beauty from the inside out

Update: Oh life!

Biennial of the Americas opening

Hello beautifuls,

I am writing to you today because I have had a prompt from my faithful reader in Barcelona. She has asked “Where are you?” And implored that I ” . . . come back.” If you read this blog regularly and await my posts then I really must apologize for being lax and wandering away from my duty to you.

I’ll have you know that in this I am remiss in my duty toward myself. There is a pointed absence in my life when I am not contributing in this way. I feel a call to share what I know–things that some of you may not–and also how I feel–things that most of us go through at some time.

So, here I am climbing back on that horse (again). Attempting once more to find a balance in being, doing, and sharing.

To be fair, I have been doing lots of, well, doing. The world of makeup has been very busy in my neck of the woods with catalogues and weddings and professional portraits, etc. I have been having a fantastic summer working with beautiful people of every sort and getting to know them as they sit in my makeup chair for a short while. I have worked with a freelance editor and writing coach who was getting a professional headshot done for the first time (boy did she radiate in front of the camera), a tiny wedding of 15 (not the wedding party; the whole wedding), a large bridal party of dancers (wish I had legs like that), and a western jean catalogue shoot at the Greeley Stampede (their version of a county fair) replete with obligatory longshot in front of the lit up ferris wheel, just to name a few. And I am so excited to share these with you!

As my experience of living begins to blur the line between being and doing (even sharing) I feel much less uptight about my imbalance of activity. Isn’t acceptance the first stage in making a change? Or is it the last? Anyway, although it does balance out over a period of time, my activity tends to clump together. All makeup and no writing, lots of biking but no yoga. Still trying to find my organization mojo (I WILL get it on!!!). Volunteering at the Boulder Shambhala Meditation Center. Sitting out in the sunshine on a beautiful morning at the Laughing Goat Cafe with my amazing daughter. Enjoying performances (boy am I!) at the Biennial of the Americas in Denver. That’s what my life looks like this summer. There is a simplicity to many of my days that is very beautiful.

If you find yourself in Denver, The Biennial of the Americas is having some lovely performances on Friday, July 30th:

RELATION-SHIFT; Allowing the Sun to Shine in Every Moment by Lauviah Rose

taking the negative aspects in relationship as catalysts for greater change and transformation for the betterment of both partners

intentions

At the beginning of my year-long committed yet “open” relationship, I was excited about embarking on a sacred, intentional and powerful union. We prayed, set intentions at an altar, and watched the year unfold. Somehow as each month went by, those intentions broke down into story, guilt, wounds, tears, and fears. This is not the kind of empowering, co-creative relationship I set out to have. So how did it get this way and how can “breaking up” turn into a “breakthrough?”

shifting

My partner and I are currently going through a relation-shift, and exiting out of relation-shit. We have moved through many unhealthy patterns, expectations, and the let down of expectations. We have activated our core wounds and pissed each other off. We have truly been mirrors for each other, and have been willing to look at ourselves in  this reflection of each other. Yet somehow while still being tied to my partner, the picture was fogged with an unwillingness.  I couldn’t clearly see my part and change it. I couldn’t feel him making any real shifts in healing his wound.  We couldn’t truly look at ourselves as individuals.  We were truly stuck in relationSHIT. In fact, we can still point the finger at each other, saying “I’m experiencing this pain because you didn’t do _____.” Or, “I’m experiencing this pain because you did do ____.”

invitation

WELL, I encourage all of you who are in relationSHIT to get into a relationSHIFT and start owning your emotions and fears as your own. Going down the path of pain and blame in a relationship is really not that fun! It’s one thing to have a partner bring up a pattern, but if it’s just constantly being repeated, then this mirror is not serving. If you can have conscious, clear, open and calm communication and not become over-processed as I did, then this is a healthy mirror. But if you come to a resolution in one moment only to have the same core wound activated a day later with the same old record playing the same song, it may be time to take a break–or really change the confines/agreements/contracts of the relationship. Once we get over the original FEAR of letting love FLOW we realize that it is SO MUCH MORE joyful to let go! There’s no more blame game! No more contracts! You’re free to truly be present with your beloved as opposed to listening to a record that was made 6 months ago!

