Experiencing Life (Hallelujah)

Sometimes the world around us feels like it’s spinning out of our control (and it is), but what isn’t, is our experience of it and how we can control that.

—

I recently learned of this term, Kurashi. It’s a Japanese word that refers to the act (or as I like to think, art) of living. It’s not about the material container (the stuff we’ve acquired, where we live, what we drive, what we wear, what our job title is, etc.) — it’s about the internal journey — the being, how we experience life and what matters most to us.

Breathe that in a moment.

What comes up for you? How are you experiencing this present moment of your daily life?

The 11^th anniversary of this glorious cafe (and I seriously cannot even begin to believe it’s already been 11 years) is this month. So, it probably should come as no surprise to me that I feel tender, reminiscent and in awe.

It’s almost as if there was life pre-café and life mid-café. The cells of my body remind me. My nervous system and intuition guide me. My life reactivated.

You see, prior to taking what felt like an enormous personal and professional leap with the café, I was shrinking, suffocating, disappearing and forgetting who I was and all the dreams I had once dreamt.

When that pot got stirred and began to simmer, I thirsted for traveling, adventuring, discovering and the desire became insatiable. It was almost as if I were making up for lost time.

In the past 8 years I was blessed to travel to Iceland, Paris, Ireland, Italy, Maine, Miami and New Jersey. Before the café, I never believed I’d see the world. But my bucket list is LONG and I’m making up for lost time. 

That said...

I’ve noticed a shift within me lately that’s made me curious so I’m leaning in and listening. My go-go-go desire for something new has mutated into something much quieter — a stillness, a desire to be here now. 

Initially, I assumed it was because of some of the rather unfortunate travel difficulties I had in Italy last November [having my passport and money stolen]. It was a logical choice to blame this on, but truthfully, I knew it wasn’t that. There was something else at play.

Then the word ‘kurashi’ entered the picture and it resonated so much that it felt soothing.

I was actually content right where I was (at least temporarily). I sunk into the quiet happiness in everyday life — each and every little moment unfolding around me between the bigger moments. It is within those ‘in-between’ moments that we find the true nectar of our lives. I didn’t need to go outside to find what I wanted to experience internally.

This isn’t about rainbows and unicorns. Life is still full of ups and downs, triggers, setbacks and rebounds.

And don’t think for one second that I’m selling my suitcases in a yard sale. Nope. They may acquire some dust for the moment, but I’m swimming in synchronicity with life right now. Right here in this moment.

I feel more grounded and less guilty for my slow mornings, my leisurely cuddle-fests with my cats in bed, not answering texts or emails first thing each day. I recognize that the more I commit to languishing at the start of the day, the more I feel like my cup has been filled. And when I fill my cup, I’ve got more to give.

I’m also invoking awareness to recognize how hard I can be on myself. We can only shift what we see.

I’m a list maker (my lists have lists!). I used to beat myself up for not checking every single thing off by the end of day, but that was such a set up for failure. There was no wiggle room for the magic of life, the whimsy, the impromptu, the customer I haven’t seen in a very long time who suddenly walks through the door.

Instead, now I celebrate what I DID accomplish in that day. I relish in the small accomplishments and the reserved space for magical encounters that are sprinkled about our days, there for the taking — from a quick smile to a stranger walking by to a deeper conversation with a friend.

I am much more peaceful when I feel safe and open to receive.

I wanted to share a communication that I recently had with a customer who wrote me about a product we use — she uncovered some seriously disturbing and unethical business practices. The email subject line read: Coconut Milk Concern. My ears perked up.

I was grateful to her for taking the time to inform me of this and quickly responded to not only her, but to doing my own research, writing companies and immediately revising our recipe and product we purchase [check out the Coconut Red Thai Curry recipe this month to learn more]. Thank you, Vijosa for alerting me to the cruel and unacceptable abuse of monkeys in Thailand that are held in captivity to pick coconuts that are sold around the world. 

Disgusting!

I also learned that McCornick bought Thai Kitchen and supposedly does not allow these practices any longer. I have written the company and until I have assurance that they are no longer participating in these practices, I will not be using their products. [I promise to keep you posted to their response.]

Animal abuse of any kind cuts straight to my heart and it will not be tolerated in this café. Sigh. Poor baby monkeys!

There are many paths in life. Sometimes the path leads us to a park bench to pause, breathe, look around, daydream, take in the view, restore. Other times, the path can feel more like a racetrack propelling us forward in action or becoming actively involved in causes that mean most to us. Both have merit. Both are necessary. Both are worthy of experiencing.

The timing is yours to discern.

Life has seasons and so do you. As you begin to notice more, you can truly begin to embrace the quiet happiness found in everyday living. #goals

For now, I greet each day with wonder...what will this day bring me? What will I bring it? A few months back I started working with clay in a studio with my daughter each week on a day off. New, frustrating, magnificent is all I can say.

I’m not afraid to get messy, to mold the clay in my hands, to create something, to fail at creating anything, to ‘waste’ hours being. How glorious.

 Yes, we are in ‘go-time’ at the café. Spring cleaning, reorganizing, prepping and planning for a bustling summer. I breathe in the still-crisp spring mountain air on my way to work, I glance out my cottage window at the natural world stirring and blooming — I’m grateful for it all.

From “Everything Halleluja” by Justin Bieber:

Go outside, hallelujah
It's beautiful, hallelujah
It's rainin' hallelujah
Breathe the air, hallelujah
I'm singin' like hallelujah
Dancin' like hallelujah

Everything hallelujah

Whether I’m coming or going, triggered or content this is just me experiencing life...Everything Hallelujah!

—Lea Haas, Owner, The Garden Cafe Woodstock