At the Greenhouse Holistic Center where I take yoga classes, there are a few teachers who focus the beginning of class on a short lecture about a philosophical or spiritual aspect of yoga. I really, really like this because I think the spiritual and mental sides of yoga are actually more important than the physical, but a lot of centers in the west have turned the practice into a physical activity to get a hot butt and tight abs. My favorite teachers come back throughout class to the mental and spiritual stuff and place a huge emphasis on learning about all the philosophies behind the tradition, and how to carry this mindset into your every day life.
So, a teacher I had the other day began class with a short lecture about the Brahma Viharas, a set of four concepts initially created in the Buddhist religion but now used in many circles. Even though it sounds a little hippy-dippy or too cheesy, if you actually think about them for even a few seconds, it can drastically alter your day for the much better. Give it a try over your breakfast and coffee or on your commute tomorrow. Just think about living that day with these ideas on the forefront and it really changes how you interact with people and how you feel in general.
The Brahma Viharas
Maitri: translates to "love," meaning acting with loving-kindness towards all, or wishing that "all sentient beings*, without any exception, be happy." Keeping this in mind can help us when we feel frustrated with someone else, or when someone bumps into us on the subway, or when a cab driver runs through the red light. Why get angry? Instead, send that person some love.
Karuna: translates to "happiness," meaning to hope and wish that all sentient beings will be free from suffering. Why hope the cab driver gets stuck in traffic and his business suffers because he's late to pick up his client and she calls someone else? Instead, hope that he will be free from suffering and will in the future hope the same thing for all others.
Mudita: translates to "joy," or "sympathetic joy," meaning to feel and express honest joy for the happiness and virtues of all sentient beings. If you could honestly rejoice in all the good things you and other people do, you'd be rejoicing all day long. What a happier way to live your life!
Upeksha: translates to "equanimity," meaning quite a few things. One is to regard all sentient beings as equal, not as friends or enemies or pals or strangers, but as people. Why be nice to someone because she is your friend, but mean to someone else because you don't know her? Also, it means to "accept both loss and gain, praise and blame, success and failure, equally, with detachment, for oneself and others." So someone says you did a great job on the presentation and you let yourself get all happy and ego-boosted, and then another person yells at you because you forgot something and you let yourself get bummed or pissed. Why?
Remember that all of these ideas are about other people AND yourself.
* Sentient Beings:
A being is declared to be sentient if he can physically suffer. It is characterized by the possession of a developed nervous system and brain. The group of sentient beings particularly includes vertebrae species: mammals (human and not), birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Acid Canyon
Brooklyn-based trio Acid Canyon brought their upbeat pop, heavy hard rock and psychedelic glam jam to the tiny stage at Lit Lounge for their April 11th show. The Canyon boys demanded their audience be up close and dancing to their creative keyboard effects, complicated bass lines and passionate energy. No one dared leave for fear keyboardist and vocalist, known as The White Rhino, would call him out. “Get closer! This is fucking ridiculous!” he exclaimed after their first number.
But the band proved through the course of their raw, spirited set that being up front was ideal. The rhinos contorted faces and vigorous dance moves commanded attention as the genuine rock star inside of him took over. Banging his hands on the keys while shooting his body side to side and excitedly tapping his argyle-socked feet, Rhino would scream with such volume and intensity it sounded as if someone had stabbed him and the only way to survive was to wail on pitch for what felt like minutes. Then he would instantly transition to a sexy melody while caressing the microphone and seductively eyeing his audience, changing the pain filled atmosphere into a sensuous, erotic vibe.
Also losing himself in the music, bassist B. Pages comfortably sped his fingers along the frets while swaying his long, 70s-esque mane of hair. His detailed bass lines wove nicely in and out of the piano, sometimes taking center stage while other times adding a funky depth to the background. Throughout the night, Pages and The White Rhino would share a nervous glance or a slight grin, demonstrating their clear connection musically and personally. Pages also added perfectly placed vocal harmonies, tossing his locks to reveal a sweet, bearded face as he sang his higher notes along to den Breejen.
Backing them up with simple yet appropriate rhythms, drummer Baby Rue’s low-key disposition nicely juxtaposed the others’ energy. His minimalist technique provided a steady backbone, and while his band mates swayed and lurched to the songs, he remained constant and chilled out, focused yet smiling widely with clear contentment. The intimacy of the venue and of their music allowed the audience to catch every aspect of his fills and beats, down to the occasional clicking of a loose pedal. However, this unexpected addition only added to their connection with the audience.