opening

I have witnessed this myself with my beloved. We went through a tumultuous and painful “break-up” which has really being turned into a loving, conscious, moment-to moment break-through. I have felt his heart become more open towards me in the moment, which in turn opens my heart more, which is what he’s been asking for since the beginning of our relationship.  We have let go of our expectations of one another being a certain way, and are just enjoying each other again. He can no longer blame me as being a source of his core wound, he has to look deep within himself to heal. I have no one to push against because I am not being smothered by neediness. Truly a WIN-WIN!

not-commitment

Now we are not committed. This can be scary territory to explore especially for those of us with jealousy running the show. Relationships are here to stir the pot of emotions that are stored deep within the core of our being. You cannot get jealous without having jealousy stored inside your own vessel, your own psyche. You cannot feel betrayal without its seeds somewhere inside your cellular memory.  I have experienced all of these emotions and I have to look at the hologram of life unfolding in front of me. I cannot blame others for being out of integrity, as much as I demand it with those I”m in relationship with.  I’m not saying that honesty isn’t absolutely necessary for a healthy relationship, but once trust is broken, one has to look inside for deep forgiveness within themselves first.  I am truly looking to release into more and more
forgiveness for myself each time a layer of relationship rises in my consciousness. “I could have been a more present and loving partner.” “I could have listened better.” “I could have put my partner’s needs first.” These reproaches can go on, but I have to forgive myself for my “failures” and move on to the gorgeous unfolding moment of my life!

presence

Truly being engaged with the moment is SO important when healing from a relationship. I can either be in my head about what “happened to me” or I can take a few deep belly breaths, look around me, and witness the moment. I am not being assaulted right now, or attacked, or being made wrong. Why should my mind try to fix “reality” in my head when the only thing that will move the emotions through to consciousness is truly feeling each thing as it arises in the present MOMENT.

falling in love with yourself

My girlfriends have been a huge support for my heart and facilitating clarity and peace of mind. My favorite quote from one friend is “I am my own dream come true!” And truly falling in love and nurturing the self comes before any connection or partner. We must remember to have a healthy relationship with ourselves first, and then move on to showing up for others in the world. I cannot fully show up for my partner if I’m not willing to look at myself in the mirror and love what is there unconditionally. Truly feeling my sisterhood has allowed me to release and surrender into the perfection of the unfolding river of now.

freedom

May we all find freedom within the moment. May we all be powerfully present to own our emotions and FEEL them fully so that they may transform into the light of consciousness. May we see through the illusion of separation and lack, freeing ourselves of jealousy. May we celebrate love in all forms!  May we be in integrity with ourselves and our word, as we live in a transparent universe!  And may we truly feel the river of universal love that is ALWAYS flowing through us. YES YES YES I say to this amazing transformation into more love!  May we channel our pain towards a path of healing and growth into our mission here on this planet. May we all truly act in support of one another and lift each other up. Let the sun shine in!

Oil reality – telling it like it is

My good friend Jahnavi Stenflo brought this video to my attention via FaceBook and had this to say about it:

Jahnavi D Stenflo This pretty much sums up why we all need to think about how we can change our habits and ways around the use and consumption of dirty oil. We are all – each and every one of us – guilty of this reality descending upon us. This includes the use of all types of petroleum products, from body care to any plastic products.

Amen, sister.

We don’t have to imagine our world covered in oil. It already is, as shown in this video. We just don’t experience it in the same dramatic way as the wildlife covered in sludge.

And really, what in the hell is petroleum doing in our body care products in the first place??????

Cellulite – Woman’s Dirty Little Secret

Who’s got it

Cellulite is a subject many of us don’t want to talk about. Most of us have it (if you’re a woman), but we’d rather pretend it didn’t exist. In fact, it is estimated that 80-90% of post-pubescent women have it to some degree. In contrast, very few men are reported as having cellulite except in rare diseases where there is a serious lack of male hormones or they are being treated with the female hormones. Does this mean that the Y-Chromosome is a cellulite inhibitor? Regardless, this and other research strongly suggest that hormones are a significant factor in the formation of cellulite.

What it’s not

According to much of the medical community, cellulite is neither a physical object nor a medical condition but rather only a visual description for the appearance of normal subcutaneous fat (underneath the epidermal and the dermal layers of the skin) in women. So, this unattractive stuff that covers our buttocks and the backs of our thighs is not real. Or it’s really not a problem; it’s just normal fat for us women.

