Goodbye 2011 Hello 2012

This past year has taught me many valuable lessons and through it I have seen myself struggle, stumble, regain balance and grow. For all that has happened I am grateful. The challenges were daunting at the time, the lessons learned are priceless and will stay with me in all my years to follow.

Along with the challenges and growth there were many wonderful experiences as well to look back upon. Moving to Las Vegas has been a tremendous gift to me. There is so much more to living here than I would have ever imagined. Great trips to the strip - amazing hikes - making new friends - trying new restaurants and foods - the list goes on.

The mountains out here give me perspective and help maintain a certain mental balance. When I feel concerned about the future, or I get stuck dwelling on the past, it is time to take a good long look at the mountains. To remind myself that what I am thinking on is temporary, as most things are, and to let it go. To return back to the present moment, that everything will be just as it is meant to be.

-Nicola Byrne

Ask yourself this question:  "Will this matter a year from now?"
--Richard Carlson, writing in Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Saturday Morning Hike

I'm a big proponent of getting out into nature to feel more at peace. Today I went on a hike at Calico Basin near Red Rock. The hike was named Guardian Angel Pass. It felt appropriate this week ... 

When we reached the highest point in the hike, I saw several rocks placed on top of a boulder. The boulder was red so the white rocks stood out a bit. They were holding down a piece of laminated paper.

As incongruous as it may seem the piece of paper was a translation of the Buddhist Heart Sutra.

THE HEART SUTRA

Om Homage to the Perfection of Wisdom the Lovely, the Holy !

Avalokita, the Holy Lord and Bodhisattva, was moving in the deep course of the Wisdom which has gone beyond.
He looked down from on high, He beheld but five heaps, and He saw that in their own-being they were empty.
Here, O Sariputra,
form is emptiness and the very emptiness is form ;
emptiness does not differ from form, form does not differ from emptiness, whatever is emptiness, that is form,
the same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness.
Here, O Sariputra,
all dharmas are marked with emptiness ;
they are not produced or stopped, not defiled or immaculate, not deficient or complete.
Therefore, O Sariputra,
in emptiness there is no form nor feeling, nor perception, nor impulse, nor consciousness ;
No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind ; No forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touchables or objects of mind ; No sight-organ element, and so forth, until we come to :
No mind-consciousness element ; There is no ignorance, no extinction of ignorance, and so forth, until we come to : There is no decay and death, no extinction of decay and death. There is no suffering, no origination, no stopping, no path.
There is no cognition, no attainment and no non-attainment.
Therefore, O Sariputra,
it is because of his non-attainmentness that a Bodhisattva, through having relied on the Perfection of Wisdom, dwells without thought-coverings. In the absence of thought-coverings he has not been made to tremble,
he has overcome what can upset, and in the end he attains to Nirvana.
All those who appear as Buddhas in the three periods of time fully awake to the utmost, right and perfect Enlightenment because they have relied on the Perfection of Wisdom.
Therefore one should know the prajnaparamita as the great spell, the spell of great knowledge, the utmost spell, the unequalled spell, allayer of all suffering, in truth -- for what could go wrong ? By the prajnaparamita has this spell been delivered. It runs like this :
gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha.
( Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone altogether beyond, O what an awakening, all-hail ! -- )
This completes the Heart of perfect Wisdom.

(Translated by E. Conze)

After continuing on we came to the Guardian Angel carved into one of the rocks. The hike leader says no one knows who did the carving and it is good luck to touch the angel. I am happy to have a little more good luck in my life.

It is amazing the variety of things there are to do living in Las Vegas. I feel very fortunate to live here.

-Nicola Byrne

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.

--John Muir

Friday's Sunrise

I'm starting out my day sitting at the kitchen table listening to Sixto make little huffy yaps at nothing, having a cup of coffee and looking at the sky change from night to day. It is a beautiful transition, amazing blues and pinks and yellows. A desert sunrise is a special thing indeed.

So is my the delicious pumpkin spice coffee from Trader Joe's that I get to enjoy this morning. I love October and the fall when flavors change to spice and colors change to orange and yellow.

Yesterday I thought I was going to have a very hard day, I woke up with anxiety and battled it with some cardiovascular exercise. There was a very challenging situation I had to work on and it was creating this anxiety. My inclination was to postpone the whole thing.

My friend would not allow that to happen though. Then another one jumped up to help as well. Thanks to both of my friends the three of us accomplished a huge undertaking in just a couple of hours. Afterwards I felt lighter, the anxiety was gone, my outlook was and still is so much brighter and instead of feeling trepidation I am filled with gratitude and peace.

Friends really do make the load lighter. Whatever kind of load it is be it physical or mental ... friendship helps you carry it and set it down somewhere else.

