Benefits of Boredom

How often do you allow yourself to get bored? According to research (and, duh, common sense) boredom, especially in solitude, is actually a great catalyst to creativity. Children, in particular, should have the opportunity to “get bored” on a regular basis, so that the child’s creativity may take hold in those situations. Click here to read an article about this phenomenon.

One of my favorite movies is The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. It’s a French film based on the memoires of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a one-time editor-in-chief of French Elle magazine. He led an extraordinarily extravagant life, until he suffered a massive stroke at the age of 43, leaving him with a condition known as “locked-in-syndrome.” This is a condition wherein the mental faculties remain intact but most of the body is paralyzed. For Bauby, the only movement he could muster was to blink one of his eyelids, which was later discovered as his means of communication leading to the painstaking writing of his memoires- one blink at a time. I imagine the hours of solitude in his hospital bed left him beyond bored, thus leading to astonishing creativity.

Anyway, I love this film because it highlights, in a visually exquisite form, the power and refuge of the imagination, as Bauby might have known it. Incredible imaginary scenes play out in his mind. I think that this kind of creativity is forged only in the greatest of need, and truly I believe that creativity is of greatest need in our world today. Everyone needs to be creative to solve the challenges of modern life. The creative mind is the only kind to stand up to the injustices of the world. Is that not our charge? So, take some time to get bored today, and see where it leads you.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

This moment...

The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.

-Emily Dickinson

Before I am here on this earth as a musician, teacher, wife, or daughter I am here as a learner. The day I close myself off to the richness that every moment has to offer, that is the day I’ve died, figuratively. Each moment, be it joyful, sorrowful, peaceful, or dull holds a treasure within- a lesson: if you are open enough to receive it. You’ll be able to make peace with the trials and tribulations of your life if you just shift your view of their presence in your life. They were not sent like assassins, rather more like wise old professors.

So, the trick is living fully in every moment, while also taking time to step back and let the whole picture come into view. So, while busy, devote yourself fully to one task, rather than trying to squeeze two pegs into the same hole. (Read: Stop multitasking.)  Take time to be still, and really listen to the currents of this magnificent existence. Appreciate one small thing each day- the vibrant green of a weed peeking through the sidewalk, the warmth of the sun, a smile from a child, or the challenge of a task.

Be flexible. You never know when a profound lesson will present itself in your life.

If that seems like too much at least you have the gift of memory to be able to look back upon your experiences and glean meaning from them. Be patient. The answers to life’s questions are ever evolving. Go with the flow. Know that life will lead you to strange and wonderful places that may not be on the journey you’ve prepared for yourself.

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

Farm/Factory

I’ve been an animal lover since day one. You know, the kind who will capture a bug in a cup and release it outside instead of killing it. (I do however draw the line at mosquitos.) I’m not a vegetarian, but I do consider myself a conscious carnivore… well, omnivore I guess. We don’t buy anything factory farmed because, quite frankly, it’s completely repulsive the way that animals are treated in these torture houses. On top of it all, factory farming is one of the biggest culprits contributing to global climate change and pollution.

Judaism has kosher regulations for food and Islam has halal. Both of these provide for humanely treated animals in life, and the least painful of deaths. Most Buddhists and Hindus are either vegetarians or eat only humanely raised and slaughtered animals, and only on special occasions. If you look in the Bible you’ll find plenty of references to vegetarianism. More importantly you’ll find even more verses about compassion. I happen to believe that to live a compassionate life one mustn’t extend compassion only to human interactions, but to every action that we make.

Yeah, organic, free range, and local usually mean a higher price tag, but also a higher quality. For that reason we eat vegetarian meals more often. I don’t judge people for the choices they make on this issue, but I have a hard time tolerating folks turning a blind eye to the uncomfortable facts. If you would like to know more please visit this website:

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/learn/factory-farming/

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily

Attitude of Grattitude

Happy people are grateful people. Makes sense, huh? Grateful people think about the things in their lives that have affected them in a good way, and by reliving those positive things they seem to manufacture positive vibes. Science agrees with this theory. Those who give thanks every day have overall higher levels of serotonin than those who do not give thanks.

I decided to put this to the test in my own life. You may not know this about me, but, I’m pretty sensitive, and when I get stressed out I develop tunnel vision. When I feel my mind spiraling, I now take a moment to give thanks for things past, present, and future. Within a minute or two I’m calm and reminded of all the reasons I have to be happy.

Also, I know that when things (for me) are out of sight, they’re out of mind. So, I like to keep little reminders for myself- the tiny glass turtle in my pocket, the note on my desk. Find your own little reminders, and take a minute or two here and there to be reminded why you should be jumping for joy J

Peace, Love, and Laughter,

Emily