Life By Design Archives - Page 9 of 9 - Dominique Hurley

You are a gift – there is no one else in this world like you. Your life, therefore, will be just as unique. Embracing a life that is true to your heart and soul’s callings can be challenging in a world of expectations, labels, and ingrained social norms. This series is about creating a life that is true to who you are, based on the only story I am qualified to write about: mine.

Life By Design: Right Livelihood

February 12, 2015/in Inspiration, Life By Design

It’s 7am and I’m still under the covers. I’m rarely still in bed at this hour, but I’m here because I can be, with my computer on my lap (that’s why they call it a laptop, isn’t it?!). I haven’t blogged in a week, although I’ve written a few posts in my head… so I thought I would start here this morning.

There’s a snowstorm outside that has already shut down most of the city. The buses aren’t running and campus is closed. The soundtrack is dramatic – muffled through the walls and windows as if it there was a space war in the next theater. People all over the city have stocked up on snack food and are looking forward to this first real Snow Day in St. John’s. Of course, they’re hoping the power stays on, so that they might watch a few movies from the comfort of their homes.

This is really just another day for me. I can go days without leaving the house except to feed the ducks in the back yard. I’m either at my computer working or painting in the studio. I love it! I schedule art deliveries and meetings only once I’ve consulted the weather forecast. Generally speaking, my days flow based on inspirations, moods, and deadlines – and that’s such a blessing. My challenge is not to work from morning til night, 7 days a week…

What Works For Me:

What I’ve learned though, is that I’m a project worker. I love focusing on one project at a time and giving myself completely to it for short periods of time – without any distractions. I’ve always been goal oriented…. too much so at time and I can forget to enjoy the journey. Anyhow, working from home is perfect. Once I’m in the flow, I can work with ease and efficiency. I’m so much into what I’m doing that I’m surprised to look up and see that it’s already dark outside. The Flow is such a wonderful place to be!

For example, I just completed a 100-hour curriculum development project for Memorial University. The English as a Second Language Department hired me to develop three thematic units for their summer school. It was a highly creative and interesting project based on 3 significant chapters of Newfoundland history.

I had requested this contract because I correctly assumed that art sales would be slow right after the holidays. The most challenging thing about being a full-time artist for me is that lack of steady predictable income… I knew, however, that the energy and time required to teach in the academic program this term was not in line with my soul calling to devote myself more fully to my art. So this project was perfect.

I worked from home when I felt moved to within a 2-month period. I sometimes put in a 10-hour day, but then skipped a day or two to paint or worked on it for only 2 hours when I had to run errands. By the end, I had a huge binder filled with highly detailed instructions and fun, success-oriented learning activities for 3 levels of learners. I had created something tangible that would make a difference for both the teachers and students in summers to come. That felt very much in line with my life’s purpose.

Could I sustain that kind of energy or focus all year? Probably not. I’ve discovered that I like highly creative projects that have a clear beginning and end – not too far off in the future. It was the same with teaching – the more creative input, the better. The shorter the term, the better. I like 5-week courses. Twelve weeks stretched on at times. The idea of having the same class year-round like regular school teachers do never appealed to me. I love teaching and am good at it, but being an introvert, it takes a lot of my energy. I work better alone, from home. Balance on a yearly basis vs. a daily basis is also good.

Questions:

What kind of work environment do you thrive in? Alone from home? On your computer while traveling? With a lot of people in an office that’s constantly buzzing with activity?

Do you prefer routine, planned variety, or constant surprises?

Are you a 9 to 5er with weekends off? Or do you like early morning or late night shifts?

Do you need the security of a regular paycheck? Do you prefer the uncertainty but possibility of limitless income through entrepreneurial motivation? Or do you need a little of both for peace of mind?

Do you like working year-round with scheduled holidays? Do you prefer contract-based work that leaves you free certain months of the year – whenever you choose?

What are your needs in terms of income, social contact, mentorship, time off, etc.?

These are all good questions to ask as you consider how to live a life on purpose and earn a living. Although I feel very strongly called to be an artist full-time right now, I have to carefully consider how I can sustain that. My non-business expenses are pretty low as I live a simple life, but my peace of mind / security needs are maybe higher than some.

Professional Guidance:

I’m about to start a 6-week free training program with the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) to explore different avenues through which I can grow my business. I’ve spent hours listening to entrepreneurial and arts-business coaching podcasts to keep me in the right frame of mind despite my fears. I’ve followed inspiration to put grant requests and business proposals together and to make contacts within my community. I’m in the process of finding clarity for my business as my right-brain intuitive Spirit-led self harmonizes with my left-brain common sense action-oriented self (that’s the goal anyway). It’s a work in progress and requires patience and determination.

