Social media sites. Facebook newsfeed. Apps. Emails. Texts messages. Smart phones. Laptops. Highways. Public transport during rush hour. Our minds. All come with a constant flow of words, information and clutter. It keeps coming and you can only assimilate so much. Stop trying to take it ALL in. You never will. Trying to will make you crazy. It's just not necessary.

Today I leave you with one word. One phrase. One lesson. One action. One truth.

All you'll ever really need:

LOVE.

Assimilate that.

What big eyes you have

In the modern world we are both more and less connected than we've ever been. We can connect to virtually anyone, anywhere, anytime and yet there is a severe disconnect between people on a spiritual level. When is the last time you really looked into someone's eyes for more than 2 or 3 seconds? 5? Even when we do glance at people in the street it is often less than a second.

Today, I dare you to connect with someone in a deeper level - without words.

The challenge? Look at one another in the eyes for five seconds. It may feel like the longest five seconds you've experienced for a long time. Ask yourselves how you felt. What emotions came up? Laughter? Discomfort? Connection? Fear? Love? Whatever it may be just try it out and be aware of how it felt. Look at how you felt before and after. It is a simple practice that has become almost foreign to many. Go ahead, try something new today. It only takes five seconds!

Spot the Smile

Twice a week I take a seven year old home from school on the subway.  He is always asking for my iphone to play games on and begging for ice cream and candy which I try desperately not to give in to (seeing as I think of skittles and the likes as legalized crack and would feel guilty drugging a kid-sorry ice cream man!). 

Yesterday, in attempt to bring the fun back and distract him from the "misery" he goes through not getting to play on an iphone and eat insane amounts of sugar,  I told him about the exciting new game we could play.  It's called: "Spot the Smile".  One point for every smile you spot.  Whoever gets to 10 first "wins".  He always beat me.  I tried to explain that everyone wins in this game because you end up with a big huge smile on your face!  He still likes to go by the "winner/loser" senario.  Either way it really brightened both of our days.  Also, playing it in New York City makes it all the more challenging .  It is New York after all.  

Today I challenge all of you to play, even if by yourself.  You'll be amazed how happy it can make you to "spot the smiles" rather than stare at the frowns.  Or peoples shoes.  Or the pavement.  You get the picture.

Happy Days and Smiles to all,

Katie

Olive Ridley Sea Turtles

The endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtles are released every year on the north shore of Bahia de Bandera (The Bay of Banderas) in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

AMA Mexico has been dedicated to the conservation of these turtles since 2002.  In the year 2012 they successfully relocated over 9,000 endangered nests and moved them to incubation corrals on the beaches of Nuevo Vallarta.  

Dare of the day:

"If you're reading this...congratulations, you're alive. 

If that's not something to smile about, then I don't know what is."

-Chad Sugg, Monsters Under Your Head

DARE OF THE DAY:

Try to make eye contact with and smile at EVERY 

person you walk by today...

Just to see what happens.  

You will be amazed how you feel with every step you take.
  It felt like my heart was exploding with fireworks and sunflowers.  
Theres no better feeling than watch a strangers face light up.  

This one is especially for you New Yorkers.  

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of 

love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” 

-Mother Teresa

If your heart feels like this at the end of the day....

Well done. You're alive!!

Happy Days to ALL :-)

Lincoln center

Lincoln center dazzling after the rain.

Piece from "The Ballet Project" by FAILE

  Princess Aurora's dress from the wedding scene in "Sleeping Beauty"

at the David H. Koch Theater

Scatter sunshine

Live simply, expect little, give much. Fill your life with love, scatter sunshine. Forget self. Think of others and do as you would be done by.
-unknown