Any book with “Rebel” in the title makes me want to give it a chance.

When I write about books that I love, I tend to infuse a lot of my personal life that might make you roll your eyes. So, to save ticking minutes, you may want to skip my meanderings and read a “proper” review instead. I’d suggest The Guardian writer Ed Hallywell, who recently wrote an excellent article about Rebel Buddha.

Still here? Super! I was delighted to read Rebel Buddha: On the Road to Freedom, by Dzochen Ponlop Rinpoche and am happy to share my reflections about the book.

First, a truth moment:
I smoked cigarettes* when I was a teenager into my early 20s. I hid it from my parents by smoking on my way to work, or so I thought, until my Mom found cigarette butts in the bed of my beat-up, red-n-rust pick-up truck. I forgot about the fact that the butts might be sucked into the bed from the aerodynamics of throwing them out the window while driving. Was I book smart? Yes. Was I intuitively smart? Um, not so much. Did I also constantly question everything, with a rebel attitude? You know it, sister.

Let’s fast forward a couple of decades, shall we?

I am a recovering ingrate** and have cleaned-up my act—at least I’m working on it.

Over time I have discovered responsibility, compassion, and awareness about my body/mind and environment. I continue to have a “seeking” mind. I’ve studied world religions extensively and am interested in any and all spiritual teachings as well. The element of the rebel in me also propels me forward.

I have a hunch you feel elements of the rebel in your soul, too: that seeking voice, a voice that actively searches for answers, a voice that resists the status quo.

As I mentioned recently while responding to Evita’s questions, I resonate most closely with Buddhist practices when it comes to spirituality and have been studying Buddhism for a few years now. I enjoy practicing Buddhist principles because to me, it is not a religion per se, but “method” or a way of life—a way to live with compassion and a path to the peace of emptiness. I’m an infant along the journey to awakening. (Can someone please send me a teething ring?)

But, here’s the rub: I’ve never been to India or Tibet, probably will never physically be able to travel there, and I feel distant from any possible moment that would allow me to partake of an authentic Buddhist experience, other than to experience the essence in the Western world. It’s always seemed to me that the stretch might be too far. What am I trying to prove, saying “namaste” and meditating, then five minutes later I’m dorking around on You Tube and doodling with my iPad. Wha???

Living in the West while employing the principles of Buddhism can sometimes pose a challenging dichotomy for me.

Drum roll please: allow me to introduce you to Dzogchen Ponlop (a.k.a. @ponlop at Twitter), author of Rebel Buddha.

Lovely Leyane kindly sent me this book with no expectations to post about it here, but I felt compelled to share my thoughts about the book with you. (I rarely provide reviews here, fyi. FCC note: I’m not making any coins from this.)

In short, the writings in Rebel Buddha address the concerns of connecting the two worlds, while also giving us a Western road map of the Buddha’s teachings. I think of this book as my personal Buddhist road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway. We’re hugging the Cali coastline, the top is down, and the sun is warming our skin.

Namaste, girlfriends—shaka that.

I applied a flag-sticky-thingy to mark a section of almost every page. It’s that good.

Here’s proof:

Dzogchen Ponlop was born in 1965 (as member of my generational peeps) in northeast India and was trained in the meditative and intellectual disciplines under masters in the discipline of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. He has lived in the US for over two decades, now a US citizen, and is considered by many to be a conduit of Buddhism to Western culture.

In the introduction, he talks about his Seattle basement apartment, beginning the day with a cup of coffee and ending it with the Colbert Report in the evening—early on I notice two interests we already have in common (coffee and Colbert, that is).

The fact is that I am a Generation Xer, according to some, and a loyal BlackBerry subject, but the truth is I am a rebel without any culture on my way to finding the buddha I know is within me. ~ Dzochen Ponlop

Dzogchen Ponlop’s ability to speak about his connection between the West experience and Buddhist’s teachings touched me. I am grateful for his insights.

The wise words in Rebel Buddha shines through, page after page, like the lighthouse showing me the way home. I don’t foresee myself parting with this book. If a friend would want to read my copy, I’d make the investment to purchase a copy for him or her because I can’t part with this. It will have a permanent part in my home library.

The Ponlop Quote Garden: quotes from Rebel Buddha hand-selected by me with love

Compassion or altruism, then, is not about being perfect or just doing good; it’s about this daring heart that cherishes others and life itself.

At some point, you’ll be certain that you have reached a full understanding of your question. You’ll recognize it because it’s not someone else’s answer—it’s your own.

…when you see the reality of your true self, you see it nakedly—stripped of all concepts. It’s one thing to say, ‘The emperor has no clothes,’ and another thing to declare that and be the emperor yourself.

