I just found the book clutter clearing from the inside out by Stephanie Roberts.  This is a a great book on clutter clearing - how to do it, and why it takes so much effort. Somethings it covers:

• Why it's so hard to get started with clutter-clearing, even when we want to do it
• Why we can't seem to let go of certain things, even when we don't really want to keep them
• Why clutter-clearing can feel so exhausing
• Why making a simple "keep or toss" decision can feel impossible
• Why it’s so difficult to keep clutter under control once we’ve tackled it for the first time

This entry was posted on November 6, 2009 at 4:57 PM and has received 854 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Great tips from Carol Tuttle blog on how to create more happiness. Gratitutes, play, singing, EFT and the LOA all show up in the list. Thanks Carol!

This entry was posted on November 3, 2009 at 7:19 PM and has received 1274 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Here are some great Assertiveness and Authenticity tips from Oprah Mag.

• Do you ever feel like you're speaking with the mute button on? Here's how to talk so people really listen. 4 ways to make yourself heard
• Hanging back, dropping hints, and generally mousing around gets you nowhere and drives other people nuts. Here's what you should do instead.  How to speak up and get what you really need
• And vs But and more small changes with a big impact Why one little word can make all the difference
• How do we enhance and deepen our capacity to speak our truth with kindness, love and authenticity? There are lots of things we can do to accomplish this. How to honestly speak your truth

This entry was posted on November 3, 2009 at 7:00 PM and has received 1536 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

I want to increase my energy set point so that I am comfortable having more energy. Any one got any thoughts on how to do that?

I think I have an energy set point. It is like a thermostat setting for how much energy I have. If I get too rested or energized then I find someway to stay up late or burn the candle at both ends to bring my energy level down. And if I am too tired I find a way to rest such as napping, watching TV, surfing the internet or if I am really not conscious getting sick.

This is a similar idea to our happiness set point that we looked at earlier this year at a Wednesday Gathering.

This entry was posted on November 3, 2009 at 6:10 PM and has received 795 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we learn how to get things done. Are you stressed out about how much you have to do each day? Is your inbox overflowing? Would you like to be much more productive? Then come learn the Getting Things Done approach based on the book of the same name by Dave Allen.

• Learn how to have an empty inbox everyday
• Learn how to get rid of that nagging feeling that there is some important task you have forgotten
• Learn productivity tips to save time and stress
• Learn how to get old projects unstuck

Whether you are a homemaker or an executive, a graphic designer or an admin assistant it seems that people are getting more and more overwhelmed with the tasks they want to do. It might be work or home projects or dealing with bills. What ever your stuck area(s) with GTD you will get more done with much less stress.

PS There is no special PDA, calendar or software you must have to do GTD -  pencil, paper and a sharpened mind are all you need to start!

The playshop begins after dinner at 8pm.  I invite you to join us, though as always what ever choice you make you will be honored in.

Some articles on GTD

The art of the doable list
http://lifehacker.com/software/geek-to-live/the-art-of-the-doable-to+do-list-270404.php
Think of your to-do list as an instruction set your Boss self gives your Assistant self. Like a computer program, if the instructions are clear, specific, and easily executed, you're golden. If not, you'll get undesirable results, like fear, procrastination and self-loathing.
At any point during your work day you are in one of two modes: thinking mode (that's you with the Boss hat on) and action mode (that's you with the Personal Assistant hat on.) When a project or task comes up, the steps you've got to take start to form in your mind. Now you're in thinking/Boss mode - the guy/gal who gives the orders. Your to-do list is a collection of those orders, which your Assistant personality will later pick up and do.
So when you're wearing your Boss hat, it's up to you to write down the instructions in such a way that your Assistant self can just do them without having to think. GTDer Michael Buffington called this "writing tasks that you can follow as if you're a robot."

