Author Archives: Ilene

Kids

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First, they lifted the brochures, the ones that persuade you to refinance your mortgage, outside of their Lucite holders and used them as fans.    Next, they pulled on those pens that are attached to the coils, and mounted to a base.  They pulled as far as they would give and then let go, allowing the pens to fly airborne back onto the high counters that they sat on, next to the deposit slips.   Then, they attacked the chairs, in a full-on jump-up –and- down kind of way.  The customers began to stare.  The tellers darted their eyes from them to … Continue reading →

Six Months of Fierce

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I begin with a confession.  I’m not really all that “fierce.” I am the woman behind the curtain, a diminutive woman, at that, who from time to time, speaks loud enough into the blogosphere to capture your attention. My beliefs are fierce.  My attitude is fierce.  But that bad-ass, ninja, anarchist?  She’s a projection on a wall.   Sorry, guys, but if you need someone powerful enough to transport you back to Kansas from some far away land, you are going to have to seek help from someone else. I fumble constantly.  With the confidence in my own abilities, with my … Continue reading →

Guest Post Today on Love Life Surf

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Some friendships are just meant to be.  That’s exactly how I feel about Christine, the creator of one of my favorite blogs, Love Life Surf. I bumped into Christine on Twitter a few months ago, while following the hash tag for Bloggy Boot Camp Philadelphia (“BBCPhilly”).  I had wanted to attend the conference but got waitlisted, so I soaked up every ounce of those Twitter conversations that I could manage.  Christine was there and was full of enthusiasm about everything she was learning at the conference. She shared quotes, wisdom, and memorable moments as they were happening in real time.  … Continue reading →

What My Swami Said

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I found them to be a terrible distraction.  Not the kids fighting in the next room, or neighbors playing loud music, or thoughts of war or poverty or neglected dogs.  It was my bangs.  My new, shorter, side swept bangs weren’t sitting properly across my forehead.  I brushed them, I tried a different part, a flat iron, but nothing worked.  Enough, I thought to myself.  It’s time for the mind to move onto something else. There are worse things than a bad hair day, even if this was the day that I would be meeting Swami Shantimurti  Saraswati of Ahsram … Continue reading →

Lessons from D

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The theme of the workshop was forgiveness.  30 of us squeezed into the tiny space, at the studio where I had decided to do my teacher training.  At that time, I knew very few of the “regulars” there, and had randomly sat next to D., through three hours of postures and breathing designed to rid us of negative emotion. It was a moment in my life where I felt bitter.  Things had not gone “the way they were supposed to.”  Despite my not believing in holding onto anger, I had been grasping tightly to mine, and it was hurting me, … Continue reading →

Hope on a Leash

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It would have been a lot of work for her.  It would be good for her, but was she ready to take the leap?     She had mentioned wanting to adopt a dog a year ago.  The company would serve her well, after losing my stepfather.   The dog came up from time to time.   "Mom, have you gotten to the shelter yet?" was a question we frequently asked her.  "No, next weekend," she'd reply before the subject was dropped for months.  She didn’t mean to drop the subject, but life gets in the way, as it does for … Continue reading →

Got Time?

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It slips through our fingers at warp speed.  We never feel as if we have enough of it. We bargain. We chase. We cram as much as we can into five minutes, ten minutes. If we can just respond to one more email or get through one more spreadsheet for work.  Many of us are so consumed with getting through our to-do lists that we neglect the rest of our lives. Many of us are so stuck in trying to complete our tasks that we forego pursuing the goals that really matter. “I want to write a book but, I … Continue reading →

One Counter at a Time

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It’s easy for stuff to accumulate.  It begins with leaving a pen on a kitchen countertop and the next thing you know, there’s paper next to that pen, and then sunglasses, and then a phone charger, and then a phone.  Suddenly, your work space is gone.  You can barely fit your cutting board on the counter, or find a place to put your ingredients for cooking dinner. This happens in my kitchen all the time.  One of my counters often becomes a makeshift office, and for the past few months, it has been overcrowded with appliances. Once of my goals … Continue reading →

Got Friends?

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We’re at a birthday party for one of the children from school. We know each other casually and have been making small talk the past hour and a half through the magician, pin the tail on the donkey, and musical chairs.  We hit it off beautifully and go as far as discussing a potential park date during the upcoming spring break.  The crowd sings “Happy Birthday,” and before I know it, you approach me with a slice of cake. “Here,” you say, as you hand me the plate. “No thank you,” I reply. “It’s good, you have to try it.” … Continue reading →

Got Thoughts?

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You hate your job.  Or your boss.  Or your spouse.  Or your best friend. You live in fear of financial insecurity, or perhaps rejection.  Maybe you think that everyone is judging you. You want to go back to school or learn accounting, computers, how to knit, or do yoga, but you come up with excuses not to try and then you beat yourself up for not trying. You want to lose ten pounds but you can’t stop eating.  You blame it on stress. Every action or non-action we take is fueled by a thought.  That thought leads to a behavior. … Continue reading →