tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722351180023136092024-03-05T18:32:33.945-08:00My Year of Letters: Cultivating Mindfulness, Recreating Connection, Sending LoveFor the next year, I'm going to write one letter a day as a way to practice mindfulness, to reconnect with friends and family, to spread a little joy and love around the world. I'll write about it here. If you would like a letter, please send me your address!Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-40839393612601913662012-07-27T19:17:00.002-07:002012-07-27T19:22:34.820-07:00One Year Of Letters<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<i>"And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make." ~the Beatles</i></h2>
<br />
I just got finished watching the Olympic opening ceremony, and <i>Let It Be </i>is on my mind, for a number of reasons, but I think it makes a nice start to this entry.<br />
<br />
Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of My Year of Letters. I didn't succeed in sending a letter a<br />
day, as I'd originally intended - but I do believe I sent more than 365 letters and postcards (as many days I sent more than 1), though I stopped counting after a while because it was taking away from the fun. <span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">I set out this year to write daily letters as a practice of mindfulness, kindness, and love, and a ways of reconnecting with friends and family. While I didn't reach my daily goal, letter writing has certainly become a practice for me, even more so than before I started this project. I am more centered and connected when I write my letters, and I do it with greater intention. I reconnected with old friends, even made some new ones, and (I think) brightened a few days. And in terms of sending love, I sent many letters, but I got back so much more - not necessarily in quantity, but definitely in love and in gratitude for the letters that I sent. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">I'm reminded of the song from Rent:<br /><i>Five hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred minutes<br />Five hundred twenty-nine thousand moments so dear<br />Five hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred minutes<br />How do you measure, measure a year?</i></span><br />
<br />
In terms of letters, mine is a TOMS shoe box:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWHpLtn1jRyJw9c0qx_MjwXsBUrLzQNV10v3XF6OBBdtTWL4hSLNxi0Va-t4crJIaUgsQ3yao_jV9JmtaCFdom_UavlunLijmiqEQrT_u4J9SVyUEV9v5eFrZfrmpw3YZlk11lLR9rbWi/s1600/photo+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWHpLtn1jRyJw9c0qx_MjwXsBUrLzQNV10v3XF6OBBdtTWL4hSLNxi0Va-t4crJIaUgsQ3yao_jV9JmtaCFdom_UavlunLijmiqEQrT_u4J9SVyUEV9v5eFrZfrmpw3YZlk11lLR9rbWi/s320/photo+(10).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Though my year of letters is ending, my letters will continue.</span>I will also keep this blog going for the occasional post about stationery, letter writing, pen pals and the like.Thanks for reading!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
(and if you didn't get a letter yet, just send me your address or let me know you want one :)<br />
<br />Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-86723867934574186792012-06-29T20:37:00.000-07:002012-06-29T20:37:16.379-07:00Peace PostcardsI had the good fortune to stumble into a fantastic used bookshop in my new neighborhood this evening after dinner. <u><a href="http://www.bluestockingbooks.com/" target="_blank">Bluestocking Books </a></u>has a fanTAStic selection, including Howard Zinn's <i>People's History of the United States</i> featured prominently in the window for the 4th of July (it might be the next book I walk out with - tonight I walked out with Ram Dass' <i>Be Here Now</i>). I think I will be saying goodbye to Amazon.com for the foreseeable future!<br />
<br />
But Bluestocking Books doesn't just have books - they have an <i>amazing </i>postcard selection, including a number of peace postcards! Here are a few of my favorites:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5OvRl0Y3Ie4pGLVO0wTEqr_S9JFVUpGAR-DXorPX__QX6mbPNLXCNSm2CR3-OlaCVaY6PyBfoySgew73gL5EJnaxCBCc403HfAs7f92m66YeH3jcaz3PH002JfLAsPGw_30XvCUWtTlS/s1600/Peace+On+Earth+Postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5OvRl0Y3Ie4pGLVO0wTEqr_S9JFVUpGAR-DXorPX__QX6mbPNLXCNSm2CR3-OlaCVaY6PyBfoySgew73gL5EJnaxCBCc403HfAs7f92m66YeH3jcaz3PH002JfLAsPGw_30XvCUWtTlS/s320/Peace+On+Earth+Postcard.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9dXmnR48lwsLcTKapVZQwEEd5hh-N83LgMmIZdkCVl135Ox9H3hYcM9-K7vKSvcstlpD36ZGiUTMhcFhc6kM_YIjWTaM_UNIHAdu00Lvd9oGYkkp47PmwAjq8foXT7yDOSelQpjPty-B/s1600/Be+the+Change+Postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9dXmnR48lwsLcTKapVZQwEEd5hh-N83LgMmIZdkCVl135Ox9H3hYcM9-K7vKSvcstlpD36ZGiUTMhcFhc6kM_YIjWTaM_UNIHAdu00Lvd9oGYkkp47PmwAjq8foXT7yDOSelQpjPty-B/s320/Be+the+Change+Postcard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHayT4a2kmGmfNKZNw1E2nJZWzpl0PLmLQgkOL1I9Iq_HxhvEW1_ezcLgQaneQUULBUpd_gk4xZii9tEdNzFSigM3fsI_Uhey0D125uUHCWi1o9VNJSAL7ERTLNSGRF00rD0InvlKu7wm/s1600/Community+Postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHayT4a2kmGmfNKZNw1E2nJZWzpl0PLmLQgkOL1I9Iq_HxhvEW1_ezcLgQaneQUULBUpd_gk4xZii9tEdNzFSigM3fsI_Uhey0D125uUHCWi1o9VNJSAL7ERTLNSGRF00rD0InvlKu7wm/s320/Community+Postcard.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
And this one is particularly apt for the upcoming 4th of July holiday:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTuhOBKHbbRRSZ-IwNeWLWVhn3ciQCyVDLNOImvF43H5uj9XlMjBBMO1vMvJacm0qMwqv8DB0vCVug2UfSClvlMbIEqfHVg7J3GnwUNiABeWHjG6iTQ7BMXOuhArE1_JbqXFq2ksss9TH/s1600/American+Values+Postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTuhOBKHbbRRSZ-IwNeWLWVhn3ciQCyVDLNOImvF43H5uj9XlMjBBMO1vMvJacm0qMwqv8DB0vCVug2UfSClvlMbIEqfHVg7J3GnwUNiABeWHjG6iTQ7BMXOuhArE1_JbqXFq2ksss9TH/s320/American+Values+Postcard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I'm planning to send my first one, Peace On Earth, to Russia via <a href="http://postcrossing.com/" target="_blank">postcrossing</a>, but the rest are up for grabs - if you'd like a postcard let me know! :-)Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-81739647938878793762012-06-03T09:25:00.000-07:002012-06-03T09:25:01.908-07:00Peace On Us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-LBHTmLjVdA_28spzNE_76jcXHcIq9m-_sX2H5c2Nfm4oVkHKQeCVzMXRA0yPb4w4uK_wiOWaa_Du2rnWjCmROGR1dcfJ0jYTfBYNNH7Ezab_c3zb-ALsVZ4IPJUkcMassZ5TWj8_Ve_/s1600/120603-092102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-LBHTmLjVdA_28spzNE_76jcXHcIq9m-_sX2H5c2Nfm4oVkHKQeCVzMXRA0yPb4w4uK_wiOWaa_Du2rnWjCmROGR1dcfJ0jYTfBYNNH7Ezab_c3zb-ALsVZ4IPJUkcMassZ5TWj8_Ve_/s320/120603-092102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I got this great peace stationery from my friend Rachel who sent it from Australia. The perfect stationery for sending some peace and love around the world!Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-12050027739076239202012-05-24T14:12:00.002-07:002012-05-24T14:12:34.825-07:00Postcards from the BorderHey, I'm back!<br />
<br />
It's been a while since I've posted on here - been slacking a bit on my letters, plus we moved, which took up a lot of time and energy.<br />
<br />
Let me know if you want our new address!<br />
<br />
I also traveled to Tijuana this month, and will go back again next week for some peace education workshops with 80 teachers, in conjunction with Teachers Without Borders, the Organization of American States, and the Baja California Department of Education.<br />
<br />
To commemorate the trip, I took the opportunity to use <a href="http://moo.com/">Moo.com</a>'s great postcard function. I used one of my favorite photos of the border graffiti. Let me know if you want one! :-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCJGGK6M3ewxJB8fHusKnMopMLa5EHWk5MEHF9j4pOTkFPXC-TjoFBMRqZTVjZyR9bn0BHqYlxcSyFWloqm_P0i7V1tGmTx4wDxJM9z6N_DMKHg4X2XLJ71UleGpXhxBHJ0iIw22GZWo3/s1600/120524-140521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCJGGK6M3ewxJB8fHusKnMopMLa5EHWk5MEHF9j4pOTkFPXC-TjoFBMRqZTVjZyR9bn0BHqYlxcSyFWloqm_P0i7V1tGmTx4wDxJM9z6N_DMKHg4X2XLJ71UleGpXhxBHJ0iIw22GZWo3/s320/120524-140521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-40351771550438235242012-04-07T18:12:00.000-07:002012-04-07T18:12:01.813-07:00Sealing Wax and Other Fancy StuffWorld Market sent me a $10 happy birthday coupon to use in its store, and I got a sealing wax kit!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8hY9s4nwA6q7ZbBXxzgcXIYVuJkwFKRtIKN6ZGW2esHSykyjgCGEP-NXJjUlVDgyjVA_ObjpoEQXSmV7Po3BfeKpvrQArTDb9AodamJB34aBSY9BNe28jF92tTWPQiN8QgU6vaE8t467/s1600/120407-180123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8hY9s4nwA6q7ZbBXxzgcXIYVuJkwFKRtIKN6ZGW2esHSykyjgCGEP-NXJjUlVDgyjVA_ObjpoEQXSmV7Po3BfeKpvrQArTDb9AodamJB34aBSY9BNe28jF92tTWPQiN8QgU6vaE8t467/s320/120407-180123.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The wax is like a little crayon, and then it comes with a stamp with three different faces - hearts (pictured), stars, and a fleur de lis. It adds a whole new dimension to my letter writing experience!<br />