Today is going to be a good day.
-Nicola Byrne


If I had to sum up Friendship in one word, it would be Comfort.
--Terri Guillemets

Today's Gmail Inbox Messages

Today I found an old email from Rhonda Byrne's site and a new email from Tut.com waiting for me. Having not had computer access somehow I missed the Rhonda Byrne site email until today. Or I was meant to see it today and not sooner.

From The Secret Daily TeachingsNever let a day pass without looking for the good, feeling the good within you, praising, appreciating, blessing, and being grateful.

Make it your life commitment, and you will stand in utter awe of what happens in your life.

 

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne
The Secret... bringing joy to billions

Great timing for me to see that.

And from Tut.com in my inbox a cute message that made me smile:

How about, Nicola, next time you go to work, the mall, or a labyrinth,you glide, slide, and twirl a bit? Wink, smile, and wave? Dip, bend, and high-five?Strut, saunter, and beam?
Just a bit?
Teeny, tiny?

The Universe

There are lots of positive messages if we look for them. Some aren't as obvious but they are there as well.

-Nicola Byrne

Starting Over Again

I'm starting over again ... in a new home - on my own. During this time when fears, doubts, emotional pain and confusion try to get a foothold I am grateful to have this blog to direct my focus elsewhere.


There have been many reasons I have been unable to post for a while. The silence did not mean I had forgotten. In fact often I continued to scan my day for things to write of. Experiences. People. Questions. Answers. Lots of ideas would come up and drift away.


Now however it is time to dust myself off, dust off my keyboard and start to focus on the good stuff again. I know I can do it and it is important I choose to do so. Sinking down into a state of depression won't help me and it is a very destructive state.

Here's to a new start ... an a new day. Every one is a chance to learn, grow ... and in this case to heal.


I'll end with some gratitude. We can never have too much.

• I am grateful I came to live in Las Vegas.
• I am grateful for all the friends and family that support me.
• I am grateful to have a home.
• I am grateful to be healthy and strong.
• I am grateful for all I have learned and experienced.

Gratefully,
-Nicola Byrne


Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break. 
--William Shakespeare

Day One-Hundred and Thirty-Seven ... Three Interesting Questions

I have had a busy and congested few days and there have been many, many experiences to be grateful for. Many people to be grateful for.

Listening to a CD about clearing negative emotions, letting go of negative feelings I heard the speaker ask three questions and as I pondered the questions I felt something I would call an expansive feeling of peace and unity with everyone around me.

What are we?

The questions are:

If I'm not my mind, and I'm not my body, and I'm not my ego, what am I?

My answer came easily. I'm not going to share it because I think we should all allow our own inner voice to provide the answer.

The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment.
-Pema Chodron

Day One-Hundred and Thirty-Three ... Entitlement Versus Gratitude

I see a great many people struggling with life and some days I struggle with mine as well. I started working in Las Vegas September 6th as a personal trainer. My first job in the first place I lived outside of NY. I'm still there and rapidly approaching my one year "anniversary". I have seen 17 or 18 trainers (trainers only, there have been other coworkers leave as well) leave in that time.


Even outside of work I meet a great many people who are very unhappy with their job, their life, you name it. I hear it in conversations. I catch myself perpetuating it at times as well. Almost like a third person standing beside myself hearing words I'd rather not say, knowing as I say them that they do not improve my well being, state of mind or add to my happiness. On top of that they surely cannot add to the happiness of the person kind enough to listen to me. What does venting really solve anyway? Does having someone agree with you when you're upset at something or someone change anything?


Isn't it better to think of something good, and there is always something good, and let go of the negative energy? I said better mind you, not easier ... I know that isn't always the easy course.


There seems to be a rash of entitlement that is contagious. Entitlement is so very different from gratitude. When I hear people focusing on the negative, especially when I experience myself doing that, I want to give a nudge and point out that gratitude feels a whole lot better.


The reality is nothing is owed to anyone. We are given life but how we fill it is up to us. Waste it or experience it. Thrive or exist. Love or hate. Feel entitled or feel grateful. When I write in my gratitude journal at night I see that no matter how many opportunities or challenges the day is filled with, there is always a tremendous amount to be grateful for if you take the time to look around. This blog helps me take the time to look around. It is a great reminder.


After not having written for a few weeks I realized I was slipping. My attention wasn't scanning for good. I'd sit down at night and write what I was grateful for but the day wasn't filled with constant sifting of opportunities for blogging about.


I want to continue to grow as a person and continue to see the better side of all situations ...


When I'm angry at someone instead of airing it I want to turn my attention to someone who makes me feel good and thank them for it. That will feel better and it will also make someone else feel better.


When I have a challenging or stressful day at work I want to take the time to be grateful I have a job when so many wish they did. That switch can change the day, I know it can. I am so very lucky I get to help people every day and I get to meet the most spectacular and interesting people.


Instead of feeling sorry for myself for the things I may not be able to do right now I want to be thankful for all the amazing things I have done and the experiences yet to come.


 Expecting miracles,
-Nicola Byrne




There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle. 
-Albert Einstein