Throughout the night, Acid Canyon mixed catchy dance melodies with instrumental, hard rock breakdowns, transitioning skillfully and stylishly to different sections within songs. Reminiscent of David Bowie’s music and on stage presence, the guys threw in pleasant dance moves and playful lyrics. Acid Canyon also showed their soulful side during a slower number that featured The White Rhino’s wide vocal range and Pages’ gentle harmonies.
Acid Canyon’s contagious, upbeat vibe and well-written tunes are enchanting. Their unique sound stands out in a city full of musicians, and their live performance will leave you feelin’ good. Check out their myspace at http://www.myspace.com/acidcanyon.
But the band proved through the course of their raw, spirited set that being up front was ideal. The rhinos contorted faces and vigorous dance moves commanded attention as the genuine rock star inside of him took over. Banging his hands on the keys while shooting his body side to side and excitedly tapping his argyle-socked feet, Rhino would scream with such volume and intensity it sounded as if someone had stabbed him and the only way to survive was to wail on pitch for what felt like minutes. Then he would instantly transition to a sexy melody while caressing the microphone and seductively eyeing his audience, changing the pain filled atmosphere into a sensuous, erotic vibe.
Also losing himself in the music, bassist B. Pages comfortably sped his fingers along the frets while swaying his long, 70s-esque mane of hair. His detailed bass lines wove nicely in and out of the piano, sometimes taking center stage while other times adding a funky depth to the background. Throughout the night, Pages and The White Rhino would share a nervous glance or a slight grin, demonstrating their clear connection musically and personally. Pages also added perfectly placed vocal harmonies, tossing his locks to reveal a sweet, bearded face as he sang his higher notes along to den Breejen.
Backing them up with simple yet appropriate rhythms, drummer Baby Rue’s low-key disposition nicely juxtaposed the others’ energy. His minimalist technique provided a steady backbone, and while his band mates swayed and lurched to the songs, he remained constant and chilled out, focused yet smiling widely with clear contentment. The intimacy of the venue and of their music allowed the audience to catch every aspect of his fills and beats, down to the occasional clicking of a loose pedal. However, this unexpected addition only added to their connection with the audience.
Throughout the night, Acid Canyon mixed catchy dance melodies with instrumental, hard rock breakdowns, transitioning skillfully and stylishly to different sections within songs. Reminiscent of David Bowie’s music and on stage presence, the guys threw in pleasant dance moves and playful lyrics. Acid Canyon also showed their soulful side during a slower number that featured The White Rhino’s wide vocal range and Pages’ gentle harmonies.
Acid Canyon’s contagious, upbeat vibe and well-written tunes are enchanting. Their unique sound stands out in a city full of musicians, and their live performance will leave you feelin’ good. Check out their myspace at http://www.myspace.com/acidcanyon.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Work, Work, Work It Out
Things with the girls and with Linda are going really well. The youngest, Marie, just celebrated a birthday and loved my present of a pogo stick. She and I have fallen into a very comfortable groove with one another that involves lots of joking and teasing, a bit of arguing and yelling (but much less than before), and some chill out time, too. I really like her a lot. It took me awhile to figure her out, and learn how she operates... longer than any other child I've worked with before! But I finally understand her. I know how to help her, how to not let her antics get under my skin, when to let her throw a fit and when to tell her to stop faking a fit. And she listens to me now! Well, mostly. But it's definitely better than before! And she's much nicer and more respectful of me. We just have a lot of fun together, climbing trees in the park and racing (me on feet, her on the scooter), or doing puzzles or wrestling. She recently got elected as her class rep (thanks to the awesome speech I wrote for her) and is also performing in the school musical. She's a very busy lady! But somehow, we manage still to watch more than enough Disney Channel (even though we can only watch it on Fridays)... oh Hannah Montana! "Nobody's perfect, I've gotta work it, again and again 'til I get things right!"
Excuse me for that. Anyway, Angela is still awesome, as usual. Very busy with sports and student government and loads of homework, but is always smiling or laughing. She finds new, cool musicians almost every day and asks me always to burn CDs for her. Apparently her friends say she's hip because she knows so much good music. I can't take full responsibility, but her hipness makes me proud. She's working on a silkscreen of a giraffe eating a tree, and it's beautiful. I envy her artistic abilities.
