Saturday, June 23, 2012

The Emerald Isle


After eight years of an avid case of the travel bug, Ireland is still my immediate response when I'm asked of my favorite country. Hauntingly beautiful is the only way to describe the sheer beauty of these lands. The rolling, lush hills are of such vibrant and varied shades of green, that here is where I first discovered the incredibly abundant beauty found amidst the countryside. I've often questioned that of all the places I have been, why is that Ireland has stuck out among them? With a considerable amount of years to mull over this (having gone at the age of 16), I've reached the conclusion that above all, it is the people I met here and the interactions I had with them that made this trip such an unforgettable experience. You can be vacationing in the most beautiful of places, but if you are missing the simple element of warm, welcoming interaction, you will be missing out on one of the greatest aspects of traveling as well. While I love nothing more than arriving at a destination I have never gone, I do believe the single greatest pleasure from traveling arises from creating new connections and enjoying the kindness of strangers amidst a spark of adventure and exploration.

Above all, this trip to the British Isles and Ireland served as an exceptional turning point into my adult life. Having experienced the immense freedoms that came along with this trip, and catching my first glimpse of a Western culture so entirely disparate than that of America, is what I believe sparked my insatiable desire to see the world. I consider my extraordinary time in Ireland to be a great blessing as it provided me with the motivation to work hard at a pivotal age to ensure that I would continue to have the freedom to travel at my leisure. Admittedly, this has resulted in spending a decent chunk of earnings nearly every year to embark upon my next excursion. However, I truly believe travel is worth every last, hard-earned dollar. After all, life is a daring adventure or nothing at all.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Cultivate You

The Dalai Lama says there are two basic conditions from which we can hope to derive genuine happiness. The first is our basic attitude, the second being the actions we undertake in our pursuit of happiness. No external factor can create it. At first glance this seems far oversimplified but the more time I've had to ponder and put this advice into practice, the more it has come to truly resonate with me. 

How we wake up each morning and choose to approach the day is perhaps the single most decisive factor of how well that day will turn out. It's remarkable how going through the day with an optimistic, open, and compassionate state of mind allows you to continue to attract that energy. Even more significant perhaps is consciously making the decision to pursue actions which will contribute to long-term, meaningful happiness, consisting of peace and genuine satisfaction; not transient and fleeting bouts of pleasure and escape. The hectic lifestyle of Los Angeles can make it very easy to forget the lasting joy and contentment that comes along with cultivating a true sense of self. For myself that foremost includes cultivating compassion, patience, and discovering my genuine sources of happiness. In this city it is very easy to seek happiness in all the wrong places, but I believe it doesn't take more than a few years here before you begin to seek more wisely. Whether it be appreciating the fortune of having the beach and mountains minutes away from my home, enjoying the calm and mental silence I obtain from my yoga practice, or reveling in gratitude over the truly incredible group of friends I am lucky to be surrounded by, I am constantly reminded of what I value most in life.  

Realizing that our day-to-day habits play such a huge role in a lasting sense of contentment, and ultimately that it is our habits and thoughts which ingrain deeply to form our character is what lead me to this idea of "Cultivating You." One of my favorite quotes which has grounded me in this belief is the following: “Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.”

Sunday, January 22, 2012

La Ville Lumière

 
Paris is a city that caught me off guard entirely. As hard as it may be to believe, prior to my study abroad stint in this much romanticized city, Paris was no where near the top of my immediate must-see places. I was far more interested in spending a summer lounging on the beaches of Barcelona. But as fortune would have it, the program I was interested in taking was to be offered in Paris that summer. Arriving here well over a week prior to the start of my study abroad program, I was left to my own devices to explore the city. Having these long days of not much more responsibility than sitting in cafes and reading ahead for my upcoming classes is what lead me to start settling into the beauty and ease of life here. The next six weeks I spent in this city were nothing short of one of the best experiences of my life. I enjoyed every ounce of the Parisian lifestyle as I settled in my apartment hotel right along the banks of the Seine. The manner in which the culture, art, food, and history of this city are such a quintessentially distinct part of the life, is perhaps what lead me to fall fully in love with Paris. Without a doubt, this was one of those trips from which I returned with a remarkable degree of transformation. In the heart of Paris is where I discovered some of my greatest day-to-day joys and interests. The most remarkable part of this trip is that I had the fortune of meeting two of my very closest friends. I truly believe the people you meet, and the stories you exchange along the way is the very best part of traveling.

