ordinary spirituality

another classic worth posting for the insight of sylvia boorstein.

l

whenever i find myself in the midst of substantial transition or change - or for that matter, feeling a little lost in the world - i often revisit some of my favorite books and authors. naturally, there is some comfort in nostalgia and connecting to the familiar, but moreso, i think it can be grounding to reflect on where you were the last time you picked up a particular tome. especially in contrast to where you are now .. and where you'd like to be.

one of these authors is sylvia boorstein. (if you've not heard of her, she's akin to a wise jewish grandmother who's checked herself into an ashram). the next few lines from one of her books i think will speak to most:

there are some peculiar notions about what constitutes "being spiritual." there is an enormous possibility of getting side-tracked into self conscious holiness, of putting energy into acting the part of a "spiritual person." spiritual living does not need to be a big deal. being a meditator and developing equanimity do not mean becoming weird. sometimes people decide to make a lifestyle change in the service of waking up. some people join communities or religious orders. some people change their diet. some people become celibate. all of those choices are, for some people, very helpful tools for waking up, but they aren't inherently spiritual. at the heart of spirituality is mindfulness. the aware, balanced acceptance of present experience. it's easier than you think.

- sylvia boorstein

if you enjoyed this, you might want to check out Daily Om.

daily dating affirmations

here's another one from the archive. why? because some things bear a little repeating.

l

for the first time in my life, i've caught myself obsessing over a man. something i thought i couldn't possibly be guilty of (because i'm above that and i know better, right?) then i realized, oh my god, i am that woman. on the verge of becoming nearly as bad as all of the single girlfriends i've been chastising over this kind of behaviour for years. i guess it happens to the best of us. that said, it's time to reset the bar of dating dignity.

guys, this should be true for you too. if you're having to guess whether or not she's into you. ask. and if you're still not sure, the odds are, she's not, and you're just wasting time that could be spent on someone who is. like yourself.

1. I will not date a man who isn't sure he wants to date me.
2. I will not date a man who makes me feel undesirable.
3. I will not date a man who cannot do what he says he is going to.
4. I will not date a man I feel I need to "figure out."
5. I will not date a man I have to make excuses for.
6. I will not date a man who is "too busy" for me.
7. I will not date a man I have already rejected.
8. I will not date a man who doesn't know who he is and what he wants.
9. I will not, under any circumstance, spend my precious time on a man who has already rejected me.

... no matter how fabulous he is or how long it's been since i had great sex! now if anything on that list struck a chord and if you haven't read "he's just not that into you," this would be a good time to check out a used copy on Amazon.. ;)