tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73043466475709338592024-03-21T21:14:35.370-04:00The Meaning of LunchA blog about finding meaning in the good life.Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-27218389949335713462014-11-23T20:05:00.000-05:002014-11-23T20:06:58.240-05:00New Website Alert!I just launched a new website called <a href="http://www.ablissfulinterlude.com/" target="_blank">a blissful interlude</a>. In addition to some personal musings on finding those blissful moments in life, the site features stories and profiles on folks who are making a difference in the world, however big or small. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.ablissfulinterlude.com/blog-1/andrewtayloreventideoysterco" target="_blank">first story</a> is a feature of Andrew Taylor, co-chef and co-owner of the renowned Portland, Maine restaurant, Eventide Oyster Co.<br />
<br />
Stay up to date on new posts by subscribing to the <a href="http://www.ablissfulinterlude.com/subscribe/" target="_blank">website</a> here, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ABlissfulInterlude" target="_blank">like on Facebook</a>, and follow on <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahWoehler10" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.instagram/ablissfulinterlude" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and <a href="http://www.pinterest/SarahWoehler/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. New features will be posted at least once a week!<br />
<br />
Happy reading and stay blissful!<br />
<br />
Sarah WoehlerSarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-1575138670816035292014-10-15T20:55:00.000-04:002014-10-16T07:39:39.719-04:00The New Normal<div class="MsoNormal">
The new normal is city living. It is ambulances screaming by at odd hours of the
day, food fumes wafting through my apartment window, walking down the street
for my favorite ramen. The new normal is
ocean drives and city views. The new
normal is slightly unconventional and unpredictable (therefore simultaneously
scary and exciting). The new normal is
facing my fears.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The new normal didn’t happen overnight. Instead, it crept up unexpectedly, and later than I thought it would arrive. But I knew it had arrived when
I woke up one Wednesday three weeks ago and realized the sadness had finally almost disappeared. At first I thought it was a fluke – a day
with no tears, gut-wrenching guilt, and an urge to numb my emotions with sugar-laden carbs. But I coasted through one day, and then a second
day, and then a third day without any tears, and I realized that the dawn of a new life that I had
intentionally pursued and crafted – even having lived the framework of my new life for several months - had
finally arrived. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It didn't hit me like
a flood or even like a wave, like the high of new love; rather, it was a sense of elevated evenness that might
not have otherwise felt so remarkable if it hadn't been contrasted against months of
mourning and grief. It felt like the old (new) me was back. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNDFp84UjiU/VD8WBGR8tbI/AAAAAAAABaQ/DQ3gaCMxEW8/s1600/New%2BNormal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNDFp84UjiU/VD8WBGR8tbI/AAAAAAAABaQ/DQ3gaCMxEW8/s1600/New%2BNormal.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Falmouth from causeway to Mackworth Island, Maine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was only upon the arrival of the new normal that I realized how much my life had changed in less than a year, the result of huge life changes that I had made in merely six months. I
had not only made the decision to get divorced, but consequently had moved to a
new city and changed office locations (albeit at the same company). Throw in a family life crisis, and frankly, it was a lot. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And though, minus the family crisis, it was not without careful
consideration that I made these decisions voluntarily. Just the same I could have never
anticipated how altogether these changes would initially wreak such havoc on my
emotional (and physical) well being. One
life change can be hugely stressful, but three is triply stressful, even if
they are changes intended to improve your life in some way. But that is life, and it is these kinds of experiences that ironically make our lives feel so rich.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, when I woke up that morning, experiencing joy and
gratitude simply from the sun that was filtering through my bedroom windows,
things suddenly felt new, and simultaneously normal. The new normal
had finally arrived. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It goes without saying that life is different than it was a
year ago. Having once lived in a house in the country, I now live in an
apartment in a city. Having been a country club member, I am now a card-carrying Planet Fitness member. Having had established friendships and a life
in a community in which I lived for nearly 10 years, I am now in a new
community making new friends. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the
same time, my essence is still the same: I still enjoy my same morning routine of
working out and eating oat bran; I still relish in me time; my heart still
beats for the same kinds of passions and pleasures. And though there are aspects that I miss from
the old normal, it is the possibilities - those intangibles - in the new normal that
I could never attain while remaining in the old normal, that which ultimately
guided my decision-making in the end. As hard as it is (and hell, it really was so hard), sometimes you have to say goodbye to the old to usher in the
new. <o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-3478980039670567512014-09-07T18:22:00.001-04:002014-09-07T18:45:49.054-04:00"Being alive is a paradox." <div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>“Being alive is a paradox, an ongoing mix of things that on
the surface don’t always seem to make sense.
But voicing what doesn’t seem to make sense helps. It’s like an
orchestra tuning up to play together. We have no chance of discovering the
fullness of our inner music, if we don’t let the players in our hearts and
minds and spirits tune.”</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
– Mark Nepo, <i>The
Book of Awakening</i></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In having lived in Portland now for just over
three months, I have to pinch myself every day because I love it so much – the energy,
the people, the food(!), the architecture, everything. Lately, I've been waking up at dawn to take my daily constitution (i.e., power walk) down Congress Street, to the water, back up Commercial Street, and through the West End and back to my apartment. The sights, the sounds, the smells of the city –
it’s a completely sensorial experience that makes me feel so fucking happy to be
alive. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Conversely, there are moments at the end of the day, when I'm reclined on my sofa, reading and/or listening to music, that I'll reflect on a foregone memory or experience and tears will suddenly well in my eyes. Typically, it'll be over in a few minutes and the brush with sadness will be washed away with the tears. This, quite ironically, makes me feel fucking alive too. And there is no shame, no guilt, because for me, it's a fleeting emotion that I clearly needed to deal with. A big part of life is experiencing and feeling it all – the
good, the bad, and the ugly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The spontaneous tears are less frequent than they used to
be, especially 6-9 months ago when all I seemed to do was cry, but they’re
still there on occasion. And it would be wrong to
ignore them, to dull them somehow by distraction, or to otherwise feel guilty
about feeling fleeting moments or sadness, because they’re a byproduct of an
emotion that is very much alive in me. If I sanitized myself of that, I would
be denying a big part of who I am and where I’m at. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other day I came across a Brene Brown
quote that says, <span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><b>“We can’t selectively numb emotion. Numb the dark and you
numb the light.”</b> I thought that was so
poignant because many of us feel that in order to feel happy (the pinnacle of
all emotions) we need to scrub away all sadness or all remnants of it, and that if allowing sadness to creep into our lives, there will be no room for joy or pleasure. In actuality, it is the full range of emotions that are
essential to the fabric of living an authentic life.
Diluted joy and self-convincing pleasures are not nearly as rich as the
kind of joy/happiness that is felt when contrasted with
sadness/anger/hurt, and all are inevitable and natural human emotions that should not be dulled or diluted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Sometimes crying at odd times doesn't "make sense," especially if you feel like your life is otherwise rich and full. But it is the accepting of the paradoxes, the shades of gray, the complexities within us that provide us with the platform for growing and evolving. By not accepting these paradoxes - these moments of unexpected tears or brushes with sudden joy and love - we are rejecting an authentic, genuine, sometimes messy life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Call me crazy, but a self-imposed sterile and safe life with no risk, no curiosity, no complications is inevitably a boring one. I'll take a slightly flawed orchestra in development over an auto-tuned produced electro beat any day (though I <i>do</i> like my electro on occasion - but in my ears not as a metaphor to life).</span></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-47301589954531563332014-08-09T19:22:00.001-04:002014-08-12T12:42:01.092-04:00I am my hair.<div class="MsoNormal">
As women, our hair is as much of our identity as our mind,
our voice, our soul. More than just a
crown to cover what contains the most defining part of our personality (our
brain), our hair serves as a vehicle of expression. Whether that changes by whim or mood, hair is
far more than just an accessory – it is a representation of who we are.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My hair has always been my thing, but it wasn’t until about
five years ago that I experimented with it in ways I never did before. Before then, I never realized how changeable
hair could be, and upon that discovery, how fun and exhilarating it was to
change it on a whim. After all, I would
often say, “Hair grows,” just like you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Five years ago I chopped off my hair into a super-short
pixie. Most men hated it; women loved it. I kept the pixie for about six months until I
decided I missed my long locks and realized that my thick tresses were more
manageable in long form, so I began the painful process of growing it out,
entering several phases of worse-than-teen-angst awkwardness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After that, I decided I wanted to highlight it to return to
that pale, cool-toned blonde I had when I was five.
So I did. And then I experimented
with going lighter, then darker, and then back again. Now I am closer to my natural hair color with swaths of buttery blonde highlights blended throughout. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fast forward to a year ago I had a far too belated discovery
that my hair, which I always thought was naturally unyieldingly frizzy, was
actually naturally curly when not blown out and then straightened into oblivion. I was surprised that I liked my hair in its organic state.<br />
<br />
Congruous
with undergoing a phase of embracing and discovering who I was as a single girl
I found myself letting nature do its thing more often than not. To my surprise, people responded positively
to it. Men told me it was sexy; women
told me I looked like Shakira. These
were not primary reasons for rocking the curly locks, of course, especially since previously I felt that straightening my hair made me prettier (which brings to mind <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXXQLa-5n5w" target="_blank">Beyonce's song, "Pretty Hurts"</a>), so I won’t
deny that they were comforting things to hear. But the biggest compliment was
when someone said to me, “Your curly hair is just so <i>you</i>,” to which I thought for a second, and said, “Yeah, you’re
right – it is.” </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I’ve grown up and undergone life changes and challenges,
my curly hair has become a means for my own personal evolution, for stepping out of my shell, for revealing my vulnerability, and saying, “Here I am. Take it or leave it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-837820001551911432014-06-15T16:36:00.003-04:002014-06-15T21:34:14.645-04:00Downsizing - Weeding the Dandelions<div class="MsoNormal">
Downsizing has its pros and cons. Over the past six months I’ve gone from
living in an overly abundant 3,500 square feet, to a moderate 1,100 square feet with storage space that was more than enough for one
person, and then just recently to a "cozy" 580 square feet.