<br />
And it definitely requires mindfulness and concentration. There is actually some technique involved in sealing an envelope with wax. You need to get the wax in the right spot, you need the right amount of wax. Then you need to stir the wax to get the bubbles out (you stir with the crayon stick), and finally you have to wait until just the right time to press the seal.<br />
<br />I've tried it twice so far and both turned out OK. The first one I erred on the side of waiting too long, and the impression wasn't very deep. Just now I tried it but didn't check to see the direction of the hearts before I pressed - doh!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsybcSWkfeZNeeWq4YdxbmHbDaKW168SGtdzD7dThg9x3PZ5TcvOPM7gnph3Huopk3zHb0WoQUrvGQdM6uAAAWHuiR2aVHO7CABABwrgC9JcrtqZcjwT3rexeepFQ9-lKpSXt6PVrVXlvr/s1600/120407-175956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsybcSWkfeZNeeWq4YdxbmHbDaKW168SGtdzD7dThg9x3PZ5TcvOPM7gnph3Huopk3zHb0WoQUrvGQdM6uAAAWHuiR2aVHO7CABABwrgC9JcrtqZcjwT3rexeepFQ9-lKpSXt6PVrVXlvr/s320/120407-175956.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
But it still looks nice :-)<br />
<br />
(there is no "other fancy stuff" as the title implies...I just wanted to quote Puff the Magic Dragon :)<br />
<br />
I've been slacking on this blog, and it's been a whole month since my last post. And to be honest, I did not keep up with my letter-a-day goal this month. This month has been a little tricky. I'm struggling with un(der)employment right now, and some days are harder than others. On the harder days, I find it hard to write a letter. Writing a letter takes a certain amount of energy - any quality communication does - and when I write a letter I want to be sending love, not negativity. Thus on days when I've been feeling less-than-inspired, I haven't been writing, and I think this is OK.<br />
<br />
At the same time, I realize that focusing to write a letter could be <i>just </i>what I need to pull me out of the negativity, so this month I think I'll try that. It might be helpful, and I'll let you know how it goes!<br />
<br />
Also, we are probably moving at the end of the month. Our lease ends in April, so we are looking for new abodes. Check in with me later for our new address!Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-15543780036871983012012-03-08T14:17:00.000-08:002012-03-08T14:17:00.449-08:00Make Tea, Not War<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2P2slinDgBQVO5P8Om7F4iLlmZFf97D2M6qQ7kj2AQElIH_koHx8DoOQnV7C2jM6a7M3e90N-L2usgPusYosaMZJAuYCLHGyGmxH5uRtIxmRK3CZ2IE5N_3jJvukrX4XazLZ3mXqvxwd/s1600/120308-141339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2P2slinDgBQVO5P8Om7F4iLlmZFf97D2M6qQ7kj2AQElIH_koHx8DoOQnV7C2jM6a7M3e90N-L2usgPusYosaMZJAuYCLHGyGmxH5uRtIxmRK3CZ2IE5N_3jJvukrX4XazLZ3mXqvxwd/s320/120308-141339.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I found this postcard in my local stationery shop. I love it :-) I'm sending the first one through the <a href="http://postcrossing.com/" target="_blank">Postcrossing </a>project, but I have a feeling I'm going to have to go back to get more to send to everyone I know!<br />
<br />
This also connects beautifully to my newest project, <a href="http://peacemealproject.com/" target="_blank">PeaceMeal - Cultivating Peace Through Food.</a> Please check it out!Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-77041874027827412992012-02-28T10:05:00.002-08:002012-02-28T10:05:51.927-08:00A Certified Mail Treat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq97WVCvtagYUT1jpWOj12PhERspiU8eg5umgIMSbN5k_9qrq1Wyv0TCLJ7fZUTxRuH5Lq_C60hz_b1DyvdXqaTnfgPS7xWIp-jEfaUMvMGd5G30HUvHiA5rowB7OaCe-ahwMY_kgjYit/s1600/120228-094954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq97WVCvtagYUT1jpWOj12PhERspiU8eg5umgIMSbN5k_9qrq1Wyv0TCLJ7fZUTxRuH5Lq_C60hz_b1DyvdXqaTnfgPS7xWIp-jEfaUMvMGd5G30HUvHiA5rowB7OaCe-ahwMY_kgjYit/s320/120228-094954.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Today I woke up feeling a little uninspired. We've had the good fortune of a rainy day here in sunny San Diego, but the cloudy skies and cool air have me feeling less-than-productive.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I wasn't home when the mail arrived, and when I got back there was a note on the door that I had some certified, insured mail that needed to be picked up at the post office. I wasn't sure what it might be, and whether it was something to be excited about or not, so I didn't think much of it.<br />
<br />This morning, I went to pick it up - and was delighted by what was inside!<br />
<br />
It was copies of the book "People Building Peace 2.0," in which my story, "Peace Education Without Borders," was published. I entered the story in the <a href="http://www.peaceportal.org/web/stories-contest/home" target="_blank">Peace Portal Stories for Peace Challenge</a> last year, and it was selected as one of 25 winners. As a winner, you get your story published in the book, and you also get 10 free copies of the book! What a nice treat.<br />
<br />
I love blogging, but there is something <i>really </i>exciting about seeing your words in such a tangible form. I think I am going to have to pursue more opportunities like this.<br />
<br />
And <i>that </i>gave me my much-needed inspiration for today!Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-31700634692486768262012-02-14T13:12:00.000-08:002012-02-14T13:15:41.167-08:00Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBmjIW5swC47O3Gxfq4sSYbN-bUfrjuK51_CK7512Dv_33BJkK1KnFYexWh7g-JT25Necgpw2bBf_V7hpfw7qcQPd0pQL2FaoJLQiXZrOI4B_ABSVh0lBq0idDutf4IBub0jpMoncmYz2/s1600/120214-125003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBmjIW5swC47O3Gxfq4sSYbN-bUfrjuK51_CK7512Dv_33BJkK1KnFYexWh7g-JT25Necgpw2bBf_V7hpfw7qcQPd0pQL2FaoJLQiXZrOI4B_ABSVh0lBq0idDutf4IBub0jpMoncmYz2/s320/120214-125003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My husband and I are of the mentality that "every day is Valentine's Day". We're not a fan of the commercialism, and we like to do nice little things for each other randomly and express love for each other on a regular basis. However, he still took the opportunity to still buy me a beautiful bouquet of tulips for our new tulip holder from the Netherlands (thanks Alistair! thanks Lieke! :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFpiY6MHmICR2SJdNfNm2skfGKEsZFJbjygNrOgIW36y5yf4nHqz3cInoGpsckIq5LGCw6aAKSukbhAn0mch0lUPEahrHDgNwq-xoBbg0H0khYOMjGO5oIET-zjE3sh07NvIOXfkWVIPA/s1600/120214-130344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFpiY6MHmICR2SJdNfNm2skfGKEsZFJbjygNrOgIW36y5yf4nHqz3cInoGpsckIq5LGCw6aAKSukbhAn0mch0lUPEahrHDgNwq-xoBbg0H0khYOMjGO5oIET-zjE3sh07NvIOXfkWVIPA/s320/120214-130344.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And maybe thinking it's just another day has its limits. In regards to this "it's just another day" mentality, a friend commented on Facebook today,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "Of all the posts in my news feed today, at least 90% are about how it's just another day. It seems like the Anti-Valentine people are the bandwagon jumpers to me. Who cares if someone decides to show extra affection to someone else today? I can think of worse things people do." (Thanks Jason! :) </span> Right on! So, Valentine Haters, jump on board, and take some advice from MC Yogi: give love!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rpVUih5nY9g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
I am usually not a fan of "greeting card holidays", (similarly, for me, "everyday is a letter writing day!" :) but my mom bought me some <i>fantastic </i>Valentine's Day stationery this year from Papyrus (what you can't see in the photo is the deliciously soft velveteen texture of the card) so I went with it, and have been sending these out over the past few weeks. I'd also like to share the insert in the Papyrus cards, explaining the chosen symbol of the hummingbird:<br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>"Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. Hummingbirds open our eyes to the wonder of the world and inspire us to open our heats to loved ones and friends. Like a hummingbird, we aspire to hover and savor each moment as it passes, embrace all that life has to offer and to celebrate the joy of everyday. The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation."</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
Beautifully connected to both My Year of Letters and Valentine's Day!