Working with a coach at NLOWE has already been so fruitful in terms of questioning and clarifying. I’ve also put my name down on a waiting list for a mastermind group. They also offer many networking opportunities, which have helped me become aware of my triggers around events where people can be inauthentic and in “getting” mode. As the world is a mirror, it’s helped me re-evaluate my own way of being during such events. Although I can be a great leader and have no trouble talking to large crowds, I can be very uncomfortable in social settings. This growing process can be tough, but that’s what we’re on this planet for, so I’m open to it – just asking to do so with ease and grace instead. My coach advised me to seek my like-minded community, even while I’m in hermit mode , but with the goal of doing research. “Go out there and find out what their needs are and how best you can serve them through your art and inspiration”. Just changing my frame to that from “Let’s go find buyers for my paintings” really helped me stay in a space of authenticity, last night, for example, when I went to a local Meet-Up group on Spirituality & Metaphysics. Although part of me just wants to stay home and paint, I am grateful for all the resources available to me at this time as I find clarity on my path.

The Path of Discovery:

This isn’t something I’ve just jumped into. My career path has helped me answer many of those questions above. I’ve discovered through experience what works for me and what doesn’t. The unstable contractual nature of ESL teaching helped me become more comfortable with not knowing (in terms of schedules, salary, etc.). I came to fully appreciate the choice it gave me every few months to accept a contract or spend the time learning or painting. And when circumstances chose for me, I learned to accept that that was meant to be – it was in line with my Highest Good as that is what I always pray for. I then started looking for the opportunities in that. It also taught me to live debt-free and have an emergency reserve put aside in a bank that I don’t use for anything else in case I’m completely without income for a few months.

At 48, I’m still figuring out what a Life by Design looks like – for now and the near future. In the past, traveling around the world and across Canada teaching English was perfect. Being a student at various times in my life was also perfect. Always, however, the art and inspiration have been present. My job right now is to figure out how I can best serve my community and if/what/how I can earn a living from that. It’s all part of exploring and expressing my love of beauty and the beauty of love.

P.S. No matter what happens, I love creating and sharing. I may not be reaching a lot of people yet through my own social media platforms, but I experienced the power of it yesterday. Girish, a famous kirtan singer (Sanscrit meditation music) posted my painting “Divine Union” on his Facebook Page (I have no idea how he found it – the magic of social media) with a quote by Marianne Williamson. This is quite amazing as I had spent the morning pairing some of my paintings with quotes by this spiritual teacher coming to St. John’s in May. Coincidence? I think not. Anyhow, within 13 hours, 890 had Liked it and 563 had Shared it, meaning that all of their friends had seen and potentially shared it. I may not have made a penny from this painting yet, but it’s out there touching and moving people. I can feel the Great Creator working through me. I have tears of joy just writing that. I know I’m on my path and I know that the Universe will support me as I follow that call. In that, I trust.

I will keep praying for Guidance as I refine the Work aspect of my life as a spiritual being having a human experience. Indeed, I will keep my heart set on what the Buddhists call Right Livelihood on the Eightfold Path.

May your Work fulfill you and serve others as you create your Life by Design.

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Life by Design: Eating With Love

January 23, 2015/in Inspiration, Life By Design

Food has been a big part of my life story and even part of my identity at times. That’s not a good or bad thing – it just is.

Let me share my story in case it inspires any food for thought for your own journey. I shared a part of it with a few ladies last November and was told how much it had helped. That’s why I don’t mind sharing so much and being so transparent in this blog.

The bottom line is that I’ve learned it’s worth paying attention
to what, why, and how we eat since these are often
correlated with other aspects of our lives.

I’ve found out a lot about my body, mind, and spirit as I’ve journeyed the long road to eating in a way that supports my overall well-being. I’ve still got a ways to go. My body is good at telling me how things are going – especially my eczema. I’ve had this skin issue since I was a baby, and it’s been a good teacher.

I’ve also learned a lot from both health professionals and literature over the years, but my my inner guidance system is indispensable at knowing what’s good for me on any given day – when I listen to it instead of to the temporary emotional hole that is begging to be filled (that’s when chips come in…). For example, I’ve read countless articles on the health benefits of tomatoes, but I’ve learned that they’re one of the worst trigger foods for my eczema (although delicious on pizza!).

There simply isn’t a magic formula or a one-size diet for all.

I’ve also learned that I need to be flexible as my location and needs change.

I may have thought I was doing well by being a gluten-free vegan for 3 years, but I came to understand that I was simply being too hard on myself through yet another form of perfectionism. My diet wasn’t necessarily bad – it was the healthiest of my entire life if you consider a lot of the information out there. The way I was managing it, however, wasn’t great. I was being so strict with it, making eating out and traveling so challenging that it simply wasn’t helping my digestion any. Plus I became sensitive to a new list of foods.

