The Beauty of a New Stylist

When I find a good hairstylist, I tend to stick with her for a while. But these last two times, I’ve waited until I could wait no longer (hello, roots!), and the only appointment she had left was a Tuesday morning—six weeks out. That won’t do.

So, I peruse the online reviews, research their line of hair care products (parabens, sulfates, and petrochemicals are dealbreakers), and hope my surrogate stylist has good hair herself.

But this time feels different. While I don’t know anybody personally who has been to this stylist—or even to this salon—I’m excited to get her take on my classic ’do. As I preach in the business writing skills classes that I lead, a second set of eyes—a fresh perspective—is invaluable.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Speaking of stories, have you watched the Story of Cosmetics yet?

_________________________________________________________________________ © 2010 Good Karma Housekeeping. Because, like the Breyer's ice cream commercial taught me, unpronouncable ingredients aren't cool. (Photo by banlon 1964 via Creative Commons.)

Pure Potential

From the outside, it may not have looked like I did much in tonight’s yoga class with OmGal. I took it slow, skipped each and every chautauranga, sunk deeply into many a child’s pose for minutes at a time, and kept both feet on the ground in the balancing poses.

I was dehydrated and depleted. My body wanted to go home, but my mind needed the sanctuary. So, instead, I dedicated tonight’s class to recharging my body through my thoughts.

By coaching myself into remembering how I feel when I’m “at my best” on the mat, I was able to come up with a few grounding words, which became my mantra for the evening.

Deep breath in . . . I am graceful. Exhale . . . I am strong. Inhale . . . I am pure potential . . .

For 90 minutes, I breathed these words in and I breathed these words out. Even without my wonderfully familiar power yoga flow, I was graceful and strong. And my potential? Limitless.

Best yoga class ever? I dare say so.

"And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye."                                                                         -- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

_________________________________________________________________________ © 2010 Good Karma Housekeeping. Because stillness can be expansive. (Photo by lululemon athletica via Creative Commons.)

Redoing the To-Do List

“There is much to get done; therefore, we must go slowly.” I can’t remember who said it first, but boy was he (or she) right!

When the to-do list is a mile and a quarter long (And, really, whose isn’t?) the only chance we have of really getting things done is to slow waaaay down.

Less is more. Remember?

Today, instead of rushing to work to get crackin’ on that to-do list, I chose to hit the coffee shop. After getting my drink, I pulled out a blank sheet of paper and started writing. I wasn’t just wrapping my head around what I had to do; rather, I was getting clear on how I was going to do it. More intention, less agenda. Fifteen minutes later, I was ready to face my workday.

With a clear intention, we stand a much better chance of getting to the items on our own to-do lists—even when other people are adding their own items to it.

Want to re-do your to-do list? Here's my approach for getting things done:

• Start with a blank sheet of paper and take a few minutes to unload whatever thoughts are jumbling around in your head.
• Remind yourself of your intention. (What are you working toward? What gets you energized?)
• Create a short to-do list for the day. (3 to 5 items is realistic.)
• Review each item and ask yourself, “If this was the only thing I got done today, how would I feel?” Make sure that something on your to-do list is fueling your intention.
• Take a moment to think about how you’d like to feel (Calm? Productive? Connected?) and imagine yourself doing each of the items on your to-do list in this manner
• Go out there and live your day.

If things don’t go as planned, that’s okay. Tomorrow you get to try all over again.

“Love of bustle is not industry.”                                   --Seneca

_________________________________________________________________________ © 2010 Good Karma Housekeeping. Because less on your to-do list can make you more productive. Whodda thunk? (Photo by Shereen M via Creative Commons.)

Decisions, Decisions

Fiber flakes or multigrain squares? Black skirt or black pants? Bus or drive? Highway or back roads? Lunch break or eat at my desk? Yoga class or sleep in? Cone or cup? Reply or wait? Golden cake or red velvet? Make dinner or munch on cheese and crackers? Buy the sweater or make do with what I have? Veg out or write? Bring the camera or enjoy being unencumbered?

My days are filled with decisions, most of which are small potatoes. Yet I can weigh their pros and cons endlessly—as if my entire future rides on this one moment. Are the eggs cage-free? Did I wear the black pants on Tuesday? Do they use beet juice or red food coloring? It’s exhausting being me!

I know better. I really do. And I trust myself enough to know that any option I’m weighing has got to be pretty darn good.

So here, as a note to myself—and perhaps you, too—is my very own refresher course on decision making.

Step one:

• Just do it.

That’s it. Pick one option and run with it. Embrace it fully. Don’t look back. Go!

Thinking should inspire doing, not get in the way of it. These daily decisions are an opportunity to practice taking conscious action.

