Christmas in July

I've lost track of what I've given these last few weeks.  Everyday was like Christmas and I was Santa Claus.  It was a whirlwind and I had the time of my life.  Giving love, presents, food, time, acts of kindness, rides, books, gifts of all kinds to my family, friends, students, strangers, foundations and more.  

And I got love, kindness and even some gifts myself.  I wish I could remember even a small fraction of what I gave, but I do remember everything that I received.  My favorite moment was getting a thank you yesterday from the parent of one of my assistants.  She told me that I was teaching the kids much more than just dance and that she appreciated everything that I've done for her daughter.  It was so touching I didn't even know what to say.

It's not just about fun surprises for friends, donating money and volunteering time, but about putting love and kindness first.  Giving presents is totally fun but knowing I've made a difference is what gives me the most happiness.  

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion."                                         --The Dalai Lama

 ♥∞,

~B

Time, time, time...

I've spent the last month and half donating time all over the place!  (No time to blog!)

Spent it at:

*Animal Acres 

*WorldFest with Sea Shepherd (most fun EVER!)

 

*Choreographing for one of my student's Sweet 16 Party

*Assistant stage managing for my friend's Dance Studio Show

 

*Cleaning up the local park 

*Made food for the Sea Shepherd Whale Wars Watching Party and took friends


 

*Spent time with the AMAZING 79 year-old Doris 

*Tended to a friend's herb garden while she's away (inspired me to plant my own, oregano, cilantro, basil, parsley and mint)

*Made (vegan, gluten free, chocolate, coconut) brownies for one of my classes

*Even spent the day doing my civic duty at Jury Duty (don't think it technically counts, haha!)

I've been a very active activist!  I've also signed petitions galore, given donations to the Salvation Army, gave a friend a day of work, bought food for people in need, planted some trees and donated money to a few places. 

One of my favorite things though, was making jewelry for my graduating seniors and teaching assistants.  It took up A LOT of time, but the outcomes were SO worth it!  And even though I was tempted (with each one) to keep what I'd made, I happily gave out my creations.  Here are some of my favorites:

 

Much of my time the last 2 weeks went to making all of these but I really LOVE it! 

I have donated time and so I've received time in return.  I've had the last 2 days to just relax and have fun.  Though more volunteering is coming up this coming weekend for Surfrider's Project Save Our Surf!  Beach clean up, 24-hour Surf-A-Thon and spreading awareness.

 What's not to love? 

♥∞,

~B

"Anything that is of value in life only multiplies when it is given."

                                                                     --Deepak Chopra

A Daring Rescue

Okay, not quite so daring, but I did rescue a little white fancy rat from impending doom.

As I approached the park with my dog last week, I noticed something little and fluffy in the grass.  That's a rare sight as there are no fluffy things in our park.  Not with all the predatory birds (like hawks) that live there.  I walked up to it and saw that is was a little rat, seemingly healthy and clean but scared to death.  I can't imagine how it got there, except maybe it's owner no longer felt like having a pet rat and thought the park would be a good place to set it free.  Not smart.

So I took my dog back home, dumped my recycling box and grabbed a towel.  I ran back downstairs to the park (it's across the street) and my new little friend was being stalked by big black crows!  He wasn't moving, he just made himself into a ball.  I shooed the crows away, though they were rather reluctant to leave.  I quickly threw the towel over the fluffy one, wrapped him up and took him home.  All the while reassuring him that he was safe and he was loved.

 

I kept thinking of the quote, "When you see something that needs to be done and you think, 'Someone should really do something about that.'  Remember that YOU are someone."

I know it's a risky move to take home a stray rat, but I wasn't going to leave him out there to face danger alone.  I put him in the big box, got him some water and in the few minutes I had before needing to leave for work, researched what to feed him.  Dog food, veggies and fruit.  Check, check and check.  I hated to leave him for the day, but I had to go to work.

When I came home, he still looked scared but the worst for him was over.  I didn't know what to do with him but my heart said, keep him.  I have the space and I have the love.  So I did tons of research, called friends who have had rats as pets before and most importantly, made him an appointment to go to the vet.

He's a healthy little guy I have named Charlie.  His favorite snacks are peanuts still in the shell and my dog's (vegan) dog food.  He likes building hills in his cage out of the bedding.  And he falls asleep when I (very badly) sing him improvised lullabies.  

Charlie has become my poster child for kindness and compassion.  If a little rat can be saved from a terrible situation, then anyone can.

