self respect.

yoga class...5:30a.m...up...6a.m. class. the theme for the class this
morning wa self respect...which, by the way, i was up at 3am this
morning...part of it was that in correlation to my work out routine
back in the states which begins at around 3pm, my energy level was at
a all time high early...the other part was....what in the heck do i
want to be doing upon my return to the states??
well, needless to say, how terrible to be racking my brain about such
a topic while in the very place i need to just be and embrace...thus,
the theme this morning was quite fitting and i did a lot of meditating
on the topic of self respect in the early morning hours of january
29...
the conclusion, respect my heart, follow my heart, embrace this moment
of amazingness in the foothills of the himalayas and just be.
my wish for you today is to surrender and be with the grace of your own respect.
much love.

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a cup of chai tea and the himalayas...

what an absolutely amazing journey this has been thus far...a really long flight but so worth the hip flexor trouble. i am at the foothills of the himalayas, which, like the foothills of colorado, are windy right now. one mountain range to the next. the mountains here, however, are way bigger, and i havent even seen the start of them yet! the highways here are unbelieveable, one false move from your hero bicycle into the way of a seriously speeding population of vehicles, and you are done with, absolutely crushed. sometimes, back home, i will shout out at the speeding cars, this is a neighboorhood area...but here, its very creative out of the lines, so defensive, drive bys. the air...smokey but a scent that is really one of a kind. i was expecting the airport to be quite of a busy little place, not the case, very mellow, very easy to get around. on the drive up to rishikesh, i noticed that i never really saw any women out and about...i figure that is my goal now, where are the women! i will find them. i have begun my studies of the yoga poses and philosophies and today we will be escorted into town to meet some locals. i know i will find some local friends.

well, breakfast time now...i will let you know how our journey to the Ganges waterfall pans out tomorrow.

love you all!

L

awareness + positive thoughts = happy life

"the most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. when mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers." -thich nhat hanh.
to be mindful is to be continual aware of the thoughts and situations flowing through your mind. i know, when i was trying to go to sleep last night, random stories and thoughts kept working through my busy little mind. as soon as i became aware of the thoughts, i could control what it was that my mind had come up with. my awareness helped control my thoughts to those of rest. finally, i guess i must have fallen asleep.
i believe that, the thoughts that we think, whether good nor bad, are  released into the universe and help to control the direction of our individual pursuits. the law of attraction, if you will...from 'the secret.'
the ability to control and be aware of your constanting changing mind states, and the power to change them into positive, beautiful thoughts is for me, a wonderful place to be in.

the mobile device upload

testing, testing, 1, 2, 3...

--
Synchronously,
Lauren Bleck

one week til the ultimate selfish and selfless journey...

i leave for india in less than one week. my feelings are quite simple at this point. get me on the airplane and get me there. i want to submerge myself into this foreign culture and learn as much as i possibly can, which, if you do not know me, can be a lot.
i want to be empty. empty of thoughts and stories. i want my mind to be clear upon this pending journey and i want to be able to communicate the clarity with everyone. to be able to live in society is to establish who you are first. to be able to know essentually enlightenment and to be able to approach this buddhism like stage with grace free from pride.
one week away. how amazing to be as fortunate as myself, to grasp the happiness that i can and to be able to spread happiness around.