Let's All Chant

Back in my disco days there was a song called, Let's All Chant by the Michael Zager Band.  The lyrics were easy enough to learn.  "Your body, my body, everybody work your body," followed by numerous vocal hooks like "Ah-ah, eh-eh, let's all chant" or "Ooh-ah, Ooh-ah."

For the full impact and a good belly laugh, you may want to click on the above link.  Or turn down the lights and turn on the disco ball hiding in your basement, get out the leg warmers, and transport yourself to Studio 54.

The thing about this quirky yet interestingly infectious hit is its complexity is disguised as simplicity.  Like most mantras or chants or power phrases or affirmations, there is something about simply saying certain words or phrases that activates our superpowers.

Just like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz clicking her heels and repeating three times, "There's no place like home," I often rely on a series of pleas to get me out of a jam or signal I am in one. 

Admittedly, I sometimes go unconscious and silently scream, "Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t," when I've done something irreversible like dropped my step counter in the toilet.

If I know I'm going into a tense situation, I often say, "Grace, grace, grace, grace, grace" as quickly and convincingly as I can in hopes I can invoke that presence in me. 

When I used to swim a lot and attempt to keep track of my laps, I'd eventually forget and just start repeating the mantra "om mani padme hum."  This is a common Buddhist mantra that loosely translated means the jewel in the lotus and is all about practicing compassion. It's helpful in difficult situations.

I'd recite one word with each stroke and see how many times I could repeat the phrase before I reached the side of the pool.  Once there I'd stop and defog my goggles, fiddle with my flippers, or mess with my earplugs until I caught my breath or the Let's All Chant song cycled through my water iPod, inciting a freestyle frenzy.

Tonight as I was researching meditation cds available on the spring forest qigong website with Chunyi Lin, I spotted a six-word meditation cd.  How synchronicitous for the six word summary!

Naturally, I was curious.  Now I'm certain you are too, so I will share these words as my six word summary for the day.  They could arguably be the most interesting of the summaries so far.

Today's six word summary:  "Ong, Ma, Lee, Bae, Mae, Hong."  


Here's the description from the website.

"Ong" relates to the heart of wisdom. The "Ong" sound can help with problems in the eyes, the ears, the nose, and with all kinds of headaches and head problems.

 "Ma, Lee" relates to a person's heart, which is full of changes.  "Ma, Lee" can help with problems in the throat, shoulders, elbows, heart, and lungs. 

"Bae, Mae" relates to the purity of the heart, the emptiness. "Bae, Mae" can help with problems in the spine, back, kidneys, stomach, and intestines.

"Hong" relates to the enlightenment of a person with the wisdom of the universe. "Hong" can help heal problems in the joints of the body and the legs. 

The six words together in combination can help to balance the energy throughout the body and help connect you to the healing energy of the Universe."

So, there you have it.  Now you know what they are.  Whether any of us know how to pronounce them is another thing.

Basically, any mantra is “a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of ‘creating transformation.’” ** See also our posts on the Green Tara mantra, White Tara and her mantra, and the Buddha Shakyamuni mantra.
This mantra naturally comes to our hearts in any kind of difficult situation. For example, when I was in an earthquake in Dharamsala once, when the earth started shaking, I automatically started praying, “Om mani peme hung.”
- See more at: http://www.yowangdu.com/tibetan-buddhism/om-mani-padme-hum.html#sthash.D12lMPfH.dpuf

How About a Walk?

Today's summary is easy.

My first walk of the day was with my four legged friends.  My last walk was with my friend Ann.  Both walks provided the perfect companionship.  No matter how tired I might think I am, I always feel better after I move around.  Even better when my friends come along.

Six word summary:

Walking with friends doubles the delight.

Lost & Found

Because I am on a mission to find the ever elusive charging cable to my Fitbit Force before it is (and I am) completely out of juice, today's six word summaries require little explanation.

Ever feel like life is a...

perpetual game of Lost and Found

or Hide and Seek with yourself?

Never trust the thought that promises

you'll remember where you put it.

March Forth!

Cabinets and countertops and flooring, oh my!

They have arrived.  Today the kitchen I've been dreaming about for six months is finally taking shape. 

Not giving in to the process paralysis that can accompany the selecting of one out of a million color combinations, textures, finishes, and flooring, I took the path of least resistance and kept it simple.