Things with Linda are also good. We went through a rough spell in January where she was working until 11ish every night, and on a few nights working as late as 2 in the morning without giving me notice (literally had to sleep on the couch one night in Angela's pajamas!). I was brave and talked to her about it, and she was so understanding and sweet in response, apologized and everything. And since then, the schedule has been exactly as described in our initial interview! A few late nights here and there but with plenty of notice, nothing past midnight, plenty of updates. It's great. Also, she does little things to show her appreciation for me, and I feel we've developed a sincere respect for one another. When Marie is having troubles, Linda consults me to seriously discuss what's up and what to do next. There's currently a big issue with a teacher being so hard on Marie that another parent called Linda after hearing stories from her child, and right after hanging up the phone, Linda came to me. Since then we've discussed the situation and she honestly cares about my input. And last weekend, I went to a 3-day ultimate frisbee tournament and when I asked her to leave a little early on Friday evening so I could make it to the last two days, she said, "Nah, just don't worry about coming in on Friday at all!" Then, after asking me about ultimate and listening to my lengthy explanation of the rules, she slips $100 cash into my hands and said to take it as some extra spending money because she wanted me to have a great weekend. First off, some spending money? Secondly, who gives their employee a day off AND a bonus?
Still, even though she's very sweet and cares about the girls and enjoys them when she's home, it's clear her job is number one. Marie's party was on a Saturday but the Sunday was her actual bday, and Linda had conference calls all day Sunday, then a work dinner (for a big anniversary). She did go to the party and hang out Saturday afternoon, but Marie was very upset that she didn't see her all day nor the night of her actual birthday. It's such an interesting dynamic!
I feel like I really understand the girls and the situation, and that I'm doing a great job as their nanny. But I'm not 100% that I'll be staying on for another year. I'm leaning mostly towards it because everything is so good and the hours allow me to spend my days writing writing writing, doing yoga, and pursuing other parts of my life. But, I don't want to be a nanny forever (though one more year is definitely not forever) and I definitely need experience outside of working in a home with the same two girls. And for many years, I've said I want to work with Latin American families, and/or urban, low-income youth... this family definitely doesn't fall into those categories! Though as Dave pointed out, just because they have money doesn't mean they don't deserve good help and support. They have a ton of their own issues (ADHD, anger management problems, missing their workaholic mother, missing their father who only visits once a month, dealing with being raised by a new nanny a year, etc...) and have really taken to me. I hate the idea of being yet another nanny that comes and goes after just one year, leaving Marie to the difficulty of getting to know someone else (and also leaving someone else to the difficulty of getting to know Marie). I really love these girls! So, I've applied for an after-school teaching position through a nonprofit that works in Brooklyn, but am not seriously hunting in any way and am actually now like, shit, what if I get offered this other job? Will I take it or will I stay here? It makes sense to stay with girls I love, with a very sweet, generous and appreciative employer, and with an easy, convenient schedule. Also, good salary and paid vacations! It's just the whole concept of being a nanny for another year that gets to me. If I do stay on, I will definitely need to take up other projects. I know for sure that I want to start Project Play, this organization I have in mind for homeless children (more on that to come). And I of course will be writing... oh, I think I think too much!
Aside from work issues, I am sad to inform you that I did not get into the three creative writing schools I applied to. However, I'm moving on to other school options and am very excited about them. After getting my rejection letter from NYU, I then got another letter from the Draper Program, a department of NYU that enables students to design their own curriculum under the guidance of an adviser, saying that I would be a good candidate for application. This does not at all mean I'm accepted, but I had never even heard of the program before and after researching it, I'm excited to apply. Also, there are quite a few low-residency creative writing schools where students earn their MFA by writing at least 25 hours a week on their own schedule in their own city, then weekly sending their compositions to a published author/professor who gives one-on-one revisions and advice. Then, once a semester, all the students gather for a residency that lasts about two weeks and is solely focused on writing, workshopping and taking classes. This type of program allows students to write whenever they want and to write alone, thus emulating a real-life scenario, and also allows students to maintain a job. But it still provides them with instruction, advice and a community. Some accept applications on a rolling basis whereas others have deadlines, but they all accept apps for fall and spring semester, so if Draper doesn't work out, then I'm definitely going through the application process yet again! And, I'm considering reapplying to the programs I recently applied to because by then I'll have a stronger portfolio. But no matter what the outcomes are, it feels really good to write with so much regularity, to meet with other writers on my own time (the writer's group met up again after a slight hiatus and it's great) and to focus on putting together a portfolio of my work. This process has definitely been positive.
We'll see what comes in my future. Let's just hope I won't be a nanny forever...
Excuse me for that. Anyway, Angela is still awesome, as usual. Very busy with sports and student government and loads of homework, but is always smiling or laughing. She finds new, cool musicians almost every day and asks me always to burn CDs for her. Apparently her friends say she's hip because she knows so much good music. I can't take full responsibility, but her hipness makes me proud. She's working on a silkscreen of a giraffe eating a tree, and it's beautiful. I envy her artistic abilities.
