We just got back from another trip to Catalina Island on our 1973 Cat 27’ sailboat. We’ve been once before last October, and both times I’ve gone, I’ve thought only of all the fun we would have on the island.  The first trip, I was worried that the sail would be really long, boring, and possibly tough.  However, the sail turned out to be the most enjoyable part of the trip – possibly because we didn’t realized that it was Buccaneer Days, with everyone there outfitted in pirate gear and shooting off cannons all night.

Yet again this time, I somewhat dreaded the sail over and though we talked about how fast we could get there on a speedboat or even a larger sailboat, I truly enjoyed the whole 6.5 hour journey.  Going 6 knots (or 6 miles per hour) in a boat, surrounded by water is very eye opening, yet also soothing.  You start to realize how small you are, and how powerful nature is.  Yet also, you get to see how amazing nature is, seeing dolphin pods playing in the waters, seals hanging out both in the water and anything they can jump up on, and just the great blue sky.

We spent the time talking, napping, eating, and of course taking photos.  It didn’t seem long at all.  It was just a relaxing, enjoyable day.

We all fall into the trap of just focusing on the goal or the outcome.  But life is a journey.  It doesn’t matter how fast we get there or if we even get anywhere at all.  Who we are is defined by both our DNA and all our experiences.  So instead of stressing out all the time about what we think we want and what we think we need, if we learn to just enjoy the journey, we have the chance to become amazing people – thankful for every experience, for every person in our lives, for everything we have, every gift or talent we have.

I’m very thankful that it only takes a 6 hour boat ride to Catalina to remind me of this!

I love shopping at flea markets. Luckily for me, there are flea markets almost every weekend around Los Angeles.  What I love most is the element of surprise.  You can’t plan for what you want to shop for at the flea market, so it provides me a place and time to be open and see what catches my attention and resonates with me in that moment.

While I always have a running list of things I’m looking for – a cool bowl to put on the tray on my ottoman in the living room, ceramic tiles for a project in my garden, fun vintage earrings in red or purple – I never know what I’m going to stumble across and fall in love with.  Many times I fall in love with things that while worth it, are exorbitantly expensive (like the wooden napkin holder in the shape of a woman in a hoop skirt at the Santa Monica Airport flea market a few months ago) and just not practical for my life now.  But even then I’m so excited to have seen such a cool thing.

Flea markets are also a green way to shop.  Everything there is already in this world, so why not put it to use instead of buying cheap new things from China. I love the history too.  Who knew that children’s play kitchens used to be metal and probably quite dangerous to play around, but after seeing some on a tour of Castle Green in Pasadena, I started seeing them (and buying them) at the flea market.

Anyway, why in the world am I droning on about flea markets?  Well, on Saturday after my fun morning at the flea market, a few other plans I had for the day did not go the way I expected.  Through my yoga practice, I’ve learned when things don’t go as planned to just take a deep breath, stay fluid and go with whatever comes my way – most of the time.  Not so much on Saturday.  I became a mess: grumpy, mopey and even snappy to my husband a few times.

Sunday, after a lovely bike ride to church and excellent sermon, I was able to put things in perspective.  What I realized is that I need to approach all areas of my life the way I approach the flea market:  having in mind some of the things I hope to come across or accomplish on my journey, but then being open and excited at what I might find that had never even crossed my mind.

We all have goals and dreams, and our modern society teaches us to push and work our butts off for the things we want.  But does that really make us happy?  Yes, many things in life are better planned, but if we get too rigid I think we miss out on smelling the roses and the excitement of what will happen next!

This time of year in So Cal is just heaven, especially as the jasmine starts to bloom.  You can hardly walk anywhere without your nose picking up its heavenly scent.  When walking my dog, I purposefully walk certain paths that have long rows of jasmine vine/bushes and just inhale as deeply as possible.

The scent of jasmine is deeply relaxing and sensual, and the flower symbolizes modesty, grace and elegance.  In China, jasmine is a symbol of feminine sweetness and beauty, as well as deep affection and happiness, which is why it is used as the flower tossed at weddings. Aromatherapists use jasmine essential oil to calm and lift the spirit, and clear congestion.

This year I’m enjoying jasmine in multiple ways.  I just bought the most amazing jasmine body oil from Idyll Horse Farms at the Main St. Farmer’s Market. I bought their water based room spray last year and really enjoyed it, but I’m loving the body oil even more.  After my Spa Week visit to Exhale Spa in Santa Monica, where they finished off my facial with pomegranate oil, I thought the jasmine oil might be quite exquisite as a part of my nightly ritual.

One morning after using the oil, my husband came up behind me at my computer to give me a hug and just kept lingering, sniffing all around my neck.  Having forgotten I used the oil, I asked “what are you doing?” His response was “you smell so good; I can’t stop smelling.”  Since I’ve only ever heard my girlfriends comment on the heavenly smell of jasmine, I assumed that it was more appealing to girls, but apparently not!

Sadly, Idyll Horse Farms doesn’t have a website, but you can order the body oil by calling 805-705-0919.  The naturalist in me would say make your own until I read that it takes 4 million flowers to produce about one pound of oil.  If you can’t find a good source for the oil, you could just get some jasmine essential oil at your local health food store and add it to some sesame or jojoba oil.

The other way I’ve been enjoying jasmine is in my tea.  I found some Tulsi Tea (holy basil tea) that is jasmine flavored and I’m addicted.  Only this addiction is really good for me!  Holy Basil originates in India and contains hundreds of compounds known as phyto-chemicals that work together to create strong anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and immune-enhancing properties. So basically, it’s building up my body’s natural defense system against germs, stress and disease. It doesn’t taste as heavenly as the flower smells, but it’s a very soft and relaxing tea.

Lastly, when researching jasmine, I learned that the French make a jasmine syrup.  I’ve never seen or heard of this before, but now that it’s on my radar I’m all over it. I’m thinking a jasmine cocktail of some sort sounds pretty good right now!

Trust, acceptance, hope and love are all feelings that are intangible and unquantifiable.  Think about it, these feelings do not originate from your mind.  The brain operates on an entirely different level, programed to review input and sensations and form responses and actions based on proof or prior knowledge.  These softer feelings and ways of being originate in a different energetic place – your heart.

The book The Heart’s Code by Paul Pearsall is a fascinating look at the heart versus mind.  He theorizes that the heart has its own energy, intelligence and memory separate from those in the mind. Various research studies on electromagnetic current, hormones and neurotransmitters in both the brain and heart have determined that there is a neurochemical and electrochemical communication link between the two.  And the link goes both ways, meaning the heart exerts at least as much control over the brain as the brain has over the heart.  Thus when you trust without knowing, accept without understanding, hope without proof and love without reason, it is your heart controlling your mind.

Connecting to the subtle intelligence that is in your heart isn’t always easy though.   If you are taking my challenge from the previous post and slowing down to listen to your heart at least once a day, you will start to notice the subtle transformation that takes place inside.  Other direct routes to “cardio sensitivity” determined from Pearsall’s research on heart transplant recipients include:

-   Enjoying beautiful music

-   Developing greater body awareness (through yoga or any other mind/body practice)

-   Dreaming and visualizing

-   Connecting with animals

-   Getting more involved with your family, friends and/or community

-   Being compulsive

-   Doing anything that is creative

When beginning to practice/deepen the connection to your heart, the brain may get uncomfortable having to step outside the structure and boundaries it has established.  You may hear that little voice (the brain) saying “you are not creative (etc.), so why even try and be disappointed in yourself.”  Being good at any of the above elements is not important.  What is important is the shift that happens inside when you let go of the judgmental and analytical brain and just enjoy, create and connect.