http://blog.pegmulqueen.com

http://www.pegmulqueen.com

just please don’t make me sit through another “he went to Kay’s . . . ” commercial – or replace my treasured twizzlers with a bag of heart shaped marshmallows – or goad me into attempting last minute dinner reservations that I probably won’t even be able to make now, filling the pit of my belly with nothing more that misplaced guilt.

i’m simply not buying it. no really. i’m not buying.

valentine’s day history is dubious at best. it seems more a contrived holiday meant to seduce us well meaning relationship lovers into spending money during a time which would otherwise be a lull in the land of retail.

actually, if you really want to know where it came from – it seems it’s pagan roots at one time had romans sacrificing animals, then slapping young women with strips of the animals skin to bestow fertility. (so if your significant other comes home with a porkchop – RUN! )

here in my home, every day is a celebration of love. in fact, my hubby wakes to the sound of love each morning as I grind his coffee. and at least a few times a week, my love surprises me with my favorite breyer’s wrapped in a recycled grocery bag.

this year, i’m staying home for valentine’s day. completely boycotting the nonsense. maybe even practice a little yoga. the kama sutra kind.  and it won’t even cost us a dime!

in the words of squeeze . . . now that is love!

We love new and novel. We need constant stimulation. And our culture only further cultivates and feeds our constant addiction to change.

I mean – Is something new always improved?

Which bring me to a bone I must pick with yoga teachers everywhere. What is up with the constant mantra, “step out of your comfort zone?”

Are you kidding with me? Most of us wouldn’t know “comfort” if it hit us on the head. In which case, it wouldn’t be so comforting, now would it?

I listened to two students describe a recent experience they had in a yoga class. Apparently it was a workshop they both signed up for and at the last minute there was a switch. Not only was the instructor replaced – but the style and format was wildly different as well.

And neither found the change enjoyable.

One decided to leave and returned home to her neighborhood yoga studio – the place she calls comfortably her own. The other suffered through the workshop in the name of being “open.”

Which, I ask, is the one more enlightened?

I say if you have found a zone of comfort – stay! Suffering is overrated, trust me!

Just for your information – the old Honda Civic I’ve driven for years, my Ugg boots from yesteryear, and my husband are all very comfortable. And a test drive of anything other shall offer me nothing more than confirmation of what I know – and possibly a divorce.

Further, there are certain things which make me extremely uncomfortable – none of which I ever plan on trying. This includes, yet is not limited to, naked yoga, bungee jumping, and sitting in a sweat lodge.

Its taken me 40 some odd years to figure out what brings me peace. I’m not complacent – I’m simply happy. Content.

And yes – comfortable.

my husband, an expert in the area, reviewed my work once i was done. his immediate comment was that my ad looked so busy, with too much information . . . leaving what was really vital buried amongst what really wasn’t.

art mimics life. and unfortunately, this was not much different than the way i’ve been living.

back to my ad – my husband told me to write down the 4 most important ideas and put them in order. then get rid of 95% of the rest. never let the reader guess at what it is that truly matters. in one snapshot, emphasize what’s important and forget the rest.

didn’t take long for me to make the necessary adjustments. i knew immediately what i valued the most. and i barely gave the rest a second thought. i don’t even know why i felt so compelled to jam in so much irrelevance to begin with. and the finished product was far more reflective and effective.

my life needs to read like my ad. boldly putting forth only that which is most dear – and all the rest either deleted and reduced to a minimum. there should never be any confusion about what, and who, I really value.

my son came to me today and asked me to the movies. (on my dime, of course!). i looked around the house. there were a few dishes in the sink and mail in my inbox. not to mention, another project deadline looming.

but today, i remember my lesson from yesterday. today, i push my list of chores aside and leave work for a weekday. i am sure all emails can wait . . . but my son should not.

today he will know he’s most important.

billy makes my top 4 - EVERY day!

The enthusiasm is literally palpable.

But wait a second . . . currently as a country, we are engaged in two wars, our economy is in terrible crisis, and people are losing their homes and jobs in record numbers. I don’t care who you are – you are experiencing it. You feel it. To say times are tough is an understatement at best.

And yet, despite all the bleak news – our country is preparing for a celebration of immense proportions. Why? Certainly, as brilliant a leader and man as I believe our president-elect to be – even he could not be so powerful as to erase our grim current reality. Rather, it is what he represents: hope.

In our most difficult times – we turn to hope; and it is this hope that will ignite future change.

Hope is the greatest motivator of all. And sometimes – it’s all we have. Yet most of the time, it’s all we need. Hope is the seed of all action. It is that glimmer of light – however far in the distance – that guides us forward and out of the dark.