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgapUR-Ps2ru9b7hNu_5zA_hUGXJ7UHQW5v0vfaEuTmk5aSGv49q7AVnLKNMObz-cOInzRPRvK2AL36Cc1O9CfF_lAvP0bZdqOoI8_kfBOB5gb1NiZka5ZPoOiI8_ffKNl5mnIoBjCgwl/s1600/JEK_2052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgapUR-Ps2ru9b7hNu_5zA_hUGXJ7UHQW5v0vfaEuTmk5aSGv49q7AVnLKNMObz-cOInzRPRvK2AL36Cc1O9CfF_lAvP0bZdqOoI8_kfBOB5gb1NiZka5ZPoOiI8_ffKNl5mnIoBjCgwl/s320/JEK_2052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Photo credit: <a href="http://www.jknoxphotography.com/" target="_blank">James Knox Photography</a> - my amazingly talented cousin, who took this photo at La Costa Resort when we had our wedding celebration there in November. Thanks James! :)<br />
<br />
Finally, I just want to share my favorite quote about love, from the great sage and poet Rumi:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” </b></span></i></span>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
This resonates with my belief that we are love, we are peace at our deepest, truest essence, and our task, as Rumi says is not to look for love outside of ourselves, but rather to look inside and figure out how we are blocking the love within us from shining through.<br />
<br />
And on that note, break down the barriers and get down to MC Yogi! :-)<br />
<br />Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-91487878891212161272012-02-10T10:13:00.000-08:002012-02-10T10:15:21.708-08:00Chain of GratitudeToday I would like to share my friend Nathaniel Dunigan's blog on "<a href="http://nathanieldunigan.com/?p=208" target="_blank">The Power of the HAND-written Word</a>," which as you know I am a strong believer in! In his blog, Nathaniel talks about how in Uganda, the way of replying to "thank you" involves thanking the person for appreciating, creating a "thank you chain."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_9iPVao_qYVlKE33BOUCgFIXs5ROh0tMcIwjDWXM9p8d25qkObKg6S8iH08IFF39Xz_TSUnKoSsG8aaGrqhiqwdcwupSSVT-8s0sDVEk9pO4VWBEGHKB_X0c9XnoqL-zgsG0xZ6mrb7R/s1600/120210-100601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_9iPVao_qYVlKE33BOUCgFIXs5ROh0tMcIwjDWXM9p8d25qkObKg6S8iH08IFF39Xz_TSUnKoSsG8aaGrqhiqwdcwupSSVT-8s0sDVEk9pO4VWBEGHKB_X0c9XnoqL-zgsG0xZ6mrb7R/s320/120210-100601.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have some cards that compliment this chain of gratitude idea. They are called Karma Cards (I'm pretty sure I've blogged about them here before), and they are from <a href="http://www.newleafpaper.com/" target="_blank">New Leaf Paper</a>, a sustainable printing company that makes <i>fabulous </i>station<b>e</b>ry. The card has a simple yet elegant design and says "Gracias". The card's seam is perforated, and on the reverse of "Gracias" it's a postcard - so the recipient can actually reuse the card and send it to someone else! I thought this was a great idea both in terms of sustainability and for the sake of carrying on the chain of gratitude.<br />
<br />
Like Nathaniel, I keep a stack of these cards on-hand so that at anytime I can pick one up and express gratitude the handwritten way.<br />
<br />
I recently read an article about a man, John Kralik, who did a project similar to My Year of Letters, but he focused on sending one handwritten thank you note everyday. He subsequently wrote a book called "<a href="http://www.hyperionbooks.com/book/a-simple-act-of-gratitude-paperback/" target="_blank">A Simple Act of Gratitude</a>," a memoir on how this practice was transformative for him. I haven't read the book yet, but I like the idea.<br />
<br />
What are you thankful for today? Consider sending a thank you note! :-)Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-73239938774085991512012-02-02T08:12:00.000-08:002012-02-02T08:18:12.146-08:0028-day Meditation ChallengeWhat are you doing for the month of February? Why not take part in Sharon Salzberg's 28-day meditation challenge? Today is only Day 2, so you can begin anew right where you are! If you're interested in joining, please visit here for more info:<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.sharonsalzberg.com/realhappiness/blog">http://www.sharonsalzberg.com/realhappiness/blog</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Real Happiness is a great meditation resource, both for those who are new to meditation and for seasoned practitioners. The beautiful thing about meditation is that it's best to always approach it with a beginner's mind, so whether you've been practicing for 10 days or 10 years, what Sharon has to offer can support your practice. She has an incredible way of making meditation accessible.</div><div><br /></div><div>For me, writing letters is an extension of my meditation practice. It is a way to further cultivate the skills that I try to hone while sitting and apply them in my daily life. And on that note, I think I have some letters to write! :-)</div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-18158925102768223602012-01-28T16:01:00.000-08:002012-01-28T16:14:49.402-08:00My Ode to 100 Yen Stationery<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBN0vtmVfoTNr_FXdDh_sAzht3v4hhtEgz4tSvRNUfgozPbGxlv2mPAdCkgr3axOvwAewVegQQr2WfVA94qGsuktnO6P8v7xIZ_VhTrXjPJ9RBm0Y9seYVDiG60mufqeIAqkrzOehqt5D/s1600/120128-160126.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBN0vtmVfoTNr_FXdDh_sAzht3v4hhtEgz4tSvRNUfgozPbGxlv2mPAdCkgr3axOvwAewVegQQr2WfVA94qGsuktnO6P8v7xIZ_VhTrXjPJ9RBm0Y9seYVDiG60mufqeIAqkrzOehqt5D/s400/120128-160126.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702837667836048978" /></a><br />Oh, how I long for the days where I could go into a hundred yen shop and buy riduculous stationery to my heart's content!<div><br /></div><div>When I lived in Japan, one of my pasttimes was shopping in the 100 yen stores - where everything really is 100 yen ($1), AND it's practical stuff (NOT like dollar stores here in the US where most of it is garbage). And you could find some real treasures in their in terms of their comedic value.</div><div><br />My all-time favorite 100-yen purchase was a mug, the first mug I bought in Japan. Sadly, the mug shattered a few months ago, but I did manage to write down the poetry before I threw the pieces away. It read:</div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span ><i>I hope to fly! (caterpiller)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span ><i>Everyday<br />the sky is and wants me<br />when I can fly! (birds)<br /><br />Look at our beautiful legs<br />All our acts look like dancing (flamingos)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span ><i>Jump!<br />Jump!!<br />Jump!!!<br />If I flew more and more high,<br />If I were free to swim in the blue sky,<br />Through this blue sea!! (Dolphins and whales)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span ><i>Let’s walk more slowly today.<br />I can walk faster, but I feel like doing (armadillo).<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span ><i>What a pretty flower!<br />Oh….Something has a break on my nose.<br />My nose tickles. (Dog)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; "><span ><i>This is my lvely place!<br />My friends, little bard,<br />be coming soon.<br />(Deer and birds)</i></span></span></div><div><br />I was sad my favorite mug broke, but the words live on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hundred yen stationery was equally delightful, and in a similar, nonsensical vein. I've talked about 100 yen stationery in previous posts, but I needed to write about it again today, because I found some in a local shop and it brought back memories.</div><div><br /></div><div>This particular set says "Look! Isn't that dog cute? Is it a dachshund? It looks like our dog but much longer." Now, this actually makes more sense than most 100 yen stationery. One of my favorites was called "Cool bone guy". It had skulls and crosses on it, and it said:</div><div>"I am cool bone guy. Girls are gutlessnesses in such me."</div><div>Gutlessnesses. Gutlessnesses?! One can imagine what he was going for, that Cool Bone Guy....</div><div><br /></div><div>The 100 yen stationery at my local shop sold for a whopping $4.80. I still bought it. It also made me realize that I should start a 100 yen stationery importing business.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other fantastic thing about 100 yen stationery is that it comes in a set with matching envelopes and stickers, making the letter writing process that much more enjoyable!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is my ode to the 100 yen stationery!</div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-74900714174172234302012-01-17T06:13:00.001-08:002012-01-17T06:39:11.142-08:002011 Year of Letters Review: Reflections So Far<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFJN7YkBrid8VdsPwDtHWNqMi7K4In1Guwa5WVhUEbB2mPeb-77J4qFTgMgwqdnKcdeEsdwbaab5r6XlMu7dF3bWrE28JUs3LDICneXKVHQpVDEs-7LAjs8VRCSIchLjvy4Iki7IadMsr/s1600/124.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFJN7YkBrid8VdsPwDtHWNqMi7K4In1Guwa5WVhUEbB2mPeb-77J4qFTgMgwqdnKcdeEsdwbaab5r6XlMu7dF3bWrE28JUs3LDICneXKVHQpVDEs-7LAjs8VRCSIchLjvy4Iki7IadMsr/s400/124.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698610456575414082" /></a><br />At the end of 2011, I did a big, self-reflective year in review process, largely based on the suggestions of <a href="http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-conduct-your-own-annual-review/">Chris Guillebeau</a> of the Art of Nonconformity blog. I thought about 2011, what went well and what didn't, and what I'd like to make happen in 2012.<br /><br />I thought I would do a similar, though shorter, process for My Year of Letters in 2011.<br /><br /><div>I started MYOL in July 2011. Since then, I've sent an <i>average </i>of more than one letter per day, although I didn't realize my goal of actually sending a letter a day (ie, I might send 7 letters in a week, but I might have sent 2 in one day). This happened a few times when I traveled, lost track of time, etc. In 2012 I'd like to stay on track with <b>the practice of writing a handwritten note everyday regardless of circumstances.