It’s causes (or rather, not causes)

Furthermore genetics are found to be a significant factor in whether or not your fat is displayed as cellulite (you can thank your mother when you finish reading this article). Predisposition to lymphatic and circulatory insufficiency is a contributing factor. Your race and the distribution of subcutaneous fat in your body affect how much cellulite you will have. And interestingly enough, how stressed out you are has been found to be a significant contributing factor. For the catecholamine stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline increase your likelihood of developing cellulite.

Yet nothing significant is said about diet, lifestyle, or environmental factors and cellulite. Here are some common examples of what the medical community does say:

Cellulite is a complex condition, and treatments such as weight loss have variable effects on the improvement or worsening of this condition. Additional studies are required to understand how the factors that influence and modulate cellulite severity, particularly those at the level of the subcutaneous tissue septa, can be manipulated to improve this condition.

Smalls LK, Hicks M, Passeretti D, et al. (August 2006). “Effect of weight loss on cellulite: gynoid lypodystrophy”. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 118 (2): 510–6. doi:10.1097/01.prs.0000227629.94768.be. PMID 16874227.

And

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010 Mar;62(3):361-70; quiz 371-2.

Treatment of cellulite: Part I. Pathophysiology.

Khan MH, Victor F, Rao B, Sadick NS.

Department of Dermatology at Robert-Wood Johnson University Hospital, University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey, Somerset, New Jersey, USA. khanmisbah6@gmail.com

Abstract

Cellulite is a topographic skin change that is nearly ubiquitous in postpubertal women. Treatment remains elusive. The various treatments currently available are only partially or temporarily effective. Newer therapeutic modalities continue to evolve without much understanding of the complex nature of cellulite. The successful treatment of cellulite will ultimately depend upon our understanding of the pathophysiology of cellulite adipose tissue.

Granted, these unsatisfying conclusions come to us from plastic surgeons and dermatologsts whose largest concerns will undoubtedly be to discover a patented cellulite reduction treatment that will only be available in a doctor’s office or a medi-spa. Not surprisingly, most of the medical information out there about cellulite reduction concern treatments consisting in vacuum (liposuction), radiofrequency (ultrasound)  and infrared heat, or  LED (red and near-infrared) light. Occasionally, you can find articles about non-invasive treatments such as massage and the topical application of caffeine (improving microcirculation). However, these treatments are not found to be terribly effective long term. A telling little fact is that the treatment of cellulite is referred to as “esthetic medicine”.

So, although many diverse contributing factors to the development of cellulite have been found, there is apparently no “cause” for it and therefore no cure.

An alternative theory?

With all of this (or should we say not so much) disappointing news from the medical community, I would like to propose an alternative theory about cellulite. This is not a new theory, nor is it one I have any intention of proving in the scientific arena. It is mostly a hunch based on some very practical knowledge in combination with the tangible results of experimentation. But it is a theory that is widely backed by nutritionists, naturopaths, and wellness practitioners everywhere.

Cellulite is caused by toxins. End of story.

Cellulite is caused by toxins. How toxins cause cellulite isn’t a very interesting story, but the fact that they do deserves a moment of silent praise. Our bodies are very smart biological systems. The complexity and regularity with which they work blow my mind. The most recent biological fact that’s been blowing my mind is that we encounter, ingest and absorb many toxins that our bodies have no way of safely excreting from the body, so these toxins are safely shunted into fat cells. Very simply, our world has grown toxic at a rate far surpassing our bodily evolution and has had to do something to render these toxins that find their way into our bodies inert. As a result, the toxic molecules are stuck onto fat cells and just stay there, out of harms way, or should we say unable to wreak havoc. We do not want toxins floating around in our bloodstream. Nor do we want toxins stuck in our organs where they are likely to produce disease. So, our bodies safely store them in our fat–forever molecularly-bound with no way out.

Oh, goodie! Thanks bodies for taking care of us in this clever way (said with a modicum of cynicism)! Except that now we are stuck with ugly-but-safe toxins on our buttocks and thighs for all the world to see (us in the mirror, our lovers disappointed glances, our children who make fun of it). Cellulite is a health blessing at the same time it is an aesthetic nightmare.

How do we know it is the molecularly-bound toxins that cause the dimpled fat of cellulite? Because when you take away the toxins the cellulite disappears. Nothing else works in the long term. True dat. I witnessed it myself in a systematic and determined effort to detoxify as completely as possible a few years back. Others will corroborate this story. It’s not easy. In fact there are very few ways to detoxify the toxin-ridden subcutaneous fat we identify as cellulite. But you can. The thing is, once you’ve gotten rid of it it’s a whole other story to keep it off. You have to indulge in some serious clean living not to gather toxins into your body in the first place. Even then the toxins will still get through. Then the cellulite starts again. Another round of detoxification is in order. The cycle continues.