These days, I simply can’t put any labels on myself – although I’ve been known to say that I’m a health food nut and a chipaholic. Basically, I’m very glad I’m informed on some general truths about healthy eating habits and nutrition, but I also recognize that my body is unique and so are its needs.

A Life Seen Through Food Memories:

Ages 5 – 10 (in Europe):

There was always an abundance of food around and my mother prepared well-balanced meals, often followed by desert. The list of foods I refused to eat, however, was embarrassingly long. My poor mother would often cook 2 meals because I wouldn’t eat what the rest of the family did – she said that it was either that or bring me to the hospital to get me hooked up to an IV.
At one point, she even decided to cook what I wanted for breakfast to ensure I would be nourished before school – ex: homemade hamburgers. I now believe I was dairy intolerant and had been nauseous most mornings after my bowl of cereals.
Like most kids, I loved candy and chips. I confess I sometimes used my school money to buy some small food item instead of the full meal deal, so that I could spend the rest on candy and chips.
I was crazy for German-style pizza (my inner child fully indulged last year in Vienna!). Once, when I was sick, my parents offered to go out for pizza, and when I said no, they knew I wasn’t faking.
I was so offended one day when a friend’s mother took us out to a café with the promise that we’d get a gift if we behaved. When I gagged on the alcohol in the Black Forest cake she ordered for us, she decided there would be no gift. I judged her harshly for her bad judgment at the time… I still don’t like the smell or taste of alcohol, and so I don’t drink. I’ve also never tasted coffee – I’m just a strange one 🙂

Back in Canada at 10:

The first thing I remember about my return to Canada was running into the airport store to buy Hostess BBQ chips – that I had tasted the year before when a classmate brought some to school – a far cry from German paprika chips.
Mother continued to cook 2 versions of many meals, but I slowly discovered how silly I had been to miss out on her homemade spaghetti sauce, for example. Why on earth had I insisted on Catelli in a can for so many years? More and more, I ate what the rest of the family did- but not everything. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten eggs except in cake and pancakes…
Going to friends’ houses for dinner was a super stressful event for me as I’d spend hours worried about the menu.
Going to a fast food restaurant like McDonald’s was a rare treat. Canadian pizza paled in comparison to European, but was still a treat.
I still spent a part of my allowance on chips and candy. I even called those tiny plastic Treasure Chests of candy my medicine boxes when I went to summer camp one year. They discouraged children from bringing candy to camp, but I “convinced” them that I needed “my medicine”. You can imagine how embarrassed I was at the age of 15 when I went back to work there and they remembered that (I’d forgotten!).

Teenager:

In addition to my eczema, I had very bad acne, partly genetic and partly due to my diet, I’m sure. We still ate very healthily at home, but I supplemented that with junk food whenever I had the chance.
A boy introduced me to many different ethnic foods (Indian, real Chinese, etc.) and I just loved it. My diet expanded exponentially.

On My Own:

I moved into my own apartment downtown after graduating from university and worked for the government a few blocks away. I went out for lunch and dinner a lot.
Although I mastered the Belgium Truffle Cheesecake, I never really learned to cook well and can’t say I enjoyed it. I have to admit that there was way more processed food around than I wish to remember.

5 Years Overseas:

I moved to the Czech Republic to teach and discovered lots of delicious foods – most of which were deep fried or full of sugar. I gained quite a bit of weight those 2 years in the CZ Republic.
I remember tearing up when I saw the first cucumber at the market after a long winter without fresh vegetables.
When I interrupted my time in the Czech republic to do my Certificate in TESL back in Ottawa, my sister thankfully discouraged me from buying a deep fryer to cook meals for her family.
I met a man in my class (later to become my husband) who was an amazing cook, so he did most of the cooking during our 10 years together. At restaurants, he would always choose the healthy options and never questioned my choices. I learned a lot from his example.
During our years in South Korea, I found it more and more difficult to eat meat as it wasn’t as well camouflaged in markets – none of this ground up cellophane wrapped meat that didn’t look like the animal anymore.
I developed such painful digestion issues in South Korea (like being stabbed from inside) that doctors had me eating white rice and bland soup for 6 months, following a couple of days on IV. That was the end of super spicy Korean meals, which I’d eaten twice a day for 2.5 years.