When we meet suffering in person…we can look at it directly and say, ‘I’ve seen you before, and here you are again. I’ve avoided this moment, but now it’s time to face you straight on and clear up a few things. I know you’ve been helping me, so thank you for that. But, now I’d like to say good-bye. I’m walking toward the path of liberation.’

The terms emptiness and selflessness are meant to convey a sense of totality or fullness, which is actually experienced as a sense of openness and spaciousness. So this emptiness is not like the emptiness of an unfilled cup, a vacant room, or worse, and empty pocket. It’s not like that. When we have a genuine experience of emptiness, it actually feels good…It’s as if…we’re suddenly freed from our bondage, we feel so good, so much more relaxed and happy.

To read an example of Dzogchen Ponlop’s unique ability to relate Buddhism to the Western world, read his article at the Huffington Post. Or this article, “How is meditation like a Snicker’s Bar?”

I express my gratitude to Leyane at FSB Media for gifting me with this book. Visit FSB to find several ways (e.g., via Amazon, Kindke, Borders, etc.) to purchase Rebel Buddha for your own home library.

♦ Book reviews from the archives: The Harvard Psychedelic Club, Naked in Eden, What Should I do with the Rest of My Life

Please comment if you have a question about the book or a thought you’d like to share about your own spiritual/emotional journey.

Special Goodie Alert: On Sunday, January 16th (Pacific Time), I will randomly select a person from the comment section and will personally purchase a copy of Rebel Buddha and have it sent to you. I would love to gift Dzochen Ponlop’s teachings to you if you feel you’re ready to receive the messages from this book, but realize you’ll have to provide me with your home address if you are selected. Please indicate in your comment you would like to be added to the drawing.

[Photo credit {top} courtesy Robert Aichinger, center photo credit to me. ]

Also, I would be gratefully humbled if you choose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can have new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS.

~Namaste, friends. _/|\_

*Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis. Sure, smoking might kill you and you’ll die at some point anyway, but smoking might also make for a pretty crappy quality of life, on and off, for a very long time. Trust me. Please don’t smoke.

**My definition of an ingrate is someone who, basically, thinks she owns the world, is annoyingly over-confident, ungrateful, and tends to overlook the very people who have provided her shoulders on which to stand. To remedy ingrates in your life, please love them unconditionally.

Greetings All,

On the cusp of the new year, I’d like to send my heartfelt gratitude for your presence in 2010. I’ve had such rich experiences and met so many wonderful people in 2010, my heart is swelling with gratitude and love. Thank you.

I am closing comments for this post, but I invite you to join me at my friend Evita’s site today as we discuss emotional and spiritual growth, and my personal experience in these areas. There I share my thoughts regarding my journey through these realms as well as my view of the beautiful interplay between science, nature, and spirituality.

I wish you the best for 2011 and that your own spiritual, emotional, and nature-related journeys continue to grow while feeding your heart and mind.

∞ Want to read my favorite post for 2010? C’mon over!

∞ Want to help support me? Consider subscribing to my posts (links below) and spreading the word via Twitter and other social media outlets using the Share-the-Love buttons below.

[Image courtesy NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Creative Commons license.]

Like this post at Jane Be Nimble? More are on the way! Get them emailed to your inbox or via RSS. I promise not to spam you or to sell your information. Ever.

October sunset - harvest moon at my back

Hello and g’day!

Today I’m keeping this post short and sweet because I’m hanging out with Evita Ochel in a lounge chair over at one of her sites: Evolving Wellness. Evita also writes for and produces Evolving Scenes and Evolving Beings; I adore all three sites and I suggest you check them out if you have not yet done so. Evita’s a mover and shaker, and doing wonderful things in this world. Being around her makes me feel transformed into a woodland nymph in a old-growth forest.

At Evolving Wellness, Evita’s questions touch on how my approach to nutrition and well-being has evolved over the years, and more.

You’ll also see me at age seven with the Great Pumpkin. Where did that cutie pie go? 

Head over to Evolving Wellness to say hello!

If you’re new to my blog here at JaneBeNimble, check out my series that focuses on our bodies and minds, Your Body is a Fortress.

Create a great day!

Like this post at Jane Be Nimble? More are on the way! Get them emailed to your inbox or via RSS. I promise not to spam you or to sell your information. Ever.

{reading time ~ 3 minutes}
Listening to an interview with Philip Roth on NPR’s Fresh Air the other day, I felt struck by lightening regarding a particular comment he made. (To better frame the comment, Mr. Roth is 77-years old.)

I’m paraphrasing, but he said something like this: Sure, I’m a better writer than I was 50 years ago, but the writing isn’t any easier.

Wow.

Did you read that?

Think about it.

After decades of writing, it’s just as hard now as it was then.

If an established and successful novelist with a truck load of awards still finds writing difficult, maybe I’m not in as bad shape as I thought. Maybe it IS okay to find some writing projects as hard as other things I’ve done.