</b> However, life happens, so all I can do is try my best!</div><div><br /></div><div>I had started out keeping track of how many letters I sent and where I sent them too. However, over time I found this to be a bit tedious - not having time to update the lists in addition to actually writing letters. On one hand, I really wish I knew exactly how many letters I've sent so far! On the other hand, I don't think it really matters. </div><div><br /></div><div>MYOL started out with me sending letters to almost everyone who's address I have. I also started sharing these blog posts on Facebook, and through that, received more addresses. This, combined with having wedding party invitations, thank you notes for the gifts we received, and holiday cards, took up the bulk of the year. When I started the project, I thought at some point I'd have to start sending random letters to people I might not know - famous people, politicians, etc. That hasn't really happened yet (I did write a few letters to Congressional representatives), although I would still like it to. I'll set a<b> goal for 2012 to include more "random" letters in my writing.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Through my initial round of letters and Facebook posts, I developed a few lovely pen pal relationships from friends from various phases of life. That has definitely been the most rewarding part of the YOL. As I've mentioned in previous posts, letters are special - you have a different kind of conversation than if you were sitting over coffee or talking on the phone. It's also given me a chance to reconnect - one of the initial goals of the project. I treasure my correspondence with these friends. In 2012 I will continue to nurture these relationships.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've received so many letters! This is a pure bonus of the project. Right now they are all in a shoe box, and I rotate the ones that I display on my bedside table, kitchen counter or bookcase. I want to get <b>a nice, special box to put my letters in</b> - just looking for the right container.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also got involved with <a href="http://myyearofletters.blogspot.com/2011/11/postcrossing.html">Postcrossing</a>, which has been a really fun little project. However, I do rely on Postcrossing if it's the end of the day and I'm not feeling inspired to write a longer, more involved letter. Good or bad? Not sure. But I do know that I've really enjoyed participating in the project, have a really nice postcard collection, and have some new friends from all over the world :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>In short, it was a good start to MYOL. Now I'm about half-way through the year, and my intention is to keep it up - in fact, my overall intention is to keep it up for the rest of my life, but let's take it one day at a time :-)</div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-51689439269057935592011-12-31T08:22:00.000-08:002011-12-31T08:45:06.970-08:00My letter to 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wR9-_ZztWMTYD7aWZeIOaOKyY4WAtw4iyhFTx0NTIJUwXrYQN-yDkTjQPo8F_0Ug_KqwiXXppiNwvPA0ukFec7nk7aEen-N3uPoqublBgRi5ILBYy6xJDRBiAf6VquGOlwnw7h5iAPtd/s1600/no+mud+no+lotus.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 382px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wR9-_ZztWMTYD7aWZeIOaOKyY4WAtw4iyhFTx0NTIJUwXrYQN-yDkTjQPo8F_0Ug_KqwiXXppiNwvPA0ukFec7nk7aEen-N3uPoqublBgRi5ILBYy6xJDRBiAf6VquGOlwnw7h5iAPtd/s400/no+mud+no+lotus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692333785441512898" /></a><br /><br />For today’s blog, I write a letter to 2011 – since it has no physical address, I’ll share my letter with you here :)<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“No mud, no lotus.”</span><br />-Thich Nhat Hanh<br /><br />Dear 2011,<br /><br />You were the best of times, you were the worst of times. You were a rollercoaster year more than any other in recent memory. Personally and globally, you were tumultuous, full of challenges as well as much celebration and joy, and much to be grateful for.<br /><br />I can’t say I’m sorry to see you go. The last few months you really dealt me some blows, and all I can really say is that I got through them. I am getting through them. And certainly, the blows could always be bigger. They could always be harder. But I didn’t receive anything I couldn’t handle. <br /><br />The highlights of 2011 were really the most simple things, and perhaps you reminded me that this is what life is really about – being reunited with my husband after long months of separation, being able to celebrate our marriage with loved ones, receiving many visitors to our new home in San Diego. After living abroad for many years, 2011 was full or reconnection with friends and family – both in physical time and space, and also through this project (My Year of Letters). I cherish these moments and hope that 2012 brings many more.<br /><br />In the challenges, you reminded me that everything changes – that nothing is stable, nothing is to be taken for granted, and that anything can be taken away in a moment. I lost my job, and we were frighteningly close to losing my dad. You reminded me of the everchanging fragility of life, of impermanence. Through these challenges, you reminded me to surrender, to accept what is. I will try to remember this as I move into 2012.<br /><br />I read a quote recently, something like “Life doesn’t get easier, we just get stronger.” Looking back, if some of the things that happened this year had happened 5 years ago, I don’t know how well I would have handled them. But I feel like I have the tools to deal with what is happening now – and to not just deal with it, but to make something great come out of it. Remembering that everything ultimately happens for our upliftment.<br /><br />One of the other highlights of 2011 was having the opportunity to study with the great spiritual teacher and peacemaker Thich Naht Hanh. Thay says, “no mud, no lotus,” meaning that without the darker, challenging aspects of life, we would not be able to have the beauty and the joy. This year was definitely a muddy year, but I see a lotus blooming for 2012. If 2011 was year of mud, let 2012 be the year of the lotus. 2011 has definitely provided much fodder for 2012 to bloom.<br /><br />Thank you, 2011, for all of the challenges and joy that you brought, for the opportunities for growth, and for the opportunities to really challenge myself to be a better person. I dedicate 2012 to being the best person I can be, and for all of my actions to contribute to a more peaceful world.<br /><br />With love,<br />StephanieStephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-38728758132580074172011-12-21T07:48:00.000-08:002011-12-21T08:07:15.913-08:00Practicing Mindfulness with Holiday Cards<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQK9aEcK9n7ViLZUzDtRCB0L9GGHaXU7a5zYfTSW_nz8ICIo7EFYkq8ghVntbWBf6if74RpX5YswMreMCxKqgVLSBcK9GLdXJsCFJVg9Hj_TRAPpZV88Cr2j5Sxtk6JN-nGGK2QZfoYV1/s1600/111221-074649.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQK9aEcK9n7ViLZUzDtRCB0L9GGHaXU7a5zYfTSW_nz8ICIo7EFYkq8ghVntbWBf6if74RpX5YswMreMCxKqgVLSBcK9GLdXJsCFJVg9Hj_TRAPpZV88Cr2j5Sxtk6JN-nGGK2QZfoYV1/s400/111221-074649.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688609958798600082" /></a><br />'Tis the season to send holiday greeting cards - and this is a great opportunity to practice mindfulness! Writing holiday cards can be a marathon, and can be a source of joy or annoyance, depending on how we approach it. In today's blog I'd like to talk about how we can practice mindfulness as we write holiday cards.<br /><br />First, check the intention and sentiment behind the cards. Do you find yourself dreading them, or excited about sending them? If you're dreading it, then maybe it's best not to send them. There's no point in sending happy holiday greetings if it's going to make you miserable! Remember your intention, which may have to do with reconnecting with loved ones and wishing them well. Come back to this intention if you find yourself becoming bored, distracted or rushed.<br /><br />Once you get started, are you feeling like a robot, or are you present in the moment as you write your cards? As I was writing mine, I noticed this was a tremendously powerful way to practice mindfulness. When I write one letter, it's pretty easy to stay mindful. When you're sitting down to write 10 or 20 cards with similar things written inside, it's easy to become a robot. Rather than becoming a Christmas card machine, though, you can use this opportunity to practice mindfulness with each card. There's no need to rush through it. Take a deep breath as you begin each card. Feel the pen connect to the paper. Notice your handwriting. Take your time. If you find yourself becoming a robot, take a deep breath and remember your intention.<br /><br />Most likely you are writing things about peace, joy, health, prosperity - all positive qualities that we try to nurture through a mindfulness practice. As you write these words, try to feel the words - feel love, feel peace, feel joy. Try to imagine the people who you are sending the card to, and imagine sending these feelings to them. This is much like the meditation practice of metta, or lovingkindness, which is one of my favorite practices (You can read about metta meditation here: http://info.med.yale.edu/psych/3s/metta.html; I also recommend checking out the work of Sharon Salzberg, who wrote a book called Lovingkindness, and she has a new book coming out in the new year called Real Happiness; http://www.sharonsalzberg.com).<br /><br />If you write your cards in this manner, something that otherwise could be a chore becomes very enjoyable. And such is the practice of mindfulness - when we do everything this way, everything becomes interesting, and we are better able to experience our lives with joy, peace and equanimity. We can use this practice throughout the holiday season: while wrapping presents, while cooking food, while sitting in holiday traffic, while doing last-minute gift shopping.