Though the choice from move to move was mine, it was no less a challenge
reducing my belongings scaled to 3,500 square feet down to 1,100 square feet,
and even more so from 1,100 square feet to 580 square feet. (The primary reason for me quoting numbers in this case is because, let's just be real: in the case of space, size <i>does</i> matter.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These subsequent reductions in space challenged my attachments to my personal
possessions in a way that surprised me. After all, I
am no hoarder, or so I thought. Growing
up, I was a purger, doing “spring cleanings” twice a year, tossing books and
toys that I didn’t need anymore, reducing the unnecessary clutter in my
bedroom, a child's microcosm of a grownup's house. But as you get older, get married, expand your living space, you collect
things both intentionally and unintentionally: china from your great grandmother,
Christmas ornaments, greeting cards both received and for future use, winter clothes/spring clothes/summer clothes, wrapping
paper for every season purchased end of season from Target - you get the idea. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Downsizing to my current living space was perhaps less
emotional than my initial move, but it was no less challenging. Because my first move was the result of
leaving my marriage, packing up the pieces of my life that I decided to take along with me
was extremely difficult, especially because it meant that I had to choose between X and Y, both of which were linked to memories, most of which were fond. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So while that move involved packing stuff into boxes, the
things I took and the things I left were much heavier. And every single thing that I left or placed into
those boxes bore the weight of emotion: a potpourri of guilt, abandonment,
sadness, fear, and also, of course, love.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time around, particularly because I was moving further geographically from my relationship there were still emotions
involved, but because the things I was packing had since been desensitized from
the first move there were less tears. This was counter-weighted by the
self-imposed reflection on, “What do you I really need?”, which of course
transpired into a series of philosophical questions about materialism and
connection to stuff. And even though I’m
far from a hoarder, I'll be the first to admit it: I am a member of the Finer Things Club. You're welcome for the homage to <i>The Office.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Personally, I thought I had done a great job getting rid of precious
cookbooks that I loved but had never used, clothes that I hadn’t worn in a
year, serving dishes that had yet to be pulled from the above-fridge cabinet since I had moved
into my apartment five months prior. This
was only confirmed by my frugal friend, who said, “That’s a good roasting pan –
are you sure you want to get rid of that?”
“Yes,” I responded with the confidence of a newly minted
minimalist. "Those are good wine glasses in that box." "Yes, I'm sure." This was before I entered my
new pint-sized apartment in the city, of course, where minimalism was no longer
a more luxurious exercise, but a mandated requirement.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There, I was faced with the dilemma of getting rid of things like camisoles - the necessary staple of every woman’s closet – of COURSE you need
one in every single color and all the assorted Bell canning jars that looked so homey and chic in generously-sized
cabinets and which suddenly appeared greedily plump competing for space with efficiently slender packets of beans and nuts. And let’s not even
get into the pots and pans situation <i>or</i>
the wine-glass situation <i>or</i> the
button collection. And I won’t even
mention the tchotchkes. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
By the time I had pared down my belongings to the bare
necessities, giving away my nearly 10-year-old Cuisinart food processor (that, let’s be
honest, I may have used twice a year, which was nothing that my streamlined
basic Ninja couldn’t serve), those wine glasses that had to be given up for
more functional drinking glasses, and unused gift boxes, et al., I felt kind of empowered by the challenge
of getting rid of possessions that previously I had not been able to part with.<br />
<br />
When I was faced with the dilemma of
<i>Do you need/use it vs. Do you like it?</i> the plaintiff clearly won. While my appreciation for minimalism has been
developed out of sheer necessity, I now understand the greater importance of not
being too attached to material things.
But perhaps even more importantly, I’ve realized that weeding out the dandelions in your life
makes way for the morning glories to grow, for which morning glories need not only water and sun, but space too.
<o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-55393656821054836712014-05-21T20:14:00.000-04:002014-05-22T08:48:48.939-04:00Music Therapy<div class="MsoNormal">
One of my favorite things to do, particularly when the
weather gets balmy and breezy, is to drive around with my windows open and the
stereo on full blast. It should be noted that the image I’m trying to project here is not quite how I've painted it, because in actuality,
this is one of my favorite things to do when I’m feeling not only happy and
joyful, but also somber and reflective too. But, whatever the mood is, late spring/early summer is
perfect for this, and there are very few better music-listening experiences
than in a car equipped with a good stereo. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Along with the continued theme of <a href="http://meaningoflunch.blogspot.com/2014/04/learning-how-to-self-soothe.html" target="_blank">self-soothing</a>, music
appreciation is one of the best forms of therapy, incomparable to almost
nothing else, besides your best confidant, or perhaps a really great therapist. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though I’m in a better place than I was a month ago, and
therefore a markedly better place than I was several months ago, every so often
I’ll take a turn and get hit by a wave of sadness or other somber emotion and
wonder why. <br />
<br />
As a result, this often cascades into a series of over-thinking and self-questioning, which I realize is "only human." A wise friend said to me a few weeks ago as we were talking about this particular subject: <i>“Just be gentle with yourself." </i>Such simple but profound advice, right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
In the race to the finish line why do we expect
that if we don’t get through it in lightning speed unscathed and devoid of
bumps and bruises that we’re doing it all wrong? Why does the
notion of slowing the pace and taking time to tend to our wounds by not slapping a band-aid on them and instead by lapping at them to be a signal of failure?<br />
<br />
As soon as I realized that it was okay to be gentle with myself did I realize how this approach is actually more productive than trying to race through
the pain by shunning out the sorrow. But in order to do this we need to learn to be gentle with ourselves, because for many of
us being gentle with others to be much easier than being gentle with ourselves. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Feeling a bit somber tonight, I bought myself two new albums (if you must
know, <a href="http://www.okayplayer.com/news/the-roots-and-then-you-shoot-your-cousin-cover-art.html" target="_blank">The Roots’” …and then you shoot your cousin”</a> and Lana del Rey’s “Born To
Die”), had a picnic (in my car) in the park, and then drove around town with the
windows down. My emotional state matched
the flickering moodiness of the albums: the perfect prescription for “being gentle
with yourself” and it felt completely right. Contrary to the act of cruising around, I didn't feel the need to race through the momentary sadness or desire for brooding. I just sat in it with my favorite friend, Music, and practiced being gentle with myself. And, for the record,
listening to a new album in the car is the perfect prescription for almost ANY state of being. You heard it here. :-)<o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-19922489748568888542014-04-06T15:30:00.001-04:002014-04-07T16:03:42.392-04:00Learning How to Self-Soothe <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">“Block out the noise
and refocus on what's inside of you.” </span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">– Russell Simmons</span></b><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lately, I’ve been thinking about self-soothing and how it
functions in times of strife. In
clinical terms, self-soothing is a term generally applied to infants, such as
when they learn to self-soothe rather than relying on other means to alleviate self-perceived
discomfort. But the term is applicable
in adulthood too, and likewise a necessary means of working through a difficult
time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When going through a breakup, death, move (or aftermath of
any of the aforementioned), we seek ways to avoid the discomfort. After all, it is only human. This is when the inclination to rely on
things that provide instant gratification is especially tempting, and it is
often because we’re looking for a distraction or, in the case of a failed
relationship, a replacement, to avoid confronting and feeling the hurt and pain. But continually searching for
distraction rather than facing the pain head-on winds up being
counterproductive in the end. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem with the avoiding or shunning discomfort by seeking
replacements or distractions is that the grief, and the residual side effects of it, may
sink to the bottom but will always be there.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pema Chödrön says that “[t]he central question of a warrior’s training is not how we
avoid uncertainty and fear but how we relate to discomfort.” This may seem counterproductive in our LifeHacker,
“4-Hour Workweek”, quick-fix culture, but by fully embracing discomfort as the
natural valley of our life experience we will only then be able to fully enjoy the subsequent peaks in our life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am learning that there is no way to addressing difficulty
than by facing it head-on, and frankly that’s effing hard to do, because
no one wants to hurt longer than they have to.