I read earlier this week, in The War of Art, that Henry Fonda up-chucked his lunch before every performance even at age seventy-five.

No way.

Get out.

Seriously?

I used to love giving seminars about my research in the states and abroad, I did this quite often and I dare to say I was pretty good at it. (I no longer do this because of my health.) But, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I got a little sick to my stomach before every engagement. Once I got going, I was okay. But, the few minutes before I was introduced I would wish for a fire drill or a ‘gentle’ natural disaster to clear the auditorium.

Bring it on like Donkey Kong. Please! Get me outta here!

What have I learned from all this?

Now I don’t think I’m broken—a bit cracked, but not broken. Maybe if we want to do things, they’re not always going to be easy or fun. Maybe it’s the hard stuff that we really need to buckle down and do—for ourselves, for others, for the planet, for the greater good.

I love climbing into the rocket ship when I write—blasting into a different dimension. Turning thoughts into written sculpture, molding a part of my experiences into a canvas of words, guided by a hand I not only do not recognize, but can’t begin to understand.

My own experience with writing begins with resistance and even pain. That’s when I know the words need to be written. I know I am not alone. We are not alone. You are not alone. It’s okay!

I live with many memories of endurance training, marathon preparation, and open-water swim racing; once again I must turn to the phrase: no pain, no gain. Yes, with a dash of pleasure, too.

My wish for you is to give us what you have, work through the doubt and discomfort and use that as fuel to blast into the incredible mystery of creativity. Do it for yourself, do it for me.

Climb into the rocket ship and let’s go!

Care to share? Do you find the most important projects in your life are some of the most challenging to start and/or finish? If you’re a writer (artist), do you find writing (artistry) difficult, or is it a painless activity? (If it’s painless, how do you make it so?)

(Disclaimer, I do not make profit from clicks at Jane Be Nimble, including this post. Also, here’s another interesting article about Philip Roth if you’d like to learn more about this accomplished novelist.)

[Photo courtesy Divemasterking2000 via Creative Commons license]

Like this post at Jane Be Nimble? More are on the way! Get them emailed to your inbox or via RSS. I promise not to spam you or to sell your information. Ever.

{Reading time: ~6 minutes}

Having been named one the top ten personal development blogs by someone I admire, Annabel Candy of Get in the Hot Spot (thanks Annabel!), I suppose it’s time I acknowledge that many of my posts could fall into the personal development space.

I blog about writing, creativity, fitness, wellness, storytelling, leadership, and science. It’s fair to say I really don’t fit into a niche. A thread that ties together my posts might be supporting others while infusing personal stories. I tend to resist proffering advice unless I’ve done something myself and can use my experience as a vehicle for discussing a topic.

To embrace the Personal Development genre for today, I’m offering my Top Three Tips for topics that I find interesting, including some which I have yet to write about at JaneBeNimble.

Take these with a grain of salt and a dash of humor, too. Thank you.

Three tips to bring more love into your life

1) Give more love. (I gave 40 acts of love and will be writing about the snowball effect this created).

2) Love yourself.

3) Love the planet.

Three tips to become a vegetarian

1) Don’t try to substitute meat with meat-molded-veggie-tofu-like products (you’ll only be disappointed). E.g., no Tofrukey for me! Try a lentil taco (mmm) or a Portobello mushroom sandwich (double mmm).

2) Spend the spring and summer butchering chickens in a factory, then the fall and winter helping out on an overpopulated cattle yard. That will work wonders for you to see where much of your food comes from and how shitty this is for us and our planet.

3) Make a commitment to keep around your home lots of fresh produce, spices, dry beans, nuts, and the like, and investigate ways to cook them (or eat raw). Yum!

Three tips to enjoy sex

1) Tell your partner what you want. He/she can’t read your mind.

2) Masturbate. Self love is essential and fun.

3) Don’t be self-conscious. Being comfortable with yourself and your body is sexy!

Three tips to declutter

1) Donate your books or send to friends, and start using the library.

2) Go through your stuff and think, “Am I hanging onto this for a memory?” Stop clinging to the past and start making new memories without the need to hang on to physical pieces of them.

3) Stop buying stuff! If you have to have a new something (pen, shirt, jewelry, car, doohickey, etc.) give away or donate something you already have before you buy more junk to replace it. (And read this post about living with less.)

Three tips to be more healthy

1) Energy in should equal energy out. Don’t eat more than you burn. Simple, isn’t it?

2) Get a good night’s sleep.

3) Exercise.

Three tips to help you sleep

1) Stop consuming caffeine: coffee, black tea, Red Bull, chocolate. If that seems impossible, stop consuming caffeine after 11 AM.

