~ A Blog About Mindfulness and Other Musings~
Join me along this journey called life as we travel ever so gently, serenely, and mindfully.


Sunday, May 16, 2010

Fabulous Friendship Festival...

...that's the title of the book I'm reading by SARK. I'm trying to attract more female friendship into my life as there has been a bit of a void since my high school and university days. I even joined a few "meetups" for the sole purpose of getting to know new people, particularly women my age.

To that end, I went to an INFJ meetup yesterday. It was interesting to be around people of my personality type --talk about instantaneous bonding! We had a lovely brunch at Nosh Bistro and engaged in lively banter. Here's to attracting fabulous friendships!

HotDoc

I really loved the documentary Monica & David which screened at the HotDocs film festival last weekend. The documentary followed Monica and David who have Down Syndrome through their first year of marriage.

M&D were so genuinely sweet and loving, I was pretty much in tears during the entire film. It was remarkable to see how well they were able to take care of themselves despite their intellectual disability. I felt as though they were absoluely capable of being autonomous although their parents were highly protective and quite fearful of letting them have greater levels of independence. Case in point, Monica's parents accompanied M&D on their honeymoon! I could empathize with the parents' concerns, however, it was evident that M&D just wanted to be like a 'regular' married couple, who could live on their own, earn a livelihood and even have a child. The latter was the most contentious issue as the parents felt that M&D were like children themselves -- how could they then provide care for a baby?

The film raised a really important issue -- When do parents need to "let go", even if their child has a disability?

One of the most heart-warming features of the film was that individuals with Down's share many of the same dreams and aspirations as most of us. The one stark difference is that there is no pretense with them. They are so innocent and genuine -- what you see is what you get -- they wear their hearts on their sleeves. And truly, what BIG, loving hearts they have!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

A Four To the Core

If you're familiar with the psycho-spiritual typology of the Enneagram, then you'll know what I mean when I say I'm a Four to the core. As a Four, I'm prone to a melancholic disposition, although when I am 'healthy' and 'integrating' I am able to dwell in equanimity. At the moment, however, I'm functioning as an average Four. I'm residing in my head a bit too much. I'm not being overly productive but imagining all the ways in which I can be.

One of my major issues (and Fours love dissecting their issues) is that I have a really hard time physically moving. It's so much easier sitting in a cozy arm chair ruminating about all the ways I will make a difference in my life, than actually doing any of them. I know physical activity is extremely important for someone like me, but I've tried the whole gym membership thing, and well, you can imagine how I lacked discipline. I worked out for perhaps the first month after signing on the dotted line and then, well, the gym payments continued for at least 2 years subsequently, with my best intentions to one day return. Like that happened.

I think it's time to start a new approach to physical activity. I do believe it's imperative for me to stop 'snailing' around if I want to experience a balanced state of body, mind and soul.

Unfortunately, for most of my life, I've struggled with a sense of discomfort in moving my body, unabashedly and freely. It's that self-consciousness theme again. So you can say, I'm rather athletically and kinesthetically challenged. And yet, I'm aware the only way I'll be able to achieve any balance of body, mind, soul is through the act of physically moving.

So I'm thinking something simple like skip-roping would be a gentle, non-threatening start. Also, there's a nearby track where I live. Perhaps a lap or two would serve me well. I'm putting these intentions out there simply because I know if I don't commit to them in writing, they'll continue to be just idle prospects in my well-intentioned, yet undisciplined mind; life.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Book Fiend

For the past 4 years, I've been commuting to my place of work - a high school in Scarborough - by subway - AKA the city of Toronto's inept public transit system. I suppose I should be thankful that this mode of travel transports me from one end of the city to another. But the entire process takes 1 hour and 10 minutes each way. Some people ask me how I do this. My answer is, I get to finish approximately a book a week. This, folks, is the only way I've managed to retain my sanity amidst the subway delays, breakdowns, and downright weirdness of some passengers.

This school year on my commute, I have focused on reading memoirs written by women. I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed the following:

Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow

A Mighty Heart : The Inside Story of the Al Qaeda Kidnapping of Danny Pearl

The Wishing Year: A House, a Man, My Soul A Memoir of Fulfilled Desire

The Slippery Year

Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage

Lucky: A Memoir

Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal

A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table

Despite the sometimes traumatic events that have shaped these ordinary, yet remarkable women's lives, their stories have planted a seed of inspiration and self-renewal.