The simple but difficult conclusion

So what is to be said about diet, lifestyle, or environmental factors and cellulite? Stay away from toxins as much as possible and detoxify regularly. It’s as simple as that.

And as to why cellulite is woman’s dirty little secret? It’s not that it’s ugly and we want to hide it from the eyes of the world. That is true enough. It’s our dirty little secret because it’s malicious cause is hidden from us. We see it as a harmless inconvenience and not the potential disease-maker it really is.

The first in a series

Stay tuned for more on cellulite, how to get rid of it, and the kind of clean-living it takes to keep it off!

Beauty on a Solstice Night

I had the opportunity to experience some extreme beauty this last weekend at the annual Gemini Party in the woods “somewhere in Colorado”.

Here’s what struck me as particularly beautiful:

• An entire group of people smiling

• Dancing all night in the woods with great friends and pleasant strangers

• Booties shakin’

• Seeing the sunrise while listening to breathtaking new tracks from David Last that he made just for this party (stay tuned for the link). Bless you David!

• Birdsong issuing from giant speakers blending with the actual birdsong of the dawn (thanks to Matthew Krall)

• Lush verdant land

• camping

• unexpected springs

• children and dogs

• twinkling stars

• respect and caring for others and the land

• impeccable sound (thanks Paul Perry)

• psychadelic giant bunnies

• a well-tended bonfire

• tenderness

• touch

• honesty

• connection

• home-made breakfast burritos warmed on the fire (thanks to angel Rob Fitzgerald)

• Roy England’s 2010 three-hour Birthday set. I could barely walk off the dirt dancefloor. Yeah techno!

Ever grateful for intentional partying and the people who make it happen. Amen.

Evenings of Afterglow

Two lovely women of Boulder, Jill Emich and Sue Van Raes, have joined together to offer multiple series of evenings titled: The Pleasure Projects. All I can say is YUM! The first of The Pleasure Projects is a yoga and wine tasting series called An Evening of Afterglow.

These incredible ladies are both well-versed in nutrition, preparing the most delicious foods, yoga, health, and living well. This balance of knowing what is good for you together with what’s good makes them more than qualified to offer these evenings of bliss. Body and soul are both nourished here.

Yoga

I had the distinct pleasure to ride my bike up to Boulder Mountain Lodge at the foot of 4 Mile Canyon for last week’s Evening of Afterglow and partake of the ultra-yumminess. As a true Boulder girl I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening: celebrating life, connection, intimacy, health and fun! I even had the opportunity to meet Jill’s mom and was inspired doing yoga next to her (that woman is a fierce yogini and just as beautiful as her daughters!) in the rustic lodge replete with the sound of water running through a creek.

Plus chocolate

I really loved how they wove science into the mix to provide a deeper understanding of why wine and chocolate are so good for you and so good in combination. They speak of the trace amine phenyl-ethylamine (PEA) which is found naturally in our bodies in small amounts and which also occurs in chocolate. Scientists have reason to believe that PEA is capable of raising dopamine levels in the brain thus improving our mood. It is also believed that just smelling chocolate is relaxing because it increases theta waves in the brain.

Plus wine

Wine, red moreso than white, produces a very potent polyphenol called resveratrol. Resveratrol protects both the heart and the brain, reduces inflammation which contributes to aging, and shows promise in the prevention of cancers. Its absorption is most effective in the mucous membranes of the mouth, so sip your wine slowly both to savor its taste as well as increase its health benefits!

Equals goodness

Another incredible thing that both red wine and chocolate do is increase nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide dilates the capillaries and increases blood circulation; good for the heart, great for the skin, considered to be anti-aging, and produces the Afterglow.

Get your Afterglow on!

Tonight is the last of this first series. If you have an inclination to get out of town and slip away into some comfortable but rustic surroundings just up into Boulder Canyon, meet some amazing people, and be nurtured and nourished in an adult setting then please click here to make your reservation. It certainly made my week!

Stay tuned for more yumminess . . .

I will be working with the ladies in a future series “for women only” this July that will involve customizing your makeup routine with the healthiest makeup available. And give you the best Tips and Tricks for Quick Summer Looks!