2) Get off your stinkin’ computer, or stop using other light-emitting devices, at least two to three hours before bed time. Studies have shown this wavelength of light can interrupt sleepy time.

3) Refer to the above category, “Three ways to enjoy sex.”

(Note: If none of these work, read my Ph.D thesis about RNA aptamers as decoys for transcription factors. Zzzz…)

Three tips to find treasure

1) Remove the couch cushions, you’re almost guaranteed to find enough to feed the meter.

2) Check your coat pockets from last winter. No joke here, I used to leave a few bucks in my winter coat pockets just so I’d be surprised the next fall when I grabbed the coat and reached into the pockets! I know, I know, how lame! But, it surprised me every time to find a few bills in my pocket. Whoo hoo!

3) Look in the mirror. You are a treasure, see yourself and all your beauty. Give of yourself to others.

Three tips to deepen your friendships

1) Ask for help.

2) Don’t judge the actions of others, try to put yourself in their shoes.

3) Send a little package, and this does not mean buying more crap. I sent someone a sand dollar I found on the beach the other day. Also, a little note in one’s mailbox can mean more than you think.

Three tips for writing better posts (or email messages, or short stories)

1) Please, please, please proofread your work. I read my prose forward, backward, and then have my Mac read my work aloud for me, too. It’s amazing what you’ll catch when you hear or read aloud your work.

2) Cut 10-20% of your words from your original draft. This is still difficult for me, but I’m working on it.

3) Live! Adventures and experiences make for savory stories. Then, infuse these nibblets into your writing.

Three tips to enjoy being a stepparent

1) You don’t have to be your stepkids’ mom or dad, and they probably don’t want you to be, either. But, you can be their friend and even their confidant.

2) Share your spouse’s love—and yours—with your stepkids. There’s plenty to go around. Love is a renewable resource!

3) It’s pretty cool, really, to have people in your life who love you as a stepmom or stepdad. Savor this special relationship.

Three tips to learn to draw

1) Grab a pencil and go! Find an object on your desk to start. I drew an acorn the other day that rocked!

2) Find a book about drawing, but don’t delay. Tips are great, but they aren’t near as valuable as practice.

3) Don’t over think it. Do it!

Three tips to meditate

1) Get comfortable. I lie on my back, arms across my chest.

2) Start by breathing in, over about four or more seconds. Breathe out, for four or more seconds.

3) Follow your breath, counting from one to seven. First inbreath is ONE, then say or think a sound or word on the outbreath; I usually say ohhmmm. When you get to seven, start over.

(Disclaimer: Obviously, there is a myriad of ways to meditate, this is my version.)

Three tips for finishing a marathon

1) Find a good pillar of support: a coach, mentor, fellow runner, or running group. Sign up for the race that will give you six to eight months to train.

2) Steadily increase a long run each weekend, no more than 10% each week, with your longest run two to three weeks before the marathon. Run a shorter run about every third or forth weekend to help your body recover and rebuild.

3) There’s really no need to run for longer than about three hours during your longest training runs.

Three tips to meet a mermaid

1) Become proficient swimming in the ocean with no wetsuit or other implements, e.g., snorkel.

2) Think of yourself as the magical, beautiful being you already are—mermaids love people who already love themselves.

3) Swim at least 2 km from shore, preferably to an area with a current. Be open to possibility.

Ta da! Thanks for humoring me.

My questions for you:

If you’re a blogger, what blogging “niche” do you fill? Or do you think about this as much as you think about your toenails?

Or, what three tips can you proffer for us in the comments?

Or if you don’t blog, what entices you to read blogs?

Create a great day! Love to y’all.

[Photo courtesy Alaskan Dude via Creative Commons license.]

Like this post at Jane Be Nimble? More are on the way! Get them emailed to your inbox or via RSS. I promise not to spam you or to sell your information. Ever.

Can someone please help me find my socks?

They’ve been blown off my feet.

My post today has two parts, a introduction to a very special author and her book, and a meet-n-greet with two women breathing change—while walking the walk. I couldn’t help but to spend time today glowing about these women. (Does the screen already seem brighter to you?)

I love stories and can’t seem to stop talking about them. Whether it’s a story shared by the water cooler or a masterful shamanistic story, stories move us. Stories heal.

A friend sent me a copy of Robin Easton’s book titled “Naked in Eden” and I dove into it with no expectations. I trusted the sender not to send me tripe, but was not quite sure what to expect.

[I'm not an affiliate, I don't sell anything or make money from my blog. Click all links as much as you feel compelled. I'm trying to develop a platform not a business. Is it working? Please don't answer that question. Thank you.]

Here’s what I discovered while reading Naked in Eden…

Masterful story telling: Robin knows how to tell a story and keep a person hanging on every word. Try it, that’s a difficult skill to master. I’d love to take a meandering walk with Robin, I will bet good money she has some great stories up her sleeve!