<br /><br />On that note, I wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with good food, much laughter, and precious time with loved ones. May you find peace, joy, love, happiness and health in the new year - and in this moment, right here, right now :-)Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-12546024599097722362011-12-14T16:54:00.000-08:002011-12-14T17:17:10.012-08:00Mailing My Hair<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9fHOQ_plEVuS9nOH5wu87HUHkbmCYn_y1eLSvGX9rZJ_Tgh8EJ06tsaW6xmFHU50t_rUzykCSp0ZCycuPTJxkj3-GKaJqERCSbJ0xTF3EYKkxkgAhFukVbWRjjPMy9BejqygIR0bCkyO/s1600/018.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9fHOQ_plEVuS9nOH5wu87HUHkbmCYn_y1eLSvGX9rZJ_Tgh8EJ06tsaW6xmFHU50t_rUzykCSp0ZCycuPTJxkj3-GKaJqERCSbJ0xTF3EYKkxkgAhFukVbWRjjPMy9BejqygIR0bCkyO/s400/018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686152410737294530" /></a><br />Today I sent an unusual letter - a padded envelope filled with my hair! I sent it to the <a href="http://www.pantene.com/en-US/beautiful-lengths-refresh/Pages/about-beautiful-lengths.aspx">Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign</a>, which collects donated hair to make wigs for women with cancer. <div><br /></div><div>I donated my hair for the first time in June 2010, (12 inches!) and that time I sent it to Locks of Love. They said that they would send a written confirmation that they received my hair, but they didn't, so this time I decided to go with the Pantene campaign.</div><div><br /></div><div>(You can see the photos of today's cut on my facebook profile <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150554206450856.426552.716265855&type=1&l=5dbcbe5197">here</a>).</div><div><br /></div><div>I had been wanting to donate again, and decided that the end of the year was the perfect time to do it. It resonates with the spirit of giving that permeates the holiday season, and also connects with my desire to reinvent myself in the new year and let go of anything that's dragging me down or not serving me. Not that my hair was doing that, necessarily - but I do feel a LOT lighter after the cut!</div><div><br /></div><div>To make the cut, you need the ponytail to be at least 8 inches - mine was about 9. The stylist Andrea did a great job of turning my cut into a nice short bob. She did a great job - and it was the first time she cut my hair!</div><div><br /></div><div>I went straight from the salon (Charmed on Cedros, Solana Beach) to the post office. I stood in a long line, lots of people sending packages for the holidays - I bet I was the only one mailing an envelope full of hair! :-) It makes for an interesting "My Year of Letters" post - mailing a letter to Pantene with my hair (there was actually a letter too - I had to include my mailing address in order to receive a written confirmation that they received it. I also wrote "Here's my hair - I hope it makes a nice wig!").</div><div><br /></div><div>I realize that the donation is a very small contribution - it takes about 6 ponytails to make one wig - but it's at least something I can do for a worthy cause. And something that is personally satisfying - I got a nice new cut out of it, which I wouldn't have done if I hadn't had the inspiration from the campaign.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you have long hair, I recommend giving it a try - it's liberating!</div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-53578096877905606382011-12-12T08:27:00.001-08:002011-12-12T09:21:26.403-08:00My Prison Pen Pal<div>One of my regular pen pals is in prison.</div><div><br /></div>Prior to my year of letters, I had started a pen pal friendship with a prisoner. The friendship is facilitated through a meditation program that I participate in called the Winter Feast for the Soul. The program matches meditation practitioners with inmates in the hopes of fostering spiritual mentorship and connection.<div><br /></div><div>Herman* lives in Texas. I don't know why he's in prison. What I do know is that he doesn't have any family, as his parents are dead, and he feels very much alone in this world. He writes about the conditions in the prison, which sound abysmal. He spends a lot of time in solitary confinement, does not have many opportunities for exercise, and has to purchase basic necessities like toothpaste, although he doesn't have any money to make these purchases. He always sends warm wishes to me and my husband.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our exchange is usually short, but I think we are both getting a lot out of it. We've both made a new friend. I'm learning about the conditions in prison, which seem worse than I'd imagined. Herman knows that someone out there is thinking of him, and I think that might be helpful to him. I hope it makes him feel less alone. I also share some things from yoga and meditation - I told him I am a yoga teacher, and he expressed interest in learning. I'm very much a proponent of using yoga anywhere, and especially in a place like prison where people are in a constant state of stress. Even if he's in his cell, he can do some yoga poses or even just sit and focus on his breath. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you're interested in participating in a prisoner pen pal program, you can try the <a href="http://www.winterfeastforthesoul.com/index2.php?dest=prison_outreach">Winter Feast for the Soul</a> program.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>*his name has been changed to protect his privacy.</div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-65763291166324565702011-12-01T10:01:00.001-08:002011-12-01T10:19:06.333-08:00Gracias + Hope<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrrdGtuXLL_TOxY0EF6RnJJvh0b52dlH7bMFaNus5q26IlLGlML2GVvlZjFQEijTPuSCxQTZrYM9_mw7ATeIQswISCQP2XbwZuhdid9sMWpXkLVB0_J6YOQm_o6SuF3aKqyCXbS1dDyZQ/s1600/111201-100726.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrrdGtuXLL_TOxY0EF6RnJJvh0b52dlH7bMFaNus5q26IlLGlML2GVvlZjFQEijTPuSCxQTZrYM9_mw7ATeIQswISCQP2XbwZuhdid9sMWpXkLVB0_J6YOQm_o6SuF3aKqyCXbS1dDyZQ/s400/111201-100726.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681223540351556258" /></a><br />It's been a while since I've blogged so I just wanted to give a little update on My Year of Letters!<div><br /></div><div>November was a crazy month on many levels. My dad was recovering from his neck injury, I lost my full-time job, and we had a celebration to celebrate our marriage and were graced with the presence of 75 friends and family. We also celebrated Thanksgiving with 14 loved ones. Thus it was a challenging but beautiful month, and I'm excited for the month of December and all the possibilities that it brings (including healing for my dad, whose neck brace could come off in less than 2 weeks if all goes well!; possibilities to do peace education in ways I hadn't yet considered; more time with loved ones).</div><div><br /></div><div>The letter project has been coming along - as November was a bit crazy, I didn't write everyday, necessarily, but have still been averaging at least 7 letters a week. I now also have a shoe box full of responses, of beautiful notes from around the world (some of which are decorating our apartment!). I treasure these precious gifts of friends' time and energy, and the friendships that have been rekindled as a result of this project.</div><div><br /></div><div>My letter writing project for December has me focusing on two things: Thank You cards and Holiday Cards! I'm excited for both. I've been writing thank you notes for the many gifts we received for our celebration, which were so beautiful and thoughtful. I have a great <a href="http://www.newleafproducts.net/t/category/stationery/">Karma</a> (reusable) "Gracias" card that I've been using (see photo).</div><div><br /></div><div>I also love sending holiday cards. The one featured in the photo is the "Hope" card. I bought them about a month ago, which seemed a bit early to be thinking of Christmas, but I couldn't resist as they seemed like just the cards I wanted to be sending! I also have a "Live Peace on Earth" card from the Peace Alliance, the proceeds of which go to the organization, and a Trader Joes card, which is just funny because we love shopping at Trader Joe's :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>The themes of Gracias and Hope seem very appropriate for this month. In November I celebrated a month of gratitude of posting something each day that I'm thankful for. I continue to be thankful that my dad's accident wasn't worse and that he is healing well, and I'm so thankful for all the people who came to visit us last month. I'm thankful for the opportunities that my job afforded me and the work I've been able to do, which I'll hopefully be able to do in a new capacity (again, with the <b><i>hope</i></b>!). I'm continually thankful for the wonderful family and friends I have, and especially the most supportive and loving husband I could dream of and our beautiful, funny, loving dog.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I hold a lot of hope for December and the new year. Hope for new beginnings, hope for possibilities that I cannot yet imagine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's to gracias and hope as we start this new month!</div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-37482522831513792792011-11-06T07:25:00.001-08:002011-11-06T07:35:04.253-08:00Postcrossing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWZzW0GRL8yLMRxhmofyXv2Sk_6Dj0GYZkgTz-HJN0YT04nBtmkf9VJESD-aVTfXlpuTX2Z-y6MCdhmDzdKOYeIztsA_cTku3eqS2xWOgWyg1SraRZHYoHL2d_HnTappGeXFT0Dcac8Tj/s1600/photo.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWZzW0GRL8yLMRxhmofyXv2Sk_6Dj0GYZkgTz-HJN0YT04nBtmkf9VJESD-aVTfXlpuTX2Z-y6MCdhmDzdKOYeIztsA_cTku3eqS2xWOgWyg1SraRZHYoHL2d_HnTappGeXFT0Dcac8Tj/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671904639059836162" /></a><br />I can't remember if I've mentioned postcrossing in a previous post, but just in case I didn't, I'll mention it today!