This is exactly how it feels for me, well placed f-bomb and all, to have a "home" in both SF and NJ:
"It is absolutely insane to me that I get to have not one, but two lives on opposite ends of the country that make me feel like I’ve won the fucking lottery. I don’t know how I got so lucky but then I hear Lailani’s voice in my head “You created your own luck” and then I feel lucky all over again."-teresatothemax In Gratitude, Trish
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My bestie posted this quote on her blog and I think it's perfectly fitting for the start of a new year. If there is one resolution each of us can easily stick to it's simply this--try everything. Success or failure should play no part in your decision to try; it's purely about the experience. That's where I'm coming from in most areas of my life these days...just being open to the experience and what I can take from it. 5 things to try in 2012: 1. Juicing 5 days a week. Thanks to the bad ass new juicer in my office and the delivery of fresh fruits and veggies each week I should be able to whip up some skin refreshing, digestive cleaning, mood boosting mama earth-approved cocktails to nourish my body. As you can see here, I loved my first juicing experience big time :) 2. Drive down the Pacific Coast Highway...alone. Just me, my music, my camera , my thoughts and my grateful heart. It's easy to fall back on the comforts of company (and truly I do love some road trip company), but I think it's important to take time to adventure alone, too. When I lived by myself in California 4 years ago (jeez that feels like forever ago) one of my favorite things to do was grab a book, a water bottle and my iPod, jump in my car and just drive. I explored all sorts of hidden treasures by myself--beaches, cafes, forests, museums, etc--and it manifested some of the most peaceful moments of my life. Don't be scared to do things alone, ya know? 3. Surfing (again). My first time didn't go very well, mainly because I was trapped in my ego's swirling negativity about how I looked (both on the board and in my bikini). I literally felt frozen with fear over what other surfers around me thought...how silly is that?! This time around, I'm throwing my ego far, far, far out into the ocean and simply enjoying riding the waves back in. As a dancer I have pretty good balance and I get the feeling I could be decent at this rad activity. I already have a lesson lined up for my Costa Rica trip (more details to come on that!) and I'm incredibly excited. 4. Tap dance. I'm always tapping and drumming and clicking my feet and hands anyway--might as well get a little fancy with it. Heck, maybe I should take drum lessons as well! I mean they just don't do it like this anymore: 5. Snowboarding. The last time I skied I was 16 and I've barely thought twice about it since, mostly because I just don't care much for snow. Lake Tahoe is so close to SF (and so stinking gorgeous) though that I have this urge to at least give snowboarding a try while I am blessed to live here. If I stink, I stink! That's what fireplaces, Kindles and a glass of wine at the lodge are for :)
What 5 things will you give a shot in 2012? Be gentle with yourself. Start simple and remain open. Sure, you may end up thoroughly disliking whatever you're trying. And that's totally OK. There's no need to keep doing something you don't enjoy. But you also may end up really loving it or discovering benefits to help make your 2012 an even better year. What could be better than that? In Gratitude, Trish Yesterday morning I received a super sweet email via The Grateful Life from a reader in Cape Town, South Africa (which in and of itself is such an awesome feeling--my blog has readers all over the globe!?). I so appreciated hearing her thoughts and kind sentiments. Katherine, thank you for reminding me that I am, indeed, really blessed to live here. It's not hard to find peace and grace right in my backyard; it's not hard to feel so, so grateful...but your email was just the motivation I needed to grab my camera and get outside to once again appreciate the beauty of where I live. A mini road trip up to Sonoma was the perfect way to spend a sunny January afternoon--proof of the treasures that extend beyond city limits, just waiting to be explored. Thank you for reaching out to me! I hope to someday visit Cape Town, just as you were able to visit San Francisco. You are always welcome in our city! These photos are for you :) Good grief I love it here. In Gratitude, Trish When you get on the bus on the way to work, do you smile at the driver and say "Good Morning!"...and mean it, no matter how your day may have begun? Do you also thank him or her when exiting at your stop? When you order your morning coffee from the local barrista, do you make eye contact? Do you also thank him or her when exiting the shop? Do you express mental gratitude for the beverage in your hand--its coolness or warmth; its flavor or benefits? Your ability to walk to it, pay for it, carry it without assistance? Do you let yourself jam out to awesome music on the rest of your commute? Give a head nod to others clearly absorbed in their music-videos-in-my-head-I-should-totally-be-a-professional-drummer moments? When you walk into your office, whatever space of employment that may be, do you bring with you a positive energy for creativity, cooperation and support for your team? Do you choose to view your job with gratitude and potential, whether its a lifelong career or merely a stepping stone on your path to greatness? Do you believe you have the power to shift not only your perspective but the perspective of those working around you? Do you think you help to set the tone for the whole office? Do you feel worthy of happiness in your job and wish to help others find happiness in theirs? And when you enter your home at the end of another day, do you give thanks for this space--dirty dishes in the sink, laundry piled high in the closet and all--for being there for you to rest and regroup in? For the hot water? For the roof? For the dance-party-of-one floor space and the mirror that confirms just how well you can shake it? For the kitchen table where friends gather and the bed where dreams play? Do you smile at strangers? Treat others with kindness, respect, forgiveness and patience? Treat your own body and mind with the same kindness, respect, forgiveness and patience? Do you, most of all, give thanks? Just wondering. In Gratitude, Trish Dang I love having a best friend that is a stylist... This is a really crappy phone photo (and jeez louise my mirror is so smudgey! have I never heard of Windex?!) but you know if Jenny approves, it really must be cute! In Gratitude,
Trish My office grocery delivery accidentally contained an unordered 12 jars of peanut butter (smooth, woof, crunchy is where it's at), 2 boxes of Cheerios and 8 packs of mini juice boxes...I feel badly for the person who didn't receive these parts of their shipment (a kindergarten teacher, maybe?)...but me and the boys are thoroughly enjoying these little juice box treats! Except they get on juice sugar highs and make lots of noise downstairs while playing ping pong, pool or fooseball (pausing only to shout up to me "TRISH!" as if it's an emergency and then ask who wore an accidentally-almost-matched shirt best)...and now they look like they need a nap after the sugar crash...but all in all these lil sippers are delightful! Thanks, Safeway!
