Do You Feel Flattered Or Annoyed When Someone Copies You?

He was flattered.

Happy post Valentine’s day.  Are you still feeling the love?   Yesterday, I had the opportunity to volunteer at my son’s Valentine’s party at school.  I was in charge of one of the craft stations.  The kids were making a bracelet out of heart shaped beads.  Of course all the girls loved it… pink, red, white, lavender, and sparkly beads of all colors.   My son came to my station with a few of his friends.   One of the boys just made a face and wasn’t very interested in making a bracelet until he saw my son making an all black bead bracelet.   At that point, the other boys thought it was cool and started copying him.  One of the boys said, “I’m making a black one too” and encouraged the other boy to copy as well.  My son said with a smile, “hey, they’re copying me.”   It was obvious that he felt flattered.  

She was annoyed.

My daughter, on the other hand, have in the past complained about other classmates copying her artwork, poetry, or would flat out steal her ideas and take credit for it.  She was clearly annoyed. 

I’d like to boost that I have been blessed with an extra “C” (for creative) chromosome.   While growing up, I loved to do arts and crafts and I made my own toys and played games that weren’t brought at a store.   I loved to sew, cook, draw and paint.   I love details.  I still do.  I love to think outside the box and do things that other people wouldn’t do.   I often have “cheesy” ideas, some of which people laugh at, some that have come to fruition while others still dangle in my dreams.

I’m usually flattered and don’t care if people copy me…

There’s been times when others would bring to my attention that so-and-so has copied me.   I just respond with laughter and a sense of flattery.   It’s fun and interesting to watch how the world responds to my ideas.   This came up today.  I learned that so-and-so has copied me again.  

But today, I was flattered then annoyed then embarrassed.

I felt kinda weird… kinda flattered and a little embarrassed for the copier because others have noticed this about them.  I’ve met many friends who have approached me asking about the ideas that I’ve materialized and we’ve collaborated and made that idea even better.   I’ve also been on the other end as a copy-cat.  I’ve approached others to inquire about their creative ideas and how I might copy it or use it to fit my needs.   Needless to say, many friendships and greater ideas were born and everyone benefited.   But today, I felt a little icky… almost like it was a sneaky behind the scenes kinda act.   Maybe that’s just my ego feeling a little bruised that the copier didn’t feel like collaborating or acknowledging my kick-ass idea.

Now I know how my daughter felt.  I had a talk with them today about this subject and asked how they felt about it.  My son said he felt cool that someone wanted to copy him. My daughter said she doesn’t mind sharing her ideas but it bugged her that they took her idea and made it their own without crediting her. 

All great ideas were born from someone copying something from someone else.

What I love about my teacher, Debbie, is that she has some crazy, fun, and out of the blue ideas that no one has ever thought of and she freely says, “go ahead and steal it, copy it, and make it even better because I’m gonna steal it back.”  I just love this because all great ideas just make the world a greater place to be.  

So why did I feel a moment of ick?  I think because when I steal ideas from others, I acknowledge that person.  I credit them.  I thank them for their contribution.  I don’t remember a time when I didn’t (and I’m thinking hard)… hey!  even facebook credits the original poster when you share something of theirs.  

I still feel flattered.

I’m glad so-and-so thought my idea was so good that it was worth copying, even if it was sneaky because in the grand scheme of things, it would make the world around us better. 

I’m thankful for copiers.

They keep my creative juices flowing.   They challenge me to come up with bigger and better ways to do something.   They help me stay innovative so that I can inspire others.  They validate that my ideas are working. Mostly they remind me to be exactly the way I am… to not think like others, to not want to be like any other, to be the one with cheesy ideas and to be the one who questions the norm.

A note to all you copy cats…

Go ahead and steal my ideas, copy them because I hope you can come up with a better idea.  If you do, please share it with me.  Better yet, spend more energy in firing up your creative juices so that I can copy you  

Let’s do this!!!… TOGETHER!!  

(ha!  what a concept… people collaborating without feeling insecure or sneaky… the world would be a better place)

 

Things, Things, Things That I Love

It’s that time of year when people start doing cleanses, detoxes, and spring cleaning.  I have certainly been feeling yuck from winter’s layer but more of feeling stuck in stuff lately.  I had dinner with a friend last night and we were talking about this exact thing… how things and clutter actually block the flow of energy causing symptoms of “clutter stress.”

Our conversation made me remember an article I came across last week about a woman who had so much but still wasn’t happy.  You’ve heard these stories… but this one was different.  This woman was inspired by a website about a 100 Things Challenge and how you can live simply by owning only 100 personal items.