Laughter: I loved Robin’s glossary of Aussie Slang. Since her hubs is Australian, the glossary helped me process some of the conversational text. I wasn’t totally lost, but a few words had me guessing until I referenced the glossary. Plus, now I can sling some phrases to my Aussie blogging friends and sound cool. There’s also a hilarious analogy about how hard it is for some of us to ask for directions, but I’ll leave that as a surprise when yewse read the book. So funny!

Adventure: That’s Adventure with a capital “A.” You’ll be taken from snake encounters, to cliff scaling, to crocodile-populated waters back to butterfly births and the deeper meaning of the circle of life. Holy Racing Heart, Batgirl Robin, you really know how to get my ticker pumping. (Tick tock, defibrillator, anyone? George, can I get a jump?)

A deeper meaning—connection to Nature: Robin lived in a rainforest with her hubs with very few supplies, including clothing, and deepened her relationship with Nature. I could relate to many of her words having grown up on a farm, eating food raised using our own hands. To know where one’s food comes from is a lost story these days. Her story had such a strong impact, I still think about it several times a day. And, no, it’s not all about food, it’s about connection and our relationship with our Mother Earth.

Don’t take it from me, other Divas have also written about Robin’s book, too. See Tess’ post, Patty’s post, and Evita’s post, for starters.

As an aside, no one asked me to discuss this book here at JaneBeNimble or at Twitter. I’m writing this because I want to, I’m a tree-hugger, I love this planet, and I’m an unapologetic bleeding heart. I’m not going to stop talking about this topic and spreading the word until we do something to raise our collective consciousness to reconnect our relationship with Mum Nature.

Breathing Change

I follow a blog near and dear to my heart—Susannah’s photography feeds my soul just as much as her writing. I happened across a guest today at her blog, and they both use actions, not just words, to incite change.

These are my kind of gals!

The post is titled, Changing the World, One Breath at a Time. Susannah’s guest, Marianne Elliott, is a writer, a human rights advocate and a yoga teacher.

It’s difficult to summarize Marianne’s rich experiences, but here’s a brief snippet from her About page:

“Later, in Afghanistan I headed up a new provincial office for the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan, where I learned the difference between striving for change and being of service. These days, I aim to be of service.”

“In my spare time, I co-wrote a UNIFEM report on Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan. I wrote it in my spare time because there was no other time to write and I thought it had to be written.”

I suggest you visit to learn more about her.

I could say so much about both Susannah and Marianne, I love how they choose to expend their energy. I have decided to follow Susannah’s lead by taking up Marianne’s offer to help others by signing up for a 30-day online Yoga program with Marianne. Taking a sort of Karmic pay-what-you-can approach, Marianne is donating every dollar to those in need and suggests we donate only what feels good. See specifics here. (Registration is open now until October 3rd. Again, I get nothing out of mentioning this other than the opportunity to help others and feeling good in the process. Mmmm…)

I want to focus my energy on mindfulness and breathing, so this is perfect timing. The course can be tailored to your needs (e.g., I’m concerned less about flexibility and weight loss, more about stress relief and meditation). I was pointed to an article recently that discussed a study where mindfulness (meditation) was shown to improve the physical and emotional well-being of people with MS. (Thank you, Debbie!)

The synergy of life never ceases to amaze me. We all are surrounded by people ready to help. People doing good things in this world. If we keep our eyes, minds, and hearts open, the answers will come.

Do something today. Love someone. Love someone even if it’s difficult. Especially if it’s difficult.

Click to register

Thanks for being here today!

Like this post at Jane Be Nimble? More are on the way! Get them emailed to your inbox or via RSS. I promise not to spam you or to sell your information. Ever.

“When you tell a story, you tell it to all creation. It’s cosmic. It never goes away.” ~~~ Hugh Morgan Hill, a.k.a. Brother Blue

Storyteller Hugh Morgan Hill regarded storytelling as a sacred duty and a path to universal harmony. I couldn’t agree more.

Storytelling actors and performers on the stage aren’t the only storytellers, we all are storytellers as we share stories about our experiences with others.

The best stories will guide us but not tell us what to do. It is up to us, the reader or receiver, to follow the path that beckons us.

This process reminds me of a successful coach/student relationship. A good open-water swim coach might show the swimmer where the ocean rip tides exist and the location of an ideal exit from the water, but she won’t move her student’s arms and legs for him. It’s the coach’s responsibility to guide the swimmer, but not do it for him, and the student’s responsibly to learn from the experience.

I am fascinated by stories communicated to us through myths such as the story of Perseus (Greek mythology) and Pele (Polynesian mythology). The mythical story is a vehicle for learning how to grow in the world. But, we need new myths that help guide us through modern times, too.

