What was I Thinking?!
One of the benefits of mindful self-talk is that it is a very gentle entrance into practicing choosing my thoughts. In sitting-meditation, we learn that thoughts come in and thoughts…
Mindful Self-Talk
Have you ever spent time with someone who is continuously negative and pessimistic? A proverbial wet blanket? I have, and at those times I'm usually trying to figure out how…
Orientation
In the last couple of months I took a break from blogging. In that time, one of the things I did was finish a writing project I'd been working on…
Peace
May we all have Peace in our hearts Sweetness in our words And love in our actions For every moment of our lives.
Meditation is for Everyone
Breathe in. Breathe out. Be aware of it. There. You just meditated. Following the journey of each breath makes me aware of how I'm breathing. The awareness of how I'm…
Mindlessness and Mindfulness
A growing number of people understand that mindfulness is much more than a brief relaxation session during the day. I think of it as an essential skill in the world…
Washing Dishes
Practicing mindfulness is a way to slow the pace of life down and feel grounded and present in everyday moments. I love the ritual of sitting down with Tibetan singing…
This moment
In the play of time and space, It has taken this long. And this is where we are. In this moment. As it exists within linear time and space.…
Are We Having a Conversation or an Argument?
I once had a conversation with a colleague where I was agreeing with him and commending him on his insights. At one point he looked confused and said, You're not…
Flow
Flow is something I think about a lot. Am I in it? How do I get into it? Am I going with it? Am I resisting it? When I think…
Editing, Judgement, and Discernment
Have you ever heard the expression, There are no bad ideas in brainstorming? I think of stream of consciousness writing as a form of brainstorming. It's not to say there…
Art as Meditation or Meditation as Art?
I love meditating, but I don't believe that sit-down meditation is the only true form of meditation. When I write, and focus only on that, I can get lost in…
Memory and Writing
I love writing about moments that intersect with multiple events. Right now I'm working on an article about my experiences in 1992, when I played violin in the Bombay Chamber…
Trees are Like Sadhus
They sit rooted in one place and grow. Without moving they learn and listen and then sit even longer. They provide shelter and comfort and home for others. They…
Commitment and Improv
In improv, where there's no script or stage direction to lean on, commitment to who I am and who is with me on stage is far more important than what…
Limitations and the Creative Process
Sometimes, the hardest part of the creative process is getting started. In the early 1990s, I used to perform improv comedy in Toronto and the surrounding regions. Doing improv helped…
Finding Your Voice
Finding one's voice is something we hear writers talk about a lot. It can be very easy for some and is a longer process for others. I started writing stories…
I have almond milk. Catastrophe averted.
Attachment to Expectations and Almond Milk
I have lots of expectations. From the moment I wake up till I fall asleep at the end of the day. I expect to make a cup of masala chai…
Leaves changing colours in Toronto.
Growth and Change
Part of the beauty of playing with creativity is continually being open to newness, change, and growth. But part of growth also means I may not be the same today…
The Niagara River.
Mindfulness Reminders
I had a client who found the concept of mindfulness to be stressful. He felt that he not only had to handle the fast-paced, ever-changing, and increasingly-demanding life he already…
A Blank Page and a Cup of Masala Chai
This is how I like to start each day. A blank page and a cup of masala chai. The rest of my day could be filled with appointments, errands, tasks,…
Introduction
Greetings, Friends! I'm grateful to Jamuna for giving me the opportunity to write on her site. When she offered the idea it immediately resonated with me, but it also frightened me…