Nicole's Zen Moment - Beauty

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I could state the obvious things - like a sunset, a perfect smile, a diamond ring... these things are, without a doubt, beautiful. But there are more ~ tons more!

Just a few minutes ago I walked by the TV in my bedroom and lit a small candle. It's a white votive that smells like the ocean. After it was lit, I stood there, just admiring the frosted candle,watching the little flame flicker about.

And it struck me.... I find ZEN moments in beauty.

This post will include some of the things in this world that actually cause me pause, change the tone of my voice, and take a breath. I always stop and say, "I loooooove_____. Isn't it beautiful?"

1. White Peacock.

The first time I ever saw one was back in 2004. My Colombian exchange student and I were visiting the Fountain of Youth and original site where Ponce de Leon landed in America. I remember walking through the gardens and lo and behold - there she (or he) was ~ a beautiful white peacock. It immediately reminded me of a bride on her wedding day. So beautiful, so elegant. A treasure for sure. I have always said, if I ever had my own little home out in the country, I would invest in a few peacocks.

2. A Chandelier

Ever since I was a child, I would marvel at chandeliers. Since I would perform often, I remember being in awe of the brilliant lighting fixtures in the different play houses or opera houses. I always said as a child, that wanted a magnificent chandelier in my home when I became an adult. Maybe one day I will have a big formal dining room with my brilliant light fixture.

3. A fainting couch

Forever, and as long as I can remember - I thought a fainting couch was just too feminine. I love the style, the curves, everything it stands for. Every time I see one, I light up and think - OOOh.. how I would love to own one.

4.Tree covered in fairy lights.

Okay, okay.. so they aren't fairy lights, but that's what I call the twinkle lights. My eyes are dazzled near the holidays when I see these. I love to head down little streets where all of the trees are wrapped in lights. It's like a magical fairy land! I want to suddenly spin around with my arms above singing Christmas carols.

Anytime I see the sea, I am mesmerized. The sound, the smell, the endless view ~ the water twinkling with swirls of aqua... I am always silenced when in the presence of a beautiful sea.

A String of pearls. So dainty, so delicate, so feminine... just beautiful. You can NEVER go wrong with pearls.

A beautiful wedding cake. Even if I frown on some things, I am always delighted when I see a beautiful wedding cake. It's just sooo.. well.. pretty.

Cotton Candy is one of the prettiest yummy treats a girl can get. It's soft, billowy, and .. well.. pretty. I always smile when I see cotton candy.

A perfect cupcake. Enough to have women driving all over town for the dainty delectable.

A simple white candle burning. It's what inspired this blog post.

A ballerina.

A perfect french manicure

Stemware - glassware. When I enter a store, I just stand in awe. I am not sure why, I love glass.

A Crystal Brooch. I admire brooches. I simply do not wear them enough.

Icicles..

Sparklers

This very view in Greece

Fluffy white kittens with bright blue eyes

Cherry blossom trees -with their delicate pink blossoms..

Wedding gowns. Maybe it is the princess mentality.. but I love love love bridal magazines. The dresses are just gorgeous.

This looks very similar to the very bed I am sleeping on. I LOVE white beds.

Finally - white roses. Soooooo pure, soooo elegant, soooo beautiful.

What about you? Name 3 - 5things you find beautiful.

Zen = Drool

"There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them." ~Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

Ain't it the truth?

As you guys know, I have been dedicating this year to finding my little Zen moments. See that cat to the left?(found on google images)  This is exactly how I feel right this very second.

If, as you are reading this, are stressed and had a really, really bad day - this image may make you feel like someone out of steam, tired beyond belief.

Now imagine an herbal foot bath, followed by a facial sauna with a plant based chemical peel and brightening face mask (which is constantly massaged into your face) -followed by an intense foot massage, topping the feet off with hot towels (one for each foot) .. then a complete head, neck & arm massage (also topped off with hot towels) - then finished with your entire face covered in a warm towel .... next your feel a rush of  steam infused with aromatic oils lightly spraying your face.

Then when it is all said and done, you are placed in a steam shower with 5 bagillion shower heads coming at you from all angles, as you use natural/herbal products to wash the day away?