But, if we don’t walk through the rocky path of discomfort can we get to
the daffodils, and lilacs, and my favorite – the peonies. Another way to look at these difficult times is to consider them to be beautiful messes and great agents of personal change and growth. To think that a personal struggle has the potential to make us better people in the end is actually very exciting, I think.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through these hard times, however, it is okay, and
necessary to find ways to self-soothe, so long as they’re not detrimental to
our being in the end. In fact, there is
no better time to learn how to self-soothe than during strife when we’re faced
with the temptation of affixing a flimsy Band-Aid (Cheetos or cheap beer) to
our pain and hurt. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve found the following
self-soothing tactics to be great sources for personal growth during my own difficult time: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Giving yourself permission to be sad. When you let go of guilt or "feeling bad" about being sad or mad, you realize how much better that makes you feel. Self-acceptance has been an instrumental means of self-soothing for me.</b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Yoga - Trite, I know, but true.</b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Acupuncture (community acupuncture is incredibly
affordable and if you're in Maine, </span><a href="http://www.mainecenterforacupuncture.com/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;" target="_blank">Maine Center for Acupuncture</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> is fantastic); as a side note, the needles are tiny and painless.</span></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Reading – I love a good self-help, but fiction
has also been a great way to calm the mind.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I had admittedly not been in the right mindset for fiction these past
few months but just yesterday I picked up a book I had previously started and surprised myself in getting whisked away by the pleasure of story.</span></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Mad Men</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
– Like my best friend says, sometimes you need something to take your mind
away, and a well-written TV show does amazing wonders for that.</span></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Working out, and lately weight-lifting, which releases a different kind of endorphin rush than cardio, which I’m finding
myself surprised that I like so much.</b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Silence – Previously undervalued for me since I
love music so much, but lately I’ve realized how necessary silence is in “blocking
out the noise.”</b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Tedeschi Trucks Band - There is nothing more appropriate than blues rock when you're going through a beautiful mess. </b></li>
</ul>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-90772698901131418352014-03-31T21:48:00.002-04:002014-04-01T11:42:53.664-04:00How to Make a Vision Board<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite the fact that making a Vision Board failed to show
up in Esquire’s list of “84 Things a Man Should do Before He Dies” this month, and despite
the fact that I am not a man – which I suppose precludes me from abiding by
that list anyway – I made a Vision Board this weekend! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I had started the project about a month or so ago, the Vision Board was my official kickoff to a spiritual and emotional cleanse I’m
going on – a two-week period of some much-needed Sarah soul searching, complete with all that
self-help-y shit that I love: yoga, meditation, self-help books, and a bit of massage and acupuncture sprinkled in. The accompanying
text to my retreat is Dr. Wayne Dyer’s <i>C<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Thoughts-Living-Wisdom/dp/140191750X" target="_blank">hange Your Thoughts – Change Your Life: Living The Wisdom of the Tao</a></i>,
which is a contemporary study of the 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching. Similar to how <a href="http://meaningoflunch.blogspot.com/2013/07/putting-present-to-practice.html" target="_blank"><i>The Power of Now</i> reshaped my thinking</a>, Dyer’s book is already
transformative. Take this gem, for
example:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A composer once told
me that the silence from which each note emerges is more important than the
note itself. He said that it’s the empty
space between the notes that literally allows the music to be music—if there’s
no void, there’s only continuous sound.</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And also this:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a mind that’s
willing to flow with life and be shaped by the eternal forces of the Tao. See yourself as all of these things . . .
watchful, yet relaxed and peaceful; alert, yet unhurried and confident;
yielding, yet willing to be still and wait for the waters to become clear. . .
. Let go of your demands and trust in the perfecting unfolding of the Tao. </span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How this connected to the Vision Board process is that reflecting on these passages (in addition to others) forced me to
take an intuitive and relaxed approach to it.
Here are a few things I learned along the way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaZsUoQeVrs/UzoX_Z3w-wI/AAAAAAAABZI/NWQWN7eRdD8/s1600/Vision+Board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaZsUoQeVrs/UzoX_Z3w-wI/AAAAAAAABZI/NWQWN7eRdD8/s1600/Vision+Board.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Vision Board</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Develop your Vision
Board in two steps.</b> Since I had
collected my magazine clippings about month ago (a process which for me took
considerable energy even though I freaking love magazines), during Step 2 I had the energy to
sift through what I had previously collected and piece together the ones that
had instinctive, meaning, and/or visual interest to me. I found it interesting that the majority of
the ones I had previously clipped were ones that I wound up placing on
my board, which speaks to the value in trusting our instincts and intuition. Surprisingly, some random images wound up appearing on my board,
which I’m still contemplating the potential meaning of: reindeer, woman running
with cheetahs, and a dog yawning while he waits for his morning coffee. WTF, right?
Only time will tell. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Don’t be limited by
your visual attraction to an image.</b>
My eye was attracted to lots of ocean-themed images, so much as that if
I used them all, my board would’ve consisted of half an ocean. I scaled that back intentionally to make room for other meaningful images, but
nonetheless my board wound up having a strong water element. I don’t know if that implies that I’m meant
to live by the water or if there's a different meaning, but as a Piscean with traits of fluidity and mutability (as symbolized by water), these are the essence of who I am. This, I believe, is contrasted by what I desire in a partner, hence the word "protect" in the upper left-hand corner of the board.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Listen to calming
music (or nothing at all) during your Vision Board process.</b> I am a music junkie, but because I wanted to
hear my flow during my Vision Board-ing, I chose to have contemporary pianist George
Winston playing softly in the background.
If you like that sort of thing, you’ll dig him, if not, Chopin is always
good or anything with an emotionally neutral sound. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Consider layout in
addition to content. </b>But let your
intuition guide you. I let my intuition guide
where I pasted my clippings, but I was also cognizant of subject and
theme. For example, in the center I
pasted a large image centering on relationships – platonic, romantic, familial,
etc., but within that I placed a quote that read: “You want to reveal
what life is like—to show things we may never fully understand.” This was clearly something that resonated with
me on both a philosophical and creative level. At the core, connecting and getting to the depth of someone/something is essential to me. I believe that this is tied to some kind of creative purpose for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Let the board speak
for itself and give it time for meaning to unfold.</b> Don’t think too much when you’re compiling
because the outcome will be more surprising and illuminating than you
realize. While clearly love and
relationships are important to me, it occurred to me that the kind of
relationship I desire is not only one that has a strong protection foundation (vital for me),
but also closeness, intimacy, and perhaps adventure.
(Case in point being the couple embracing on the motorcycle and the quote beside
it that says, “Everyday will never be the same.”) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Some Vision Board
experts say to hide your board away after completion, others say to hang it in
a visible spot.</b> I've taken the
latter route and have displayed it because in trusting my intuition I am
confident the board is a symbol of what matters to me and what is in
store. IMHO, having the board be visible – at least
temporarily – is a gentle reminder of that. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In case you're interested in reading more about Vision Boards, I found this <a href="http://www.oprah.com/spirit/How-to-Make-a-Vision-Board-Find-Your-Life-Ambition-Martha-Beck" target="_blank">article</a> by Martha Beck from O Magazine inspiring. <o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-74016404815452761732014-03-16T20:13:00.000-04:002014-03-16T14:26:22.540-04:00Dessert Before Dinner<div class="MsoNormal">
During the workweek, whenever I come home after work, I promptly remove my shoes, hang my purse on the closet handle and
drop down my work bag, and then scurry around my apartment <i>with my jacket on </i> (an important little detail) in
a rush to relax. The relaxing part often doesn’t come until
two to three hours later, after I’ve worked out, darted back out to run to the
grocery store, or triaged my vitamins for the next day, in other words, after I've checked
a series of to-dos off my list. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know I’m not the only one, with obligations,
responsibilities, chores and things that get in the way of that sweet spot at
the end of the day when we bask in the glow of full-bellied peace and quiet. The culmination of our days – when we finally get
to that point – is not only the dessert but our sustenance too, though, so why don’t we grant ourselves a taste of that –
a prelude or a snippet of this well-fed, happy-place feeling – during the
day? Why do we feel only deserve a dose
of it right before drifting off to sleep or during that small sliver of time on
a Sunday morning (one of my <i>favorite</i> sweet spots) when all the obligations of
the world fall away for a quick minute? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rushing to relax is counter-intuitive, but it's something I do
on the regular. Why? Because though life gets busy sometimes, I live
for those moments of pure, unadulterated bliss, that cozy feeling, like a hot
cup of tea in your hands but all over your body, and I want to get there as soon as I can.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last Sunday, after a fun but bustling weekend, I found myself
sprawled on my couch at noon, in my “loungewear” (who am I kidding? They’re
PJs), book in hand, hot tea on coaster. My
apartment was quiet, my feet were reclined, and all of a sudden I felt my
heartbeat soften to that slow thump when you’re about to drift off to
sleep. I could’ve eaten it up, that
moment was so freaking delicious. And I
just sat there, fully aware, and basking in the calm emanating throughout my body and
mind. It felt incredible.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Afterward, I felt more recharged than I had been in what felt
like weeks, at which point I realized how essential these isolated moments of
relaxation are to our happiness and productivity too. Why do we only grant ourselves these moments at the end of the day or end of the
week? By putting it off until every
single obligation is met, all our to-dos are checked off our lists, how can we
feel balanced and focused and accept and <i>appreciate</i> life's nuances? <br />
<br />
Further, how can we be prepared for life's natural ebbs and flows if we're rushing through it, never taking the time to stop and take short time-outs midway through it? And really, why must we cleanse our palates
only at dusk when we’re often too tired to really taste it?</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
From here on, I am going to try and taste my dessert during the day, even
if it’s just a bite or a nibble. Because
let’s be honest - life is too short not to eat dessert before dinner sometimes.<o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-75789965796850169342014-02-13T19:34:00.000-05:002014-02-14T08:51:24.486-05:00Where I've Been.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we see new
heights we want to reach, and new paths we know we must take in order to be or
to become our authentic selves, and we choose to actually go for them, others
don’t often understand: we are running toward something vitally important and
possibly fundamentally necessary to our spiritual survival, and not running
away from anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether someone is
running toward something or away from something depends on vantage point and
perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And only the runner knows
the whole story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– The (Longest) and Most Thought-Provoking Text I’ve Ever Received<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I haven’t written a post in three months and there has been