While there are far too many things I love about Paris, my favorites include the banana-nutella crepes, sunsets over the Pont Neuf, trips to the Monoprix for baguettes, cheese and wine, the art at the Musee de O'rsay, and the casual, chic street-style as finely showcased by the photo above of one of my very favorite style muses, Emmannuelle Alt.

Photos: the-northernlight.com, imbd, musee-orangerie.fr

Saturday, January 7, 2012

The Green Light District


Currently I'm in the midst of a love affair with my neighborhood. I have lived in the Santa Monica/ Venice area for over a year but ever so recently I've started to fully appreciate how fortunate I am to have landed a spot at my beachside abode. Now having the ability to bike to work in the Venice area, I've been granted with the additional luxury of an opportunity to enjoy this bright, friendly beachside city. The waking hours of my mornings are perhaps some of my favorite spent here. You can be assured I will be walking those extra three blocks in order to get my favorite cup of joe, and stopping by the farmer's market to get fresh cut sunflowers. I can truly spend my full weekend days getting entirely immersed in this bustling little hub. One of my absolute favorite things about my neighborhood is that my yoga studio is just so situated that it's too close to drive, but far enough away to bike. I spend many weekend afternoons biking home from an excellent yoga class in sheer bliss. Just these past several weeks spent biking to work rather than commuting on the major freeways of Los Angeles has tremendously improved my quality of life. Don't think there is anywhere that can pull me away from this wonderful beachside community...other than San Francisco perhaps!

Photos: Jon Snyder- wired.com, yelp, mainstreetsm.com

Sunday, January 1, 2012

"This World is but a canvas to our imagination." -Henry David Thoreau

Having been among one of my more recent destinations, my trip to Peru still serves as one of my most distinctive experiences. This surreal South American adventure proved to remind me of the tremendous fortune I have been granted to live a life of comfort in the developed world. The trip also served to show me the beauty of a strong, healthy body.

Cusco City, deeply engrained with the rich cultural history of the Peruvian people and their resilient way of life, is where I initially witnessed the widespread pollution and poverty found within this still beautiful cultural mecca. It's near impossible not to feel grateful for the ease of the modern American life in stark contrast to the very real hardships found here. I quite clearly remember feeling embarrassed that my principal source of discontentment at that point in my life was being bored at work...what an incredible wake up call that was for me! The four day trek of the Inka Trail was without a doubt the most remarkable part of the trip for me. This ascent into the Andean mountains, reached points of over 13,000 feet above sea level, and spanned a wide array of eco-systems, from cloud forests to stone-paved trails over the rocky terrain. The trek included up to 7 hours of tough hiking on some of the days. Having the clarity of mind granted along with these lengthy days of wandering through paths of what truly felt like the very top of the world, was were I came to realize the marvel of the strength and sheer power of the body. Since that incredible trek through the Sacred Valleys of Peru, I returned with a pure focus in my day to day exercise of increasing my strength and power, which in turn has led me even deeper into my wonderful power yoga practice!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Smile, Breathe, and Go Slowly

 
 
Gratitude has been one of those topics that's been on my mind a great deal lately. It's an incredible feeling when you physically feel overcome with joy out of sheer gratitude. For me it's one of those emotions that sneaks up. A number of things call forth this emotion; post Savasana bliss after an exceptional power yoga class, a gorgeous hike on a bright sunny, day, or the simple delight from a fresh, home-made meal. It never seizes to amaze me the tremendous power that this feeling brings forth. A joy arising simply from marveling over all that you have been lucky enough to receive in life, the people you have been fortunate to cross paths with, and the opportunities that have unfolded before you. As much as its become almost a fad to give this oh-so cliché pointer, simply taking a few moments out of your day, each and every day, to stop and truly revel in the beauty of your life can make it just that...a very beautiful life. 

Beginning with this new year I have been quite blessed with an extraordinary new work opportunity which has granted me the opportunity to experience many of my day to day joys; biking to work, enjoying the waking hours of the morning with exercise, coffee, and a good breakfast, and learning something which I am truly excited to gain additional knowledge. Considering my naturally risk averse nature...being a Virgo primarily and holding sole responsibility for my financial security secondarily, this opportunity and new start came through more of a leap of faith than through any amount of luck, and for that I am very grateful that I had the courage to take the jump.

These photos are a collection of the many things which I derive much of my happiness and simple joys from: beauty in nature, yoga, eclectic cities, works of art, and of course, cute men on bikes! 

Photos: www.yogadvd.net, Studded Hearts blogspot