Where does the role of storyteller, myth, and shaman intersect?

Shamans represent a belief system or conviction, not necessarily a religion, and can serve roles as healer and teacher, and have been known to share poetry. Shamans help to maintain the physical and spiritual well-being of the tribe.

Historically speaking, it may be possible that shamans hold the oldest belief system in the world. In many cultures, shamans believe when they call on the spirits, they will respond. This strikes a resonant chord with me. If I sit with the intention to create poetry, sketch, or to write a story, it “magically” happens. I’m not implying that I am a shaman (or maybe I am?), but I believe we all innately possess the tools at our disposal to dip into the sea of creativity and well-being while improving the lives of others in the process.

I believe that by storytelling, we are also raising the collective consciousness. Whether you’re a published novelist, a blogger, a parent, or a friend, the experiences you share with others encourage growth into each person’s own heroic mythical moments. These moments ripple to others to inspire those around them.

We must not only give what we have, we must give what we are. ~~~ Désiré-Joseph Mercier

When you’re ready to receive information, it will come. You can discover your own guiding myths through novels, movies, plays, or music (for example). Remember the last time you read a book and felt the author was speaking directly to YOU?

I do. And this happens almost daily.

You, the storyteller shaman, have important work to do. Yes you!

Launch your heroic journey and when you reach the other side, tell us about it and the message will be revealed to the people who need to see it. The heroic journey might be raising children, lessons from illness, caring for an elderly parent, a spiritual quest, or giving love freely, but know you are on a heroic journey every day.

Also as important, as we answer the call and reach safe waters, choose yet another journey. Or, let it choose you.

Joseph Campbell said it best, “We all have a hero’s journey to share. The greater life’s pain, the greater life’s reply.”

This post was inspired by many of my life teachers who have shown me, through their storyteller shamanic prowess, messages I was ready to see. Some I will link here, some have made it to their next journey beyond this life, others are yet to be realized. (Forgive me if you do not see your name listed here, know I love you all, including you if you’re here reading. This was meant to be.)  ~xo

Jay for showing me how to love unconditionally and heroically.

Tess for showing me how to give AND receive with an open heart.

Simon and Evita for for opening my eyes to possibility and healing.

Sara and Davina for igniting my creative force.

Justine for sharing her heroic journey (in writing and life).

Tony & Cassy for adding to my pool of renewal and faith.

Patty for being a fellow storyteller extraordinaire and Shero.

Tim for being my brother (from another mother). 

All of my family and friends, thank you.

[Photo courtesy NASA via Creative Commons license}

Join me in the comments to discuss. I’d love to hear what you have to say.

P.S. Have you performed a random act of kindness or love you’d like to add to the LOVE fest? I’d love to hear about it.

♦ For more storytelling, visit my Front Porch to laugh and join discussions about life with a variety of people from all walks of life.

Like this post at Jane Be Nimble? More are on the way! Get them emailed to your inbox or via RSS. I promise not to spam you or to sell your information. Ever.

One question in particular made me quite contemplative.

I’m paraphrasing here, but he asked what song I would want played at my funeral. Having thought I might bite the big one on more than one occasion in my life, seriously, I had actually thought about this question before. I’ve never feared death and hope when that day comes knocking, you’ll remember this song and hum the tune (or sing at the top of your lungs) to celebrate life and my next fantastic journey.

In case you’re not familiar with the song I named for Tony (one of them, anyway), I thought I’d post the lyrics along side a You Tube video for weekend chillaxing.

The first time I really listened to the lyrics, I swear the Earth stopped spinning, for just a microsecond.

This sums it up, baby cakes. Thank you everyone for your time, thoughtful comments, and attention while I basked in Trottersville this week. And, thank you Mr. Single, for just being you. Have a magnificent weekend!

Watch the video via You Tube (click here if you’re viewing via RSS). The video is 5 min. 46 sec. in length and is supposedly the first network appearance of the Indigo Girls back in 1989. Their performance revs up right at the beginning. I love their conviction.

“Closer To Fine”

Songwriters: Keith Hunter & Emily Ann Saliers

I’m trying to tell you something about my life
Maybe give me insight between black and white
The best thing you’ve ever done for me
Is to help me take my life less seriously, it’s only life after all
Well darkness has a hunger that’s insatiable
And lightness has a call that’s hard to hear
I wrap my fear around me like a blanket
I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it, I’m crawling on your shore.

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain
There’s more than one answer to these questions
pointing me in crooked line
The less I seek my source for some definitive
The closer I am to fine.

I went to see the doctor of philosophy
With a poster of Rasputin and a beard down to his knee
He never did marry or see a B-grade movie
He graded my performance, he said he could see through me
I spent four years prostrate to the higher mind, got my paper
And I was free.

