1 week growth

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I shaved my head a week ago as a detachment from my ego, a reminder to what’s important in life and as an inspiration to others to focus on the true sources of happiness.  To my surprise, I actually really liked how my baldhead looked so in a sense my ego could be attaching itself to that new cool image.  The practice of detachment for me has been and will be watching my hair grow out and not wishing it to be different.  I noticed that I didn’t like it as much once the black stub started growing in, so I noted that dissatisfaction as an observation instead of a desire for it to be different.

In my last blog I said that the material and physical don’t bring us true happiness.  Today I would like to talk about what does and how to find that for you.  A good exercise to find out would be to reflect or write down all of the things that bring you joy. Once you know what they are you can spend your energy focusing on them to fill you with more joy and then the physical and material won’t seem so important.

What brings me joy is listening and living from my heart, nurturing myself, inspiring others, spending time with nature and animals, having heart-felt connections with others, living on a tropical island, sharing smiles with strangers, feeling vibrant health and energy, learning new things, exploring new places, puppies and babies, riding on a motorbike, walking along the beach, warm bathes, beautiful food that nourishes my body, knowing who I am, developing myself, overcoming challenges, giving to others, feeling the love from my family and friends…not how my hair looks.

Find and focus on your joy!

Spirit of Kamalaya

A couple of days after my cleansing program ended at The Spa Chiang Mai I flew directly to Koh Samui to make it in time for the Healing Forum during the Mala Festival.  The Healing Forum was held at Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa, who just won six 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards, including the Crystal Award for Favorite Spa in Asia.  I stayed at this “wellness paradise” the night before the forum and was able to experience some of what they have to offer the day of the forum.  They get my vote for best spa but it’s hard to even call Kamalaya a “spa”, they are so much more.  Kamalaya is a very special and sacred place.  This is the spot for those looking to reconnect with themselves holistically and in luxury.

When I landed in Koh Samui I knew there was something different in the air and felt my soul’s desire to stay.  Thailand is at the top in the world for wellness travel, and Samui is where to go for healing.  My wellness guidebook received a more narrow focus upon arrival.  I decided to stay awhile, research and discover all of the healing services on Samui. Samui Healing was born to provide the information to help people decide which program is best for what they are looking for.  The Healing Forum turned out to be very synchronistic for me since the main topic of discussion was the need to have all of the wellness resources on the island in one place, through an online wellness directory. This project lives in my heart and is something that I tried to do almost 2 years ago in the US, called wherewellness.com.  I’m not sure if I will end up helping them with that project but I know there is a need for an online, printed and personal healing guide.

joining together at the mala

I’ve spent over 2 weeks now researching and experiencing most of the cleansing programs on Samui.  Kamalaya may be the favorite but it’s not the best choice for people looking for a fasting program or raw food. That’s why I am passionate to help lay it out to make it easy so that each person can decide which is the right choice for him or her.  We all know what is good for us; we just need all of the information in order to make the best decision.  So far, I’ve researched over 10 different cleansing programs and still have a few more to visit before the end of the month.  Already I’ve  helped a few people in passing and I am excited to see what develops.

simple & powerful green smoothies

In addition to the various cleansing programs on the island, Samui is also home to many individual practitioners/healers to help support everyone’s overall well being.  The one that has impacted my life the most is inspirational Jennifer Thompson with Healthy Bliss.  She gave me my first crystal reading, which accurately showed me where I was with my chakras and what was happening in my life. It confirmed what I needed to do to be more in balance, which I am still working on.  The Green Smoothie Gathering she held last week was the best thing (for me) that I’ve experienced so far in Samui.  I’ve know and experienced the power of eating raw foods over the last 2 years but had not learned about the power of green smoothies until now. I’ve been struggling with how to eat a raw organic diet like I did in Atlanta since I arrived to Thailand a few months ago.  It was great to discover The Spa’s Radiance Restaurant, which is the only one on Samui (and one of the few and best in Thailand) that prepares raw meals.  When deciding on which part of Samui I wanted to live, my only criterion was to be in walking distance of The Spa for the raw food.  After awhile though, as with anything, I was looking for variety and a way to eat at home to save money.

