Project [v. pruh-jekt] POSITIVITY Project [n. proj-ekt]

I recently embarked on a new and wonderful journey. I am training and studying to become a Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher (another blog for another time). During last weekend’s training session, one of the “lessons” we learned was to look for what our students are doing well in a yoga pose, prior to offering suggestions or adjustments. We, as teachers, are to change the way we see and perceive… and as my dear friend (who introduced me to yoga) would add… this is important “in yoga, as in life.” A portion of our homework assignment Sunday afternoon was to “look for the good” (off the yoga mat) ~ and let me assure you… this is easier said than done. After a few days of seeking points of light and goodness, I felt the need to expand my mission and invite others to join me in kicking the negativity habit. From this place of expansion, my coworkers and I organized and implemented the Project [v. pruh-jekt] POSITIVITY Project [n. proj-ekt].

For 24 hours, beginning at 8 am on the 24th day of June, we challenged ourselves and those around us to refrain from negativity and “look for the good”. Word quickly spread throughout my workplace (a nursing home), and within a short period of time, we had 28 participants!!! Each of us wore a brightly colored rubber band on our arm. The bands served 3 purposes… (1) Promote the project through the curiosity of others (2) Remind participants to remain positive – both proactively (brightly colored rubber band reminders) and “punitively” - *POP* (3) Create a game-like atmosphere that made the activity exciting and enticing. Who knew projecting a positive attitude could be so fun?

I learned a lot about people this week. There will always be stress and stressors, tragedy and failure, but when we open our hearts, our eyes open, as well. Experiences are neither good nor bad… it is our perspective that creates the labels we believe. People long for a sense of community. No one wants to feel isolated or alone. Although they may not admit or even recognize this truth, somewhere – deep within – everyone wants to belong to something greater than themselves. The beautiful reality is that we don’t have to come together and wallow in our misery (it DOES love company, you know), but we can also unite and create solid bonds through joy and laughter. I even found our Executive Director sporting a rubber band!

I came home with a few minor welts on my wrist Thursday evening. Most were self-inflicted pops. The project didn’t just apply to our verbalizations… it also applied to the thoughts we entertained about ourselves. *POP*POP*POP* By Friday morning, my friends were already requesting another 24 hours of positivity (permission to be positive)! So… the Project [v. pruh-jekt] POSITIVITY Project [n. proj-ekt] will continue… one day each week. For now we will designate a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday to channel our positive energy. Eventually we will work our way toward a “no negativity” Monday… but change takes time. :)

I encourage you to join us in this endeavor! I guarantee you will be transformed. We all know this is a very difficult period for our region, our communities, our neighbors, and ourselves. Without diminishing the severity of the Crude Crisis in the Gulf, we can deliberately seek, acknowledge and "... Hold on to the good." [1 Thes.5:21]. Be the eye of the hurricane, the calm before, during, and after this storm. As we look for what is going well we can remain steadfast in our prayers for the things that are not within our realm of control. We can let go, loosen our grip, and convert our unhealthy reactions to productive and beneficial action.

So… "Be a source of JOY and let the critics and haters complain about the world!" [Paulo Coelho]. Breathe. Experiment. Experience. Share.
Oh, and let me know about YOUR Project [v. pruh-jekt] POSITIVITY Project [n. proj-ekt]!!! I look forward to hearing from you!

Peace and love,
aeb :)

Garden ~ "A symbol of Nature under control"

Today, I had the honor of attending and participating in an Arts and Inspiration Creativity Workshop, led by artist, Provie Musso. Provie and I have known each other for probably 5 years. Both her work and her spirit are beautiful, inspirational, bright, and fun!

We completed several "art projects" throughout the 7 hour workshop. My favorite creation was "Our Garden." Provie read the definition of "Garden" from a book entitled, "The Secret Language of Symbols." It stated, "The Garden - A symbol of Nature under control and of the human soul ~ which, like the Garden ~ must be cared for and cultivated." I fell in love with this explanation... this perspective... this concept! I have never had a green thumb, but this was a take on "gardening" to which I could relate.

We have all been heartbroken and devastated by the oil spilling into our Gulf waters. The beaches, the bays, the wildlife, the businesses, the people of the Coast have been in a state of confusion, anger, and helplessness as the days and weeks have passed... with little or no signs of hope or reprieve. The news reports are overwhelming and the videos / photographs have left us speechless. When I am at a loss for words... when the English language fails me... I have learned to create.
Georgia O' Keeffe once said, "I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for."

So, this afternoon, I planted my Garden... with photographs, sea shells, a little paint, and a lot of glue. It was MY reminder that, in the midst of the continued tragedy of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Nature IS under control! There is little you or I can physically do to bring an end to this disastrous event, yet, we are called to believe in the truth that "God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine." [Isaiah 40:28] Nature is under His control.

I left Provie's workshop with a new found feeling of peace. "The human soul...like the Garden... must be cared for and cultivated." So, I guess I did a lot of gardening today... cultivating and nurturing my soul through artistic expression, fellowship with friends, and a willingness to let go (if only for a moment) of my own seeds of doubt. Today I chose to plant seeds of hope... and "Once you choose hope, anything's possible." [Christopher Reeve]

~ aeb :)

"Remember to Remember"

Monday, May 31st, I took part in the 2nd Annual Ernest P. Roy Memorial Day Relay. Ernest P. Roy lost his life fighting in World War II. He never returned home to meet his son, a dear friend of my family. Last year Sonny Roy and his wife, Sandra, visited my parents’ home on Memorial Day. We watched the news coverage of the relay. Without hesitation, I said “Oh, I wish I had known about the relay…I would have loved to have participated.” Everyone looked at me, and I quickly remembered I was sitting on the floor, 2 weeks after major foot surgery, sporting a soft cast… crutches within reach. I laughed and made a commitment to run in this year’s relay.

Two days ago, my friend, Adriane, and I did just that! We ran one mile along the causeway, beginning at Felix’s Fish Camp. Adriane carried an American flag, while I carried a Military Services flag as we ran our leg of the relay. We were surrounded by motorcyclists, an SUV, and the beautiful waters of Mobile Bay. What an honor to have been included in this meaningful event! Participants ran in pairs, in one mile intervals… in 3 different directions. One set of flags relayed from Mobile to Foley… one from Foley to Pensacola Naval Air Station, and one from Mobile to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS.
The Memorial Day Relay was created with the theme “Remember to Remember”. In the midst of barbecues and picnics, one day sales and sand volleyball games, we are called to remember. We are called to recognize, acknowledge, appreciate, and show respect for the men and women who are fighting or have fought for our country. We are called to pause, pray, and express our gratitude. We are called to be Americans.

“Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” [Francis Scott Key 1814]