For the cupboards we simply copied what we had.  The countertops integrated my love of the southwest and earthly colors with the harvest color on the walls.  My parents offered us the flooring they had left over from their home improvement project.  Not only did this save us time and money, but I must say it's better than anything I would have picked out.

Who knew home is where the heart of my art is?  When I bought the house in 2011 the only thing I thought I'd do was expand the deck. 

Three years later we've changed light fixtures, ceiling fans, and furniture inside and done a fair amount of landscaping outside.  While Bob the Builder was behind most of these projects, clearly our pace is a far cry from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  Two people and sporadic inspiration have different results than a team, a time limit, and an unlimited budget.

Still I was really hoping I could do as they do on the show.  Go on vacation and return home to completely renovated kitchen.  However, coming home from work today to an almost completely renovated kitchen is just as exhilarating. 

If the neighbors were shouting anything upon our return from the sunny spot it was "Move that snow!",  not the famous "Move that bus!" rally.  Apparently no one cares what's on the inside if they can't get to it.

Despite my cold and recent round of crankiness, the countertops and cupboards and flooring have saved the day and restored my righteous chi.  Must be a side effect of gratitude.

Because I've always taken the play on today's date, March 4th, as marching orders to "March Forth!" and do good, good things tend to happen on this day.

So my six word summary is as follows:

March forth and complete the kitchen.

Time to Call it a Night

Unfortunately these words, my six word summary for the day, were uttered at 7am.

I woke up with the cold I've been ferociously fighting off for days.  Maybe it was the 80 degree temperature swing that was just too much for my mind, body, and spirit.

In any case, after swallowing herbal Cold Snap capsules throughout the day that promised to restore my righteous chi, I'm surrendering to the night-time knock out stuff.  Perhaps my righteous chi will reassert itself tomorrow along with some Puffs Plus Lotion and a healthy sense of humor?

How was your day?  Summarize in six words and share.

Show Your Work

I'm not sure if it's the combination of cold and snow for far too long or the realization that I left a warm and sunny place behind and I won't be experiencing it again any time soon. Whatever the case, today I just surrendered to the cold and the crankiness it evoked, stayed inside, and read a book.

Because Show Your Work by Austin Kleon is an essential read for any kind of artist and even has pictures, I could devour it in a couple of hours and reflect on it for the rest of the day.  A few years ago I read another book by Kleon, Steal Like an Artist.  If anything could catapult me out of my funk, it would be this book that waited patiently for me at the bottom of the pile of mail that had accumulated in my absence.

With the transparency and immediacy of social media, the way we create is changing.  It's no longer necessary to create in solitude, hoping the world will like what we produce when we're brave enough to share it.

Now we can post, pin, or tweet something and get immediate feedback that shapes not only the product but also the process, making our work more of a collaboration than a solo effort birthed by sporadic bouts of brilliance.

Often times we're too close to our work to understand its real value. That's why putting our work out there is more important than perfecting it. Our tribe will see to it that we improve.

A few weeks ago I signed up for B-School with Marie Forleo, an online genius who is willing to share everything she knows about becoming successful online and off. Once a year she makes her online business school available to subscribers. After marveling at her content and creative output over the past year, I decided it was time to invest in her program.

I don't expect to experience the kind of success she enjoys, but I do believe it's possible to take the lessons she has to offer and build a better version of my own brand.  I'll be blogging about these ideas and sharing the lessons learned as well as soliciting your suggestions in the next couple of months. 

So strap in and let's see what the next few months bring.   As long as it's not more snow or cold, I'm guessing you're game?

Six word summary for today:  Dare to share. Show your work.

Six Word Summaries

It's March 1 and so begins the Six Word Summary daily challenge.  Where January's objective was 500 words,  March's daily directive is 6 or so.

I started a few six word summaries while in Arizona where the sun shines and the weather is warm.

Here are two six word summaries for the following photo snapped at the airport before my feet were forced back into snow boots with ice cleats.

Bob's Summary:  These boots are made for hiking.
Penny's Summary:  Once a flower-child,  always a flower-child.

Of course now that we're back in the Arctic Circle, with snow ceaselessly (or senselessly) swirling about and temps once again below zero, we both have agreed on this summary for today:

Life inside snow-globe. Must break free.

Your turn.  Post your summary below.

* Just in case you're wondering, the flower power sandals are Dawgs. They come in every color including camouflage. They are like Crocs, only better!