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain
There’s more than one answer to these questions
pointing me in crooked line
The less I seek my source for some definitive
The closer I am to fine.

I stopped by the bar at 3 a.m.
To seek solace in a bottle or possibly a friend
I woke up with a headache like my head against a board
Twice as cloudy as I’d been the night before
I went in seeking clarity.

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain
There’s more than one answer to these questions
pointing me in crooked line
The less I seek my source for some definitive
The closer I am to fine.

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain
There’s more than one answer to these questions
pointing me in crooked line
The less I seek my source for some definitive
The closer I am to fine.

We go to the bible, we go through the workout
We read up on revival and we stand up for the lookout
There’s more than one answer to these questions
pointing me in a crooked line
The less I seek my source for some definitive
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine

Have a beautiful weekend, everyone! Keep spreading the love! ~xo

Like this post at Jane Be Nimble? More are on the way! Get them emailed to your inbox or via RSS. I promise not to spam you or to sell your information. Ever.

Warning: this post is longer than my usual ditties. The articles in my Your Body is a Fortress series are meant to be more meaty with heft and breadth. So, come back when you have more time if you’d like to learn more about your beautiful body electric.

I enjoy reading research results that support or explain something I intuitively know to be true.

I generally don’t need research results to convince me of things, but I love it when I see a study about something that makes me think, “Ah-ha! That’s why when I do this I feel that!” Yes! Especially research about the impact on our bodies of what we eat, do, or think.

It was more fun when it was ME doing the researching, but since I can’t to that anymore, reading the current research keeps me up to date. As I eluded to above, one of my favorite moments in scientific discovery unfolds when I learn why something I feel or intuitively know to be true can be demonstrated in a scientific experiment.

For example, if I eat too much fat (potato chips, ice cream, etc.) I often feel kind of gross for awhile. It tastes good and is fun every now and then, but to learn WHY ingesting fat has that effect was so interesting. It’s really quite simple, it’s because fat takes much longer to digest than protein or carbohydrate, and is also why it produces that prolonged feeling of satiety. Unsaturated fats in moderation are a GOOD thing, though, so don’t give them up altogether. I could go even deeper into the molecular structure and our physiology to describe why it takes much longer to digest fat, but I’ll spare you the details so I can get to the point of this post.

On the subject of eating, back when I used to be an athlete (before Ms. MS took over shop) I trained a lot and I could eat a lot. I had to eat a lot to fuel my body. I’d often workout before work, join a Master’s swim group at lunch, and then train again after work every day and on weekends, too, with the occasional recovery day.

And, you know what? Working out made me feel good. It helped me combat depression, it helped me get though a painful divorce (is there any other kind?). And, I often joked around with my clients that I worked out to prepare for old age. Seriously, I’d say, “Yup, just another day of training for old age.”

I’d usually get a few chuckles.

For me, it wasn’t about living to be 110, it was about staying independent and mobile as long as possible.

So, fancy me doing some reading recently at the online Public Library of Science and BAM! Awesome! I find a study delving into a possible explanation why exercise helps to combat “old age”, and more specifically, how exercise fights the negative effects of stress.

As a side note, I love PLOS. It’s an open-access resource for publishing scientific research, legit, rigorous, peer-reviewed, and open to the public. I could write a whole post on the importance of this communication method, but I’ll save that for later.

One of the first things I notice about a scientific article is if I recognize any of the authors. BINGO, Elizabeth Blackburn is one of the authors of this report and helped with the study design. She’s an accomplished scientist at UCSF, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and she was also named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2007. Dr. Blackburn has also won awards that are akin to being on the US Olympic team. Suffice it to say, she rocks.

The Power of Exercise: Buffering the Effect of Chronic Stress on Telomere Length

In this publication by Eli Puterman and colleagues including Dr. Blackburn, the authors state, “Vigorous physical activity appears to protect those experiencing high stress by buffering its relationship with TL [telomere length].”

What the heck is a telomere?

Good question.

It’s important to understand these things before we can understand why it’s so important to protect them. A telomere is kind of like a helmet for your chromosome ends (see white tips in image of actual chromosomes above). A telomere is a complex of DNA and protein that caps the end of the chromosome—everyone has 23 chromosome pairs (46 total) per cell, except for gametes which only have 23 chromosomes, remember?

Anyhoo, these caps contribute to the chromosome’s stability. As cells divide and replace older cells, a piece of your cellular machinery (called ‘telomerase’) actively replaces these caps to protect the DNA. Basically it behooves the cell to have high-performing telomerase activity. Sure, there’s a short “buffer” at the end of the chromosome, but as cells divide, if the DNA looses it’s protective cap, it can shorten to a critical length. That’s when things can go wrong.