Back in Canada:

When we returned to Canada, our diet became much more vegetarian.
My eczema had become so bad that I started working more with natural health specialists who introduced me to such things as juicing and cleansing. I became increasingly health focused. After my first 3-month cleanse, I remember going to my brother’s for Easter. Going from a super clean system to having a bit too much sugar all at once was more than my brain chemicals could handle. When I got home, I went from being hyper, to crying uncontrollably, to getting so angry that this is what society was doing to kids. I was on a super intense emotional roller coaster for a couple of hours – scary!
When my ex and I lovingly decided to go our own ways, I moved to Calgary to do my Masters in Education. I gave my diet a complete overhaul, taking advantage of the fact that I had no favourite restaurants there to tempt me. Within months of cutting wheat, sugar, meat, anything deep fried or processed, and all the foods I had tested sensitive to out of my diet, my skin cleared up completely. My life also had less (or a different kind of) stress in it, so that helped too, I’m sure.
I became vegan for 3 years, ensuring that I had variety and protein in every meal. This was easier to do once I moved to Vancouver Island to study photography for a year. There were weekly raw vegan buffets, monthly vegan nights at restaurants, and a great juice bar with educational nights. But as I said earlier, I was so strict with myself that it became stressful. Still, for quite a while, I thought I was the healthiest I had been in years. When the third medical intuitive I consulted (in various provinces as I moved around) told me my vegan diet wasn’t serving me (I had become sensitive to many of my sources of protein), I decided to listen.

Saskatoon:

In 2006, I moved to Saskaton to work with the late photographer Courtney Milne and his wife Sherrill Miller. They introduced me to Michele Kralkay, one of the health specialists I talked about above. After my consultations with her, I knew I needed to re-introduce chicken and fish into my diet, but this was a psychologically difficult thing to do since my reasons for not eating meat were largely based on the cruelty of the meat industry.

Photo by Courtney Milne

My process became easier after doing an inner landscape reading with Sherrill, using Courntey’s photographs. After asking my Higher Self for guidance and shuffling his photos, I pulled the one above and just started crying.

This image put all my fears and beliefs right in my face, asking me to examine them carefully. I could see that I had put meat up on a fence like an obstacle in my life. Although I had long seen skulls as frightening representations of death, so many in this sacred land I was living on, including some of the shaman I was introduced to, saw them as symbols of protection, strength, power, wisdom, guidance, and immortality. This card was asking me to revisit my perceptions to see beyond the gates to the fertile lands waiting to be farmed and harvested. The riches lay beyond the fence, and I would have to get over my fears and change my perceptions.

I kept crying for a while, grieving as I let go of beliefs that no longer served me. But after talking with the fisherman at the market where I bought my fish and only buying organic chicken that had lived a happy life, I felt much better, blessing and giving thanks for this life-sustaining food.

I’ll admit, after being so strict for years, letting go of some of my rules had many of them swing the other way until I eventually found a balance. Apart from still being a chipaholic, I mostly ate organic and healthy foods. In addition, if I felt moved to eat my mother’s beef-based spaghetti sauce when I visited the family at Christmas, I simply would. There were no more rules. I learned to simply check in with my body to see if I felt called (vs. compelled like with the sugar) to eat something.

Newfoundland:

When I moved to Newfoundland, it was harder to find a good variety of fresh organic produce on the island. Food here is also more expensive. Juicing didn’t make sense anymore and buying organic chicken meant having to cook a whole chicken, something I have yet to do in this lifetime. Still, I eat well. During my first two years, I continued to feed myself with mostly whole foods cooked in my steamer – variations of my rice/veggie/fish casseroles and big pots of soup that I would freeze. It was simple, yet nourishing. I still loved my chips, though.

Another Year Overseas:

Studying in Vienna meant being reunited with European style pizza, which I indulged in at least once a week. I discovered that I could handle wheat, tomatoes and dairy if I didn’t overdo it. There was also a wonderful Vietnamese restaurant on my way home from school where she used plenty of fresh ingredients to make such delicious meals at a reasonable price. I went there a lot! There were also plenty of organic grocers around, so I continued to cook healthy meals and brought the leftovers to school.

After my visit to Ottawa at Christmas, however, my eczema became the worst it had been my whole life. I sought help in Bali (3 kinds of doctors) and it eventually disappeared by the time I returned to Canada in July. I learned a lot about the excess of fire in my body (from the Chinese, traditional Balinese and Ayurvedic perspectives).

Back in Canada Again:

Moving in with my housemate Orinda has been a blessing on many fronts. One of them is that she’s a very good cook who often cooks. I’ve taken full advantage of that, of course, learning to be even more flexible when something with a bit of pork in it appeals to me, for instance. There’s simply a lot more variety in my diet now, but I am eating more wheat and sugar than I would like. I’m slowly learning to say yes to certain foods at times and to resist it at other times when my body says no. It takes a bit more discipline than when living on my own.