Hope is the expectation that tomorrow will be different and better than today, and within our renewed faith, is our commitment towards making it so.

The air is frigid outside. All bridges into DC are closed. And most anyone who manages to get into the city, will never even get within a mile of the Capitol steps. Still the crowds assemble. And soon – I will be among them.

Because this Tuesday, I will not just be witness to the swearing in of our 44th president – I will be witnessing a dream fulfilled, the restoration of faith, and the bright light of hope.

though his speech was widely panned by critics as profoundly simple (i.e. yawn) – i found it simply profound.

the three things he credits for his success?

1. the wonderment and dreams of a child. stephen’s first attempt at movies – age 6, a staged toy train wreck. just after being warned by his parents to quit crashing his model trains, he snuck downstairs to committed his fancy to tape.

2. the support and guidance of a mentor. someone who says, i’ll be with you during success, but i’ll be with you in tougher times as well. a time honored tradition in the film industry – a time honored tradition in all industries. have a mentor – be a mentor.

3. am i going to get away with this? every great accomplishment is coupled with risk. from the time stephen secretly filmed his first crash to the time he bravely depicted the atrocity of the holaust – he wondered, am i going to get away with this?

truth is – any time we attempt something great – we wonder the same.

all extraordinary feats begin with a dream, are encouraged by those we love – but in the end, requires us to take the actual risk.

i can’t guarantee you’ll actually “get away with it” – but i am quite sure you’ll have some fun trying!

There’s The Art of Change, Road Trip to Change, Chant 4 Change, Be the Change, Yoga Rave 4 Change, OMbama, and even a link to www.WhatToWearOnJanuary20.com

Someone even had the swell idea to keep bars open until 4 a.m. – I guess, so we could Drink to Change as well.

Don’t get me wrong. I am thrilled to welcome our 44th president. I worked this entire year toward making that change. So forgive me if I am killing your buzz . . . but I have another idea.

Imagine what would happen if everyone took their dollars and instead of spending it on one more event – we donated it toward helping DC schools? THAT might bring about some change.

What if everyone took a day to celebrate by using only public transportation, bikes, or our own two feet. THAT could be a giant step toward change!

What if we all chose a cause – this whole year – and dedicated our energy and time towards making a difference by putting all this passion into action.

Now THAT would be Change I could Toast to!

“Bikram is too hot and not spiritual enough.”

“Power yoga moves too fast.”

“Vinyasa flow is confusing and only for bendy people.”

“Iyengar is boring and Ashtanga’s too structured.”

Geesh – when did we all become such yoga snobs? ~ Moi included!

It seems we all can agree that Yoga Does the Body Good.  And that in doing the body good – it also does the mind good, the spirit good, and the emotions good.

But just as religions have done for centuries – it’s in the “how” we get lost.

Bikram is about physical fitness, including endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular strength, and weight loss.  No pain – no gain.  Have a mini-heart attack now, save yourself the big one later.  Yes, it’s hot.  It’s really, really hot. So if you don’t like the heat . . . well, you know what they say.

Power yoga is about power. (Duh).  With its quicker pace, it dynamic approach, and physically demanding style – this style encourages you to find your edge, exceed your potential, doubt your doubts.  A quicker pace won’t kill you – but it may challenge you!

Vinyasa flow taps into creativity and poses run together like a dance.  Abundant freedom, lots of flexibility, and an emphasis on individual expression are offered to all.

Iyengar offers ways to make yoga accessible for all abilities.  Yin yoga offers a deep, yielding, and quiet practice.  And Ashtanga provides a classical structure, perfectly designed for daily practice.

Each style offers its own unique spin.  Each a separate path – leading the same direction.  And when we judge, either in word or action – we leave ourselves closed off to the unique quality each given style has to offer.  There is no “bad” yoga, and if you aren’t learning – then you aren’t listening.

Certainly one style may feel more your own.  And perhaps this will shift with time and with seasons.  Perhaps it won’t.  But next time you find yourself agressively contorting your body in a yin class,  resenting the heat in Bikram, or tempted to add your individual flair to ashtanga – remember the old and wise adage:  When in Rome – just practice like the Romans!

my husband, for some reason however, retained his full formal name. a relic from years past – from the long ago days we just dated.

he commented on this the other day. wondered aloud why he too had not gained a pet name status. after much deliberation, i finally thought of the perfect moniker.

this morning, i left early to pick up bagels and treats for my sleeping family. when i got back to my car, my phone beeped with a message. i turned on the screen and was startled by the words that i read.

love of my life, missed.

i smiled to myself as i dialed him back. as no should miss the love of their lives . . . especially not today.