In this Issue

	A Personal Note From Yota
	Observing Life
	Yota Recommends
	Inspiration Corner
	Subscriber Information

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A Personal Note From Yota

Hello everyone and welcome to all new subscribers!

It's been two months since the last edition of this ezine. Life happened and I found myself in need of a retreat.

As a dear friend once suggested: “Maybe it’s time to do just what’s in front of you; chop wood, carry water and let the world go by." Every so often, I need to do just that.

I focused on my family, my closest friends and my work with existing clients. I only did what was absolutely necessary and what gave me joy. I needed to clear the cobwebs of my mind and trim off the excess, sort of speak.

During this time, I witnessed an old friend's futile battle with cancer. He was 37 and a father of two. I opened up to the fear, anxiety and confusion that most of us experience these days with everything that’s going on.

My daughters are growing up with lightning speed and I find myself wishing things could slow down a little. Nevertheless, life keeps going, impervious to our little dramas. My parents are aging and friends are going through major life transitions. In the midst of all this, I celebrated my 50th birthday and as one of my daughters pointed out, in her infinite compassion, Wow! I have lived half a century already!

I was looking forward to this stage of my life. I find growing older exhilarating and very liberating. There are definite privileges that come with age and I take full advantage of this little fact. Women my age know what I'm talking about.

There is a lot one learns in fifty years. Like, it's never too late for a change and fear and self-doubt are one's worst enemies. Or, whether we choose to be happy or not, life goes on, so we may as well lighten up and do the best we can with what we have.

What have you learned from your life experience and how are you applying these lessons? How often do you make time to be with yourself and have a heart-to-heart with you?

There is a wealth of wisdom inside and more often than not, we forget to dive in and find the treasure.

Blessings!

Yota

Observing Life

It all begins by taking notice! Human development, scientific exploration, business ventures; it all begins with someone taking notice, asking questions, and being willing to act!

Do you know of any progress coming out of being stuck in denial, fear and limitation? Fear, self-doubt, and self-imposed limitations keep us small.

Paying attention, being curious, taking risks, acting on our intuition and refusing to stay bound lead to infinite possibilities and expansion.

To create the life we want we have to first:

• Acknowledge the life we have,
• Accept what works and what doesn't,
• Avoid the traps of guilt, blame and self-denial, and
• Engage our imagination and will power to embark on a journey.

To learn we need to observe. Observing life is not a passive activity. It doesn't mean withdrawing from everything and becoming a recluse. It doesn't mean denying life's joy or pain. And, it certainly doesn't require a long vacation from everything.

Living a full life, an authentic life, requires presence of mind, awareness and the willingness to feel, learn and do whatever we need to do to make our life work. It means fully participating and learning whatever lessons our life imparts to us.

Observing life means diving into it and letting ourselves take it all in! Being a conscious and willing life participant is a commitment that is not devoid of risk. It's amazing what one can see when one is ready to recognize.

To observe we need to be able to let go of our control, maintain our focus and stay open to possibilities. We are always receiving guidance and direction but we either don't want to hear it or we are too distracted to notice. "Later," we think. "I'll pay attention when the kids are off to college, when things calm down at work, when the house is paid off. Right now, I have too much on my plate. I don't have the luxury to deal with this New Age stuff."

So many excuses, such low expectations! It's easy to forget that the future is now and now is all we have.

Every day is a special day. Every day is given to us to live it. Rushing from here to there, gasping for breath, and wishing we were someplace else is not the way to live.

Do you catch yourself wishing you were elsewhere doing something else? How is that working for you? Does it leave you exhausted and demoralized or inspired and ready for more?

Today, make the commitment to be present for your life.

• Take deep breaths, lots of them, look around with eyes wide open, let your heart feel what she wants to feel and honor your feelings,
• Let your mind rest in the knowledge that the present moment is all you have and you are not willing to squander it,
• Pay close attention to what's happening all around you,
• Focus on solutions not on problems,
• See possibilities in limitations,
• Acknowledge the beauty in your life,
• Practice joy and gratitude, and
• Stay open to receiving goodness and blessings.

Are you ready to try something different?

Yota Recommends

Comfortable With Uncertainty; 
108 Teaching on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion.

By Pema Chodron

Inspiration Corner

When your heart is attentive, your entire being enters your prayer without you having to force it.

- Rebbe Nachman

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