I was also glad to get back to my morning Vega smoothies. These have been my breakfast for more than a decade, except when overseas – it’s so nice to have an easily digestible breakfast that sustains me until lunch. I know I’m starting the day right with this highly nutritious vegan blend of nutrients. I add a cup of organic berries and often add other fruit in it or on the side. Their newest formula includes:

20 grams premium plant-based protein
6 servings of greens
50% daily intake of food-based vitamins and minerals
25% DV fiber
1.5 grams of Omega-3s
Antioxidants
Probiotics (1 billion CFU)
Only 160 calories.

Soon after my return from Ottawa at Christmas, however, my eczema came back again. The timing has been the same for the past several years. Is it the dryness of winter? Is it the fact I eat 100 times more sugar at Christmas than at any other time of year (a substance known to tax the liver)? This likely has something to do with it. I know I’m not allergic to my family! So I’m listening and continuing to learn about myself and my body as I take steps to cleanse my liver through Chinese medicine.

My journey continues –

Wow, once again, I never expected to spend the day writing, but I’m sure that the process has helped me in some way. As I’ve mentioned before, this blog is like a journal sometimes.

If something here can be of use to you, great. If nothing else, you got a much deeper insight into my human-ness. If we are spirits in human bodies, I’m still learning to understand my user’s manual.

What is your user manual saying?
What has your life journey with food taught you about yourself and your needs?
Are there messages you’re receiving about what, how, and why you eat
that can help lead to healthier choices?
Best wishes in this chapter of your Life by Design!

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Life by Design: Creativity

January 14, 2015/in Inspiration, Life By Design

Dominique Hurley Art & Inspiration Quote Series

“Sun Flair” from my “Sacred Earth Journey” photo album

We are creators – many believe created in the Image of the Great Creator. Whether predominantly left-brained (analytical, logical, objective) or right-brained (intuitive, creative, subjective), human beings are creative by nature.

I believe that we are like drops of water which can become one with the ocean when in the creative flow. We tap into something greater than ourselves, becoming a channel for Life Force – connecting to the power of being truly in the moment, in the now.

I feel that when I get into a space of creativity, I open the gates to the flow of love and energy that expresses itself through me in a unique way. It’s like a refreshing stream that has me totally focused on the present. There’s no space for regret about the past or worry about the future when I’m in that flow. Instead, there’s a deep peace, a slowing down, a relaxation, a meditation… and lots of play!

I can reach that very fulfilling state of I AM when painting or photographing in nature, filling my eyes and heart with the wonders of the world. I can also reach that state, however, when I’m designing original lesson plans for ESL classes. I’ve discovered that calling myself a painter is much too limiting. I spent years without painting and was still creatively fulfilled when I was exploring photography or taught in programs where I was completely free to design my own curriculum.

What about you?

Faith is almost the bottom line of creativity; it requires a leap of faith any time we undertake a creative endeavor, whether this is going to the easel, or the page, or onto the stage – or for that matter, in a homelier way, picking out the right fabric for the kitchen curtains, which is also a creative act. Julia Cameron

There are countless ways to tap into your creativity. You don’t have to be an artist to be creative! There can be as much creativity involved in getting dressed, cooking, software development, scrap-booking, inventing things, decorating your house, landscaping your yard, organizing an event, making love, blogging, knitting, building a shed, etc. You get the idea.

“Frosty Magic” from my “Frosty Morning Magic” photo album

The important thing is to play, experiment and find your creative outlet.

Even though the arts called to me strongly, I went through my entire high school program without finding a medium that really appealed to me. It wasn’t until later, when my uncle gave me Christmas money to spend in an art store that I discovered the world of acrylic inks and used them in ways the sales clerk didn’t think “was right”. Well, I’m still doing it and so are plenty of others now. I found a mode of expression that brought me great joy, and I’m so glad I kept seeking until I found it.

It’s Worth It!

I’m not sure if I was born predominantly left or right brained. I sure spent a lot of my time on my own in the imaginary and spirit world as a child. This makes me think that I may be predominantly right-brained. I’m grateful though, that society trained me very well in its western hemisphere ways, in which left-brained skills are highly valued. I was very successful at climbing the recreation career ladder in community, municipal, provincial, and then national job positions from the age of 15 until I reached my dream job right out of university. Those skills still serve me very well and will no doubt help me succeed as an artist. Having my left and right brain work together in harmony, however, was my challenge. They were at war for years – not very peaceful in there…

The cost of favouring my left-brain to the point of completely ignoring my right-brain were pretty high though. I wrote the article Creatively Becoming Whole for the magazine WhoLife in 2009, describing how I had put my creativity on hold because my left brain was working overtime working for an amazing spiritual photographer who needed a whole team of left-brained workers to keep up to his creative flow. I am grateful for that blessed opportunity – I have no regrets. But I have learned more about my needs. It was fun to reread the article this morning – and to see some of my older paintings. At the time, I wrote that creativity provided me with a medium for aesthetic exploration, an outlet for emotional catharsis, and a platform for personal and spiritual growth. That is still true today, and I pray that I’ll never choose to shut the door on it again.