Separate your email from your to-do's
10 must-have Thunderbird Addons (+ 25 more)
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-must-have-thunderbird-addons-25-more/
http://email.about.com/od/outlookaddons/gr/email_follow_up.htm
http://www.summersault.com/community/weblog/2006/07/20/five-power-tips-for-thunderbird.html
http://blog.ianbicking.org/getting-things-done-tools.html
Header tool http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=279907
Planner Pad and GTD
http://rickyspears.com/blog/2007/07/goodbye-planner-pad-organizer-i-hardly-knew-ye/

Inbox Zero: What's the action here?
http://www.43folders.com/2006/03/20/action
inbox:
1.    What does this message mean to me, and why do I care?
2.    What action, if any, does this message require of me?
3.    What's the most elegant way to close out this message and the nested action it contains?
Fifty percent or more of your mail may not make it past the ?rst question: delete. A majority of the remainder may not make it past the second (beyond perhaps a one- or two-line reply). And, God willing, you'll eventually get really fast at dispensing the rest with quick application of the third. The key is to get super-fast at turning valuable messages into actions or placeholders for action.

http://www.43folders.com/2006/03/13/email-cheats

Empty inbox with the Trusted Trio
http://lifehacker.com/software/top/geek-to-live--empty-your-inbox-with-the-trusted-trio-182318.php
·    If it requires a response or action which will take less than one minute to complete, do it on the spot, then move the message to Archive.
·    If it requires an action on your part that will take more than one minute to complete, move it to the Follow Up folder.
·    If it's a piece of information or a promise you're waiting on from someone else, move it to Hold.
·    If it's an informational message you may want to refer to later, move it to Archive.
·    If it's of no use, delete it.

This entry was posted on November 3, 2009 at 12:59 AM and has received 612 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Across time and culture dance has been revered for its power to heal and transform body, mind, and spirit.  Ecstatic Dance follows in this tradition by providing an environment in which music and dance are used as ways to transcend ordinary states of consciousness.  By allowing the body to move in self-directed ways, we travel deep within ourselves remembering and reactivating our inherent wisdom, and a conscious awareness of our interconnectedness to all things.  The dance becomes a source of revelation and renewal, where the movement both invokes and becomes the medicine.
 
Ecstatic Dance offers a haven where you can be fully present with body, mind and spirit, and allow your dance to be solely guided from within.  The musical wave, your intention, and your inner wisdom will be the only things guiding you.  We will start promptly at 8pm with a brief unstructured warm-up, followed by an opening circle at about 8:15 to set our intentions and connect the energy of the group. The remainder of the evening is yours to move in anyway that feels good to you. 
 
Wear loose, comfortable, clothing, be prepared to sweat, and bring plenty of water to drink.
No prior dance experience is required.  All that is needed is a desire to move, and be moved.
 
Amy Lodge has been dancing her whole life, and continues to love the joy and  transformative qualities it brings.  She is very excited to once again co-create a space for sacred self-expression thru dance.

The per session tuition is $20.00, cash only, at the door.

First Friday of each month

Fridays in Bethesda, MD  8:00 PM
Dec 3rd 2010, Jan 7th 2011, Feb 4th, Mar 4th

This entry was posted on October 20, 2009 at 4:55 PM and has received 1277 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Journey Dance is a playful and intuitive method of discovering and celebrating our inner strengths and soulfully expressing them through dance.  Propelled by world beats and using elements of free exploration, visualization, vocalization, guided sequences and improvisational movement, Journey Dance allows us to trust and affirm our heart's deepest knowing, and to reconnect with an innate state of joyous well-being.  At journey's end, we feel  embodied and whole, energized and tuned in.
 
For those of you who may be wondering how Journey Dance differs from 5 Rhythms, Nina Gallant, a certified Journey Dance teacher says, "Like 5 Rhythms, Journey Dance is about tuning in to body awareness and emotional presence at the most basic and profound levels, and then committing to and honoring the personal expression of those states.  The containers for and elements of the dance are a bit different, however - I would say Journey Dance might include more guided visualization and "ritual" during the dance, and has more parts - expansion, funky connection, shamanic, heart, and prayer dance are some of them.  All of the Journey Dance flow supports, sustains and enriches our personal and communal power, and offers confidence, joy, creativity, authenticity, among other wonderful benefits, through the dance."

More information on Journey Dance can be found at www.journeydance.com.
 
Nina Gallant first Journey Danced with its originator, Toni Bergins, many years ago at an Omega Institute drumming circle.  The energy and joy resulting from the dance inspired Nina to further explore the benefits of this discipline, as well as to develop her own program, Bardo Dance.  Dance in its many forms offers Nina an opportunity for personal expression and growth, and she in turn enjoys offering these benefits and joys to the greater community through her dance facilitation.  She has taught at numerous spiritual and recovery retreats, as well as academic and corporate venues.

