Hi honey, I'm om.

In two days, I am leaving behind all manner of connection with the outer world for a week… turning off my cell phone, and turning on my self phone.  Taking a break from FB messaging, Skyping, texting, Instagramming, and the like, in favour of a more calming access to the information that I really need… my own. I need time out to help me become more mindful and less mind full.

In preparation for this coming week, I fulfilled my gazillion month-end commitments ahead of time, and organized my world so that I can arrive relatively stress free and get the most out of my retreat.  Or should I say re-treat.  Aah.  I am savouring it already.

What would you do with a few days of complete quiet and calm? What would you learn? What worries would you be able to quell? What commitments to yourself would you refresh? What could you release? What hard questions could you ask and answer and then put to rest? What terrible truths might you face? What beliefs might you uncover that simply aren’t true? What delightful truths might you find? Would you deepen your experience of love?

For me, all this and more.  I’m going to recharge my batteries for my next year. And in the spirit of the approaching silence, I’m going to sign off and leave you with something to possibly inspire you to take some time for yourself and relax into your own version of a retreat. 

Branded by peace and love,

Buns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NRuD9Y0JQ0

What have you got to lose?

 I find myself wanting to make sense of things less and less. I find myself wanting to feel and laugh and experience sensation more and more. It’s as if all the words, all the concepts and ideas that explain the meaning of life, of our existence, of relationship dynamics, all keep coming back to one principle, and it’s not the kind of principle that you need to talk about. Flow, love, joy, freedom, are all states of being but a breath away. No conversation needed. And if I commit to that kind of grace in every moment, life has ever so much more swing.

So what gets in the way?  Well…the past! Stuff, memories, things… all the material and associated energies that we hold onto make it difficult for a fresh new breeze to blow into our worlds. Anais Nin, a woman who truly knew how to live freely said it best when reflecting on her life she said, “Anything I cannot transform into something marvelous, I let go. This weekend I let go! Again!

Sixteen full hours of making space and release.  I admit it was grueling hard work in a hot storage room and throwing out past memories from Christmas decorations to childhood furniture wasn’t always easy, but oh what a feeling today. It was an exercise in self awareness to see which buried treasure, which story from my past still tugged at my heart strings. Letters from my ex lover proclaiming his undying love…yup, still a hook but I was fearless and took no prisoners, a bit like the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland except instead of shouting off with his head, I would breathe and mumble out. Out it goes.  

I am so grateful for my for my friend T who led the charge.  As we sweated and ploughed through the years of accumulation we also laughed and celebrated. Tough work and a dreaded task became fun as we tried to find ribbons from Christmas to tie up our hair so it would be out of the way. We looked like an insane version of Lucy and Ethel with silver sparkle glitter from the craft box somehow making it all over our bodies. Then it would all morph into a Three Stooges episode and unfortunately I was the one who got wacked. A heavy wooden board that I was using to prop open the metal door decided to land on my face, another to my toe and then T smacks the granny cart just emptied of magazines (I am sure some dated back to 2003) on the same foot.

 Bruised and battered but deeply satisfied we ended the day with supper around 11pm. We hadn’t stopped all day and now enjoyed the freshest food possible. T’s version of raw Pad Thai with ingredients we purchased from the Farmers Market earlier in the morning was delightful.

 I know I have written about de- cluttering before but honestly this is becoming my newest joy, my deepest meditation. Create space,  be willing to let go and not know or control and the universe will answer with a surprise.

 I still have my bedroom to clear out and am hoping the surprise the universe has in store will have two legs and a baritone. Bows and wrapping are not necessary; after all I am getting rid of all that stuff.

Branded by simplicity,

Authentically Yours,

Marty

Everything in moderation...

…including moderation.

I just returned from my maiden voyage to Vegas. It has never been on my bucket list as a desired destination and I certainly have never been envious of friends who have gone there before me.

Marty and I arrived late last Thursday evening, and Marty (bless her heart) knew exactly what to do.  She has been there a few times and so knew the ropes.  I was like a deer in the headlights for a good day and a half – absolutely overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, scents, size, and seduction of it all. I felt like a fish out of water and resolutely made up my mind that I would never, ever, ever, go back.  How was I going to get through the next five days?  What had I signed up for? How was I going to live up to being an adventurous member of the Buns and Marty duo?

Well, I decided that Vegas was going to be my playground for being with “what is”. In truth, it needn’t matter what is going on around me, how loud, decadent, plastic, and outrageous my environment is, as long as I remain connected.  (Call me crazy, but I actually did a meditation every morning for 20 minutes to remain calm.)

Once I decided not to argue with my reality (although one could argue that reality doesn’t even exist there!), I melted into the experience and got a lot out of it – things I never expected…

My first Cirque de Soleil experiences – “O” and “One”.  Fantastic.  It took me back to my gymnastics and springboard diving days and I marveled at what those cast members did to amaze. It was mastery at all levels. 

In fact, there were masters of pretty well everything you can imagine.  We were actually there to further our own mastery of our Isagenix business and so we surrounded ourselves with those who have gone before us and have done very well.

Vegas is so over the top that it would take pages to describe it accurately.  What I can tell you is what I learned – in no particular order…

You need your own mouthpiece when you smoke a hookah in the Rhumbar at the Mirage.  http://www.rhumbarlv.com

You need to take tissues and wear waterproof mascara to Michael Jackson “One”.  Who knew? http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/michael-jackson-one/default.aspx

You must try my new favourite drink at Hyde in The Bellagio… The Love Unit.  Seriously the first drink that I would give up wine for for the rest of my life.

https://www.bellagio.com/files/restaurants/menu-hyde.pdf

And for you chocolate lovers out there… Marty was determined to get me to her favourite chocolatier and I am so glad she persisted… Seriously decadent and fabulous… http://www.jpchocolates.com

And we didn’t do too badly with the shopping either.  Advance research took us to the North outlet mall and we found some treasures – my favourite being the cutest skirt that you can wear 100 different ways.  It’s a brilliant design so of course we bought two.  Each. www.irisimpressions.com

Lounging poolside at the Mirage with a huge mural of George Harrison looming above didn’t hurt at all.  http://www.mirage.com/amenities/the-mirage-pool.aspx

These are just a smattering of the extra-curricular activities that we enjoyed while immersing ourselves in furthering our business. Included in all this impressive show of mastery is our own company and what they provide by way of top-notch health and wellness products, training, a caring culture, and the ability for us to make a living, make an impact, and leave a legacy. No small feats but entirely possible.

I’m so glad I went to Vegas. I brought home belief, hope, awe, gratitude for my friends who were there, and a renewed sense of adventure.

For a taste of the good life go here: www.healthypresence.isagenix.com.

Branded by Vegas*

With love,

Buns

*I actually was branded by Vegas… we were out walking one night and our feet started hurting so we went barefoot.  That was fine until I stepped on a cigarette butt that hadn’t gone out.  Ouch!