Enjoying Spring, Subway picnic and Flushing Meadows Park...

Dear Reader,

Spring has officially and fully Sprung here in NYC. The weather has been, shall we say, "interesting." Eighty degrees last Wednesday, then down to the low 40's on Saturday evening. But then Sunday, lo and behold "the sun was shining and the weather was fine!"

Not to miss out on this fine weather 100 of us gathered for a subway picnic and then disembarked at Flushing Meadows Park. Yes, you read correctly, we started out on the Subway! We passed chips and salsa, cookies and cakes. We blew bubbles. Even tossed a frisbee... all on the subway. We thoroughly enjoyed the ride out to Flushing Meadows Park, then disembarked It was a fantastic afternoon of picnicking, enjoying new friends and old, as well as playing games such as doing the limbo and duck, duck, goose!

So, I encourage YOU to gather your friends and make a picnic. If the weather isn't conducive, your picnic doesn't even have to be outside; you can picnic in your living room, at the mall, on a bus, or like us, on the subway!

Go out and ENJOY!

Hugs n Bubbles

Kristin

Positivity Soundtrack

Dear Reader,

Music has the power to change or amplify one's mood. Here's a short Positivity soundtrack. Enjoy!

Feeling Good... Michael Buble http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edwsf-8F3sI

Happiness... Goldfrapp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So93Iny2HWI

Sunshine Day... the Brady Bunch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaCCG7QkM_c

Joy to the World... 3 Dog Night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2wutEzjy_E

Happy Feet... Baz Lurmann Collection http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsY8ep6guOU

Batonga.. Angelique Kidjo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W96Axs6WkFg

Passion... Blackalicious http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eW8yaEInHk

When Love Takes Over... David Guetta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTDafjfxu5c

World, Hold on... Bob Sinclair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDBbEG-0pfQ&feature=PlayList&p=DC715A6A74ED68CC&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=9

Whole Lotta Things... Southern Culture on the Skids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEt7W_iPUtc

What songs make you smile? Send a link! :-)

Hugs

Kristin

Let the Sunshine....

Dear Reader,

The sun is shining and the weather is fine... Let the Sunshine... Good Day, Sunshine, It's a sunshine day...

So many song lyrics remind us to focus on the sun. To remember that the sun is always there even if momentarily obscured by clouds. Sometimes we need to wait a while for the sun to reappear, but never fear, my friend because it is there. I hear you saying, "But Kristin, sometimes it seems like the sun will never come out again, like the rainy days will just continue, the cloud cover is all consuming." Try to think of it this way, the rainy days, the cloudy days are there to remind us to have GRATITUDE for the sunny days; to fully appreciate the sun when it comes. To never take that sun for granted. At the same time to have faith that the sun will always return.

Life cannot be all happiness and joy; that is not balance. Just as there are clouds and sun our lives have sadness and happiness, good times and bad. The challenge is to BE in whatever moment occurs while having faith that nothing lasts forever. Once we give over to impermanence; to living in the moment, we can appreciate the clouds, the rain and the sun. They all nourish our souls.

FREE activity for the day:

On the next sunny day take a break and go outside into the sun. Feel its rays. Bask in the glow. Perhaps eat your lunch outside, talk a short walk. If you have the opportunity, go to a playground or a park. The photo above is my nephew and I riding the slide together. Maybe you don't want to ride the slide, but you can enjoy the laughter and the "in-the-momentness" of children as they play. You can people watch. Or animal watch. So simple, but being out in the sun can make such a huge difference in your attitude. Allow yourself a moment to enjoy! Look around you, notice the sounds, smells, sights. If there are clouds in the sky what shapes can you see? Take 2 minutes and really look at the sky; use your imagination. Have fun!

What do you like to do in the sun? Write me and tell me!

Next week: sidewalk chalk, hula-hoops and bubbles and my first experience on "swing-a-ring"; reconnecting to that 5 year old within. :-)

After the Rain...

Dear Reader,

As the song goes... "and rain will make the flowers grow." We've allowed the rain to refresh us. Perhaps, like me, you even jumped in a puddle or two! Maybe, like me, you even danced in the rain. See exhibit A to your left, that was taken last summer during a torrential downpour. When everyone else ran for cover, I ran the OTHER way out into the rain and danced and danced. What an amazing moment; it felt fabulous!