_________________________________________________________________________ © 2010 Good Karma Housekeeping. Because less deliberating means more time for fun things. Or productive things. Or naps. Naps are good. (Photo by thesleepydumpling via Creative Commons.)

Quotation: On Taking Action

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”                                                                                                               --Theodore Roosevelt

I recently came across a to-do/goals list from a few years ago—and was stunned to see just how many of those items I was still working toward. Lofty ambitions, largely untouched. And I suspect, if I looked through my old notebooks, these same things would be on my wish list.

What if I had tackled these things in small bits—bird by bird, as Anne LaMott would say—where would I be now? What amazing feats could I have accomplished?

What I’ve finally learned is that there is no such thing as the “right” time. Perfectionism is procrastination. If I give myself permission to do things imperfectly, I get things done. And the funny thing is that the outcome is usually pretty darn good.

_________________________________________________________________________ © 2010 Good Karma Housekeeping. Because you never know unless you try. (Photo by other cities via Creative Commons.)

Quotation: On Slowing Down

"There is much to be done; therefore, we must proceed slowly."                                                                                        --Buddha

It's a three-day weekend. Slow down. Hit the park. Pick up a book. Take a nap. Do yoga. Buy an ice cream cone. Whatever feeds your soul.

Prioritize. Nurture yourself now so that you've got the energy to get things done later.

_________________________________________________________________________ © 2010 Good Karma Housekeeping. Because being busy and being productive are not the same thing. (Photo by Ed Yourdon via Creative Commons.)

Good Boy

 A coworker who’s involved in dog rescue posted something on our intranet that caught my attention. It was about a Navy Seal who’s also a photographer in Iraq and was looking for pet food donations to help care for the countless stray cats and dogs who were hanging around—and winning the soldiers’ hearts. That’s him in the photo above with a couple of the pups.

People and animals alike, there are so, so many in this world who need a helping hand. I wish I could do more to help everyone. For now, a grassroots plea will have to do.

Can you help?

Here’s what’s needed:

• Cat food*
• Dog food*
• Heartgard
• Frontline
• Medicated shampoo

*Dry food should be emptied into a durable plastic garbage bag and sealed tightly. It’s a good idea to also include the label from the packaging.

Note: Collars and leashes are a no-no. It’s a death sentence for the animal if an Iraqi soldier knows an animal is being cared for by Americans. (That’s just wrong.) 

Perhaps you have some cat food in your cupboard that your finicky feline won’t eat. Or maybe you wouldn’t mind picking up an extra bag or two of pet food when you’re at the store. Or perhaps your vet would have some food or supplies to donate. The flat-rate box cost $11.95 to ship—not so bad, considering how far away it’s going.

The address is:

MC1 Jayme Pastoric SOTF-W DET RAMADI Unit 43501 FPO AP 09367-3501

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."                                   --Margaret Mead

_________________________________________________________________________ © 2010 Good Karma Housekeeping. Making space on the ol' to-do list so that a few sweet furry creatures might be able to live happily ever after. (Photo from Jayme Pastoric's Facebook page)

On New Year's Resolutions and the Soul of 9

I've always loved the new year and its promise of a fresh start. Ironically though, I've been making the same resolutions for the better of 20 years now. Eat more vegetables. Watch less TV and read more books. Get more exercise and more sleep. Write more and submit my work for publication. 

I'd outline grand and precise plans in these areas, all designed to help me succeed. And then, when I'd get the slightest bit off track, I'd cast that goal aside and move on to something I could accomplish. Like watching every episode of House Hunters and What Not to Wear or walking to get a vanilla soft-serve cone with rainbow sprinkles on top for dinner.

I'm not lazy--nor am I a slacker. But I've always had trouble sticking with things. Even things that I enjoy. Turns out, it's my Soul of 9 that's holding me back.

Let me back up a bit: A few weeks ago, my kundalini yoga teacher was talking about the 10 bodies--a way of understanding and restoring balance in your life. Tantric numerology offers a window into our own bodies. Ever the curious one, I went online, entered my birthdate, and out popped my tantric reading.

My soul number--which identifies what's at the core of my consciousness--is a 9. It says that I'm very hard on myself (yep) and that I have a tendency to give up on things after a short period of time rather than sticking with them and mastering them (yep). It goes on to explain that, "without mastery, life is a mystery" to me and that "my joy in life will come from mastering things." On the one hand, I feel like this is just generic enough to apply to most all of us; but I have enough experiential evidence to know that my internal critic is snarkier than most.

So, how can I overcome this? The numerology report recommended a 1,000-day meditation. Just seeing the words "1,000 day" made me want to reach for the remote and flip on HGTV. But the perfectionist in me isn't willing to give up quite that easily this time.