a reason for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The reason being a
little thing called divorce.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, it became
official, and while the day was one full of mixed emotions, I
have felt lighter and freer than I’ve felt in a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The divorce was my decision, but it was not one I made
lightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as no one enters a
relationship lightly, no one ever really leaves a relationship lightly
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>hough the decision to
divorce ultimately becomes a black and white decision, of whether to stay together or to disband, it was especially difficult because my relationship had lots
of good in it, coupled with things that were fundamentally missing, which I
came to the realization that I needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But this post is not to talk about the whys and whats of my
relationship ending, other than that I married a really wonderful person at the
tender age of 21 only to realize as I blossomed and matured that we weren’t the
right fit; that we were probably never the right fit as romantic partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That being said, I love him still
and probably always will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Divorce is a dirty word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s dirty even if over half the population gets divorced at some point
in their life, but it is especially so when you've got Catholic guilt and your parents are on their first
marriage of nearly 40 years and counting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beyond the Dirty D, contemplating the ending of a
relationship is scary and anxiety-inducing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Factor in the dreaded thought of “what will they think of me?”, this adds a new layer of
self-judgment anticipated by judgment from others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this is particularly overwhelming when you’re the one leaving The Nice Guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Suddenly, your relationship is not about the two of you, but
about other people too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I learned through this process is that people
feel like they need to choose sides and that is because black and white is so much easier
than gray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given that I was the one ending it, I knew that I would likely not be the side they chose. This was something I had to face in order to make the right decision for myself. And since I realize that we as humans navigate through life by judgment, I
did not blame others for their reactions, negative or otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>As a wise person said to me: “people judge
usually because they are afraid of manifesting the courage of the person they
are judging.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also think that things
like seeing their friend divorce makes them question their own fears and desires,
which I suppose is neither here nor there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Divorce is shitty no matter how you slice
it, because of the fact that you're impacting more than just the other person being dumped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s you too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s your family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's his family. It's y</span>our/his/both of your
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's your town. (I'm sure you've heard that James Taylor song.) </span>Everyone is impacted in some way
by divorce because it changes things, how people view you, how people view
themselves, how people view relationships and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ultimately, though, sometimes you need to break things up or
break things down to build something new, to transform, to evolve, to
grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t always do this in a
current relationship or situation, especially if something has always
inherently been missing that over time has become an essential need that you
can’t get within the relationship or situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And this was the case with me. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So that's where I’ve been the past three months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now I’m back, starting with a brand-new
chapter.</span></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-63777979601016832862013-11-23T17:45:00.002-05:002013-11-23T18:05:06.361-05:00What is Happiness?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">“…It’s not what you’ve accomplished in a day, </span></span></i></span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">but how the
day felt.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></strong></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After reading <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/07/what-harvard-s-grant-study-reveals-about-happiness-and-life.html" target="_blank">this piece on the predictions of happiness and well-being based on Harvard’s Grant Study</a>, I have been thinking a lot about my
own happiness and life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes me
happy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes me sad?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s my life purpose and am I living
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Grant Study tracked hundreds of men through their life, measuring
various indicators of their physical and emotional health, resulting in trends indicating
certain predictors of happiness, but also provided illuminations such as that “happiness is love” and also that “what
is true in one stage of a man’s life is not true in another.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In essence, there are universal indicators of happiness and wellness
across a broad spectrum, but at the same time one man’s happiness is not
necessarily another man’s happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Inspired by the study, I made a list of things that make me happy and
unhappy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing this, I learned that what makes me happy ranges from the superficial like trying new
restaurants, cooking, listening to and discovering new music, and cleaning and
organizing my house, to deeper pursuits like embarking on new experiences,
traveling, writing/being creative, nature, being inspired, and cultivating meaningful
relationships with people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My list of
things that make me unhappy was remarkably shorter but broader, and consisted of things
like being misunderstood, being fearful, not living life to the fullest or pursuing my purpose, and "wasting
time." All things that are intrinsically linked, I think. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all want to be happy and we all deserve to be happy, but happiness
all the time cannot be a life goal, necessarily. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since the two emotions are opposite,
happiness can only be fully understood and appreciated when one has endured the
pain and suffering of sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is realizing your best intended purpose –
which is directly correlated with a happier more meaningful life, with some
moments of sadness sprinkled in – that is perhaps where the ultimate state of bliss can be found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The alternative to happiness or sadness is that place of
numbness in between, which is in some ways the worst place to be since it implies that we’re living in a state of fear of pursuing our best life or because we feel
we don’t deserve to pursue our best life, or maybe because we've made someone else’s
version of a best life to be more important than our own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Call me crazy, but I’d rather be sad than numb. My own personal struggles have taught me that only until we open ourselves to sadness and allow it to wash over us can we see that something needs to be fixed, adjusted, or changed. It is in this state that a more meaningful life can be born, leading to the cultivation of a deeper state of happiness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And that's what I have to say about that, for now anyway.</span></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-61286123446445862862013-11-01T19:58:00.005-04:002013-11-01T20:23:23.465-04:00Frisk Friday Thoughts<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s been a while since I’ve done a Frisky Friday roundup of
thoughts, so here I go.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Solitude is necessary for working through difficult times.</em></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As important, though, are the company of good friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And, f</span>inally, the power of a good therapist can never be undervalued. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For some reason, a Frisky Friday roundup is never complete without a nod to Katy Perry, because what can I say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I effing love that girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <strong> </strong></span><strong>Her new album, <em>Prism</em>, is a chronicle of the unraveling of her marriage to Russell Brand, which is somehow simultaneously shimmery, melancholy, and heartfelt.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>I recently finished <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Creative Visualization</i>, a wonderful book by self-help guru Shakti Gawain.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s so much more than the title suggests, but one line that sums up the book’s premise is: “You must first <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be</i> who you really who you are, then <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> what you need to do, in order to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have</i> what you want.” </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Something that continues to remind me is how resilient we all are and how much we are capable of taking on, dealing with, and managing in life.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, if we’re lucky and open to it, there is so much possibility in plunging into the unknown or being thrown unanticipated curveballs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be a really beautiful thing if you open your heart to it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>To end this on a lighter note, have you tried Wendy’s Pretzel Pub Chicken sandwich?</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, you should. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the perfect little processed, sodium-enriched Friday night splurge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Customize it with the grilled chicken instead of the breaded, and it’s only 410 calories and I daresay equally as delish.</span></li>
</ul>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-13466958449494246982013-10-20T20:00:00.004-04:002013-10-20T20:05:43.391-04:00Embracing Discomfort<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the journey of life, we all experience hard times, difficult challenges, random curveballs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, we try to push these hard times off,
shove them aside, tuck them away, but usually, when we take this kind of approach,
they inevitably reappear, the second time with a strong vengeance that is impossible to ignore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
case, confronting these curveballs head-on is the only way to resolve them. The only problem with this is that this kind of confrontation requires feelings of discomfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being uncomfortable is no fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hurts, it stings, it stabs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a weight of dread in your tummy,
an ache in your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may cry, yell,
or complain, or possibly all three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my journey of self-discovery, I’m
learning that the only way to address life’s curveball is to accept and embrace
the accompanying discomfort, to walk right through it, to let it slap me in the face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As human beings, discomfort is the complete opposite state of
what we are always seeking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all,
comfort is king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want </i>to be happy and relaxed; we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deserve</i> to be happy and relaxed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the fact is, sometimes the only way to that ultimate state of happy
and relaxed is to let discomfort whip you over and over like the biting January
wind, until you’ve tackled the issue once and for all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In some cases, this kind of embracing of discomfort is the only way we’re
going to fully awaken and blossom, developing a renewed acceptance and