So, what do we do after the rain? That limbo time when clouds still hang in the sky, the rainbow has yet to appear, what do we do until the sun comes?

These uncertain days can actually be the most enlightening ones and the ones that allow us to grow by being present in the moment. Actually FEELING what is happening. Not running to the next ray of sunshine, but allowing ourselves to BE in the clouds. These are the days we can re-group, re-coup and re-charge. WE can just sit and BE.

Imagine that, just sit and BE. Breathe. Notice the inhale and the exhale. Try it for 2 minutes. Focus on the sounds around you; whether that is the chirping of birds in trees or a dog barking in the distance, maybe it's the sound of sirens wailing on the street, or the clicking of computer keys. Wherever you are, take a moment and breathe. Be in the present moment. Don't worry about the past, or fret about the future. As someone once said, "worrying is as useful as trying to solve an algebra problem by chewing gum!"

What is the FREE idea for today? BREATHING! How amazing that we were given the gift of breathing. Really, it sure beats the alternative. So stop for a moment and BREATHE. Even if you are running in 800 directions; a typical day for me, not sure about you, :-) you can still take a few minutes, stop and BREATHE. Maybe you are lucky enough to find some flowers and you can breathe in the fragrance. Reason #453 I love NYC is the plethora of flowers available all year at the local corner shops. Sometimes I walk by late at night and just breathe in the scent and marvel at the brightness of the colors. Doesn't cost me a dime!

Remember to Breathe... seems simple enough, but most of us do it incorrectly. Breathe in and fill your entire body with air, count to ten slowly and then exhale, counting to ten once again. Ah, feels better, doesn't it? And now I am going to listen to Just Be mixed by Tiesto and I am gonna Breathe! Maybe you want to listen to it too?

Hugs,

Kristin

Positivity in Tough Times

Dear Reader,
Sometimes it seems as though the rain is falling too hard to smile or laugh. It is at those times we need to recall jumping in puddles, or feeling the rain as it gently washes over us, cleansing as it slides over forehead, down the tip of our nose to the ground. At those times it is helpful to focus on the Rainbow and not the rain. It's not always easy, trust me, I am aware!

I am a freelance Professional Storyteller and I know first hand that times are indeed tough, at least economically. But that doesn't mean we need to lose sight of the many blessings that remain all around us. Simply breathing is a blessing! Being able to speak, Blessing! Friends, Blessing! It is all in how we frame and focus. If we search out the positive, even the smallest things we will find it!

In this blog I will share simple and FREE things you can do to feel positive in tough times:

Hug someone!

In NYC where I live, I participate in FREE HUGS at least once a month. It might sound crazy, but it is a WONDERFUL experience. Usually about ten of us gather in Union Square, we make simple signs that say: FREE HUGS and then we literally hug passersby. Sometimes people are not able or willing to hug, but they smile just the same. And that is fantastic because a smile changes mood. A hug is an equal exchange and it expands our hearts. You never know how much a hug might mean to someone; it can turn their day around as well as your own. Studies have shown that we need four hugs a day to maintain sanity; how many of us receive four hugs a day? No wonder we are all so crazy! But we can change that! And if you can't HUG perhaps you can SMILE or give FREE HIGH FIVES! :-)

I experienced the BEST Valentine's Day of MY LIFE this year doing FREE HUGS. Single? No problem! And now Singles Awareness Day for me (spells SAD) and I wanted to feel HAPPY! So, I gathered a bunch of friends, in the end after several people we hugged joined us, we numbered 20! Together we hugged over 500 people in 2 hours! We were even interviewed by CBS and got about 2 minutes of airtime on the evening news; proving people want positivity!

You may be thinking, but Kristin, I don't live in NYC, I can't do FREE HUGS! Oh yes, you can! I've done FREE HUGS in Paris, Cartegena, Colombia and New Orleans. I'll be traveling to Peru in May and plan to take my sign and do it there too. Any place where there are people you can try FREE HUGS. I look forward to hearing about your experience!

So today's tip: Hug Someone. It will make both of you feel better. I promise.

HUG,

Kristin