Where to start?

If you’re not sure where to start, think back to the things that brought you pleasure as a child. Or walk around an arts & craft store until something strikes your fancy. You can also seek out programs that help you reconnect to your inborn creativity. I recommend Julia Cameron‘s work. I’ve used a couple of her books at various stages of my life to do just that. My favourite is “The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity”.

“Most of us are not raised to actively encounter our destiny. We may not know that we have one. As children, we are seldom told we have a place in life that is uniquely ours alone. Instead, we are encouraged to believe that our life should somehow fulfill the expectations of others, that we will (or should) find our satisfactions as they have found theirs. Rather than being taugh to ask ourselves who we are, we are schooled to ask others. We are, in effect, trained to listen to others’ versions of ourselves. We are brought up in our life as told to us by someone else! When we survey our lives, seeking to fulfill our creativity, we often see we had a dream that went glimmering because we believed, and those around us believed, that the dream was beyond our reach. Many of us would have been, or at least might have been, done, tried something, if…
If we had known who we really were.”

What appeals to you? How can you be more creative in your life – both at work and at play. Creating a Life by Design is one that involves creativity – in your own unique way, with your own unique voice, as you connect to something greater that is calling to your heart and soul. May you truly enjoy your creative Self!

“Mystic Vision” from my “Frosty Morning Magic” photo album.

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Life By Design: The Perfect Fitness Fit

January 9, 2015/in Inspiration, Life By Design

I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking about physical fitness during this time of New Year resolutions. The trick, I’ve found, is to find a formula that’s a perfect fit for YOU in THIS chapter of your life – for your schedule, constraints, personality, fitness level, social needs, location, budget, etc. The rewards of moving that uniquely beautiful body of yours are multiple: exercise enhances not only your physical, but also your mental, emotional and spiritual health. In fact, it’s a great way to counter the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), common at this time of year. Not everyone, however, is into team sports, outdoor adventures, group classes, gyms, or running clubs. So what’s the right fit for you? Here’s what I do to get my groove on.

Knowing Myself:

I’ll start off by saying that I am in no way an athletic person. The only reason I passed high school gym was because of the theory and flexibility units, as well as a wicked volleyball serve. I spent the rest of the time humiliated, panting with burning lungs far behind the rest of the class.

I did, however, love being in nature and taking long leisurely walks to fill my eyes with the wonders of the world. So throughout my life, I arranged to live at least 30 minutes walk from where I worked, ensuring at least 1-3 hours of walking a day on workdays. I’ve also never owned a car – which helped. Indeed, I’m a destination walker – I’ll gladly walk to where I need to go no matter the weather. I’m discovering, however, that I’m not so motivated to simply “go for a walk”, especially on my own, unless special scenery is involved (like on all those hiking trails in Vienna or the East Coast Trail here in Newfoundland).

New Chapter, New Program:

When I moved back to Canada in July, I chose to live in a great environment far from university, which unfortunately meant taking the bus to campus when I was teaching. I’m facing an even greater need now to expand my physical fitness program since I’m working entirely from home for the winter, mostly hunched over my computer or my paintings.

Knowing that my current hermit mode, early-riser schedule, financial priorities, and location aren’t conducive to yoga or dance classes that I may have enjoyed in the past, I’ve designed an at-home program that I just love. It has made such a difference in my days and nights as I had been suffering from the ill-effects of sitting cross-legged on the floor painting for 12-16 hours on some days…

So here’s my program:

1. Morning Kriya Yoga Energization Exercises (20 minutes)

I learned this routine last May while at the Ananda Center in Italy, where I was artist-in-residence for 10 days. It’s a series of 39 simple muscle tensing and relaxing exercises that help to consciously direct the life force to certain parts of the body, awakening the body, mind and soul. I did them for a while afterwards and then stopped, despite keeping the poster my friend Regine gave me on the wall. I’ve added this back in this year, at the beginning of my morning routine, sometime between 5-6 am. It feels great! If you’re curious, here’s a longer instructional video, but I now use a shorter one to follow along.

Note: This series was designed by Paramahansa Yogananda (author of “Autobiography of a Yogi”). When I was in Ottawa over Christmas, I saw that there’s a feature movie about his life in theatres now – unfortunately, it’s not currently scheduled for St. John’s.