See you there!

June morning

days of waking up and feeling melancholy

missing the past

or rather the missing of feelings I had in the past

of waking up next to a lover smiling at me

the sun kissing my face, eyes closed, swinging in the backyard, thinking of nothing

worrying about nothing

____________________________________________________________

melancholy turning to lethargy

wrench myself from the bed and sit down on the cushion

____________________________________________________________

do my morning Mahayana practice

vowing to make myself available for all sentient beings

get over myself (actually, saying the words does just that)

practice tonglen

today for myself

pent up tears released flow down my face

breathe in the tender sadness

exhale white light from my heart, radiating in all directions

it takes only a few minutes for the transformation to take place

I feel better

so much so that I forget my practice

oh yeah, breathe in that sadness of others

exhale white light from my heart and let it radiate out in all directions

send it out into the world

____________________________________________________________

get up and make tea

put on some music

move my hips with the beat

another form of transformation

smile

Defining ourselves

Soul-searching

These past weeks for me have been full of soul-searching in a very literal sense. It’s not like I set out on some journey to find myself like I did in my late teens/early twenties. Rather, this soul-searching is a result of the Shambhala studies in which I have been partaking this past year in conjunction with some life-changing events that has opened my eyes to seeing myself in a different light. In particular, I have been bumping up against the notion of being defined, or rather defining myself, by “other”. This bumping has been happening for me in more of a scraping, jarring manner than a lightly-bounce-off kind of way. So, the overall process has been less than pleasant and downright painful at times. But it has been absolutely worth the effort. It seems that growing pains are never really appreciated until you get on the other side of them.

Definition by other

We all define ourselves by the “others” in our lives to some degree. If we didn’t, I suppose we’d all be Buddhas. This “other” could be other people, material possessions, or roles we play in our lives. It could be just about any concept that we cling to in defining our “selves” or what in Buddhism is referred to as “ego”. For when we identify with something we are calling out a relationship we have with it as something separate from us. I know that sounds counter-intuitive, but bear with me. We are either attracted to a thing or idea or are repulsed by it as something outside of ourselves. Something that we can point to over there and say, “Yes, that is me.” and “No, that is not me.” Imagine a smorgasbord of all the concepts imaginable and we are the plates. You heap on your plate all of the things you want to be, see yourself as already, or what other people have told you that you are. Conversely you pass by all of those things you think don’t define you.

We say things like:

I am thin.

I am fat.

I am a hard-worker.

I am lazy.

I am good.

I am bad.

I am worth something because I own property and lots of things.

I am less than because I own very little.

I am a good person because I choose to own very little.

I am conscious of the environment.

I care only about myself and those closest to me.

I am spiritual.

I do yoga.

I play a great game of golf.

I am an athlete.

I am not a good speller.

My parents screwed me up during childhood, so I am broken and it’s their fault.

I have a great relationship with my parents.

I was raped and am now a victim.

Many horrible things have happened to me in my life and they’ve made me stronger.

My spouse left me and now I am unloved.

My lover is amazing.

I read books.

I am not a Republican.

I watch the news.

I love nature.

I am a bad employee.

I am a good friend.

I am married.

I am single.

Mistaken identity

We say these things and mean them in a way that says something about who we are instead of what is happening in the moment or has happened in previous moments or what we would like to happen in the future. However, one thing that every society has known to be true (at least at some point in its history) is that change is constant. According to some cultures, change is the only constant. As a fledgling philosophy student, one quickly encounters the famous saying “You cannot step twice into the same river,” by Heraclitus (a Pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher). To some this is the most natural thing to say and it is accepted, to others it is absurd or too simplistic and it is rejected. But whatever your take on the philosophy of change we all fall prey to this tendency to define ourselves by other in a way that seems constant.

Even Sarah Jessica Parker has fat days

Yet it just doesn’t match up to reality. Even Sarah Jessica Parker has fat days. Every victim has moments of feeling powerful (even if only over an ant). Jobs, lovers, spouses, friends, money, property and family come and go over time. Our feelings about ourselves change at least slightly from moment to moment in reaction to external stimuli all the time. This never ceases.