“No way!” are the first words to come to mind.  100 things only?  really?  I am curious… 100 seems undoable but I gotta start somewhere eh?  So while I begin going thru my mounds of things, move over Oprah!… your favorite things list has just been trampled by Nikki’s list of favorite things that won’t raise your clutter stress index:

An Indoor Herb rack at the LYFE Kitchen in Palo Alto where I had dinner with my friend.  Bye-bye shoe rack…

Herb wall rack

Gerbera daisies… they scream spring time and sunshine… make room on the counter for these beauties!

Beautiful!

 

Food porn!  I love to eat! And more than loving to eat is eating with great company!  Friends old and new is the secret ingredient in all meals.

This salad is called "scrumptiously divine" sashimi salad

 

I love a good challenge… Ok so I’m trading away some other things to make room for this beauty.  I always thought of myself as musically challenged… we’ll see.

Kanilea ukulele

 

What I love more than things are experiences.  My favorite experience from last week… getting all of us to hold and sync this pose with a 10 second timer and hearing, “mommy, the sky is upside down.”

downdog splits

 

And who doesn’t like a good quote to make you sound all smart:

Loved The Lorax Movie!

 

P.S.  These will blend right in next to the thyme and rosemary rack

A girl can never have too many heels, right?

 

What’s on your favorite things list that won’t ever count towards your 100 items?

10 Reasons Why Yoga is Annoying (and I still do it and you should too)

Ugh.. don't you hate her? Bendy and smiling!

I’ve been practicing (seriously) for the past 6 years, but it doesn’t take that long for a yogi to discover the nuances of the practice.  Here’s 10 reasons why yoga is so annoying:

1.  Someone will be wearing your same outfit and they might even look better than you in it.   Thanks lululemon.

2.  Yoga can wreck your body… errr did you miss this uproar?  Go google it or read this.  Enough said.

3.  Drama and scandal… gasp!  Yes it happens.  Go google it.  No comment.

4.  Huggers … you’ve seen them.  Yogis who barely know eachother will hug like there’s no tomorrow.  Sweaty bodies pressed together, eyes closed, touchy feely, and grinning from ear to ear.  Eeeewwwww (but I secretly want to be loved like that).

5.  Type-A Overachievers… there’s always at least one in every class.  There’s no matador in sight but they’ll buck like a bull in cat/cow.  Then there’s the super bendy chick who I swear is descendants of gumby.  And my favorite is the ’I'm more spiritual than you so I bow more humbly to the almighty universal power’ longer than you.  Namaste.

6.  The word authentic… Every yogi who claims to be authentic is fluffy white clouds and pretty butterflies.  Hmm… let me authentically bop the next person who tells me to be more authentic in the nose… now who sees pretty butterflies and tweety birds?

7.  Body odor… I’m not just talking about your typical sweat smells.  Let’s just say if I lit a match the yoga room would explode…. and what’s left of it would be onions that have been left in the warm sun all day… blah!

8.  Teacher’s pet… Even though they won’t admit it, every teacher will have their favorite downdog so if you want to be that dog, you’d better tilt your tail, spread your fingers, and stamp your heels down or refer to #5.

9.  Sickies… Those people who come to class to sweat out their germs.  Yes! yogis love to share but stay the heck at home if you’re contagious. 

10.  You’ll fall in love with your yoda yoga teacher…  They are so smart.  So compassionate.  So philosophical.  So sexy… until you find out that they actually don’t possess super yogi powers and are basically another human being who also poops, farts, drinks, cusses and puts on their pants one leg at a time… Refer to #3.  Ah-hem!!! 

So annoying!  But hey, you should still do it.. try it.. see for yourself.  Still not convinced?  Go google it.  You’ll believe google over my list of why you should do yoga… but thank me when you experience the biggest orgasm you’ve ever had in your life… or at least start a home practice.  

Yoga Bitch

Book by Suzanne Morrison

It’s T minus 2 days before I am leaving on a jet plane to a remote island to immerse myself in myself and the love of my life… yoga. I know, I know, what a yoga bitch!  No seriously, Yoga Bitch has been downloaded onto my kindle to keep me occupied during my trip.  Read the book review by my friend Nancy and the memoir of the flowtard herself, Suzanne Morrison.

I actually don’t want to talk about the book (maybe after I read it).  I want to talk about the word ‘bitch.’  When I told a female friend I was going on this ‘me’ trip, she said ‘you’re such a yoga bitch.’  I giggled because she was my girl friend and she said it with love.  It got me pondering about the B word. How did such a word become so mainstream that it’s no longer bleeped out on TV and even the whole word can be  published as a book title and I’m certain I’ve heard this word used on the playground as commonly as peanut butter and jelly. 