2. Morning Rebounding (15-40 minutes)

I love to dance! As soon as I was old enough to go to bars, my friends and I went to a punk club called The Zinc and danced until 3am every weekend. It was the only place we could dance without being bothered; it wasn’t the typical meat market. While my friends danced, socialized, drank, and kept an eye on me, I would close my eyes and enter a blissful state, translating the music with my body for hours on end. Then, I would drive everyone home. I’m rarely awake past 10pm nowadays though and never liked the club scene after The Zinc closed down. I did, however, find a various types of yoga-dance classes / spiritual movement events in the many cities I’ve lived in. Since I’m currently not into classes, though, incorporating dance into my daily routine has become a priority.

I found out about the health benefits of rebounders (mini-trampolines) when I lived in Saskatoon, so I bought one and placed it in front of the balcony doors of my 6th floor apartment overlooking the South Saskatchewan River, trees, and the city. I would dance to a set of 3 kirtan songs (devotional songs in Sanskrit) every morning. I just loved how I felt physically and mentally after my sessions.

That rebounder stayed in Saskatoon, so I bought a new one a few months ago and use it daily in my studio, as part of my morning routine and anytime I need to step away from my art to contemplate its evolution. I bought a well-reviewed one – the Urban Rebounder. It has different settings and comes with DVD workouts, but I simply dance on it – nothing fancy, using the shuffle feature on my iPhone to select 3 kirtan songs that come up, fully trusting that this combination will uplift me (ha ha, get it?). Some of the songs in my collection are pretty long, so my rebounding sessions can last anywhere from 15 – 40 minutes. Once I get started, however, I lose track of time as I enter either a state of contemplation, devotion, joy, or creative flow (looking at my art or vision board, praying, singing, or thinking). I often get ideas or work out the details of projects during these sessions. It’s all good. Adding this video here is a bit of a stretch of my comfort zone, but just in case it inspires you – here it is (in a very authentic albeit a little self-concious, pre-shower, painting clothes state).

3 . Morning Restorative Yoga (36 minutes)

My back gets really tight as I don’t have a very good posture while painting or working on the computer (yes, I just straightened up and heard a bit of a crack). Although I’ve tried and enjoyed all sorts of yoga styles with the years, my favourite at-home routine is Jennifer Steed’s Hatha Yoga Class for Rejuvenation from her Dynamic Stillness CD, now on my iPhone (available through Jennifer) . I can do it almost anywhere and have been doing it almost daily since 2008. The first half is all done lying on my back with my legs up a wall or in various twists. It’s just the level of exertion I appreciate and the stretching feels soooo good – there truly are yoga types for all types of people. For folks in St. John’s, if you’d like to try it in a class, my favourite restorative yoga teacher is Cheryl Fenk, who also teaches a much-loved yin yoga style.

* Basically, I spend about 1.5 hours moving my body every morning before feeding the ducks, taking my shower, and eating breakfast. No matter what mood I wake up in, I feel great by the time my workday starts.

4. Evening Soma Yoga (1.5 hours)

I’ve just started this up again this week, using a CD that Meranda Squires from the Lotus Center gave me. Many teachers here in St. John’s teach this style of yoga thanks to her training. It’s another form of gentle yoga, mostly done lying down, using tennis balls and a tie. I find it very therapeutic for those ropes along the sides of my spine and other tightness – the side effects of my profession. My intention is to do this 1-3 times a week.

5. Occasional Walks

It may be winter, but I’ll keep walking to do as many of my errands as I can (although my housemate made me a key for her car recently and I’ll admit, I’ve made use of it a few times when walking would have been beneficial). This week, I walked to the library (1 hour each way – luckily with the wind at my back on my way home) and enjoyed a bit of a stroll by the ocean at Middle Cove Beach with my friend Leslie.

6. Skating

I sold many of my belongings in early 2013 as part of my fundraiser and preparation for my year overseas,. I held on to my skates, however, when I heard that they were building an ice loop in Bannerman Park. I haven’t been yet, but it’s on my list.

7. Misc.

Then there’s whatever comes up with opportunity or inspiration. For example, my most memorable sports socials during my year overseas were skiing in Austria and cycling in the Czech Republic with my beloved friends. It doesn’t have to be a huge production though – I experienced great joy yesterday making snow angels in the backyard after 2 hours on the phone with a computer help technician (without success). What a great stretch! My favourite moment was having a few ducks fly up to join me and just sit nearby – heaven! (of course they were hoping I’d feed them a second time that day …).

Listening:

The most important thing is to tune into your body to know what’s right for you on any particular day. I’ve had to remind myself to be flexible in mind as well as in body this week when I decided not to do yoga one night as planned. I can get pretty goal focused…

However and with whomever you choose move your body this year – enjoy! May you find a fitness routine that’s a perfect fit for you.

Did you find this inspiring? Please share it.

Life By Design: Time of Transition

January 2, 2015/in Inspiration, Life By Design

Happy New Year!

I’m quite excited. I’ve been moved to create a new category of blog posts for 2015: Life by Design.