Opposites not only attract – they coexist

When we identify with something as an essential part of ourselves we believe that this thing lives eternally within us. And furthermore, we believe that its opposite is foreign to us. When in reality our relationship to these opposing concepts can fluctuate so rapidly that they seem to be coexisting. Actually, they are. Have you ever loved someone so much that when they left you hated them? That persistent feeling of deep love and connection to a person doesn’t disappear when they do.  Loving them so deeply together with the absence of their love can even trigger hatred. Hatred can live side by side with the love you still feel for them. You may only consciously experience one or the other at any given moment, but they are both there. We may not like that these two feelings are both present in us, but we are only limiting ourselves if we deny one or the other. I’m not saying that you should indulge in your hatred for the ex that left you. Just accept that you have those feelings, feel them when they come up, breathe, and let them go. After a period of time, you will probably find that your love is greater than your hate and also that your love for them has changed in tone or flavor. Hopefully you will learn to love them as a friend and let go of loving them as a lover.

The dilemma ~conflicting feelings

As you may have guessed already, this is the self-identification with which I have been struggling:

• I am single.

• I am no longer the lover/betrothed/girlfriend of __________.

• I am less than because I am now single after being engaged to be married.

And here’s the irony:

• I am a modern woman who believes that long periods of time as a single woman is good and healthy.

Intellectually I understand that a person is neither more nor less when in a relationship or not and also that it makes no difference at all who left whom.

Yet it is taking me what seems like an awfully long time to know these things in my heart, my body and my entire being.

The resolution ~accepting reality

Yes, at the moment I am single. I was engaged to be married. I have had lovers. I am sure that at some point I will have another lover. Possibly, I will be married. Or not.

I was born on a dot in space at a point in time. I have had many varied experiences and thoughts (some of them completely contradictory). I will have more. I will die. Who knows what will happen after that.

With this, I am satisfied (for the moment!).

The Journey

Last night in my Shambhala Class I was reminded that the real goodies are to be found in the journey–the path–not the fruition or end-point.

Today this was in my email inbox when I awoke:

I’ve been thinking about this all day, and it’s made quite a difference in my approach to each moment. Much more energy is spent in appreciation than anticipation.

Amen!

Burnout – It happens even with the best of intentions

The check-in

I just got a message from a friend of mine who reads this blog religiously (thank you Kimberly!) that asked if I was okay because she noticed that I hadn’t been posting in the last few weeks. Yes, I’m fine. But I realize that I have fallen prey to burnout.

The denial

Many friends have commented to me that blogging more than once a week is admirable, much less 4-7 times a week on a regular basis. I thanked them and didn’t think much of it. After all, this is my vision, my passion. Why would I want to do it less than full bore? Anyway, I was sure I could go on for quite a while living up to this internal expectation before burning out.

Admitting to burnout

Actually, no. I bit off a little more than I could sustain and am finding myself overwhelmed. I admit, this is typical modus operandi for me. Only I am usually biting into someone else’s plate and either have to pull through to the end or risk letting them down. When it’s my own expectation there seems to be less compulsion to pull through to the end (like blog writing has an end!). So I let writing drop off while I pursued the part of my business that pays the bills and gradually got back into going to the gym and doing yoga. Both of which had taken a backseat while I was writing more consistently.

Where is that elusive balance that I wrote about a few posts back? In someone else’s life. At least that’s how I feel most of the time.

The reality

Today is my birthday. I am 41 years old. I had hoped that by now I would have achieved some semblance of balance. That I would have learned not to rush into things with the enthusiasm and naivete of a child. It’s not sustainable. I know what you are thinking. And you’re right. What I lack is discipline. It’s true. Ask anyone who knows me really well. It’s not that I don’t like to work hard. It’s that I don’t work in any disciplined way.

The way

David Allen, the productivity guru, says that people don’t need more discipline. What they need, rather, is a disciplined approach to their work. Something systematic that allows creativity to flourish. I am seriously attracted to his systematic and disciplined approach called simply Getting Things Done, or GTD for short. I have been flirting with this system for a year and a half while sitting on the fence about doing anything to get on top of my pile of work. Like most people, I get something done only when it is right in front of my face or on fire. Hence, I have all of these things I want to do or have to do that just pile up and are taking up psychic space. At this point, it’s quite crowded in here.

So, today I took the first step in getting on top of things. I took the GTD-Quiz to assess where I am in my approach to my work. Here’s what it looked like:

Surprised? Me neither. The ultimate goal, what David calls GTD Blackbelt, is to get up into the top right corner. Or at least into that quadrant.

So, here’s to getting back on the writing horse and achieving at least a modicum of balance. I don’t need to be on top all the time.    ; )

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