Colorful!

That is the only word I can use to describe the gifts given (and received) this month.

COLORFUL! 

Everyday has been fun.  I've given a lot to my students:  my copy of Franny & Zooey to one of my kids who is a Salinger fan, my purple corduroy TOMS to another and various other goodies.  Included in that was inspiration, which I think may be the most important of gifts.

I also gave to random strangers.  Money to the homeless, a Starbucks gift card to the nice lady who was collecting donations for the homeless, my box of CRV recyclables to a man who was searching through the dumpsters for them and donations to The Salvation Army, Humane Society, The American Red Cross (this time for earthquake relief in Chile) and even dressed up as cupid for the Valentine's Day Make-A-Wish Foundation Fundraiser.  (It's best I don't have a photo of that...)

Gave my favorite gifts to friends and family though.  Cookies for a helpful neighbor, advice, cards and recipes to friends.  But best of all, took my momma to get her first tattoo.  She was so funny, blowing bubbles, cracking jokes and tweeting during the whole process.  I have the coolest mom.  I love spending time with her.  That was my gift. 

And so I had another "AHA!" moment this month about giving and receiving.  You can be really good at one and bad at the other.  If you give, you're bound to receive, but you have to be open to it.  I came to the realization that though I'm a really good giver, I'm a bad receiver.  I get bashful with a simple thank you.  I'm not sure why this is.  But it became apparent this month when I was given some amazing gifts:

• I was given a free Acupuncture session.
• I went in to renew the lease on my apartment and they lowered my rent!
• I got my car insurance renewal and in the envelope was a little certificate that said, "Congratulations we've lowered your premium!" 
• I got a new fridge (which lowered my monthly rent even more since I no longer have to rent one) for practically nothing from a friendly neighbor.
• And other delightful surprises from the Universe...
  

 Luck seems to constantly be on my side.

The more I'm given, the more I become comfortable in receiving and the more I realize that I am worthy of receiving.  That was the "AHA!".  I am worthy of receiving.   I just have to be open.  The more I'm open to receiving, the more I receive.  So, I put some reminders up on my new fridge to keep me in that mind-set.

"The more you let go and surrender to your calling and know you are worth all the good stuff, the faster it shows up."

"Being of service is helping the Universe, and in return the Universe will help you!" 

--The Daily Love

♥∞,

~B

P.S.  It's been weeks since Operation Beautiful but the message of love is still going strong at school.  Little notes keep popping up all over campus.  I'm so excited to have started this!

Most fun gift so far...

My momma's first tattoo!  It's my favorite gift I've been able to give so far:

She loves it!

That's me! That's me!

 

I am the kind provider of nice things!  

An anonymous Thank You for my anonymous good deed.

“Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu”

Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu is a Sanskrit mantra meaning, "May all beings everywhere be happy and free." 

It is something I believe in strongly.  In "being love", I am compassionate toward ALL living things.  I know that everything that is alive and has a spirit, is here for a reason.  That we are all connected.

 

This past Sunday I gave my day to Animal Acres.  A sanctuary in Acton, CA that houses animals rescued from the factory farming industry.  I first volunteered last month during my 31 Days of Giving and fell in love.  I vowed to come back once a month.  I love everyone there, both human and animal.

It's a lot of work, but absolutely worth it.  Every minute I spend there is a happy one.  Whether I'm giving a pig a belly rub or shoveling poop.  (There's a lot of poop shoveling.)  There's an overwhelming feeling of peace and you can't help but feel good all day.

 

I found out about Animal Acres in my research after reading "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer.  It is the most important book I have ever read.  I gave it as a Christmas present to all my loved ones with an understanding that it is meant to be read and passed on.  It shouldn't sit on a bookshelf, it needs to be spread.  My original copy has already been passed on at least 3 times.

Even though I was already vegan when I heard about the book, I was a very socially shy/relatively new one.  Which I sometimes feel ashamed to admit how new to veganism I am, considering the animal lover I have always been.  Though I was a healthy eater before, I did love the taste of meat.  In recent years, I only really ate meat socially when with friends or family.  Then in early 2009, I happily went from a not-picky-eat-anything omnivore to vegetarian to (mostly raw) vegan almost overnight without looking back.  

At first I did it for myself, (that's a whole 'nother blog!) with the environmental effects being second and the cruelty free part being last.  I only knew the basics of how animals became meat or should I say, I only wanted to know the basics.  Reading "Eating Animals" changed all of that.  I couldn't believe I didn't know all this already.  How does the majority of the world not know this?  And so I had what Oprah calls an, "Aha!" moment.

In reading "Eating Animals", I not only wanted to become more informed on the industry, but I wanted to learn how to change it.  I wanted to become an activist.  I want to help and I want to inform.  My research has lead me to a bunch of amazing organizations that I have become a part of.  But mostly it has lead me to the facts.  Watching documentaries like Earthlings (please see this movie!), Meet Your Meat, The Cove, Food Inc, & Fowl Play, showed me the standard practices of the industry without holding anything back.

I now understand why vegans/animal activists have always been so outspoken.  Because they know.  And now I know and I am different because of it.  At first, changing what I ate was self serving.  I saw lots of positive change within me like, an increase in energy level, my skin is glowing, my body is slim, my attitude is always bright and my overall state of mind is peaceful.  Everything has become clearer and I am more aware and present.  I feel light.  Granted, veganism isn't the only thing that has changed with me, but it is what I attribute to the change in my outlook.  Now knowing the effects on the world around me, the choice to eat the way I do is for the well-being of ALL things.  Not just for me, but for the animals, the planet and all of humanity.

It has made me kinder, more generous and infinitely compassionate with no effort.  Just like giving, it's a feeling I want everyone to partake in.

 

 ♥∞,

~B

And in case you're wondering what vegans eat, check out Quarry Girl's blog.  Or my favorite restaurants: Au Lac, Native Foods, Cafe Gratitude & Gracias Madre.  Of course, my kitchen is always filled with amazing food as well.  If you are what you eat, then I am super girl because all I eat are super foods!

"May all that have life be delivered from suffering" -- Buddha