I don’t think I’ve ever been called a B in a malicious, derogatory way… even if I did, I don’t think I would be so offended because I know that sticks and stones will break my bones and names can never hurt me.  

For amusement purposes… the possible definitions of the word ‘bitch’

spoiled, lucky, or  always get what you want — as in “you’re such a (yoga) bitch” 

how female friends greet each other — as in “what’s up my bitches?”

how male friends greet each other — as in “what’s up bitch! or bitch face!

a chore or hassle — as in “cleaning the house is such a bitch.”

cowardly, whiny, annoying, complaining — as in “stop being a bitch” or “stop bitching about your job.”

how males refer to their best dude’s girl — as in “Is she your bitch?”

a place — as in ‘get the party started up in this bitch.”

a u-turn — as in ” you missed the turn, now flip a bitch.”

a servant — as in “Go get me a beer” and the response is “I’m not your bitch.”

What’s the purpose of this post?  I dunno.  Just a random thought… perhaps we should think about the types of words we choose to use and how it might get perceived on the other end.   Does what we say match our intentions or how we want to connect with other people?  Does our words harm?  Does it heal?  What’s the purpose of what we say?  Do we have to say anything at all?

image: cartoonstock.com

Pre Ground Hog Day

 

Taz

I’ve been spinning around like a maniac, attacking my days with fury, holding nothing back, and having sleepless nights…

Well seems like I never learn my lesson until WAM!  Down. Out.  Sick. 

I’ve opted to be a ground hog the last two days burrowed under the covers debating whether I should come out of my bed.  

I managed to roll out of bed today and thank goodness I didn’t see my shadow cause I looked like death.. so today, I’m sharing with you my secret weapon… drinking my way back to vibrance because life awaits me… 

This green concoction will tickle the eebie jeebies out of any cold virus you have…. ohhhh it’s spicy and warm.

Ingredients:  kale, celery, lime, granny smith apple, bartlett pear, water cress, and the secret ingrediet is a jalepeno.

Green Limeade

 

These orange and reds will not only give you the extra boost of vitamin C but dang it.. I need some color back in my cheeks.

Ingredients:  red and yellow peppers, carrots, oranges, ginger 

Plenty of Vitamin C

 

Need to catch up on sunday sutras and more handstand posts  I’ll be back very soon!!!  Cheers!  

P.S.  I’m hoping Mr. Ground Hog won’t see it’s shadow tomorrow cause I’ve had it with winter… 

Today's liquid diet

All About You

What four words would you use to describe yourself?   Here’s a test… close your eyes.  scroll down to the picture below.  Quickly, look.  The first four words you see describe you.

image from 3Cheers

 

I am:  passionate, thoughtful, restless, and stubborn … in that order

What about you?

A Day Without Consequence

A few days ago a question from my wordpress pops up and I’ve held it in my mind since… “If you could say anything to anyone without consequence, what would you say, and to whom?”

I consider myself a bull dog when it comes to speaking my mind and more so expressing what’s in my heart… especially when it comes to people I know or if I’m paying for a service… (yea you know the bad service type situation at a business).  Sometimes it comes out as harsh. loud. strong. passionate. I bite.  No, I open wide, clamp and then bite.  Sometimes I grind after the bite.  Maybe that’s why I don’t have many friends. Eh… 

image credit: http://weheartit.com/entry/9566299

So in order to be the “yogic” person that I’m suppose to be, I often feel like I have to be the golden retriever… you know small talk, smooze, ‘how are you?’ and then decide either to charge like a bull dog or retreat like a golden.   More often than not, holding my tongue ends up with feelings of frustration, anger, and omg regret.  Who wants to live from a place of regret?  I don’t.  

I often have to remind myself to speak from within.  It may sound harsh.  It may hurt another person.  It may scare them.  It may bring them more joy.  Who knows?  Know that when you speak from within, you free yourself from guilt, frustration, fear, anger, and the worse of them all is regret.  How the other person reacts is simply that… their reaction.  As we let go of our expectation of how the other person is going to or should react like, we can be at peace with our expression.

So if today was a day of no consequence, I would:

1.  tell the stinky student to burn her clothes because they smell every time she sweats.

2.  tell the tall, dark, and handsome cashier at Trader Joes that he’s HOT and take his time to bag my groceries.

3.  tell the parents at school to slow the eff! down when driving in a school zone.

4.  grab the whole foods manger by the neck and tell him/her to stop bringing in “healthy” foods in disguise. 

5.  tell the people I’ve hurt that I am so so so very sorry regardless of whether they accept my apology or not. 