gotu cola smoothie = happiness

Jennifer’s green smoothie class was just what I was looking for and more! Here is an excerpt from Jennifer’s handout: “Green leave are the only food source in the world that can transfer sunshine into energy.  They do this by creating chlorophyll.”  Chlorophyll is the edible energy from the sun.  Using a blender is not only fast and easy but it is powerful because it breaks the greens down so that our bodies can absorb all of the minerals and valuable nutrition they contain and we crave.  What about juicing?  Well juicing is good if you are fasting (to give your body a break from digesting to eliminate toxins) but when you juice you strip the fiber and antioxidants from the produce.  Jennifer’s passion and knowledge inspired me to immediately buy a blender, cutting board, knife, smoothie container, and fresh produce.  I’ve had 2 smoothies a day ever since and each time they are delicious and different.  This morning I blended an apple, fresh ginger, lime, cup of water, kale, romaine, parsley, banana, ground flax seed and bee pollen.  All of the produce I bought yesterday when I rode my bike to the street market for under $2.  I am a full blow green smoothie addict and I love it!  I feel so inspired and vibrant.

sunset at silver beach

My life here is simple and ideal.  I wake up and walk to the most beautiful beach in my backyard to do yoga, meditate and swim at sunrise. I come back to my room to chop some produce I bought at the street market the day before and blend it up.  After I drink up the vibrant energy, I wash the blender, knife and cutting board all in my shower.  I realize I don’t need much to be happy and actually not having much makes me happy.  Live raw, live simple, and be happy.

After I finish my research at the end of the month I’m planning on living with the monks at a temple on the south end of the island.  I’m learning to sit with all of the ideas I have swimming around in my head and take the time to watch them develop.  Sitting in quiet meditation with no distractions is something I’ve been craving for a year.  My spirit blossoms when I’m at the temple and I’ll be able to teach the monks English while at the same time learn Thai and actually practice Buddhism.

morning meditation

Yesterday I wrote a testimonial for Julia Griffin with One True Self and I came to realize that exactly a year ago I started to manifest my life that I am living now.  Here’s what I wrote:

Julia is a very gifted intuitive and has helped me manifest my dreams that I am living right now.  I first started to work with Julia in Oct 2008 and participated in her manifestation ecourse. It was exactly a year ago and I was going through a painful process of losing everything I owned. Out of survival, I started to wait tables and feel depressed. Julia helped me stay focused on my vision and dream that lived in my heart.  She leads powerful live group meditations each week that she records and provides in mp3 format to listen to on your own. During these meditations I could see and feel myself living in Thailand on the beach while working on my mission to inspire and empower others.  I’m writing this right now from my balcony in Koh Samui, Thailand on the beach while I research and write about all of the healing programs on Samui.  I get daily message from people around the world thanking me for my inspiration. My heart bursts with joy and gratitude for Julia and my life that I’ve created.

This morning, as I was walking down the beach, I remembered seeing the same beach image in my manifestation exercises with Julia.  I remembered the joy that I felt in the picture that I am now feeling in my whole being.  Dreams do come true when you listen to your heart.

feeling the joy

What I contribute that has helped me really be able to listen to, and live from, my heart is the OneDream course that I completed in January 2009.  I also just wrote a testimonial for the School of Humanity and Awareness at CIK this same week that I am ending this post with.  I am filled with gratitude and love with this reflection.

I am forever grateful for finding the School of Humanity and Awareness at CIK.  I started with The Inner Knowing Course 4 years ago, which awakened something deep inside me that craved to know more about myself.  Since then I submerged myself into everything they offer (except the singles course, and yes, I’m still single :) Each course helped me open up to really know and listen to myself.  It is impossible to say which course was my favorite.  They all were in so many ways; building upon and complimenting each other.  How my life was before the SOHA and how I am now seems like a different lifetime.  I believe OneDream impacted me the most. It has really opened me up to trust and listen to my heart’s desire.  Some of the changes I’ve experience since starting OneDream are: quitting my 10-year corporate sales job, creating a business for myself to help others, release things that no longer serve me (including all of my material possessions) move to and thrive in Thailand.  I am so different then how I was before the SOHA  and now so me. I am living my life fully!

Last night was a great test of will. I attended Be Well Atlanta’s networking event at my favorite restaurant, Beleza.  There was healthy, delicious food all around me and even passed to me under my nose.  I didn’t feel pulled to eat anything even though my mouth was watering.  I feel the effects of the cleanse and I know why I don’t want to break it, this is what keeps me strong.

I am grateful for choosing to do this cleanse. I have clarity with my life and how things feel to me.  I woke up at 5:30am to journal about it and it helped me get very clear with my direction right now.

When I got out of bed I did the salt water flush again and it felt really good and nourishing.  I even cleaned out my refrigerator while drinking the quart of warm mineral salt.  I now see the results of that flush; I’m peeing yellow out of my butt…which make me happy that it is flushing out my liver and kidneys.

I then did my favorite detox & destress Kudalini Yoga DVD with Maya Fiennes from Acacia. I had to pause it twice; once to run to the bathroom and another to get my journal to write down more things that were coming to me about my life.