Now look at the cat.

*meow* *purrrrrrrr*

THIS is a happy girl. Tonight I indulged - and oh it was sooo right.

So my Zen moment of the week equals drool. A lot of drool. I am a happy, calm girl. All is right with my soul. Can I get amen? Yeah you... in the back.

Not to mention, we have another long weekend. No work on Monday! Thank you Civil Rights guru Martin Luther King, Jr. for a lovely day to relax.

Now,  I ask you - if you had to pick one moment this week, just one, that you know in your heart brought you a little moment of Zen... what would it have been?

Zen is sticking!

Billy Jean King once said, "“I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion."

I could not agree more.

2011 - so far, so good.

Back at work after a very long (and much needed) break. This morning we all started off with a long, inspirational (if you can believe that) meeting, followed by a welcome lunch at a local cafe (Olexa's) in Mountain Brook for our newest employee.

I have a new intern starting on Wednesday, so I would say - over all, it's going to be okay.

If you did not get a chance, please take a look at the recap of my New Year's Weekend.  Incredibly twisted and funny all at the same time.

I am sticking to my guns about finding my "center." I seem to be giving the whole "trust" thing ago and I do feel that "balance" I was hoping for.

This month is jam packed with media promotion and preparation for National Wear Red Day. If you are not familiar, check out: Go Red For Women . If you live in the south, and would like to share your story about how you stay healthy or have battled heart disease, there will be several opportunities to audition! Audition for what?? The September prime time special on NBC with Houda. For one, Birmingham plans to do their "Go Red Connection Event" aka (casting call) on January 29th at the Macys at Riverchase Galleria from 10am until 6pm. I will be conducting the audition with a team of volunteers and staff. Or, if you live closer to the panhandle - you can buy a ticket to the Go Red For Women Luncheon in Mobile, Alabama on Feb 4th, and audition there. I believe Atlanta, West Palm Beach, Miami and New Orleans will also be conducting an event. All of these will take place at the flagship Macy's in those towns.

That's sort of what I am coordinating now.. not to mention a ton of other promotional opportunities. I got my one of my magazine sponsors to activate their sponsorship by throwing a "Little Red Dress Party" on February 4th. From 5 - 7pm at A Loft Hotel in downtown Homewood.. there will be a swanky little fiesta raising awareness around heart disease - all celebrating Heart Awareness Month and National Wear Red Day.

There is tons more, and as I pull it all together, I promise to share. I know many of you live nearby, and I would love for you to attend!

With that being said - there is more work to do today. Sorry, nothing earth shattering or philosophical today.. but to be perfectly honest - I am completely okay with that! I needed a normal day, and I feel quite content.

"I take it that what all men are really after is some form of, perhaps only some formula of, peace." ~James Conrad

Better Days are ahead!

Play this video and read the lyrics below:

I feel part of the universe open up to meet me



My emotion so submerged, broken down to kneel in


Once listening, the voices they came


Had to somehow greet myself, read myself


Heard vibrations within my cells, in my cells


Singing, "Ah-la-ah-ah, ah-la-ah-ah"






My love is safe for the universe


See me now, I'm bursting


On one planet, so many turns


Different worlds


Singing, "Ah-la-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah"






Fill my heart with discipline


Put there for the teaching


In my head see clouds of stairs


Help me as I'm reaching


The future's paved with better days






Not running from something


I'm running towards the day


Wide awake






A whisper once quiet


Now rising to a scream


Right in me






I'm falling, free falling


Words calling me


Up off my knees






I'm soaring and, darling,


You'll be the one that I can need


Still be free






Our future's paved with better days

Creating a ZEN atmostphere

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. ~Ovid

I have a lush (I say lush because it sooo can be) opportunity to create a Zen environment for the next seven months.

For the first time, in years, I will be the master of my domain.

In the past, I was waiting for immigration to pull through, so that the egyptian would fly here.

Then he got here, and we have struggled with the "my idea versus his idea" for how the house will look, the schedule of the day - things like that. Normal stuff, things all married couples or people who live with their significant other know about. That is, unless you live with a people pleaser. I do not.