And mostly:

6.  tell the people I love/adore/admire/care about that I love them so so so much regardless of whether they love me back or not.

Then I will run and hide my face in a paper bag

Seriously.. speak your mind even if your voice shakes and especially if it makes your heart tremble.

 

Sometimes I’m Crazy

Oh! It’s true.  Sometimes I drive myself crazy (and most definitely others too).  Note the key word:  sometimes. 

The moment I think I’ve gotten things all figured out… all under control. Snap!

It feels like a roller coaster. The ride goes up.  Click, clack, click, clack… enjoying the view on the way up.  It stops for a second.  Before I could catch a breath, I’m swallowing my stomach and screaming to the maximum capacity of my lungs… purely exhilarated.

But it was more like, someone said something.  someone did something.

Instead of ‘wheeeee and ahhhhh’ it was like ‘@#$% and *&%$’ with my hands in the air not to increase the suspense but a gesture of despair. 

Luckily, roller coasters come to an end.  And if you’re lucky, that coaster has a loopty loop… you know the one that takes you upside down.

For those few seconds, I see from a different perspective.  I’m not that crazy.  I don’t blow up all the time and say ‘@#$% and %^&*’  I’m human.  I have melt downs.  And there are times when I remained composed.  Not crazy at all.  In control.  Aware and knew exactly what I was doing.

Oh it’s true.  Sometimes I drive myself crazy.  You should too.  But make sure the key word ‘sometimes’ is there. 

image credit: http://weheartit.com/entry/14111710

Life Right Now

Hello… how I’ve missed you blog.  So many things going on… life has engulfed me in Her womb.  She has given me every opportunity to feel every possible emotion a human could possibly feel.  I am grateful for it all.   I can not express into a coherent post what life is currently like…. so random thoughts from the past two weeks.

People come and go.  Some are meant to stay.  Some are meant to stay long enough to teach you something.  Some are meant to stay forever.  You don’t know who they are but just look in their eyes long enough and you might know.  Be grateful for all of them.  Obstacles are blessings.  Every challenge you overcome gets you closer to YOU.  Love is fleeting.  Love is lasting.  Love is forever.  Is it?  What does forever mean?  Stability verses freedom.  What gives you more joy?  It’s risky to not take risks.  Make everyday count…. do something that makes you happy on a daily basis.. even if it’s uncomfortable and especially if it’s risky.  Talk to as many people as you can.  Take it further and make that talk meaningful.  Then listen with your heart and not that voice in your head.  Truth without compassion is abuse.  Compassion without truth is manipulation.  Things are never the way they seem.  Teach yourself to look at things differently from all possible angles.  Set your sights high.  Let yourself fall in love everyday with something and with someone.  Melt people’s heart and mostly let them melt yours.  Create your own life.

image: http://weheartit.com/entry/13908520

 

It’s a Greater Day When…

You’ve experienced this before… wake up and immediately know it’s gonna be a great day because that’s what you’ve declared.

That’s exactly what happened today after being so miserable with allergies this past week.  I woke up refreshed and pumped up to teach my early morning class.  On the way to “work” I was greeted with this:

I brake for hearts

It’s a greater day when:

1.  the universe greets you with a heart in the sky and saves the last bit of orange from the sunrise in the distant for you to see at 6:30am… there’s no doubt the day is gonna be awesome!

2.  early morn yogis smile in tree pose instead of wobble, clench and grind their way thru.

3.  breakfast includes left over cake pops (hey, they have bananas in them)

smile quota's will increase with these

4.  we are all still sane on day 3 of spring break… which brings me to #5

5.  today happens to be free admission to the San Francisco Academy of Sciences… any lover of wildlife, ocean, tree hugger, science nerd, and just plain ‘ol curious kid would drool over this scientific research facility that houses an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum and a 4-story rainforest all under one living roof.

The living roof

6.  you get front row parking and the line for free admission which wrapped around the park only took 20 minutes to get thru.

7.  you get swarmed by a bunch of colorful butterflies and they decide to land right in front of you for a nectar break.

sip sip sip

nectar break

I love butterflies for their symbols of personal transformation.

8.  speaking of transformation… seeing a baby chick hatch is quite amazing!   I tried to video it but there was a video hog in front of me so, check out the video by the Academy:

I want to get a couple of hens now

9.  you’re having so much fun that you lose track of time and 1.5 hours was not enough time to get back home to change into “work” clothes to teach the 5:30pm class…. so you end up rolling your pant legs up as if there was going to be a big flood and teach yoga in jeans.   Sweaty fun!

this is why I prefer lulus

10.  the first thing you get to do when you wake up is decide how the rest of your day is going to be.

{xo}