Embracing a life that is true to your heart and soul’s callings can be challenging in a world of expectations, labels, and ingrained social norms.

It’s important to remember, therefore, that you are the gift – there is no one else in this world like you and no other life like yours. Your life is yours to create in a way that is true to You with your own Sources of Guidance.

As my own life is the only one I am truly qualified to write about, I will use some of the steps on my journey as potential inspiration. As always, use what serves you and leave the rest.

Time of Transitions:

Christmas for me has traditionally been a time for family. I’ve just returned from 10 days in Ottawa with my parents, siblings, niece and nephew. New Year’s, however, has long been a time of reflection and ritual that has helped me mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. I personally find rituals a powerful way to connect to my soul and to my sources of Guidance. Some even help ground me in the here and now to get a more accurate picture of my current reality. Here’s what I did this year.

Space Clearing: cleaning, organizing, and smudging
Having practiced certain feng shui principles in my physical space for years, I made sure I didn’t start a new year with dirty laundry or full garbage bins. That was more about symbolism. I also decluttered, organized and cleaned my closets, desk, and studio. It feels good to start a chapter with a fresh page. Then, last night, I walked through the entire house with my beeswax candle and burning sacred palo santo wood to cleanse the space from any stagnant energies. As I waved the smoke in every nook and cranny, I sang:”Love, peace, joy, health, wealth, and happiness – love, peace, joy, health, wealth and freedom. Freedom, oh freedom…” Are you inspired to perform any rituals in your home to mark the beginning of this new chapter?
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Vision Board:
I’ve described how to create intuitive vision boards in a previous post. On New Year’s Day, I went to a friend’s house to share this activity with two others. As always, it was a revealing and moving experience.The question that I wrote at the back was “What is in my Highest Good for 2015?”. Although I expected it to be a lot more about my art and the business of art, I discovered that this year, I am meant to find the right balance between cocooning in my home and studio and filling my eyes with the wonders of the world – be it in my own backyard or elsewhere. Interestingly – I included “2015 Ireland” on there, but I’m not getting a clear feeling yet if that means actually going to Ireland, being involved in an Irish-based project, meeting a man with an Irish background, or something else. Vision boards give us signs, but interpreting those signs sometimes become clearer as life happens. The relationship theme – one of lasting love – seems to have come up a few times on this year’s board – I welcome that. Basically, my entire board is about creating a life that is driven by design – a life that is a perfect fit for who and what I am – in health, relationships, career, grand gestures, and small wonders. It’s not only about getting active in my business (through exhibitions, prints, and not putting all my eggs in the same basket as one photo revealed), but also about the art of contemplation – on my own at home and in nature. Indeed, I’m being guided to dive deep into the mystic waters of my soul to connect to ancient wisdom as well as entering the holy now through sweet surrender. It also reminded me of the many layers of my life that have shaped my spirituality – all of which I am grateful for. Who knows what that will lead to, but you’re sure to hear about it on this blog. 2015 will also be a year of play – connecting to the passions of my inner child – be it art, dogs, imagination, making snow angels, being by the water, etc. It looks like another great year ahead – I’m loving the mystery of how it will all unfold. The saying in the bottom left corner intrigues me “Sometimes the road less traveled isn’t a road at all”…
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Financial Summary:
Although last August’s computer theft has made it more challenging for me to summarize all of my monthly financial reports (learned in “Your Money or Your Life”), I was able to look at exactly where I stand as I begin 2015 as compared to a year ago. It’s surprisingly encouraging – which is why I do it. I’m glad to report that I’m definitely not a “starving artist”! (As an aside, my housemate Orinda and I cooked ourselves a lovely feast for New Year’s Eve” – we definitely don’t starve in this house!) I now only have $2,493.92 less in the bank than I did last year at this time (including my year-end business hst I need to remit to the government). This is great considering I spent half of the year as a student and world traveler and the other half re-establishing my art practice. There’s something very empowering about knowing where my money is coming from and where it is going – and evaluating on a monthly and yearly basis whether that energy flow is in line with my values. I’m glad to report that I’m still very much on track – living a debt-free life aligned with my values and heart callings. Also, as for every January 1st, I was thrilled to add the maximum $5,500 into my tax-free savings account. This brought my every-day expenses account even more below my personal comfort zone, but I trust that’s temporary. It gives me a new goal to work towards. The bottom line is abundance in the true meaning of the word.
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Gratitude:
Soon after waking on January 1st, I asked my Spirit Calling Cards for a message for 2015 and this is what I got:
Perfect! I followed that up with 3 pages of automatic writing, all about what I was grateful for. Gratitude makes great fertilizer! It put me in a wonderful frame of mind as I continued with my day… and my year.