<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.postcrossing.com/">Postcrossing</a> is a web site that connects people around the world through post cards. You "send a postcard and receive a postcard back from a random person somewhere in the world." Lieke, my friend from the Netherlands, mentioned this to me so I thought I'd try it out. When you want to send a postcard (you can have 5 postcards "traveling" at any given time) you request an address from the system. Then once your postcard is received, your address is put into the system and will come up the next time someone else requests. So far, I've received postcards from a woman in Japan, a woman in Siberia, and a 10-year old boy from Brazil. I've sent post cards to the Netherlands, Belarus, China, Germany, Brazil and Russia. </div><div><br /></div><div>In addition to providing the address, postcrossing will send you some information on the recipient (which they provide on their profile), so you can know what kind of postcards they like (it seems that a lot of people are collectors) and also what kind of stuff they'd like you to write about.</div><div><br /></div><div>Postcrossing has been a fun way to supplement my year of letters!<br /><div><br /></div></div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-53966579866608641362011-10-22T08:45:00.001-07:002011-10-22T09:21:24.444-07:00October<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(38, 38, 38); line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(230, 240, 242); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>"Almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(38, 38, 38); line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(230, 240, 242); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>--Steve Jobs </i></span></span></div><div><br /></div>October has been a crazy month. I've still been keeping up with my letters (over 100!), but have been having a harder time keeping up with the blog. <div><br /></div><div>One of the things I love about writing the letters is that I never quite know what's going to come out - and it often has to do with whatever is happening at that time. This week, though, I stuck to writing letters that weren't necessarily related to what was going on, because I was not ready to write about it. </div><div><br /></div><div>My dad came very close to dying last weekend. We had slept over the night before, and were out walking Rocky in the morning. As we approached the driveway on our way home, we found him sitting on the curb, which was odd. "Hey Grandpa!" we said as we approached (Rocky is his granddog :), and he said "We had an accident." It turned out that his bicycle brakes had failed at the top of their steep, long driveway, and he'd lost control at the end and literally flown like a missile head-first into a brick wall, probably at a speed of over 30 miles per hour. Miraculously, he could get up, and nothing appeared to be broken. He went back home (in the car), took a shower, and my mom drove him to the hospital.</div><div><br /></div><div>Turns out, he broke his neck - he had fractured two cervical vertebrae, C1 & C2, which as far as vertebrae go, are pretty dangerous ones to brake. So not only was it a miracle that he was alive, but it was even more of a miracle that he could walk and still had full movement! He must have hit that wall at "the perfect angle".</div><div><br /></div><div>He spent 4 days in the hospital as they monitored and stabilized him. He's in a neck brace now, one that he'll have to wear for 8-12 weeks. He needs to take it easy, but he's back home and walking around the house. All things considered, he's feeling pretty good, and we're all feeling extremely, tremendously lucky.</div><div><br /></div><div>This weekend my brother came home and we're all hanging out together as a family, which is very nice.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have a computer program called Stillness Buddy that is based on Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings. It greets you everyday when you turn on the computer and gives you mindfulness pauses throughout the day. Often, when I turn it on, it says, "You are alive! Today is a new day. What a precious gift!" I feel like at times like these, we are reminded of this, but as my dad said, about a week later we forget again. I want to commit myself to trying to remember. It's like that quote that Steve Jobs said he read that really impacted his life - I can't find the exact quote, but it's something along the lines of live everyday like it's your last. Remember that everyday is a precious gift.</div><div><br /></div><div>Steve Jobs left us with the beautiful words at the top of this page. So maybe today, ask yourself that question today: what is truly important? How can I follow my heart? Figure it out and go and do that. For me, today, that means doing yoga and hanging out with my family.</div><div><br /></div><div>Life is short. Follow your heart and connect with someone you love today!</div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-79734630718964810372011-10-13T07:41:00.000-07:002011-10-13T07:43:15.560-07:00Handwriting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLvi2SoCuCD2tZMG5kJ8CwIYzcloa9d-UKzpgh0QAun7CV__zV-OSVsL0Oy4tH0BfkxtnJpZfjxJ1f5d_b3znC_eqNAsufeZ5BfYUvRFJ9q95t7SNnZM9bRGdkhDOJdtbzvWzWzlivytu/s1600/Handwriting+blog+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLvi2SoCuCD2tZMG5kJ8CwIYzcloa9d-UKzpgh0QAun7CV__zV-OSVsL0Oy4tH0BfkxtnJpZfjxJ1f5d_b3znC_eqNAsufeZ5BfYUvRFJ9q95t7SNnZM9bRGdkhDOJdtbzvWzWzlivytu/s400/Handwriting+blog+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662987313514395986" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfLe5YaFtAt9ChSLWU1uEHeJ0C6-fqgCHlV9ofDS5TreisfWG_LrnjIJyz4iSn6E3nQChNtYr9EYAEEfETA0O3qN0LyPDI4ew3Cn2hlZthDNyoy2Bf1pCC0QQVVsIYqIroIEVm1rV6U2l/s1600/Handwriting+blog+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfLe5YaFtAt9ChSLWU1uEHeJ0C6-fqgCHlV9ofDS5TreisfWG_LrnjIJyz4iSn6E3nQChNtYr9EYAEEfETA0O3qN0LyPDI4ew3Cn2hlZthDNyoy2Bf1pCC0QQVVsIYqIroIEVm1rV6U2l/s400/Handwriting+blog+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662987216707085506" /></a>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-24507465822938725832011-10-03T20:27:00.001-07:002011-10-03T20:42:38.167-07:00Save the Post Office Campaign Part 2: Write to Darrell IssaI feel strongly about saving the post office. As I mentioned in the last post, it's the latest victim in our over-privatized, cut-happy society. I find it to be interesting that this has become an issue since I started this letter writing project. While there were many intentions behind my project, being political was not one of them. That has changed. It is most definitely political now.<div><br />And if Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA, happens to be my district's representative) has his way, the post office will be the latest government service to get cut - with his proposed bill ending free door-to-door delivery. </div><div><br /></div><div>According to <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/185161-issa-usps-must-shave-labor-costs">this blog</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Issa’s bill would, among other steps, empower a new oversight board to recommend post office closures and try to shave costs by moving away from to-the-door delivery."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; ">It would also result in cutting over 200,000 post office jobs. Seems like a funny thing to do when unemployment is so high, doesn't it? Aren't we supposed to be focused on creating jobs, and not cutting them?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; ">If you care about having your mail delivered, I urge you to WRITE A LETTER to Darrell Issa. Ironically, I could not find an address on Issa's web site - I had to search the Congress main page, and the only address I could find was the generic House of Representatives address. Alternatively, write to your own representative to tell them that you oppose this bill.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><br />Darrell Issa (R-CA)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; ">U.S. House of Representatives<br />Washington, DC 20515</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Make it short and sweet. Put it on nice stationery. But <b>write a letter,</b> and tell your Congressional representatives that you oppose these cuts (if you do in fact oppose them!).</span></span></div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-44228092375772991582011-09-30T12:25:00.000-07:002011-09-30T12:37:41.470-07:00Save the Post Office Campaign<div>I'm a big fan of saving the post office. The recent public funding cuts are way out of hand, and the post office seems like the latest unfortunate victim in a long list of many.</div><div><br /></div>Check out this article from the Atlantic on the new post office campaign:<div><a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/09/us-postal-service-touts-what-theyve-got-new-ads/43161/">http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/09/us-postal-service-touts-what-theyve-got-new-ads/43161/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Save the post office, send a letter!</div><div>(or, if you don't want to send a letter, give me your address and I'll send you one!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-33286414928587747292011-09-22T18:44:00.000-07:002011-09-22T20:11:49.950-07:00We are the Tide, We are our Actions<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyFHKEkUXITUwF8CfVn2nqs8Yq8qANQMih2ZqY1gfXE3rH-UeDAN2ooq9YhNGzP5ucCLCm78ZENvX-nO4mhAFY2A1B3mhzQp3mi1pbZokFbwFCCeTANO4T3zpjZ-TW2Auf7ATHf7ScCEm/s1600/110922-185337.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyFHKEkUXITUwF8CfVn2nqs8Yq8qANQMih2ZqY1gfXE3rH-UeDAN2ooq9YhNGzP5ucCLCm78ZENvX-nO4mhAFY2A1B3mhzQp3mi1pbZokFbwFCCeTANO4T3zpjZ-TW2Auf7ATHf7ScCEm/s320/110922-185337.