Browsing Tag

Thanksgiving

Don't Be An Asshole Series, Gratitude, Guest Posts

What Doesn’t Kill You.

December 1, 2014

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By Jen Pastiloff.

I wrote this for Thanksgiving but hey, it’s still close enough to Thanksgiving. It’s “Cyber Monday.” Who the hell uses the word “cyber” anymore, anyway? Happy Cyber Monday! Another reason to shop! This is America!

This was my T-Day post:

Sometimes it’s hard to be grateful. Two of my friends just lost their sisters two days apart, right before Thanksgiving. This little boy, Benny, the one I posted about a few weeks ago (click here to donate), is legally blind, has Prader Willi Syndrome like my nephew Blaise, has had fifteen surgeries on his back, and now, just last month, had an accident that left him paralyzed. Happy Thanksgiving.

Not.

But the thing is, and I mean, this really is the crux of my forthcoming book Beauty Hunting – we must find the good in the bad, we must find the slivers of beauty in the pain, we must find what we have to be grateful for. Otherwise – life is torturous and ugly and mean and filled with pot-holes.

I created this series I’ve written about called “The Don’t Be An Asshole” series or otherwise known as The DBAA Series, whereupon I make fun of myself. I call myself out. I hope to lead by example and remind us all not to take ourselves so seriously, because hey, life sure can suck at times already. Why should we add to that suckiness?

Don't be an asshole & shut down just because sometimes tries to shut you down.

Continue Reading…

Don't Be An Asshole Series, Gratitude, Guest Posts

Happy Thanksgiving Or “Don’t Be An Asshole” Day!

November 27, 2014

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By Jen Pastiloff

Happy Thanksgiving! I realize many of the readers of this site are not in The U.S. so I have also named this holiday The Don’t Be An Asshole Day because really, what better day to not be one? To be grateful? It’s a perfect day to NOT be an asshole.

Last night I was talking to one of my most cherished friends (Annie Sertich) about the joys of getting older. I am being a bit sarcastic (crows feet, drooping eyes, receding hairline, ext) but hear me out: I am very grateful to get older. My dad did not get that. He did get to say, “Wahhh, poor me, I am turning 40.”

Getting older is a joy. Even if sometimes the things that happen to our bodies and skin and hair and all the rest don’t feel like it. It’s an honor. Continue Reading…

Gratitude, Guest Posts, I Have Done Love

Thanksgiving Challenge.

November 27, 2014

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By Jean Klein.

A few weeks ago I was involved in a conversation about challenge. I was quick to say I don’t feel the need to be in competition with anyone. I later realized I was wrong. I need to challenge myself everyday to be the best person I can be. To love, care, and respect everyone. To be gentle, and kind.

So one of my challenges to myself this Thanksgiving is this: To contact family and friends that I will not be able to see for the holiday by phone. To TALK to them, to tell them you love you. To LISTEN to them. To hear their voices.

While I understand social media and text has its pros and cons I believe we have forgotten what it is like to speak to each other and listen. We, myself included are to quick to message someone, post something on their wall, or tweet. Or, just send a quick text.

I want to challenge everyone to take a few minutes this Thanksgiving to pick up your phone, not to post, tweet, or text, but to CALL someone. Call your friends or family members. Let them know you are thinking about them and that you love them. Continue Reading…

Daily Manifestation Challenge, Gratitude

Thanksgiving DMC. What Are You Grateful For? Right Now. Today.

November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving my Dear Manifesters!

My Thanksgiving Gratitude Themed Class Equinox Southbay

I just got home from teaching a very powerful Gratitude themed Thanksgiving class where everyone wrote on stickie notes what they were grateful for. Our practice was surrounded by words of gratitude. Sometimes the notes fell off the wall and it was as if it was raining gratitude.

Gratitude Notes

It was of a “class” per se, and more an “experience”, as most of my classes are morphing into these days.

Thank you all for allowing that to happen. At one point we all were singing (a normal occurrence in my class.) We were singing ” Your Song” by Elton John. I started to get teary eyed because it made me think of my dad.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwzdVHTNpXs&feature=fvsr]

And then I realized that Thanksgiving, for as happy as it makes me, also makes me feel a bit sad, melancholy even.

I remember why.

My dad passed away in July. 1983. I refused to deal with it. When they told me he had passed away in the night I simply said I don’t care.

The farthest thing from the actual truth. But I was 8. Forgive me.

I have.

It wasn’t until Thanksgiving, months later, when we were all sitting at our turkey dinner, that I turned to my aunt and asked: Where is my father?

It was as if I finally noticed.

I ran away and hid in my room and sobbed and punched the walls and the air. I punched everything.

How would I ever feel ‘thankful” again? I thought as I cried into my shag carpet.

So Thanksgiving sort of equals that experience for me, Manifesters.

So here goes:

Dear Daddy, I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world.

Todays’ DMC: In the comment section below please share what you are grateful for? And please please, tell the people you are grateful for just how wonderful life is while they are in the world.

I am grateful today for:

YOU ALL!

My husband.

My dad, for the 8 blessed years I had and for his passing his sense of humor on to me.

My health.

My hearing aids.

My sister.

My nephews.

My mom and Jack.

That people are buying Manifestation t-shirts to help find a cure for Prader Willi & Tay Sachs. (Buy one here.)

That I get paid to do what I love over and over.

Snow Patrol. (The band in case you don’t know. And if you indeed do not know, then get to know!) Last December, they donated a signed guitar, by all members in their band, to  be auctioned off at my charity event for GAMEyoga.org (free yoga for kids with special needs.) Not for publicity, not because they had to. Just because. Get to know their music. True RockStars.

That I have a “family” family in Philly and NJ and a family at Dhayna Yoga. 

That I am going to be on Good Morning America.

Good wine, good coffee, Modern Family, great music, Italy and my retreats there, swimming in the ocean, skype, kindness, stickie notes, my bed, my home in Santa Monica.

I could keep going but I want to hear yours…… So share!

Love,

Jen (click here to find me on Twitter @manifestyogajen)

Thanksgiving Class Equinox Southbay