Please learn how to make bagels like this one (toasted whole wheat with veggie cream cheese), from a local Jersey shop: My tastebuds and I would appreciate it. In Gratitude,
Trish It's not really that surprising, is it? Happy tears, of course :) It was a trifecta of unexpected and lovely gifts that did it to me this time. After arriving home from my 10 days on the east coast I checked my mailbox and had to cat-like-reflexes catch the letters and packages that poured out (a gal could get used to that!). Kind words, insanely and unnecessarily generous Amazon gift cards, awesome stationary and personalized return address labels. Holy gosh, right? First, the kind words are always my favorite. You can send me a piece of snail mail with one sentence of something nice and I will be a puddle of gooey love in your hand. Put an Amazon gift card in that baby (seriously, I buy everything from Amazon) and I am humbled (and excited!) beyond words. Second, the note cards courtesy of my friend Sara (her mom, Anne, makes them!!) are super rad. Here is the set she so thoughtfully sent to me based on a Food For Thought I posted a few weeks ago: And third, the personalized return address labels from my amazing college roomie, Ashley...I think these were the ones that really did my welling-up eyes in. Not only was it very observant of Miss Ashley Anne to notice I typically hand write all of my return addresses but it was so simply...uplifting...to see my little address printed there. Tricia DiGaetano. San Francisco, CA. It was a tiny reminder of how far I've come in creating this beautiful life for myself; of the sacred space within my cozy apartment that I oh so love coming home to. This is my tiny corner of the Universe and, while it is still a work in progress, I am overjoyed to call it mine. Are you working to feel the same about your corner? I hope so. You and your corner are more than worthy. There is a comment on an old Facebook photo of the Golden Gate Bridge I posted from a high school friend of mine that says "wow. so jealous. and so proud of you- crazy gal you did it!". I think about this comment sometimes when I'm suddenly struck by the fortunate life I lead--about the struggles it took to get here and the gratitude I feel on a daily basis for it all. I think this is what rose up within me when I saw the address labels...a feeling of crazy gal, you did it. How cool is it that I was able to send thank-you's using both the cards and the labels? Everything really is so connected. In Gratitude,
Trish I love this jewelry box my sweet friend Kelly gave me for Christmas. I love the wood build, the size and of course I love the message most of all. It's so true, isn't it? Often I see myself and my friends waiting in anticipation for the perfect moment to do something, to change our paths, to take a risk--waiting for the "storm" to pass, the stars to align or the go ahead sign from above that this moment is the safe one we have been waiting for. Often we find ourselves waiting for some kind of approval from the outside when we should be listening to the self within. While I am a firm believer in trusting the process and having patience with the Universe as it conspires to bring us our greatest good ("faith" could be, in my humble opinion, a synonym for patience) I am also a firm believer in recognizing life in the present. I am a firm believer in seizing the day, going with your gut and listening to our inner guides. I am a firm believer in living, laughing and loving no matter what. Let's face it--there will always be a reason not to do something. There will always be a risk or two involved with making choices. Sometimes, sacrifices will have to be made. There will always be someone saying (maybe even our ego) "but what if it doesn't work out?".
I guess I can't help but think "yea...but what if it does?". My mom always tells me to pull myself up by my bootstraps and move forward. I choose those straps to be attached to my fabulous pair of Hunter rainboots. So long as we are waiting for the skies to clear, we might as well dance in the cool, refreshing, life giving and sustaining rain, right? Love and Light, Trish In true perfect timing, I stumbled upon this documentary yesterday (the first of the new year; the quintessential day of new beginnings) and completely fell in love. I'm begging you to watch this movie ASAP (I snagged it OnDemand) because it beautifully aligned with all of my intentions for 2012 and I know it will resonate with my readers, too. I felt truly inspired (and admittedly a little teary, duh, that's totally my style) watching all of my beliefs be outlined before me, scientifically proven and eloquently affirmed by some of the top minds, hearts and souls of the world. We are truly all connected. You will not regret spending time absorbing this films message, I promise!
If you have the day off today I hope you're fully enjoying whatever it is you wish to be doing. Have a super long to-do list? I hope you feel lighter after having enthusiastically completed it. There are few things in life that feel as good as crumpling up a piece of paper marked with crossed-out tasks. Phew! Soak up that sense of basic accomplishment. Breathe easier. Watching football all day? I hope for exciting, fairly officiated games (and maybe a couple of clutch upsets). Easy on the beers and nachos, though, OK? Your hot bodies will appreciate that tomorrow. Have no motivation to do much of anything as a mean case of the lazys has already set in? I hear ya. Embrace it. Don't feel badly for taking time to find pleasure in staying in, cuddling up or nap o'clocking all afternoon. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be the kings and queens of productivity that we neglect to appreciate a day of quiet nothing. I am certainly a gal who loves to adventure and go-go-go...but I also refuse to beat myself up for honoring my body's urge to just be still. Shift your perspective on the validity of this urge. Be grateful you even have this choice, ya know? Have awesome days! And seriously. "I Am". Watch it. Now. Please? So much love and light pours from it every minute. "The truth of who we are, is that we are because we belong." -Desmond Tutu In Gratitude, Trish |
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