random travels to wellness

an ongoing project aimed at cultivating wellness, and documenting it's practice in one's life. sabrina is a practicing person living in ny.

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harvesting summer freshness

one small batch of tomatoes from my momma's garden brought days of tomato sandwiches, tomato pesto, garlic tomato pizza, tomato sauce, and caprese for miles. this has to be one of the best parts of summer, oh so grateful for it.

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Mid-week To-be-thankfuls:

Sunny mornings

My mother and her unwavering support and encouragement at all times (but especially lately)

The very fuzzy dark grey jumbo sized blanket covering my bed

Public transportation (because sometimes cars have plans of their own)

Understanding co-workers (who whisper sage advice about said car)

Old bosses (for putting me back on the schedule for a little while)

The lack of stink-bugs in my apartment (because escorting them back outside all winter was getting tedious)

A better relationship with my neighbors

The promise of a new chapter

My mother (because she deserves two handfuls of thankfulness from me this week)

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You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.

Johnny Cash

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Forgiveness

I helped a friend with a forgiveness ceremony last night, as she let go of some things she had held onto- which had also held onto her. I was proud of her for taking the time and care to do it the right way, in the right time.

Forgiveness is a very difficult practice, and I say practice, because I don't think it's one grand decision: "I forgive you!... Phew, well I guess that's done with." It's an active choice, expression, and reaction, a current always in motion underneath the surface.

Although, I do think we can get to a point where we truly feel fulfilled and complete with our forgiveness practice with a memory, person, place, decision, etc.

Right now I'm working through forgiving someone, and it's definitely been a journey. Being spiteful and bitter is a much easier path to take, but that type of lesson would only serve this person, and not me.

I think it's also good for me to remember that when I have trouble forgiving someone, it's often because I need to forgive myself for something first.

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"What does it all mean? I don't know. I am certain that this single-minded emphasis on planets-in-habitable-zones is making people forget that there is still a lot of weird stuff happening out there and that we still don't even understand the basics of how we ourselves got here."

Our Very Normal Solar System Isn't Normal Anymore, Robert Krulwich, NPR

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Happy National Teacher Day

Countless thank you's to the teachers, mentors, and friends who have helped shaped the person I've become. I am so grateful for the people who insisted on my best, and helped me at my worst. The world would be a different place if it weren't for the kind, brave, and selfless souls out there that we call teachers.

Thank you.

image credit: here

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Green Tuesday

By happy coincidence my Tuesday dinner was green themed! Gee golly, it was as if I gathered these grown greens from a garden- right from the good ground!

: )

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Springs First Harvest

Ladies and gentlemen... may I present... three seeds worth of lettuce!!

After a beautiful day spent on Kelly Drive and at the Art Museum, I knew it would be the perfect time to eat my first round of homegrown lettuce. These three plants/seeds have been in my bedroom windowsill for a little over a month, first seed to soil early March.

I'm a bit biased, but I have to say- they were so so tasty (!!!) with tomatoes from my monster tomato plant, some olive oil, and some very fresh Parmesan cheese.

Ah yes... this is spring! : )

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Kelly Drive

"Kelly Drive, or more formally, John B. Kelly Drive, is a road that winds for 4 miles along the Schuylkill River from Eakins Oval before the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the neighborhood of East Falls, Philadelphia, just south of Wissahickon Creek..."

It is also my route to work, a small walk from my home, and one of my favorite drives in the United States. It bustles with walkers and runners, cyclists, picnickers, and rowers- no matter what the weather. It's trees change so beautifully with the seasons, and the activity is a constant reminder to get outside. Man oh man, I love this place.

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Case of the Mondays

Some days are just tougher than others, this is pretty well known. The bad days have definitely been easier to manage lately, and I'd say that's a vibe I'm diggin' from 2013. But, every once in a while, all those tactics on managing bad days kinda just come to a head- and you just gotta give in to the frustration. From some meditation exercises, I've practiced recognizing feelings and experiencing them without judgement and allowing them to be. This has been a very difficult practice, and I have been careful in how I've been integrating it into my day-to-day life. Learning to step outside your reactions can be an extremely positive or potentially negative practice.

I was happy to step outside a very reactionary Monday and just make some delicious food, and be there totally. It was fresh, colorful, nurturing, and comforting.

Very grateful to be able to make food for myself, and under a sturdy roof too!

After this yummy meal, the real world was still there, and I was happy to come back to it with a much better attitude.

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A weekend with my nephews

I spent this past weekend hanging out with my nephews, Wrecks and Walter. These boys sure can scare the hooligan out of any pedestrian late at night, but they are brimming with love and gentleness. It always surprises me when I experience the unparalleled level of care and sweetness found in a dogs headrest, spoon, wink or nod. The world would certainly be a different place without these wagging Buddhist masters to make us slow down a bit.

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You are not Atlas carrying the world on your shoulder. It is good to remember that the planet is carrying you.

Vandana Shiva

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Earth Day: Retreat

A short retreat and renewal was in store this earth day. A whole lot of tea, smiles, yoga, meditation, qigong, delicious meals, hikes, and incredible views. It was the perfect way to clean the palette : )

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Montauk with an Old Friend

I kidnapped an old friend of mine, who now lives in Long Island, and we drove out to the Montauk Lighthouse- the oldest in New York. Mostly, I just wanted a great view of the ocean... and that's what we got. We had a nice long walk on the beach, the perfect spot to watch the sunset, and a sea breeze filled car ride home. We were two very happy clams : )

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Goodbye, Howie. Beloved. Hello.

Saying goodbye to my friend Howard Zinn, by Alice Walker

A truly remarkable piece written by an incredible woman about an incredible man. Howard Zinn became a hero of mine after being introduced to A People's History of the United States by a friend back in high school.

This is a beautiful reflection on a wonderful human being, but it is also one of my favorite writings on grieving and the subject of where we go when we pass. I come back to this when I struggle and stumble with the concept, and it always sets my mind at ease.

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DC: The Cherry Blossom Festival

I spent this past weekend with family at the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC. Though we booked our hotel well in advance, and the Festival was scheduled for this weekend, I was nervous that we were going to just miss the peak bloom. I was so pleasantly surprised to see many trees in bloom as we strolled the Basin, numerous memorials, the National Mall and more. It was such an incredibly beautiful weekend, with amazing weather, and even better company. Oh the joys of spring!!!

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DC: People, places and words to remember

From top to bottom: 

1) MLK Memorial:

"Darkness can not drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

2) Capitol Building

3) FDR Memorial:

"Men and nature must work hand in hand. The throwing out of balance of the resources of nature throws out of balance also the lives of men."

4) National Gallery Sculpture Garden

5) White House

6) Jefferson Memorial

7) Vietnam Memorial

8) Jefferson Memorial:

"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."