understanding for what we want <em>and</em> need out of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> At least that's what I think. </span></span></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-86662122897355948532013-09-25T19:28:00.000-04:002013-09-25T21:09:24.928-04:00Thoughts Après Paris<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You know the feeling before a big event – including a highly anticipated one – of excitement mixed with fear?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though Paris was The Singular Most Desirable Place to Go on Vacation, I grappled a bit with the excitement/fear feeling leading up to the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And I think it's because, t</span>raveling – much like life – is the kind of thing where there are a multitude of unknowns, and that can be a little scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can plan something down to the nanosecond, but there are always curveballs – some good, some bad, some in between – that inevitably happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though there were very few negative curveballs that happened during the trip, the couple quasi-"negative" ones that did occur made it all the more interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultimately, it was everything I would have expected Paris to be, and then some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I don’t mean that in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paris is so posh and perfect kind of way</i> (because it totally isn’t), but rather that my visit was full-bodied and life-changing, which I think is the case whenever you experience something first-hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In these kind of experiences, perspective grows, changes, and evolves, which is what traveling to new places is really all about. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> So, h</span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">erewith are some of my thoughts and photos après Paris:</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><strong>Cliché as it sounds, the food really is as amazing as they say it is in Paris.</strong> </span></em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Overwhelmed by all the restaurants there were during the planning process, I left the food planning up to complete spontenaity. When we landed in Montmartre where our apartment was, however, every restaurant we ate at was a knockout. From beef bourguignon to banana-and-Nutella-filled crepes, fondue to Vietnamese cuisine (of which Paris is regarded highly for), French onion soup to croissants and cravette (chocolate pastry), and toasts au saumon fume to cravette, it was all incredible. None of it was particularly "heart healthy" or "plant based", but partaking it in all was part of the sensorial experience, and I enjoyed every minute of it.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French Onion Soup (which I had no less than three times during the trip)</td></tr>
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<strong><em>In Paris, nearly everyone smokes, no one wears baseball caps (though I did), and people are </em></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>partial to black.</em></strong> For a major city, its people are also rather conservative (not a lot of leg and </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">cleavage) on the street, though TV is a different story. Also, Italian cuisine is akin to Mexican cuisine in the U.S. - widely prevalent and well done.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearly I rebelled against the French aesthetic and dressed for comfort (necessary when you're walking 10+ miles per day).</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>Versailles was probably as crowded as the Louvre though I wouldn't have known that had I not gone</strong>.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was fun to take the train outside the city and see a bit of French suburbia. And while walking around the inside of the palace along with hundreds of other tourists left something to be desired, the grounds themselves were quite spectacular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, however, I much preferred the Palace and Jardin du Luxembourg, which we stumbled upon in St. Germain, taking in an outdoor jazz performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luxembourg</td></tr>
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<em><strong>Everything in Paris is freaking expensive, except for, ironically, bottled water.</strong></em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food, clothing, <span style="font-family: Calibri;">transportation, even deodorant(!) are all substantially more expensive than in the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, sales </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">tax is a whopping 19.6%. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> But, of course, the shopping is also some of the best in the world, so it's hard not to partake, at least a little bit, especially at the city's abundant perfumeries. Annick Goutal, Fragonard, and the city's numerous pharmacies (which house some of France's best cosmetics) were complete gems. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rue Chappe (street view from apartment)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>Parisians are extremely stingy with napkins.</strong></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to the same café every single morning for breakfast and along with utensils came one tiny napkin tucked in a basket; likewise, at “restaurantes rapide” (such as at the airport) napkins were nowhere to be found. I’m not sure if people wipe their hands on their clothes, but napkins are far from prevalent. Call me a wasteful American, but I like a little napkin action with my meal. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw Beauty (view of Luxembourg in distance)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>Attempting to speak French was actually quite fun.</strong></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t experience any rude Parisians, and in fact, the majority of them were quite friendly, even if some of them weren’t entirely fluent in English themselves. Nonetheless, the phrases “Parlez-vous anglais?”, “Je voudrais . . .” at restaurants, and “Bonjour”, “Merci”, and “Au revoir/Bonsoir” went a long way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can reserve these pods along the Seine to have your very own picnic party. How cool is that?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>Paris has an underbelly, just like everywhere (and everything) else.</strong> </em>Case in point being the area surrounding </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">southern Montmartre (also coincidentally home of the Red Light District). Unfortunately, this was our entry into the city and therefore the first we saw of Paris when we arrived. (For the record, there were no hooker sightings, just some grit and grime similar to a second-world country.) I wish it had been the last sight instead of the first, because I probably would’ve appreciated it more, but in any event, the City of Lights can’t be all perfume and posh fashions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bakery kitty. (Note: Not taken in Paris's underbelly.)<br />
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Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-88120331164968319952013-09-17T08:31:00.001-04:002013-09-17T10:57:29.466-04:00Thoughts Before Paris<ol>
<li>
The one thing that has been stressing me out since booking my flights for Paris was the tight connection at Newark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon checking in last night, United gave me an option to switch flights at $75 per ticket, allowing me to get an earlier flight from PWM to EWR, therefore extending my connection time to do a liberal three hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So, I said heck with it: </span>$150 is a small price to pay for peace of mind and to avoid potentially being stranded in Newark (rather than the City of Lights) for a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You only live once, right?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The great thing about long flights is that I have an excuse to buy books at random.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I will admit, I was a tiny bit tempted to pick up <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">50 Shades of Grey</i>, but I decided to hold off on that bandwagon for a bit.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Instead, I bought </span>AM Homes’s (one of my all-time favorite authors) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">May We Be Forgiven</i> and Domenica Ruta’s addiction memoir, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">With or Without You</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both have received wide critical acclaim, in addition to being touted as <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/13/best-book-club-books-_n_3749385.html" target="_blank">Huffington Post’s Best Book Club Books of the fall</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I prefer solo book clubs anyway.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">T</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">he other day my good friend Liz told me that something happened to her in yoga – she cried. “Luckily,” she said, “I was in the back row, but crying and yoga is SO cathartic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like peanut butter and jelly."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> How awesome is that? </span>Now I want to try it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (</span>Maybe after Paris.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love fall. I love pumpkin. I love spice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this year it seems like the pumpkin-spiced-themed everything has kind of gotten outta control: candles, perfume, coffee drinks, car fresheners. But hey, maybe that’s just me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(It’s probably just me.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My friend Brandon sent me an email last Wednesday morning that said, “Stop whatever you’re doing and get the new Janelle Monáe album.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> As a fan of hers since</span> the 2010 release of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The ArchAndroid</i> (also amazing), I listened to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allmusic.com%2Falbum%2Fthe-electric-lady-mw0002563731&ei=00o4UrzHBej-4APat4GAAQ&usg=AFQjCNFv6KFXu24Gf2I_XaP0tn4NjVoW6A&sig2=_DVnDXDqFrywERawO6KiXA&bvm=bv.52164340,d.dmg" target="_blank">The Electric Lady</a></i> is beautifully varied, featuring other genre-bending artists like Esperanza Spalding, Solange, Miguel, and Prince.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you only listen to one track, I suggest “What An Experience.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Wow.</span></span></li>
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Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-56487682059679710322013-09-11T20:25:00.000-04:002013-09-11T21:36:30.951-04:00Paris in a Week - Eeek!<span style="color: black;">Next week my husband and I leave for
Paris, the land of all things I love like good bread and perfume (Seriously, what else
does a girl need in life?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And,
while a part of me is obviously giddy, because Hello! I’m
going to freaking PARIS!), the other part of me has actually been a bit nervous
and stressed in the months leading up to the trip, worrying about all the potentials for travel delays and
debacles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">As the
trip is drawing near, I’ve realized how the unknown of something – whether it
be a trip or life in general – can actually be quite exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Developing this perspective has allowed
me to let go of the fear and worries and to just embrace the unknowns, which is really quite freeing. </span><span style="color: black;">Nonetheless, a little
planning never hurt anyone, so I thought I’d write a little post on Paris: "The
Meaning of Lunch" Way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Similar to my
approach to life, I am equal parts spontaneous and structured, which basically implies
that I like to have a plan and then have the option of rebelling against that plan if
deemed appropriate. So, in compiling my somewhat subject-to-change travel
itinerary, I am opting not to do something just
because it’s the <em>It </em>thing to do or merely to check something off a box. (This
is precisely why I’m skipping the Louvre this time, inspired partly by <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everywhereist.com%2Fthe-louvre-museum-paris-like-its-1999%2F&ei=0AcxUpieMa614APD64HQBg&usg=AFQjCNE_bUZE9rjBiiemqBrIuYt1IhvwFA&sig2=FvHGVtzTtavixTo4yS5TZg&bvm=bv.52109249,d.dmg" target="_blank">t</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everywhereist.com%2Fthe-louvre-museum-paris-like-its-1999%2F&ei=0AcxUpieMa614APD64HQBg&usg=AFQjCNE_bUZE9rjBiiemqBrIuYt1IhvwFA&sig2=FvHGVtzTtavixTo4yS5TZg&bvm=bv.52109249,d.dmg" target="_blank">his great post</a> from The Everywhereist, one of my favorite blogs, although I'm still planning on hitting the Eiffel Tower, obviously.)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Without further adieu, here are a few pearls of wisdom I've learned in my research:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="color: black;"><strong><em>Pack light, and
ideally, take only a carry-on.</em></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend
strongly suggested this <a href="https://go.kleinschmidtusa.com/switchback-26/d/,DanaInfo=shop.eaglecreek.com+1284_c_115" target="_blank">fine little gem from Eagle Creek</a>, which I was fortunate enough
to find brand-spanking new at a major discount through eBay; I also snagged these <a href="http://www.zappos.com/eagle-creek-pack-it-specter-cube-set-white-red?ef_id=UHyfIgAAHOyuxD5C:20130911234314:s&zfcTest=fcl%3A0" target="_blank">handy packing cubes</a> to pack everything nice and tight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (I am a bit OCD when it comes to packing, so I know this whole system will come in handy for future travels as well.)</span></span></li>
<li><strong><em>Take a little nightcap for the red-eye.</em></strong> Some suggest Excedrin PM; others suggest half an Ambien. We'll see what I can get my hands on. </li>