Journey Dance will continue monthly for 2009 on Saturday, November 7th and Friday, December 4th.
2010 dates will all be on the first Friday of the month:

Toni Bergins, Creator of JourneyDance  - 2010 Spring Workshops
Saturday, March 6th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM Introduction & Sunday, March 7th, Noon - 4:00 PM Intensive
Fridays in Bethesda, MD (except Saturday, November 7th, 2009)  8:00 PM
2009:  Dec 4th.        2010:  Jan 1st, Feb 5th, Apr 2nd, May 7th, Jun 4th, etc.

The per session tuition is $20.00, cash only, at the door. 

Carderock Springs Swim and Tennis Club

6.  Go half way around the tiny circle and continue into the parking lot of the club.

If you can't access the Bethesda venue by car, we can usually arrange a ride from a Metro station.
Call: (202) 627-9003.

This entry was posted on October 20, 2009 at 4:52 PM and has received 1462 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

I was listening to a recent Immortality Expressions CD and Jim talked about how being
immortal has affected his health. How are you treating your health? Do you treat your
body with care so it can support your live on this planet for ever? Or do you treat it as
a disposable object that can be abused because you won't be needing it after a few
years?

Being immortal may seem like a choice that only affects us in the distant future, but
really it is something that affects my choices in the now.

• What shall I eat?
• What to drink?
• Shall I take drugs (including alcohol and tobacco)?
• When to go to bed?
• When to workout?
• How shall I drive?
• Who and how shall I have sex with?
• What thoughts shall I allow in my mind?

Let me know what your thoughts are on this topic and what works for you in staying healthy.

This entry was posted on October 20, 2009 at 4:43 PM and has received 1436 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This tasty and health raw lentil spouted salad is easy to make using a Easyspout container.

• Soak a cup of raw, organic, whole lentils in warm water for 8-12 hours (overnight) in the easyspouter.
• Drain water and prop the draining inner contain inside the water proof out container by rotating it.
• Leave on counter for 16-36 hours - the lentils will spout little roots!
• Optional - store in fridge for several days until needed
• Add chopped chives or green onions, lemon juice and olive oil
• Voula - a delicious and healthy salad!

Notes:

• For healthy eatting make sure your seeds are organic otherwise you will be just concentrating pesticides in your spouts. Seeds for planting in the garden are not good - they are often coated in pesticides to protected them in the soil from bugs.
• If the seeds or nuts are not raw (ie alive) they won't grow (many nutes are roasted or boiled)
• Your local organic market (eg MOM or Coop) has bulk seeds and nuts or you can buy online.

The EasySpouter costs about $12 each and lasts for years - can spout any seeds or nuts. The thing I really like about this model is that unlike other spouting methods it does not require daily rinsing! You just "set and forget" it until the spouts are ready to eat.

This entry was posted on October 19, 2009 at 1:06 PM and has received 1173 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we learn about erotic kissing, nibbling and biting. What turns you on, how to do it and safety tips. There’s nothing quite like a great kiss, but add some spice to your liplock with a little sensual biting and it becomes much more than a kiss; it becomes a tantalizing and irresistible weapon of master seduction. Great lovers know the secrets of sensual biting, and now you can know them too. Adhere to the simple directions and tips below and have your lover aching for you tonight!

Some ideas on where to nibble and bite:

• The nipples of course, are number one when it comes to sensual nibbling. Mixed in with plenty of kissing and licking, sensual biting is incredibly arousing.
• The neck, in front, on the side and the back is probably one of the most sensual places for biting on both men and women’s bodies.
• The inside of one’s thighs is a favorite as a place for sensual biting.
• In the peak of a heated moment, being bitten on the shoulder can be highly erotic, but it is better reserved for gentle kisses until things get really hot. Try this from behind for a super sexy sensation.
• The inside of the elbow and wrist are rarely paid attention to sensually, but they are extremely sensitive and sexy places for a nibble.
• The hip is an extremely erogenous zone, and it's great for kissing, touching, and also sensual biting. Near the hip bone and down toward the crease where your lover’s leg begins are the places where you should concentrate your efforts.
• The back and inside of the knees are another great place for sensual nibbling.

(From article Sensual Biting by Brettani Shannon on Lovingyou.com)

The playshop begins after dinner at 8pm.  I invite you to join us, though as always what ever choice you make you will be honored in.

Kissing tips from the Lifestyle Louge of India here. And more on kissing from Leonore at The Kinsey Institute  here

This entry was posted on October 2, 2009 at 8:27 PM and has received 1283 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.