Month: March 2023

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My Cousin Vinny

PHOTO: 20TH CENTURY FOX FILM CORP./EVERETT

I heard about this movie for years and years before I actually got around to seeing it. I don’t remember what kept me from it; very likely there was no specific reason.

At any rate, I still had only seen it a couple of times when we decided to watch it for our Friday date night. And I must say, I had forgotten just how funny it is!

It ended up being the perfect movie choice, because we were soooo ready for belly laughs after a super busy and intense week.

P.S. I feel like I’m arriving late to the party, but I am now an official Marisa Tomei fan!

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Out of juice

It was a long day, full of non-stop activity, and capped off with a very productive but intense run-through rehearsal for next week’s Oratorio.

Time to relax and unwind a bit before trying to sleep.

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The Ananda Music App is launched again!

The previous launch was mostly for Ananda devotees in India, which meant it happened at the rather inconvenient hour of 6:30am Pacific time.

But this launch was for the US audience, and what’s fun is that an entirely different group of music people* shared stories about Swami Kriyananda, the inspiration behind the music, and how it has impacted our lives.

We all had a great time. And now, if you’d like to learn more about the app, click HERE.

* Including Dharmadas, Nirmala, Dambara, Ramesha, and yours truly

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Enough already!

The photo above shows what it looked like when I left the office early this afternoon.

I felt like I could definitely relate to that poor blossoming tree. I mean, it’s supposed to be spring — right?!?

Right…but this is what our front yard looked like just a few hours later.

I think about people in Tahoe/Truckee (and elsewhere in the Sierra) and know I shouldn’t complain. But enough’s enough!

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Great opportunity or impossible situation?

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” — Charles Swindoll

I’m relating to this quote today. Especially as I watch some seemingly impossible situations gradually be revealed as great opportunities!

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Onward and upward

I really appreciated the many words of support in response to my post about making the wrong choice.

It’s so helpful to be reminded that I’m not alone in my little delusive tendencies, and so encouraging to know my friends are rooting for me to turn things around and head in the right direction again.

It was also validating to realize that today’s Sunday service message could have been dedicated especially to me, it was sooooo spot on — from start to finish!

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Starting to feel excited

Lungolago in Lugano

For our Friday date night this week, we rather randomly watched a light romcom movie that was set in Rome.

The movie itself was nothing exceptional, but…! Not only was it in Italy, much of the dialogue was spoken in Italian (real Italian) with subtitles.

It’s amazing how homesick I feel for Europe in general and Lugano in particular, especially not having been there in almost four years.

Lugano

Adding to my growing the anticipation is the fact that we’ll be visiting Cinque Terre, for my first time!

Cinque Terre

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Making the wrong choice

Today I proved to myself — yet again! — just how important it is to stay focused on the positive: affirming my goals; noticing what’s working; thinking good thoughts; and doing things that raise my energy.

How did I prove it? By doing the exact opposite and watching myself get bogged down in negativity: stewing over my problems; noticing what wasn’t working; thinking worry thoughts; and doing things that lowered my energy.

I let the actions and/or omissions of a couple of people get under my skin; complained about it to several friends; and proceeded to fret over it throughout the day.

The end result was that I felt agitated and restless; got hardly anything accomplished; and ended the day in a mood!

I know this already, yet I still forget sometimes just how crucial it is to keep my thoughts and energies high and uplifted.

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When it all feels slightly impossible

We’re at that stage of the process where it’s feeling like maybe we did, indeed, bite off more than we can chew.

I mean, we’re helping to launch the new Ananda music app; planning for seven weeks away; preparing our place for a guest to stay while we’re gone; recording the live performance of the Oratorio on Good Friday; then leaving for Europe three days after that.

And somewhere in the midst of all this I’m supposedly practicing flute; working on my voice; brushing up on my Italian; resting; meditating; exercising; and being balanced and mindful.

Yeah, right!

But, sure enough, the only solution is to just keep going (or chewing, that is!), in the belief that I will be able to swallow it all down….eventually!