<li><strong><em>Stay at an apartment instead of the local Sheraton.</em></strong> <em><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/testing-the-peer-to-peer-travel-trend" target="_blank">Travel + Leisure</a></em> did a great write-up on <a href="http://airbnb.com/">Airbnb.com</a> this past spring and other people have spoken very highly of the site. I booked an adorable little apartment in Montmartre (northern Paris) through the site for ~$145/night, which includes a kitchen, a washer and drier, free WiFi, nestled in a quaint little courtyard. It will not be as convenient as staying in a hotel perhaps, but it's quite a bit more affordable and will offer a more authentic experience living as the locals do, which for me, is in many ways more important than cookie-cutter convenience. </li>
<li><strong><em>Paris is the land of pick-pockets.</em></strong> No need to stress unnecessarily, but knowledge is power, hence why I've purchased a nice little variety of "money belts," including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Maidenform-Womens-Pocket-Nude-Size/dp/B0083QLQWY/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1378943178&sr=8-10&keywords=bra+money+pouch" target="_blank">this semi-sexy little number from Maidenform</a>, which bonus: was only $8. I also picked up a two-for-one around-the-neck and waist belts through Amazon too. </li>
<li><strong><em>The French don't care so much that you aren't fluent in their native tongue, only that you try.</em></strong> And really, isn't that the case with, like, everything? I picked up a lightweight pocket translator guide by the Lonely Planet and downloaded a couple apps (SayHi and iTranslate) to my iPhone, though I will likely defer to my book since I want to limit international use of my data plan. </li>
<li><strong><em>Parisians are more formal than us sloppy Americans, so no fanny packs and sweats for this sister.</em></strong> Black and dark skinny jeans, cute tops, and comfortable flats will be my go-tos, which luckily isn't much of a deviation from my work attire. Nonetheless, I created a <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/MeaningofLunch/my-parisian-style/" target="_blank">little inspirational Pinterest board of outfit ideas</a>.</li>
<li><em><strong>Do what the French do, even if it isn't your thing.</strong></em> Call me crazy, but I prefer vodka over wine, and if I were to really go out on a limb, I actually prefer cake over booze, but while in Paris I fully intend on imbibing on the local vino, especially since the table wine is supposedly far superior than some of the better wines that you can buy in the U.S. I also fully intend on partaking in French butter, because that's also supposed to be quite special. When in Paris, right?</li>
</ol>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-56535594806327139622013-09-07T13:20:00.002-04:002013-09-07T13:29:45.873-04:00A Side Dish of InspirationIn my continued journey of learning <em>to be</em>, here is a little side dish of quotes that have resonated with me this week. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.<br />
<ul>
<li><em>"Life consists of rare, isolated moments of the greatest significance, and of innumerably many intervals, during which at best the silhouettes of those moments hover about us. Love, springtime, every beautiful melody, mountains, the moon, the sea – all these speak completely to the heart but once, if in fact they ever do get a chance to speak completely. For many men do not have those moments at all, and are themselves intervals and intermissions in the symphony of real life."</em> - Friedrich Nietzsche </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><em>"You can participate in the dance of creation and be active without attachment to outcome and without placing unreasonable demands upon the world: Fulfill me, make me happy, make me feel safe, tell me who I am. The world cannot give you those things, and when you no longer have such expectations, all self-created suffering comes to an end. </em>- <em>A New Earth</em>, Eckhart Tolle</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span class="userContent"><em>"When we identify with a small self, we are perceiving ourselves as a cluster of ocean waves, not recognizing that we are made of ocean. When we realize our true self is ocean, the familiar pattern of waves—our fears and defensiveness, our wants and busyness—remains a part of us, but it does not define us."</em> - Tara Brach</span></li>
</ul>
<span class="userContent"><span class="st"></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="userContent"><span class="st"><em>"The next moment is always fresh and open. You don’t have to get frozen in an identity of any kind." </em>- Pema Chodron</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="userContent"><span class="st"></span></span><span class="userContent"><span class="st"></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="userContent"><span class="st"><em>“One thing we do know: Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment.”</em> - <em>A New Earth</em>, Eckhart Tolle</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span class="userContent"><em>"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."</em> - Mark Twain</span></li>
</ul>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-71350825487943908052013-08-29T20:06:00.004-04:002013-08-29T20:36:48.627-04:00Thirsty Thursday Thoughts<ol>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After listening to Ambrosia’s “Biggest Part of Me” on XM’s ‘70s channel yesterday I realized how I own nary a single album of theirs. (And that is odd because I am a serious smooth '70s fan.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Need</span>less to say, I’ve since remedied that situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> If you're also a forgot-you-are fan, </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-miley-cyrus-we-cant-stop-is-actually-the-saddest-song-of-the-summer-2013-8" target="_blank">Rhino High Five</a> has an EP containing all the heavy hitters: “Biggest Part of Me”, “How Much I Feel,” “You’re The Only Woman." </span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you may be aware, I’m into <a href="http://meaningoflunch.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-vulnerability-party.html" target="_blank">TED talks</a> these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just watched <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/meg_jay_why_30_is_not_the_new_20.html" target="_blank">Meg Jay’s “30 Is Not the New 20”</a> and got major goose bumps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (And, i</span>t actually made me feel pretty good about some of my life choices, which was a nice little bonus.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She doesn't have quite the finesse that Brene Brown has, but she has some great things to say, as well as some wonderful advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A must-see for sure.</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know I’m only contributing to the broken record that is the commentary on Miley Cyrus this week, but I can’t help myself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I happen to be a fan (on one hand because the rebel in me admires a girl who doesn't give a f****, and then on the other hand, in the face of everyone criticizing her, it makes me want to stick up for her more.) And let's be reals here: "We Can't Stop" is great pop music. Today, my friend sent me <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-miley-cyrus-we-cant-stop-is-actually-the-saddest-song-of-the-summer-2013-8" target="_blank">this interesting commentary</a> on how everybody’s missing the point that the song is actually a depressing homage to the highs and lows of drug use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while the interpretation is a startlingly accurate and sobering analysis of which I can't disagree with, I choose to respond to it in perhaps a more innocent way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lyrics that “It’s our party we can do what we want/It’s our party we can say what we want/It’s our party we can love who want” is also about living your own life, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your</i> own way, regardless of societal and peer pressures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Though </span>I agree that the song’s primary theme is probably about getting high on the party drug “Molly”, I think that its dual meaning is also about being true and real and honest to yourself and others, which for me is an even more universally felt and positive message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Although I will say, I’m quite glad to have become educated on Molly.)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a semi-related note, if you aren’t reading <a href="http://www.zenhabits.net/" target="_blank">Zen Habits</a> then you might want to consider it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week, Leo Babuta had the following quote, which was about eating healthy, but which also pertains to life in general: “Be curious. . . . Let go of expectations and prejudgments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might find out some interesting things.”</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Summer is ending, which is always a little bittersweet, but I ain’t gonna lie: fall fashion is the freaking best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring on the sweaters, boots, and denim!</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That's all for this Thirsty Thursday. Have a lovely and relaxing Labor Day weekend!</span></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-8036985876995864592013-08-21T19:43:00.000-04:002013-08-22T14:35:48.626-04:00The Vulnerability Party Several months ago, I scribbled Brené Brown’s name on a Post-It when a friend recommended watching her Technology Entertainment and Design (TED) talk on vulnerability, but then set it aside. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About a month afterward, an interview of her appeared in <em>O Magazine</em>, and didn’t think much of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just the other day, I was scrolling through my Pinterest feed the other day I stumbled upon a Pin of <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/77687162295516992/" target="_blank">“15 TED Talks That Will Change Your Life”</a>, clicked on it, and saw Brené Brown listed, which triggered my memory of the now crumpled-up Post-It note that is probably lost somewhere in the inner depths of my purse. <br />
<br />
One of my new favorite evening rituals is doing the <span class="st"><a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/1140" target="_blank">Viparita Karaniyoga pose</a>, which is really just an exotic-sounding Indian name for lying down and elevating your legs up against the wall for 5-10 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, the other night while I "hung out" with my legs against the wall I played Brown’s <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html" target="_blank">2010 TED talk on The Power of Vulnerability</a> from my iPad, fighting every urge to take notes as I listened and practiced my pose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tonight, I just finished her follow-up <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame.html" target="_blank">2012 TED talk on Listening to Shame</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to trying this yoga pose, you should listen do two more things and listen to these great talks.</span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MKIX3LDhh8Y/UhVL2qgzRAI/AAAAAAAABUw/ZtzDT34M3os/s1600/vulnerability.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MKIX3LDhh8Y/UhVL2qgzRAI/AAAAAAAABUw/ZtzDT34M3os/s320/vulnerability.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="st"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
<span class="st">Brown’s 2010 talk on vulnerability was particularly illuminating because for many of us vulnerability is such a pervasively felt yet feared and suppressed emotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though we all have our different personalities and perspectives, we are all afraid to be vulnerable, which by many of our accounts is to appear weak, to be rejected, to be forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brown argues that vulnerability is just the opposite, that it actually is <strong>“<em>our most accurate measurement of courage”</em></strong> and that it is<strong> <em>“the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”</em></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Food for thought, right?</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="st">When I think about it, I find people most endearing when they let their guard down, when they stop putting on heirs, when they reveal the side of themselves that perhaps they don’t feel brave enough to share with everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I am privy to this side of someone who is struggling with exposing this vulnerability, particularly if it’s someone I really like and admire, a part of me just wants to hug them and to tell them it’s okay, that this is a good thing. Vulnerability is such an endearing thing on so many levels.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="st">But perhaps why I find vulnerability so captivating in others is because though I am pretty in tune with my emotions, my sometimes reserved and shy nature can hold me back in certain situations, making it difficult for me to express my own vulnerable side too, even if I really want to reveal it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Typically, and I think this is true of many of us, I am only capable of exposing that part of me once I’ve developed trust with a person or situation, which sometimes takes a little while (typical of the <a href="http://www.typelogic.com/infj.html" target="_blank">INFJ personality type</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="st">Looking at vulnerability as a “measurement of courage”, as Brown refers to it, shattered my preconceived notion that vulnerability is perhaps the less tender flower of the emotion family and ironically more of the iron-fisted one. Vulnerability is actually quite strong and sexy; confident and powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as I think about it more, Brown's argument is actually quite consistent with how I perceive the emotion expressed by other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, a man who exposes vulnerability by saying to a woman, “I really like you,” is actually a symbol of great, modern alpha strength rather than beta-male weakness, in my opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brown’s way of putting it is direct: “Vulnerability is not weakness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that myth is profoundly dangerous.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="st">Needless to say, the Power of Vulnerability talk was powerful, especially when paired with a little bit of light yoga. My homework going forward is to work more on accepting and becoming more comfortable with my vulnerability, and I urge you to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, “that’s what life is about: about daring greatly, about being in the arena.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-77090271066413996052013-08-18T10:14:00.002-04:002013-08-18T11:32:01.143-04:00Five Things<ul>