At this stage, the cell can basically go to sleep and stop dividing. What then? A host of problems can begin, such as immunological problems signaled by the sleeping cells, which can promote heart disease, diabetes, and eventually you’re pushing up daisies too soon.

Importantly, telomere shortening has long been associated as a marker for biological aging.

OK, get this, short telomeres have been reported in people with high psychological stress, too.

Puterman and colleagues were familiar with the phenomenon other researchers have demonstrated along with this tasty nugget: endurance athletes have longer telomeres! (Excellent!)

With this data in hand, the researchers wanted to understand if stressed but physically active people would be protected from telomere shortening compared to sedentary (and stressed) controls. So, they designed an interesting study looking at this hypothesis. If you want to read the nitty-gritty, I suggest reading the original article.

To summarize, the authors state:

“…physical activity was able to protect those experiencing stress by buffering its relationship with TL [telomere length], as hypothesized. Our findings support the physical benefits of activity, and, interestingly, map well onto Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for amount of physical activity required to sustain a healthy body (75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week). … In the present study, we were able to rule out potential factors as alternative explanations for both the stress-telomere association and the buffering potential of physical activity.”

So, basically the researchers’ hypothesis was supported by the data they gathered from the study.

In their final remark, the authors also suggest, “It is reasonable to conclude that exercise should be strongly advised and prescribed to people reporting high levels of psychological stress.”

However, they also mention that highly stressed people are also inherently less likely to exercise. And I *get* that, too. Believe me, I do, more than you know. (My MS severely limits my ability to exercise.)

I’m not here to make anyone feel bad for not exercising. We all can only do what we can. I’m only here to say I’m pleased the accumulating research undeniably supports that exercise rocks when it comes to delaying aging, combating depression, dealing with the physical detriments of stress, and even improving cognitive function.

The next time you’re staring at your swimsuit with a frown or deciding between that extra cup of coffee or a brisk walk, please remember all the good that comes with exercise. Deal?

I enjoy reading research results that support or explain something I intuitively know to be true. Maybe we should trust our intuition more often?

Now, get out there and sweat! Workout to train for old age.

[Thank you to the authors of this publication for sharing this great study! I've shared quotes in this post courtesy Creative Commons license from PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed journal of the Public Library of Science. Telomere photo courtesy Creative Commons license via US Department of Energy Human Genome Program. Photo at top of post by Maria Keays via Creative Commons license.]

Like this post at Jane Be Nimble? More are on the way! Get them emailed to your inbox or via RSS. I promise not to spam you or to sell your information. Ever.

Life models many aspects of nature, don’t you think?

This week has been marked by some extremely high tides and, in concert, I felt tides rising around me:

• My good friend found out she is faced with some severe health problems.
• I received word that my family’s farm in the Midwest was pummeled with grapefruit-sized hail and the nearby city experienced multiple tornadoes.
• Lovely San Diego rocked from a 5.9 earthquake (epicenter was about forty miles away).
• A friend who I love dearly and from whom I have divined deep inspiration recently tested HIV positive.
• I can’t put into words the devastation I feel because of the continued demolition of the Gulf of Mexico.

What the heck is going on? Life felt as though the tide had risen too high and I wanted the ocean to sweep all this bad news away.

Yesterday morning, I went for a brief walk to clear my head and soon after I started, a butterfly the size of the palm of my hand crossed my path.

And then it hovered there.

And fluttered.

And flittered about.

It was like she was winking at me—she was just enough to make my day a shade brighter.

Since then, the highest tides have flattened, and:

• My friend found out that with surgery she should make a strong recovery.
• No one was hurt from the storms back home.
• San Diego did not suffer any major damage.
• The doctors say with the appropriate drug cocktail and diet, my friend is likely to die from old age.
• I’m still pissed about the oil spill—but my husband and I have put in place an even stricter “oil use” policy for us. (No more petroleum candles [only soy], he stopped driving to work [only walking and cycling], limit purchase of petroleum-containing products, we signed up for local vegetable/fruit community garden pick up program [win-win!]).

And, so it goes. Tomorrow the 18th brings the first-quarter moon, the tidelines continue to flatten, and life becomes more even keel.

I am amazed how life mimics nature. Have we gotten so far from nature that this synergy seems a little surprising (even to little ‘ole me)?

I want to hear what you have to say about nature and synergy.

I grew up on a farm and have always felt a very close connection to nature (sun, soil, rain, sky) and for the past ten years, the ocean is my connection to nature. Maybe in my former life I was a woodland nymph?

What about you? Do you find your emotions or life rolls with the tide, moon phases, or other natural cycles?

[Photo courtesy Sudheer]

Like this post at Jane Be Nimble? More are on the way! Get them emailed to your inbox or via RSS. I promise not to spam you or to sell your information. Ever.