The Sound of Silence

Do you ever have five minutes of complete and total silence in your day? This week in yoga my teacher D focused on our fifth chakra (energy centers in the body), the throat chakra, which is all about sound. It represents your ability to communicate. Do you use your voice to convey your true self to the world? Are you a talker? Are you a listener? Most importantly, do you have enough faith in yourself to have your own voice be heard?

There is a lot of "white noise" in the world around us (and in my house after 7:30 pm! Yes...I have several noise machines going at once to avoid hearing middle of the night crying)....televisions on just for the sake of background noise, chatter that we are listening to but don't necessarily want to hear, if you are a parent maybe whining/crying/tantrums. Stepping away from all that and seeing the value of pure silence is really worth recognizing...because with that silence can come clarity, peace and maybe even a great sense of calm. I definitely take note of the nights when I get in bed at the end of the day and I have my moment of total quiet (except of course for the noise machine at full blast behind my closed door in the hallway). But I'm also fortunate enough to have these moments of silence while practicing yoga, which are so beneficial and healing for me on a weekly basis.

Have you ever meditated? According to Andy Puddicombe, author of the book Get Some Headspace: How Mindfullness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day, meditation can do the following things:

• Change the shape of your brain in order to lower pain sensitivity
• Enhance quality of life
• Can help to clear your skin
• Relieve anxiety and depression
• Improve your chances of conceiving

This is only a fraction of the amazing insight this book has to offer. I am in the middle of reading it now and highly recommend it to anyone who has even thought about making meditation a part of their life. I know...finding ten minutes a day to meditate...easier said than done! However, those ten minutes a day might just change your life for the better. It may just provide you with the clarity you need to make your voice be heard amongst all the white noise.

So many of us do a lot of talking about beliefs we have or things we want to accomplish. But there is a big difference between talking and doing. I am so impressed by those individuals who actually take action so that their voice is heard in this world. On that note, I'd like to introduce you to a charity organization created by a group of friends of mine called GLORY...giving life, opportunities and resources to the young. The mission of this charity is to "provide direct, sustainable aid to families in need, with a focus on creating opportunities for children." These seven guys have created time in their life outside of their busy careers and growing families to give back to their community and have their voice make a difference. You should all be really proud of yourselves...I know I am truly impressed with your ability to make your voice be heard.

And the LIST goes on....

Okay...so I've been MIA for weeks. I could give you a long list of excuses, but let's face it...writing needs to move up on my list of priorities. The past couple of weeks have been one of those times where life just keeps on throwing curve balls and I haven't done such a great job of juggling so that none of them fall. I returned from my very relaxing and much needed Mexican getaway with my hubby to kids on spring break and an unexpected obstacle with our much loved Lab and first "baby", Zoe. But I promised I wasn't going to give my excuses, so to get back to the point...I made a list.

I don't know about you, but when life gets overwhelming and I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day, I always make a list. A handwritten list...with paper and a pen. Not a list on my iphone. Not reminders on my ical. A real list....and suddenly, everything seems possible again. There is something about writing a list the old school way that just feels good, but even better is crossing things off my list as they get done. My most recent accessory obsession for making lists are these amazing pads by russel+hazel. They are perfect for making a "to do" list and are self adhesive, great for hanging on the bathroom mirror or sticking to the dashboard of your car.

So here is my "to do" list this week

• Can cross of #2!
• Camp forms- The date to have these in always sneaks up on me and I always get them in under the wire. Okay...maybe late this time. Hope Meadowbrook forgives me!
• Coop auction project- have to come up with something created by the kids in J's preschool to auction off to the parents at the end of the year. Anything you would love to have made by a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds? Ideas are welcome!
• Thank You Notes J&Z- really past the deadline here...is it awful that their birthdays were over a month ago and I still haven't' written thank you notes? Don't answer that. How do you feel about electronic thank you notes?

• E's bday party- She has decided for her 7th birthday she would like to have a roller blading party. Have to make sure I call the Florham Park Roller Rink where yes, I also had a birthday party as a kid!
• Stella bday present- Any ideas for what a very special 7 year old girl might like for her birthday?
• Land of Nod order- I've been eyeing nightstands for E's new room makeover (more to come on that at a later date) and some new bedding for J (for those of you who don't know...I have a little bit of a bedding addiction)
• Email coop families- Met the new incoming families for the Millburn Coop Nursery School next year at tonight's meeting and thought it might be nice to send them a personal welcome email!
• Cooking Club app- yes, i'm in a cooking club...and yes, I can't cook! This time around the app is getting bought (shhh! Don't tell)
• Desk chair- Now that I have restored my old MacBook to working order I can finally take advantage of writing from my beautiful desk (but mine is mirrored not steel, from West Elm) in my amazing bedroom. There is definitely something to be said for the connection between your work environment and productivity (talk more about this later). Now I need the perfect desk chair. 
  
  
  

  

  My "happy thoughts" journal where I keep a running LIST of blog ideas from J Crew

  
  

  

  These amazing bookends (and many of the books) were bought at Shed in Maplewood...my favorite place to shop for everything in my home! Not to mention that the owner has become such a good friend!

  
  

  

  Artwork from Shed also!

What's on your "to do" list this week? Would love to hear!