<li><strong>I came home late last night to a mailbox full of thick, glossy "September issues"</strong> <strong>and it was as if someone had given me a thick wad of 20s and said, "Here. Go have fun."</strong> Needless to say, September is a great month if you're a magazine whore like me. (By the by, <a href="http://www.oprah.com/style/Oprahs-Wig-O-Magazine-September-2013-Cover" target="_blank">did you <em>see</em> Oprah's hair on the cover of O?</a>)</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OejfIHua1OQ/UhDcXjkmvEI/AAAAAAAABUk/nRQtn7j4UtE/s1600/september.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OejfIHua1OQ/UhDcXjkmvEI/AAAAAAAABUk/nRQtn7j4UtE/s400/september.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Beyond staying in my PJs as long as I feel like today, I'm planning on catching up on some music videos.</strong> And while I know both the songs quite well, I've been informed that the videos to Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" and Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" are current essentials.</li>
<li><strong>It's been a couple weeks since I've been using the </strong><a href="http://www.clarisonic.com/shop/sonic_skin_cleansing_systems/sonic_skin_cleansing_system_plus/" target="_blank"><strong>Clarisonic Plus</strong></a><strong>, and I have to say: it really is all they say it is. </strong>After having the system on my wish list for a couple years, I finally went for it after reading repeated interviews in one week about how the Clarisonic was the one face product they couldn't live without. I've been using the sensitive brush head so far and it provides the perfect amount of exfoliation for daily or every other day use. My skin has never felt so smooth.</li>
<li><strong>I am one of the few females in the world who dislikes weddings and all the hoopla associated with them.</strong> (And I realize this makes me a curmudgeon of sorts.) A bachelorette party, on the other hand, when suited to the bride's personality rather than the generic mainstream standard of our time, is a festive and important prelude to the bride's big day. But why must they be only a one-time event? </li>
<li><strong>Though I consider myself a reflective person, when it comes to making decisions I typically let instinct and intuition be my guide and just do it.</strong> In some cases, I wind up making decisions very quickly, in other cases, sometimes rashly. On the whole, though, my decision-making hasn't failed me, <em>yet </em>anyway. <a href="http://zenhabits.net/test/" target="_blank">This wonderful post</a> on how decision-making should be viewed as an experiment, rather than something that needs to be overthought (when there is never a predetermined outcome to a decision anyway), was illuminating and insightful, and well, made me feel a little more justified in my approach to decisions.</li>
</ul>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-69068470524763170042013-08-08T20:05:00.000-04:002013-08-08T20:44:17.693-04:00Thirsty Thursday Thoughts<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Miley Cyrus’s new single “We Can’t Stop” is
carefree, sassy, and fun.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When paired
with the accompanying video, however, the song becomes a compelling, thematically
progressive, and thought-provoking timepiece; visually, it both entertains and
cuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have many thoughts, but you
should form your own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrUvu1mlWco" target="_blank">Here's the video.</a> </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>I am continually in search of The Perfect Nighttime Snack,</strong> which by my standards is healthy, a little sweet, satisfying, and fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently stumbled upon the "two-ingredient cookie," and yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds, that is, if you like bananas and oats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All you do is take a ripe banana, mash it up, add ½ instant oats (not old-fashioned since you want a finer consistency), and bake on a greased pan at 350 degrees for 12-15 mins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I violate the two-ingredient rule (big surprise there, I know) by adding in sea salt, vanilla, and cinnamon, and viola – The Perfect Nighttime Snack.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Having a Me Night is an underrated indulgence that restores in all the right ways and places.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I was tempted to plan something with a friend because it was my first open night all week, but I opted not to. </span>While I think maintaining friendships is incredibly important for a variety of reasons, what's perhaps more important is maintaining one's relationship with yourself first. Some may say that sounds a little selfish, but my position is that if we don't first take care of ourselves, how can we be there for or give to others? For these reasons, and because I honestly enjoy being a bit of a loner, I am a big proponent of the me-time concept.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Today marks my six-month juicing anniversary</strong> and I can honestly say that I can’t imagine life without my morning juices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I definitely feel healthier and more energetic, I know there are a multitude of benefits to my body that I can’t even see or feel, which is exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://foodbabe.com/2013/08/05/juicing-mistakes/" target="_blank">This post on Food Babe</a> provided a good overview of common juicing mistakes and reiterated the multitude of benefits juicing provides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knew that swishing juice actually made you absorb nutrients better?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Food for thought from my guru Eckhart Tolle: <em>“Whatever you fight, you strengthen, and what you resist, persists.”</em></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-59475788541375788352013-08-02T05:54:00.000-04:002013-08-02T20:06:32.320-04:00Never Stop Growing Up.<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A couple weeks ago, journalist <a href="http://www.parade.com/55218/connieschultz/life-in-the-middle-ages-a-new-blog-by-connie-schultz/" target="_blank">Connie Schultz had this piece in <em>Parade</em></a> entitled “Life in the Middle Ages.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While I have not yet approached middle age, the article resonated with me because it discussed the exciting side effect that with growing old, “[y]ou get to keep growing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In the article, </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Schultz included a passage from Gail Godwin’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finishing-School-Ballantine-Readers-Circle/dp/0345431901/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375435615&sr=1-1&keywords=the+finishing+school+gail+godwin" target="_blank">The Finishing School</a></i>, which was particularly moving:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em></em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"> There are two kinds of people . .
. One kind, you can tell just by looking at them at what </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"> point they congealed
into their final selves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might be a
very nice self, but you know you </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"> can
</span></em><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">expect no more surprises from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whereas, the other kind keeps moving, changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"> With these </span></em><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">people, you can never say, “X
stops here,” or “Now I know all there is to know </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"> about Y.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></em><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>That d</em><em>oesn’t mean they’re unstable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ah, no, far from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are fluid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em> They keep moving </em></span><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">forward and making new
trysts with life, and the motion of it keeps them </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"> young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my opinion, </span></em><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><em>t</em><em>hey are the only people who
are still alive.</em></strong></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second type of person is who I hope to always strive to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never resisting change,
never being stunted by some internal block, never shrugging my shoulders and saying
"I am who I am" in the face of challenge with myself and others.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On some level, however, I agree with the common notion that
as people get older they get stuck in their ways and become complacent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, if it works and if it ain’t broke,
why <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fix it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But on the other hand, just ‘cuz
it "ain’t broke" doesn’t mean it couldn’t work <em>better</em>, and you could actually be a
happier, more content person in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the requisites of an assistantship I got for grad
school included teaching English 101 to college freshmen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time, public speaking was perhaps my biggest fear in the world,
which was even bigger than my fear of snakes; it was that big.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that I wanted this assistantship because my M.A. would be paid for, but I also realized how good the opportunity would be for me because it would force me to overcome my fear of public speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">In the spring and summer preceding the fall when I was slated to begin the program, I did some personal work, the first step reflecting on what the root of this fear was. </span>It occurred to me that a big part of it was
lack of confidence, of someone making fun of me, of being rejected on some level -- all emotional things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the other part of it was simply not knowing how to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
After doing some soul-searching, I decided that counseling would be a good way to work through the issues, so I talked to someone about it </span>(i.e., a counselor).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (For any of you on the fence about counseling, I am a big fan; just make sure to find the right one, for you<em>.</em>)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the initial sessions, we talked about all the kinds of things you would imagine: my
upbringing, siblings, family dynamics, my fear of public speaking and why it
was so scary to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only met with her
a few times before our sessions turned to conversations about astrology (she
saw <a href="http://www.cafeastrology.com/virgo_ascendantrisingsign.html" target="_blank">strong Virgo tendencies</a> in me, which was interesting) when I knew that her
work with me (for the time anyway) was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The big takeaway of my counseling sessions was not playing the victim, of not pigeon-holing myself into a static version of Sarah for years to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was after the counseling that I realized how capable I was of overcoming
this public speaking thing (as well as other things).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may not <em>like</em>
it, and it may always be stressful for me (oh, it is!), but I can learn to do it
without crippling fear and I can even learn how to do it well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to
say, despite the horrific nightmares the evening before, I didn’t faint the first day of teaching English 101 and actually did
a decent job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve since touched, even held, my share of snakes
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s true that we are not completely malleable – I will