But there's another message too.  That life can change in an instant.  You could be in the worst possible scenario with not a single shred of hope or salvation anywhere in sight.  Then in a flash, life can scoop you up, reassure you that you are safe and give you a life better than you could have ever imagined.  (Charlie is quite the spoiled rat.)

If it can happen for Charlie, it can happen for anyone.

♥∞,

~B  (and Charlie.)

Transformation

This weekend + me= Transformation.

It all started Friday night with a special LA screening of the Cafe Gratitude documentary, May I Be Frank.  The movie follows Frank Ferrante through 42 Days of Transformation lead by three young men, Cary, Ryland and Conor of Cafe Gratitude.  During the process, he only ate raw vegan food, practiced gratitude, visited holistic practitioners and got a weekly colonic.  Frank's transformation is miraculous.  He has become a radiant and beautiful person from the inside out.  Frank and the filmmakers were there after the screening to discuss how it all happened.  It was a truly inspirational night filled some of my favorite faces and set the tone for the weekend to come.

Saturday Animal Acres held their Compassionate Cooking Event which I was a volunteer for.  There were food demonstrations all day by vegan chefs like, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, Kim Garr who runs C'est La Vegan Bakeshop, raw food chef and owner of Leaf Organics, Rod Rotondi and more.  I was in charge of the goats for the day, who I was more than happy to be with since they are good friends of mine.  I did get to listen in on Colleen's discussion on love, compassion and veganism.  It was a talk that could have easily been given at a Cafe Gratitude workshop.  Everything she said resounded so much with what I believe in.  It was funny, honest and moving.

Later, Kim Garr made a rhubarb cake for her demonstration that hands down was the best cake (vegan or non) I have ever had.  In addition to the the amazing (free!) food I got to sample, I got to spend some time with my animal friends.  They are the real reason why we all gather there.  I remember when I first started going there, I had never been around farm animals and used to only carefully pet them.  Now I literally throw my entire weight onto them to give them hugs and kisses.  They love it.

Animal Acres is a place thick with love.  It is palpable.  You can feel it and breathe it when you're there.  Love is radiating from every corner and from all the beings there, human and animal.  It was an exhausting day, but as always, well worth the effort.

Today, Sunday, my best friend and I signed up to join the volunteer team for the brand new CA office of Sea Shepherd.  We arrived at their new office in Venice to a lite vegan (yes!)  breakfast welcomed by the lovely Grace who coordinated the whole event.  We watched a great video on the history of Sea Shepherd and it's Captain, Paul Watson.  Then Kurt Lieber gave us a run-down of what our duties as volunteers would be and the upcoming events.  We also got to meet Luke Tipple who is a marine biologist and runs the organization, Shark Free Marina.  He told us what his organization does and how easy it is to get involved.  After talking with everyone, we were beyond excited about all the wonderful work and fun we're going to have being involved with BOTH organizations.  From there is was off to whale watch.  Which was fun until the motion sickness set in and we missed the whales.  Blue whales even, the largest animal to ever live on the planet.  Oops.  Good thing our work with Sea Shepherd will all take place on land.

When I finally got home today, exhausted, I took my dog to the park.  While running around in the grass, around trees and down hills I was overcome with gratitude.  And not in a simple way where I was grateful for my recent experiences but on a much grander scale.  I was thankful for all of experience and existence itself.  For my existence, the Universe and everything that is beyond it.  It washed over me and after I came back inside, that feeling stayed with me.  Even though I am thankful for the little things, I am also grateful for those things that are bigger than me.  Those that are beyond what we can see with our senses, those things that we can only feel.

And so, I've emerged from this weekend a new, upgraded version of myself.  I keep being guided to amazing places, people and experiences that I'm convinced are molding me into the person I am meant to be.  Just like Frank in the movie.  He began transforming into his truest self.  The day he walked into the cafe, Ryland asked him, "What is one thing you want to do before you die?"  Frank replies, "I want to fall in love one more time, but no one will love me looking the way I do."  After the screening during the Q & A, Frank addressed this question, simply saying that the person he fell in love with, was himself. 

Cafe Gratitude will be opening up their 1st LA restaurant at the end of this year (yes!) and held their 1st Kindred Spirits Workshop in the area this past weekend.  The workshop explores "accessing the most authentic self: unconditional love."  As much as I wanted to attend this workshop, I feel like I experienced my own version of it this weekend.  Surrounded by kindred spirits, practicing and being unconditional love. 