After years and years of resolving to do all of these lofty and ambitious things and only making marginal success, I've decided to change my approach. In the spirit of Christine Kane's Resolution Revolution, my goal for 2010 is simply to finish.

Finish. That's it. Just one word. The goal being to infuse anything and everything that I aspire to with this intention. Those unread and partly read books on my shelves? Finish. My to-be-written essay ideas? Finish. My desire to eat vegan for two meals each day? Finish. My plans to run a 5k? Finish. You get the picture.

With just one word to aspire to, there's no room for drama, backstory, or excuses. Just do it.

"Don't fear the long road."                                                                                              --Michael Franti, Never Too Late

_________________________________________________________________________ © 2010 Good Karma Housekeeping. Because less is more--especially when it comes to setting a clear New Year's resolution. (Photo by Flowery L*u*z*a* via Creative Commons.)

I'm Alive and Well

 After a ten-day courtship, we adopted this little girl from the city pound in Providence on Monday night. She had been there for just over two months before Andrew stumbled across her posting on Petfinder. Two months is a long time for a dog to have to wait to find a new home.

We weren't exactly planning on adopting another dog at this point--but she fit the criteria we were looking for (if we were looking). I protested the idea at first, but once we started talking about driving down to meet her, I knew this was for real. Why should we put off the things that matter to us? For whom exactly were we always being so practical? Instead, we chose spontaneity and followed our heart--an hour south, across state borders, to a warehouse full of displaced dogs.

After meeting her, we couldn't imagine not rescuing her. Nor could we imagine the alternative. The sacrifices we'd have to make in order for this to work were minor compared to the hand she'd been dealt--and what lay ahead. If she could smile and wag despite her situation, then certainly we could do the same.

On the drive down to pick her up Monday night, the song "I'm Alive" by Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews came on the radio. The first few verses gave me goosebumps:

So damn easy to say that life's so hard Everybody's got their share of battle scars As for me I'd like to thank my lucky stars that I'm alive and well

It'd be easy to add up all the pain And all the dreams you've sat and watched go up in flames Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain But not me . . . I'm alive

And today you know that's good enough for me Breathing in and out's a blessing can't you see Today's the first day of the rest of my life And I'm alive and well I'm alive and well

 Fitting words for a new lease on life.

_________________________________________________________________________ © 2009 Good Karma Housekeeping. Making the space--mentally and physically--to live happily ever after. Extra fur and all.

Puppies and Kitties are Standing By: Click for a Cause

I've always been an "if it sounds too good to be true, than it probably is" kind of girl. Snackwell cookies, permanent waves, the Cutco knives sales job, Splenda, vegetarian bacon. I'll take a Pass on all of those, thank you.

But when it comes to animals--especially, sad puppy dogs and kitty cats--all bets are off. Cue the ASPCA commercial with Sarah McLachlan or Willie Nelson and I'm a puddle of emotions ready to hand over my AmEx card. Wishing I could be more of a help.

I can't remember who sent it to me, or how many years it has been, but some time ago a friend sent me a link to the Animal Rescue Site. Along with it came a simple plea to click on the site every day. In exchange for my clicks, the site's advertisers would donate food to shelter animals. It seemed simple enough, and I hated to think that any animal--or any living creature for that matter--might go hungry. The Animal Rescue Site says my daily click is the equivalent of .6 bowls of food. Every little bit counts, right? Even though it sounded too good to be true, I kept clicking. Just in case.

In time, I noticed the other tabs at the top of the page: Rainforest, Literacy, Child Health, Breast Cancer, and Hunger. They, too, tugged at my heartstrings so I incorporated all seven pages in my (almost) daily click routine. Then my practical side got ahold of me: What exactly is this site that I'm so devotedly clicking on every day? How do I know it's on the up-and-up?

Enter my favorite rumor-debunking website, Snopes. I'm pleased to report that the Animal Rescue Site (and affiliates) are for real. Check out what the snopes folks have to say. I'm also pleased to report that the Animal Rescue Site amassed enough clicks in the last six months to equal more than 40 million bowls of food. Most impressive, fellow clickers. Most impressive . . .

So, is there a cause for which you are an avid clicker? Did you hop on the L'il Green Patch bandwagon on Facebook, too? (Note, evidence is inconclusive whether L'il Green Patch is accurately capturing everyone's clicks; however, they have made at least one nice-size donation to The Nature Conservancy's Adopt an Acre program.)

 _________________________________________________________________________ © 2009 Good Karma Housekeeping. Making the space--for all creatures great and small--to live happily ever after.