As soon as we arrived in Tel Aviv, we drove through the streets listening to this song. I knew I would like Israel from that moment on.
Can we all agree that Queen delivers pretty much every time? I think so, anyhow. I find myself rediscovering their songs again and again. This is the one that feels right today.
Just to give you an idea of where I am and what I hear.
The concept of collaboration has been an undeniable and overarching theme of my week. Last Sunday, I went to an event hosted by Marianne Williamson focused on bridging spiritual consciousness and politics (a great recap of the event can be found here). Marianne stressed the importance of collaboration in setting roots for a movement which aims to bolster political candidates for whom love is the bottom line. Later in the week, I attended the first in a series of events by Let’s Collaborate NYC to bring together New York’s collaborative consumption community. Then, I also went to an inaugural college alumni event for producers of art across all media.
(Lisbon Streets by Magdalena Szurek)
To say that I’m feeling energized and inspired by all the ideas that have been shared with me throughout the week would be a total understatement. At a moment in time where fundamental improvements are needed in almost every area, it’s so powerful to be reminded of the possibility of what can happen when we simply show up for the conversation.
This week our One Word, Two Ways series made its way over to the online magazine The Indie Chicks with a special edition “Sister Disco – Essentials: NYC and a Trip Around the World“. There Farrell talks the essentials of backpacking around the world and I roundup my New York City living neighborhood favorites.
The Indie Chicks was launched in the spirit of getting out there and making things happen. It’s a site full of authentic, badass ladies doing their thing. We’re psyched to join the crowd, and can’t help but be reminded of all of our phenomenal Homie chicks who have offered us so much inspiration. Bottom line, people are doing cool stuff.
(photo via here)
(Ashish, Spring 2013 via here)
I want this sweatshirt. I’d wear it all the time. Sometimes I come off so serious – here, in pictures and in person. It’s mostly not true. Occasionally, it is.
While reading the book Shantaram on my iPad, I took notes of some of my favorite quotes in the book. I thought maybe you would like to see them.
(image via Spineless Classics)
Guilt is the hilt of the knife that we use on ourselves, and love is often the blade; but it is worry that keeps the knife sharp, and worry, that gets most of us in the end.
~Chapter Twenty-One
There is no meanness too spiteful or too cruel than when we hate someone for all the wrong reasons.
~Chapter Eighteen
Love goes on forever because love is born in the part of us that does not die.
~Chapter Twenty-Six
Love makes men big, hate makes them small.
~Chapter Twenty-Eight
Everything you ever sense, in touch or taste or sight or even thought, has an effect on you that’s greater than zero.
~Chapter Twenty-Eight
We know who we are and we define what we are by references to the people we love and our reasons for loving them.
~Chapter Thirty
No love, is no life.
~Chapter Thirty-Four
Love is the passionate search for truth other than your own; and once you feel it, honestly and completely, love is forever. Every act of love, every moment of the heart reaching out, is part of the universal good: it’s part of god, or what we call god and it can never die.
~Chapter Thirty-Four
The only kingdom that makes any man a king is the kingdom of his own soul.
~Chapter Forty-One
We carry oceans inside us, in our blood, in our sweat. And we are crying the oceans in our tears.
~Chapter Eighteen
Every week we pick a word and each base a post off that word. This week’s word is Light
Twilight in India is like a dream. Right when the sun is setting is the best time of day. Not only are the sunsets phenomenal but the colors on the road really pop at that time of day. The saris on the women walking down the street are the most vibrant colors you could imagine. The flowers glow. It is breathtaking. But enough talk about India, take a look:
Namaste India from Burning Flag on Vimeo.
You just can’t beat the power of natural light. It is something that is so important to me, and my mental well-being. As the weather starts to get colder, I find myself trying to hatch all sorts of game plans for how I’m going to tackle the darkness of the coming months.
(via The Decorista)
Behold, the creative duo JIMMYnADI have come to my rescue. Their video’s message, delivered as a PSA, is directed to coach creative people on “how to beat the darkness.” I have watched it a few times now since I came across it last weekend on Art Hound and just really love it. Take a look.
Every week we choose a word and each base a post off that word. This week’s word is Jingle.
I went to a bachelorette party over the summer in Mystic, CT. The weekend was a total blast and we were able to fit so much into just two days. One of these things was an impromptu stop at this incredibly alluring shop called MINE.
(photo via Mine)
More than your typical vintage/antique shop, MINE also offered an array of crystals and a number of other unexpected finds. The owner of the shop, Michael Walsh, was so friendly and engaging and only added to the overall appeal of the experience. Though I didn’t go into MINE with the intention of really buying anything, I ended up coming away with three incredibly clutch items.
1. Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Vol. I & II on vinyl
2. A fools gold pendant
3. An antique bell I wear as a necklace and feel so happy when in jingles with my every step.
(photo via Pinterest)
We are in India! I can’t believe I’m back here after just seven months. It all might sound very cliche, but ever since I walked into the ashram this time around I have been hearing the chorus to this song in my head over and over. There are moments when I am in my meditation and the sounds in the song jingle across my brain. It all feels very epic at moments here. So, I thought I would give you a taste of my mood with this video. Plus, this song is the jam.
Happy Saturday and, as my big brother would say, take it easy 😉
Each week we choose a word and each base a post off that word. This week, the word is Tender.
One of my best friends loves Al Green’s Try a Little Tenderness. Actually, he almost carries the vibe and mantra with him everywhere he goes. Recently, I was on a bus from Hanoi to Halong Bay, when I closed my eyes, took a deep breath in, and let it out. In that moment, I felt a tingle in my nose and a chill at my neck. My whole body released and I heard, “try a little tenderness” whisper in the back of my mind.
What a great anthem to have. It’s really not much to ask. Just try a little.
Did you know that the title of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night was taken from a line in John Keats “Ode to a Nightingale?”
(Portrait of John Keats by Joesph Severn)
“Ode to a Nightingale” is one of six odes that Keats wrote, all in the year 1819. The painter Joesph Severn, a friend of Keats’, painted and sketched the poet many times but only once (the portrait above) while Keats was still alive.
Thirty years before Keats wrote his odes, Saussure created the cyanometer, an instrument to measure the sky’s blueness.
(© BIBLIOTÈQUE DE GENEVE, SWITZERLAND)
I love the way these two images look together, the combination of stillness and depth that they each hold. But perhaps the two are even better suited to be tied together with Keats’ “Ode to Autumn.”
From tender is the night, to twitter in the skies.
Each week we pick a word and both base a post off that word. This week’s word is Eager.
I’ve said it before but I am someone who reads in streaks. This could be turned around to say that sometimes I fall away from reading – almost completely. I’m not exactly sure how it happens but occasionally, when I find myself without a next read, it can take me months before I read another book. But when I do get back into the habit…AH! It feels so good. SO good. Like I almost can’t believe the vastness of insight, intrigue and information that is available to each of us at all times.
(image found here)
And man, I am excited to say, I’m back! I suddenly have a pile of books that I’m so eager to dive into. Though I don’t usually read more than one book at a time, I have already started three of them. It’s going to be a good Fall.
~Buddhist Proverb
(Ashes and Snow Photograph ©Gregory Colbert)
Welp, I am ready! Come out, come out wherever you are.
(source)
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I “pinned” this illustration from The Human Body: What It Is and How It Works months ago and have been waiting for the right time to use it. Last weekend I went with my mom to a Mind, Body and Soul retreat where I attended talks given by leading authors and experts in the broadly defined field of consciousness. I have been wanting to write more about what I heard and learned there but, to be honest, so many concepts and ideas were shared with me that I haven’t known quite where to start.
(via brain pickings)
A lot of the talks related to the premise that we are not separate from the universe or from each other. I like the similarity that this idea has to the various body systems. Yes, each one is different and has it’s own purpose but ultimately the are integrated parts working in cooperation to operate our bodies.
Have you seen “Beasts of the Souther Wild”? If not, do! It is so beautiful and in its ways speaks to this same notion.
Every week, as part of our One Word, Two Ways series, we pick a word and each base a post off that word. This week, the word is Smile.
(Source unknown)
This used to be the background picture on my computer. I was going through a pretty hard time and looking for pick-me-ups wherever I could find them. I just can’t look at the grin on this man’s face without cracking up a little and immediately feeling my mood improve
(Photo via here)
I have noticed lately that I can sometimes be a jerk to strangers. I think it is a mixture of living in NYC and being tired of people hustling me. On our trip, people are always staring at me and on a bad day, your Insecurities can really get the best of you. At times, I find myself feeling defensive and glaring back.
But since arriving in Cambodia, I have taken a new approach which is making me infinitely happier. I constantly smile. At first it can feel like a cheesy thing, but it always leaves me genuinely smiling. I have ended up talking to more people and having better days because of it.
Instead of ignoring people asking you if you want to buy something every second, just looking them in the eyes and smile. Annie was right when she said, “You are never fully dressed without a smile.” The days will feel brighter because you did.
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