♥∞, 

~B

Random Acts of Kindness

"Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out."  ~Frank A. Clark

Now that giving everyday has become an automatic part of my day, I wanted to detach myself from the outcome of the gift and give to people I don't know.   So this month I tried my best to give out into the world.  The great Random Acts of Kindness Foundation helped me out and can help you if you need inspiration on where to start.  

I was able to reach far into the world this month and give with the help of some other wonderful organizations:

*World Malaria Day was just a few days ago on April 25th and through Population Services International (PSI), I was able to give a weeks worth of mosquito nets to pregnant women and children (who are the most as risk).
*Through PSI I was also able to give, a weeks worth of Pregnancy & AIDS prevention, life saving oral rehydration salts and two days of safe drinking water for a child.
*April 22nd was Earth Day and though I celebrate our planet and conserve on a daily basis, I thought it would be a great day to plant a tree or two.  But, plant a tree where it will really count.  Through Trees for the Future I planted two trees somewhere where it is very much needed, such as Ethiopia, Haiti, Nicaragua or the Phillipines.
*Oxfam International's goal is to overcome poverty and injustice.  Through them I got to give two special gifts.  By simply giving a quarter-pound of multipurpose soap I supplied a deserving community with life saving soap.  I also gave a child in a poor community a nutritious meal at school.
*Meals on Wheels is on their "Meals for Moms" campaign for Mother's Day.  Just $7 will provide a warm meal for a mom and at the Care2 site you can send well wishes to these mothers and grandmothers who because of health problems and lack of transportation will spend this special day alone.  You can go right now and make sure that a sweet message will be delivered to them along with a great meal.

Today being National Pay It Forward Day, it seemed like an appropriate gift to give.

I gave lots of sweet gifts to friends (hula hoops, jewelry, books) as well as my favorite organizations (Humane Society Emergency Fund, Greenpeace, Animal Acres Emergency Rescue), but I kept in mind my goal for the month. 

I realized that it could be as simple as putting money into a tip jar on the counter when no one is looking.

Give without expectations!

♥∞,

~B

Good for the Soul

I had so much fun giving this month, I almost forgot to blog.  With a few exceptions, I spent most of this month giving to those closest to me.  Here are some of the awesome highlights and fun happenings as a result:

I started the month off by attending the "Feeding The Soul" benefit concert.  It featured some of my favorite artists and went to benefit the Brother Benno's Soup Kitchen and Haiti Relief Fund.

The sound-man at the show, was none other than my favorite musician, Jason Mraz.  Though he was dedicated to his job running sound, he did get up and join his friend Billy (Bushwalla) on stage.  What a fun night raising money for a good cause!

 I also spent some more time at my favorite animal sanctuary, Animal Acres.  It was a crazy weather day with lots of hard work, but we had a ton of fun too. 

Ok, so all of a sudden I am on this jewelry making kick.  I gave 5 specially designed bracelets to friends and made a few pieces for myself.

 The bead store is now my new favorite place to hang out!

If you are my friend and you have yet to receive a piece of jewelry from me, it's just a matter of time...

Though I mostly doted over my friends this month, giving goodies and sweet treats, I did do some other great things for others.  Both human and animal.  I donated some shoes to Soles 4 Souls.  A wonderful organization that provides shoes for those in need.  They have drop-off locations all over and distribute a pair of shoes every 9 seconds.  Look for one near you.

One of the most important causes I've taken on this month is the annual slaughter of baby harp seals in Canada.  ...I don't even know where to start.  The slaughter got underway this past Sunday to a slow start, thankfully, as only one ship headed to the icy nursery.  Thanks to some countries banning seal products (our country is NOT one of them), the price of pelts has dropped significantly and less "hunters" have headed out.  Also, due to climate change, the ice is thin and a dangerous condition to both humans and animals.  I've been spreading the word and encouraging those with compassionate hearts to speak out on behalf of these beautiful creatures.  Read more about it and look up the heartbreaking videos and horrific pictures.  Which I won't post here.  Instead, these lovely sights:

"Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight."

Lastly, Operation Beautiful continues to grow throughout our campus.  More posters pop up all over the school everyday.  Amazing that a few post-its with some encouraging words can start a whole movement.  Proof of my whole mission!

So, I'm looking forward to a whole new month filled with opportunities to give everyday.  This month was so focused on giving to my closest that next month I will be (mostly) devoting myself to random acts of kindness.  More on that coming next month!

♥∞,

~B

"All your actions are echoes. What you give, you get back, but several times more. So, if you want to gain more, give more."  --Swami Satchidananda

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