Things with Linda are also good. We went through a rough spell in January where she was working until 11ish every night, and on a few nights working as late as 2 in the morning without giving me notice (literally had to sleep on the couch one night in Angela's pajamas!). I was brave and talked to her about it, and she was so understanding and sweet in response, apologized and everything. And since then, the schedule has been exactly as described in our initial interview! A few late nights here and there but with plenty of notice, nothing past midnight, plenty of updates. It's great. Also, she does little things to show her appreciation for me, and I feel we've developed a sincere respect for one another. When Marie is having troubles, Linda consults me to seriously discuss what's up and what to do next. There's currently a big issue with a teacher being so hard on Marie that another parent called Linda after hearing stories from her child, and right after hanging up the phone, Linda came to me. Since then we've discussed the situation and she honestly cares about my input. And last weekend, I went to a 3-day ultimate frisbee tournament and when I asked her to leave a little early on Friday evening so I could make it to the last two days, she said, "Nah, just don't worry about coming in on Friday at all!" Then, after asking me about ultimate and listening to my lengthy explanation of the rules, she slips $100 cash into my hands and said to take it as some extra spending money because she wanted me to have a great weekend. First off, some spending money? Secondly, who gives their employee a day off AND a bonus?
Still, even though she's very sweet and cares about the girls and enjoys them when she's home, it's clear her job is number one. Marie's party was on a Saturday but the Sunday was her actual bday, and Linda had conference calls all day Sunday, then a work dinner (for a big anniversary). She did go to the party and hang out Saturday afternoon, but Marie was very upset that she didn't see her all day nor the night of her actual birthday. It's such an interesting dynamic!
I feel like I really understand the girls and the situation, and that I'm doing a great job as their nanny. But I'm not 100% that I'll be staying on for another year. I'm leaning mostly towards it because everything is so good and the hours allow me to spend my days writing writing writing, doing yoga, and pursuing other parts of my life. But, I don't want to be a nanny forever (though one more year is definitely not forever) and I definitely need experience outside of working in a home with the same two girls. And for many years, I've said I want to work with Latin American families, and/or urban, low-income youth... this family definitely doesn't fall into those categories! Though as Dave pointed out, just because they have money doesn't mean they don't deserve good help and support. They have a ton of their own issues (ADHD, anger management problems, missing their workaholic mother, missing their father who only visits once a month, dealing with being raised by a new nanny a year, etc...) and have really taken to me. I hate the idea of being yet another nanny that comes and goes after just one year, leaving Marie to the difficulty of getting to know someone else (and also leaving someone else to the difficulty of getting to know Marie). I really love these girls! So, I've applied for an after-school teaching position through a nonprofit that works in Brooklyn, but am not seriously hunting in any way and am actually now like, shit, what if I get offered this other job? Will I take it or will I stay here? It makes sense to stay with girls I love, with a very sweet, generous and appreciative employer, and with an easy, convenient schedule. Also, good salary and paid vacations! It's just the whole concept of being a nanny for another year that gets to me. If I do stay on, I will definitely need to take up other projects. I know for sure that I want to start Project Play, this organization I have in mind for homeless children (more on that to come). And I of course will be writing... oh, I think I think too much!
Aside from work issues, I am sad to inform you that I did not get into the three creative writing schools I applied to. However, I'm moving on to other school options and am very excited about them. After getting my rejection letter from NYU, I then got another letter from the Draper Program, a department of NYU that enables students to design their own curriculum under the guidance of an adviser, saying that I would be a good candidate for application. This does not at all mean I'm accepted, but I had never even heard of the program before and after researching it, I'm excited to apply. Also, there are quite a few low-residency creative writing schools where students earn their MFA by writing at least 25 hours a week on their own schedule in their own city, then weekly sending their compositions to a published author/professor who gives one-on-one revisions and advice. Then, once a semester, all the students gather for a residency that lasts about two weeks and is solely focused on writing, workshopping and taking classes. This type of program allows students to write whenever they want and to write alone, thus emulating a real-life scenario, and also allows students to maintain a job. But it still provides them with instruction, advice and a community. Some accept applications on a rolling basis whereas others have deadlines, but they all accept apps for fall and spring semester, so if Draper doesn't work out, then I'm definitely going through the application process yet again! And, I'm considering reapplying to the programs I recently applied to because by then I'll have a stronger portfolio. But no matter what the outcomes are, it feels really good to write with so much regularity, to meet with other writers on my own time (the writer's group met up again after a slight hiatus and it's great) and to focus on putting together a portfolio of my work. This process has definitely been positive.
We'll see what comes in my future. Let's just hope I won't be a nanny forever...
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