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655368195229812674" /></a><br />This week was a funny week for the year of letters. I know that I forgot to write letters on 2 days (within the past 10 days), just because I've been quite busy. Working during the day, meditation and yoga on the weekends, visitors...life is abundance, but free time has not been in abundance and hence my slack in letter writing. <div><br /></div><div>And forgetting - then realize that I forgot - is an exercise in mindfulness too, I suppose!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm finding that mornings and afternoons are the best time for met to write letters. If I leave it to be the last thing I do all day, the letter suffers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today I received some exciting mail (though not part of the letter writing project, per se): the new <a href="http://www.blindpilotmusic.com/">Blind Pilot</a> superfan set! (It wasn't officially called the superfan set, but I think only a superfan would order it). They just released a new album called <i>We are the Tide</i>. It included an autographed lyric book, CD, vinyl, T-shirt, AND a beautiful copy of the album artwork signed by the artist. So beautiful!</div><div><br /></div><div>Getting stuff in the mail is fun, even if it's stuff you bought! (And if you haven't heard Blind Pilot's new album - go check it out!)</div><div><br /></div><div>There's been a lot of talk about the post office cuts. Cuts, cuts everywhere. Granted, I don't really think we need Saturday service (who wants to get a bill on a Saturday?), and our mail service is superfast - something I've become particularly aware of since starting this project. However, I greatly appreciate the post office and hate to hear that it is among the government agencies that are struggling right now</div><div><br /></div><div>This week was International Day of Peace (Sept. 21). I participated in the minute of silence at noon, which was intended to be like a wave of peace and compassion that swept across the planet for 24 hours. In that minute, thousands of people across regions and hemispheres were honoring the day of peace. I hope that it will inspire more than just the day - peace needs more than a day, it needs a lifetime.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been thinking about how letters could be related to peace. I suppose the aspects of spreading love and joy and cultivating mindfulness are absolutely peace-related. I was also thinking about writing letters FOR peace - as in, writing letters to world leaders. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I was a kid, I was a prolific letter writer, and not just to people I knew. I frequently wrote to public officials to tell them what I thought (I once wrote to Sophie Maslof, then mayor of Pittsburgh, to ask for a pro basketball team. How little I knew about politics or sports...). I haven't done it so much in adulthood, but do send the occasional email to my representatives. I wonder if a handwritten letter would be more effective. I think this week I will set is as a goal to try!</div><div><br /></div><div>And maybe to President Obama. I thought his <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/64026.html">speech </a>about peace at the UN yesterday was great - if <i>only </i>it was more than words. If our actions - as a nation, as a world - aligned with his speech, we would have peace. Perhaps just having those words (abolishing nuclear weapons, Palestinian statehood, universal human rights) be said by the President of the United States is a big step (certainly a big step from the cowboy diplomacy of the Bush years). I hope that in my lifetime we can align our actions with his words.</div><div><br /></div><div>Aligning words and actions was something that Thich Nhat Hanh talked a lot about at the mindfulness retreat. He said that the answer to the question, "Who am I?" is:<i> your actions</i>. When our actions reflect the right view and are coherent with our speech and thoughts, then "everything you do will be an expression of love." </div><div><br /></div><div>When you think about that idea, <i>you are your actions</i>, doesn't it make you want to make the best actions possible? Doesn't it make you want all of your actions to be an expression of love?</div><div><br />If you are your actions, who are you?</div><div><br /></div><div>If we are the tide, could we create a tide of peace, joy, compassion and love with our actions, a tide to sweep across the planet? I think we can!</div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-73622033729522019362011-09-14T19:34:00.000-07:002011-09-14T19:42:24.522-07:00Nurturing the Beloved Community: 6 days of Mindfulness with Thich Nhat Hanh<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyl8TzUV8aRqkiy9ruTg3MNbVAQ3702g_AxI7-_vM2vpblJ8wzmcd8BoQVt-VrUqbkz1ikzMnKALgKDHFApMA-LjzHdDktO6JPc0r_ZKxQJgF4mcLV6fYpEvYwWOE9PoRdZZtHPfOK1Ih/s1600/IMGP4148.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyl8TzUV8aRqkiy9ruTg3MNbVAQ3702g_AxI7-_vM2vpblJ8wzmcd8BoQVt-VrUqbkz1ikzMnKALgKDHFApMA-LjzHdDktO6JPc0r_ZKxQJgF4mcLV6fYpEvYwWOE9PoRdZZtHPfOK1Ih/s320/IMGP4148.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652409962268026210" /></a>This is a happy moment! :-)<br /><p class="MsoNormal">I have just returned from a 6-day mindfulness retreat at <a href="http://deerparkmonastery.org/">Deer Park Monastery</a> led by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, or <a href="http://www.plumvillage.org/thay.html">Thay</a> as he is affectionately known. Since this letter writing project is about mindfulness, love and joy, I thought I would talk a bit more about mindfulness today.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mindfulness is quite simply bringing your full awareness with the present moment to whatever you are doing, whether it is breathing, walking, sitting, doing chores, working, etc. This is often easier said than done. Our minds have a tendency to wander off into the past, or head out into the future, leaving the present moment as a forgotten place. But the present moment is the only moment – it’s our home, our address – we just have to remember where that is.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Meditation is one technique that can help us to cultivate present moment awareness. Simply by focusing on our breath, we train our minds to become tethered to the present moment, which ultimately will lead to us living more often in the present moment – and simply living more.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Why letter writing and mindfulness? The day I was writing to Mrs. Hofbauer and Aunt Ginny, I noticed my heightened present moment awareness while writing a letter. To pick out the stationery, to pick up a pen, to put the pen to the paper, to let the thoughts flow from my heart – I feel deeply connected with the present moment. And letter writing brings me great joy – not only the act of letter writing, but especially the joy that is expressed by the recipient when they receive their letter. So when I noticed this, I decided this was not a practice I should reserve for special days (which was how I’d always treated letter writing before – savoring the letters that I received, saving my response for the weekend). Rather, like yoga, sitting meditation, walking and eating meditation – it was a practice that I could do every day, yet another way I could connect to the present moment, connect to my heart, connect to love and joy. And thus, My Year of Letters was born.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thay has infinite wisdom to convey – but he would probably tell us that that same wisdom resides in all of us, we just forget. We forget who we are, we forget our true nature, we forget to live in the present moment. We need lots of reminders. At his monasteries, there are bells that ring often – mindfulness bells – and when the bells ring, you are supposed to stop whatever you are doing, and take a deep breath, coming back to the present moment if you’ve lost it. I brought a small bell home with me to help me practice. These small reminders really make a difference in your daily practice.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The beautiful thing about what he teaches is that we don’t need to be in a monastery to practice – our practice is our life, and every moment is an opportunity, every breath. At home you can ring a bell, or you can use other reminders – a ringing phone, the doorbell – to come back to your breath. You can walk mindfully wherever you go. You have at least 3 opportunities a day to eat mindfully. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He’s a brilliant teacher, conveying messages through lovely stories and metaphors, humor, songs and poems. Every lecture began with a children’s talk, where he would usually share a story or a practice and focus on the kids. Then he would get into teacher mode, using the whiteboard to draw Chinese characters of important terms and diagrams of Buddhist concepts like the 8-fold path. More than anything, he teaches by example – he lives, breathes, and walks peace, and shows that anyone of us can do that to, if we practice, try, remember.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I took a ridiculous amount of notes, wanting to take all of his pearls of wisdom home with me. Some of my favorites:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>A flower is only made of non-flower elements</i></b> – demonstrates the concept of interbeing. A flower is made of water, sunshine, minerals, and many other parts that are non-flower. Put them together in this certain way, and you have a flower! He also says a Buddhist is made of only non-Buddhist elements, you are only made of non-you elements, etc.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>No mud, no lotus</i></b> -<span> </span>the beauty of a lotus flower springs forth from the mud; we have a tendency to discriminate against the mud of life (anger, fear, despair, etc) in favor of the lotuses of life (joy, happiness). Just as the lotus cannot exist without the mud, joy cannot exist without the contrast of fear, anger, etc. We simply need to learn to work skillfully with the mud in order to turn it into the lotuses of life.