always prefer to be the wallflower than the attention whore – but we all have a
rather vast sliding scale of self-improvement, and oftentimes we can even surprise
ourselves with the things we’re capable of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes we set limits
without even realizing it, and perhaps it’s because we’re satisfied with where
we are (which is totally okay!). But when those limits become <em>limitations</em> that
prevent us from living the best life possible, or in some cases, even hurt the
people we love, it’s worth pushing ourselves a little harder and a little faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">After all, w</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">e’re all capable, and more important, <em>worthy</em>, of change, growth, and becoming better versions of ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-49261494030333787152013-07-26T20:00:00.000-04:002013-07-29T06:39:46.398-04:00Frisky Friday - A week in review.<ol>
<li>I learned this week that cleaning my house on a weeknight is not only oddly rejuvinating, but it frees the weekends up for more fun things. I am continually aiming for that perfect combination of freedom, fun, and R&R in a weekend, which is not always attainable, but by trying to squeeze in some chores during the week, I feel like I'm getting closer to that ideal. </li>
<li>Lately I've been working on calming my <a href="http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20409945,00.html" target="_blank">food noise</a>, a term coined by my favorite former Housewife, Bethenny Frankel. Calming my noise means allowing myself to give into temptation a little more often, as long as I'm doing it in a moderate way. The ultimate goal of this is to avoid a constant diet mindset. For the past week I had been craving cheap mac & cheese, the really bad-for-you kind made with the powdered stuff, so that's what I had for din-din Tuesday night. Yes, it was amazing as cheap mac & cheese can get, and yes, I started my day the next morning with a fresh green juice. Life is about finding the right balance that works for you; my personal balance just happens to include mac & cheese every once in a while.</li>
<li>I was never a pedicure kind of girl, but since a nail place opened up two doors down from my work I've become a total convert. It is like the best little indulgence $20 can buy. OPI's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OPI-Nail-Polish-Its-Girl/dp/B003DVCY0C/ref=sr_1_1/178-5507985-0974854?ie=UTF8&qid=1374858180&sr=8-1&keywords=opi+it%27s+a+girl+nail+polish" target="_blank">"It's a Girl"</a> is currently on my toes right now and it's the Perfect Nude Pink, IMHO. Sexy and subtle - just the way I like it.</li>
<li>If friends are the new family I have the best family a girl could have. Yesterday afternoon, out of the blue, my best friend sent me the sweetest email which completely melted my heart. It reiterated the importance of these kinds of relationships and just how lucky I am to have certain people in my life. </li>
<li>A weekend with no set schedule is one of the most underrated luxuries in life (see #1 above). This weekend happens to be the first in several weeks where I don't have to be anywhere at any given time and I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT IT. If all my weekends were this way I probably wouldn't be so excited, but a quiet one amidst several busy ones really is like a diamond in the rough. </li>
<li>You know this post wouldn't be complete without a little music tidbit. Of <em>course</em>, right? Well, this week I've been really digging Booker T. Jones's <em><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/sound-the-alarm-mw0002525159" target="_blank">Sound The Alarm</a></em>. My personal favs are "Watch You Sleeping," "Broken Heart," and "All Over The Place" - all tracks featuring some lesser known yet exceptionally talented vocalists. </li>
</ol>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-80149856475698396512013-07-20T12:56:00.000-04:002013-07-21T09:15:51.960-04:00Putting the Present to Practice <span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now that the dust has settled after <a href="http://meaningoflunch.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-power-of-now-who-knew-being-present.html" target="_blank">reading Eckhart Tolle's<em> The Power of Now</em></a>, I thought I’d do a little follow-up post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is only natural for inspiration to wane after time, for us to forget
the lessons we learned and to revert to old habits, but for whatever reason,
this book has continued to improve my approach and my perspective on life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few of the big takeaways that
continue to have moved me:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Time</span> </u><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<strong><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Time
isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious
is not time but the one point that is out of time: the Now.” – Eckhart Tolle</i><o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I used to worry about time a lot, especially
with things like life and mortality, the past and future, by anticipating and worrying about imagined future
events that were completely beyond my control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
This was exhausting. </span>I
thought that I <em>needed </em>to worry
about the future, as if that would help prevent the things I worried about
(death, catastrophic events, awkward social interactions) from happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was only until I read this book that I
realized that this kind of incessant worrying is completely
counterproductive and unnecessary. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I try not to focus on mind time, to
worry less about things that are out of my control, and to not think too much
about the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not to say
that I don’t consider chronological time, which involves putting events on my
calendar and requires some modicum of planning, but the obsession, the worry,
the anxiety about the kinds of things that are completely beyond my control has been reduced drastically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I have to say, I feel a huge weight lifted off me. Life really is so much more enjoyable this way, the way that it <em>should</em> be. </span></div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Overthinking</span>
</u></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Worry
pretends to be useful but serves no actual purpose.” – Eckhart Tolle<o:p></o:p></i></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overthinking is another issue I've always grappled with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am an <a href="http://www.personalitypage.com/INFJ.html" target="_blank">INFJ,</a> a Pisces,
and an English major, meaning that I have all the personality traits of an
overthinker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I did in college and
grad school was read books, analyze them, and then write about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to think that being an overthinker was a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">good</i>
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was only when I realized that
it’s actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">being </i>that is the key
to enlightenment -- the opposite of thinking -- a light bulb went off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just the other day I was reading an interview with Singer Janelle Monae
who said that <em>“[R&B singer] Erykah Badu once told me, ‘Stay out of your
mind.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever I’m anxious about
something, I remember those words to anchor myself and not overthink the moment.”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's comforting to know that some of my favorite artists struggle with this too.</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thinking too much zaps our energy stores (leaving less for things like creativity!), when all we have is the now, this very moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I</span>f we’re in our heads the whole time we’re
missing out on experiencing the richness of our lives right in front of
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though I might be inherently prone
to overthinking, I’ve learned that when I step outside my head and actually think less I’m a much happier and more content person.</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Acceptance
and Surrender</span></u></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <strong> “Sometimes
surrender means giving up trying.” – Eckhart Tolle</strong></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So much of my life has been focused on
striving, improving, and becoming that I often fail to realize that it’s okay to just
accept where I’m at and <em>be</em> for a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The cliché really is true: you have to just stop and smell those
roses from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While lots of things can be
achieved by being so future focused, it's easy to lose sight of basking in the glow of life as it is now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accepting and surrendering, that is, just letting go to whatever state you're in and not resisting where your world is at the moment, is a completely
new concept for me, but it is incredibly freeing and invigorating.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friday night I came home after work and dinner with a friend and was exhausted from a long week, so instead of resisting the urge to do nothing, I accepted it and surrendered to where I was. I stripped out of my work
clothes in the kitchen (don't judge: you know how hot it's been!) and laid down on the floor and watched the sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It sounds strange, but it was my own way of accepting and surrendering in the moment, and it was perfect.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><u>Painbody</u></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>"If you are present, the painbody cannot feed anymore on your personal thoughts, or on other people's reactions." - Eckhart Tolle</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eckhart Tolle writes about this
thing called the “Painbody,” which he describes as the “emotional aspect of
egoic consciousness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eckhart-tolle/living-in-presence-with-y_b_753114.html" target="_blank">This article</a>
explains it really well.) </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Painbody can be likened to an
addiction to unhappiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I am not
fundamentally a negative person, the concept has made me more aware of how easy
it is to grasp onto the negative, to latch onto thoughts that fuel negativity
and dysfunction in relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
we don’t like <em>feeling</em> pain, we are also somehow drawn to it, kind of like masochism. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By realizing the kind of actions that fuel the painbody, I
have been working on my awareness of it within me, which has made me conscious of when it tries to rear its ugly head. </span></div>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304346647570933859.post-23961001141168403532013-07-09T18:54:00.002-04:002013-07-13T06:35:04.840-04:00Just a Tuesday Tickle.A random list of thoughts brought to you on a Tuesday by yours truly.<br />
<ol>
<li>It occurred to my on my ride home from work today that Enrique Iglesias's "Bailamos" might be one of the great long-lost pop hits of the '90s. Just don't watch the video because let's just say it hasn't aged well, the styling of which has reduced the song to a corny choreographed mess. But the song really is a sexy little number. Listen to it, and you'll hear what I mean.</li>
<li><a href="http://thechalkboardmag.com/superfood-spotlight-watermelon" target="_blank">This article</a> made me feel a little less guilty about consuming a half-watermelon every time I crack one open. </li>
<li><a href="http://meaningoflunch.blogspot.com/2013/06/finding-home.html" target="_blank">The writing</a> in <em>Dexter</em> continues to blow my mind. Dr. Vogel offered up this gem (Episode 2 of Season 8), which really resonated with me: "I developed a framework for your survival. <em>That's</em> what mothers do."</li>
<li>Another beautiful quote from the ever-inspiring and enlightening site, Brain Pickings, has stayed with me ever since I came upon it the other day: "Always be more than you appear, and never appear to be more than you are." - Angela Merkel </li>
<li>It's amazing what things do to your ego (and after <a href="http://meaningoflunch.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-power-of-now-who-knew-being-present.html" target="_blank">reading <em>The Power of Now</em></a> I've become that much more aware of how ego is involved in everything we do, think or say), but alas. So, one of the Entertainment Weekly's editors followed me on Twitter the other day and then "favorited" one of my tweets today. Is it bad that it kind of made my ego's day? </li>
<li>I'm pumped that Sara Bareilles's new album comes out on July 16. Her songwriting's so pop-rock delicious. I also happen to be a pretty big fan of the beautiful/talented/good girly/nerdy combo. (And as an FYI, she's pretty fun to follow on Twitter.)</li>
<li>I'm always walking that fine line of whether it's inappropriate or appropriate to tell someone I've dreamt about them. The honest part of me feels a strange ethical obligation to let them in on it, as if it's something they need to know, to be privy to; the other part of me realizes this might come off a little creepy. I wonder if this is some kind of strange compulsion or whether it's normal-ish. (Thoughts welcome.)</li>
</ol>
Sarah Woehler http://www.blogger.com/profile/01938765662466103885noreply@blogger.com0