While he is in NYC, trying to finalize his teaching certification, I can just - BE.

2011 will be a year of transformation for me. I know, I know.. we say that every year, but for me the wheels of change are already spinning. Decisions need to be made, a time table is in place.

Which brings me back to creating that ZEN atmosphere. Just how do I do it? Better yet, how can you create your own little ZEN space?

First of all, we use the word ZEN a lot. But what does it actually mean? Since I am a linguistics fanatic.. here is what I found: Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. The Japanese word Zen is derived from the Chinese word Chán, which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which means "meditation" or "meditative state".

Word. ;-)

So - how can I achieve this? Zen emphasizes experiential Wisdom in the attainment of enlightenment. It de-emphasizes theoretical knowledge in favor of direct realization through meditation and dharma practice.

Okay, I like this. I need this. I want to learn this. Now, how can I make my environment more open to a Zen-like atmostsphere? I want to decorate with a more holistic approach, so that my health (mental and physical) will improve in 2011.

According to Room Decorating Ideas - The key to Zen decor is simplicity. The goal is to create a harmonious interior that simply flows, without any obstacles, clutter, or unnecessary items in the way which allows you to ‘be’ in the present moment.  Although Zen decorating is minimalistic, the items that are in the home should each have a specific use, visible, and highly functional despite their simplicity. Working within the Zen means beginning to use more natural materials when decorating your home. The color tones in the home should be earthy, and the furniture you have around the house should have simple, clean lines and be in keeping with the color scheme. You can still add accessories when creating a zen room, but think more in terms of woven area rugs..

Time to declutter and simplify. Ha! One of my closest friends has decided to do this, perhaps I should share this post with her! Okay, well - one of the things I was planning on doing was getting rid of soooo many material things. This should be fun!

I also want to get back into meditation. I use to study it (by books and practicing at home) throughout college and later while I was working in TV - but somehow, life happened and I got away from it.

I decided to see if I could find any groups to join for meditation in Birmingham, here is what I found:

Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center - This appears to be the motherload! Located at 714 37th Street South in Birmingham, offers public meditation sittings, core teachings in Shambhala wisdom as well as Buddhist dharma teachings. Those of all spiritual traditions are invited to explore their offerings in the quest to find a mind of compassion, gentleness and sanity.

Compassionate Heart Sangha - Contact; Robert Patrick
Location: Birmingham, AL
Email: potoole@bellsouth.net
Tradition: Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hahn
and the Order of Interbeing.
Affiliation: Community of Mindful Living

Losel Maitri Tibetan Buddhist Center
P.O. Box 43721 Birmingham, AL 35243
Tel: (205) 908-2703, Fax: (205) 970-4903
Email: loselmaitri@aol.com
Web site: http://www.loselmaitribuddhist.org/
Tradition: Non-sectarian Tibetan Buddhist
Resident Teacher: Ven. Tenzin Deshek

Contemplative Prayer, Episcopal Diocese of Alabama
Lead by: Mary Sullivan and Kathryn Daniel
Wednesday evenings at 5:30. Join them this Wednesday in St. Mary's Chapel (off the nave).

Contemplative Outreach, Birmingham
They list the following groups:
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church,
Homewood, AL
Jeannette Bell jeannette89@aol.com 205.879.8169

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church,
Birmingham, AL
Louise Meredith loumeredith@bellsouth.net 205.970.1892

Independent Presbyterian Church,
Birmingham, AL
Kathy Thomson thomasthomson@bellsouth.net 205.968.2219
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church,
Pelham, AL
Diana Tschache tschached@bellsouth.net 205.991.6964

Golden Temple Health Foods Store
They have a yoga center and are located in two locations: 5 points south location 1901 11th ave S. Birmingham 933 6333 and at 3309 Lorna Rd. Hoover 823 7002.

That's all I could find!

Now it is time for me to get to work, do a little more research and find a way to bring that balance into my life. I am slowing removing the toxic, cleansing the home, and now I will balance it all out. By doing this - I think I will be able to learn that word of the year - TRUST.

What about you? How do you clear your mind, find your center?

Zen Quote: When the pupil is ready to learn, a teacher will appear. Who will be my teacher?