you are anxious, you are living in the future.

If you are at peace, you are living in the present.

Lao Tzu

Bring It

My intuition tells me this is going to be a big year.  Unclear if "big" means good or bad, something I typically don't qualify, but I have a sense it will be momentous.  I'm sensing a leap forward, not change in a transitional sense, in fact I'm feeling quite grounded, but something that will propel me in a specific direction.  I don't usually have expectations for the coming year.  I embrace twelve new months with hope, optimism and curiosity.  I look back with gratitude and awe, especially when I catalogue the shared moments with friends.  The last few years I've had the amazing opportunity to travel and explore beyond my inner and external bounds.  The experiences have forever changed me.  Here's to the past, the future and most importantly the present.  When I stay in the moment, everything is feasible.  Happy 2013!