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>This is a happy moment!</b> Requires no further explanation <span style="font-family:Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><span>J</span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I also had this really interesting experience of being there and having flashbacks to happy memories of childhood. In the second dharma talk, he asked us “Do you remember when you were a seed?” I don’t remember back that far, but I do remember laughing with my mom, looking at the moon with my dad on 2606 Locust Lane, and dancing with my Uncle Rad at his wedding – which came flooding back when I was taking a shower in the trailer shower (which, to get the water to flow, you had to hold a lever down up by the shower head) and I was twirling with my arm overhead.<span> </span>Hearing about others’ childhoods, I felt extra lucky – I really have happy memories, times of joy and happiness. When I think of being a kid, that’s what I think of. Dancing, singing, laughing, looking at the moon. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On Friday we took a dawn hike up the mountain for walking and sitting meditation. It finally was cooling off, after the blistering triple-digit temperatures of the previous 3 days. The clouds settled in at the base of the mountain covering Escondido, and we were up above, sitting on rocks, mindfully eating our breakfast of peanut butter and jelly, and meditating. As we walked up, I noticed how we were all different shapes, sizes, colors, creeds, nationalities, ethnicities – I felt we were a microcosm of humanity, and if we could walk up this mountain together in peace, can’t all of humanity? It gave me great hope, that if this group of 900 people – 900 people! – could do this, then we call could do it, if we try.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another particularly moving part was when Thay talked about his experience of being exiled from Vietnam and his experience with Martin Luther King. The title of the retreat was “Nurturing the Beloved Community,” which was a phrase of Dr. King’s. Thay urged us to continue his work of community building.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He told us that he was in New York when he got the news of Dr. King’s assassination, and it was very sad. He had left Vietnam on a 3-month speaking tour of the West, calling for an end of the violence. But when the 3 month tour ended, he was not allowed to return – an exile that lasted 40 years. As I write that, I imagine the pain that he must have felt. Imagine being banned from your home for 40 years! But he didn’t allow that pain to stop him. He tried to continue his work for peace and community building in North America and Europe, and after Dr. King died, he said he stepped up his efforts. And he said “those who want to save the planet and restore peace need to know that sangha (community) is important.” He said this community building doesn’t need to be Buddhist, but it needs to be grounded in friendship (brotherhood and sisterhood), compassion, and mindfulness.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In researching, I found that Thay was the person who convinced Martin Luther King to publicly denounce the violence in Vietnam, which was a major step for the US peace movement and led King to nominate Thay for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the final day, Sunday, September 11, 2011, I, along with many other practitioners, received the 5 mindfulness trainings (also known as the 5 precepts in other traditions) in a ceremony led by Thay. I’ve committed to practicing reverence for live, true happiness, true love, loving speech and deep listening, and nourishment and healing. It seemed like a logical step – I already try to do these things, but I could do better. They will serve as guideposts in my efforts to promote peace in the world, deepening my commitment and my efforts, I hope. And along the lines of hope, I was given the dharma name Radiant Aspiration of the Heart (all receivers of the trainings can be given a dharma name), a name that really does pull at my heartstrings.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It seemed like a perfect thing to do be doing on this day, the 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the terrorist attacks which so profoundly changed the world we live in. The anniversary is a reminder of the deep healing and understanding needed in the world, and as we did a chant for compassion, I could feel the suffering of the world penetrating my heart. It was heavy, and tears flowed down my cheeks. But I took comfort knowing that I was in a community that was making and effort and taking strides to promote peace in themselves, in their relationships, in their communities, in the world. As a small sliver of humanity, a microcosm, I do believe that if we can create at Deer Park, there is hope that we can do it out in the world. The wars go on, and Thay reminded everyone that bombs do not stop terrorists. We need more leaders like him calling for an end to the violence.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the last dharma talk, we talked about the alignment of our thoughts, speech, and actions. He said that the answer to the question “Who am I?” is quite simple: your actions. We are our actions. We are what we think, say and do, and these are our legacy – they do not stop existing. He quoted Jean-Paul Sartre: <i>“L’homme est la somme de ses actes</i>.” If we are what we think, say and do, it really makes you think about who you want to be – and what you want to think, say and do.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, I want to be peace, joy, compassion, and love, and through mindfulness practice, I will set my intention to promote these aspects in my life - "water the seeds," as Thay would say. I left with a renewed sense of responsibility – to work for a global community, to work for peace, in the spirit of Thay and Dr. King, and a renewed sense that mindfulness practice is a way to take care of myself and increase my ability to be peaceful, compassionate, and joyful. <span> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Who do you want to be?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">For more information on Thich Nhat Hanh, please visit: <a href="http://www.plumvillage.org/">http://www.plumvillage.org/</a></p>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072235118002313609.post-89692556640200411802011-09-05T18:40:00.000-07:002011-09-05T18:54:32.273-07:00Thich Nhat Hanh<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "><i>"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." </i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>— <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9074.Thich_Nhat_Hanh" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Thich Nhat Hanh</span></a></span></div><div><br /></div>Tomorrow I will embark on a 5-day journey of mindfulness on a retreat with one of my heroes and mentors, one of the greatest living leaders for peace, Thich Nhat Hanh. The retreat is at his monastery, Deer Park, located in Escondido, CA. I will be taking my address book and stationery with me (as a side note, "monastery", like stationery, is a word that I always have trouble spelling!).<div><br /></div><div>In the spirit of the retreat, I'd like to share one of Thay's poems, Please Call Me By My True Names, which so beautifully conveys the oneness of all things:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span ><i><p>Do not say that I'll depart tomorrow<br />because even today I still arrive.</p><p>Look deeply: I arrive in every second<br />to be a bud on a spring branch,<br />to be a tiny bird, with wings still fragile,<br />learning to sing in my new nest,<br />to be a caterpillar in the heart of a flower,<br />to be a jewel hiding itself in a stone.</p><p>I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry,<br />in order to fear and to hope.<br />The rhythm of my heart is the birth and<br />death of all that are alive.</p></i></span><p><span ><i>I am the mayfly metamorphosing on the surface of the river,<br />and I am the bird which, when spring comes, arrives in time<br />to eat the mayfly.</i></span></p><span ><p><i>I am the frog swimming happily in the clear pond,<br />and I am also the grass-snake who, approaching in silence,<br />feeds itself on the frog.</i></p><p><i>I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones,<br />my legs as thin as bamboo sticks,<br />and I am the arms merchant, selling deadly weapons to<br />Uganda.</i></p><p><i>I am the twelve-year-old girl, refugee on a small boat,<br />who throws herself into the ocean after being raped by a sea<br />pirate,<br />and I am the pirate, my heart not yet capable of seeing and<br />loving.</i></p><p><i>I am a member of the politburo, with plenty of power in my<br />hands,<br />and I am the man who has to pay his "debt of blood" to, my<br />people,<br />dying slowly in a forced labor camp.</i></p><p><i>My joy is like spring, so warm it makes flowers bloom in all<br />walks of life.<br />My pain if like a river of tears, so full it fills the four oceans.</i></p><p><i>Please call me by my true names,<br />so I can hear all my cries and laughs at once,<br />so I can see that my joy and pain are one.</i></p><p><i>Please call me by my true names,<br />so I can wake up,<br />and so the door of my heart can be left open,<br />the door of compassion.</i></p><p>Thich Nhat Hanh</p></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: medium; ">(Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.quietspaces.com/poemHanh.html">http://www.quietspaces.com/poemHanh.html</a>)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span ><p><br /></p></span></span></div>Stephanie Knox Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04620567163732857403noreply@blogger.com2