Changing the World One Hug at a Time

About 5 years ago my Grandfather informed of his 5 guidelines to healthy living. I respect this man very much. He is always smiling and treats everyone he meets with the utmost respect. Currently he is 87 years of age, he plays hockey and golf (yes he walks the course) and he still comes into the office of the business he created almost 60 years ago. One of his 5 guidelines to healthy living was to hug someone everyday. This is not the first time I have heard of the benefits of physical touch through hugging. One article I read mentioned that in order to achieve personal growth you must have at least 8 hugs a day. I find it funny to place numbers on the amount of hugs one gives a day but I do find that I notice through my mood if I haven’t met my hug quota for the day. Through the act of hugging Oxytocin (one of the body’s four “feel good” neurotransmitters) is released allowing us to feel slightly more elated after the hug. Each morning at the office I start my day with a hug from my Grandfather and I try to share the love for the rest of the day. So I ask you this serious question of “Who have you hugged today”? If you cannot remember then it’s not too late to hug your neighbour, coworker, boss, the cashier at the grocery store, random person you started talking to at the bus stop, mother, sister or lover!

Make Life Rich

Be Kind to everyone, Do acts of generosity often, Have and share love, talk to strangers, Be grateful! 

Release the Need to Feel in Control of Everything

Today I was on my way down from my apartment to the ground floor. On the way my elevator picked up a gentleman on the 8^th floor. He got in, and pushed the ground floor button even though it was lit up. I was intrigued by this as it is not the first time I have noticed this same action. I thought to myself, did he push it due to habit? Or is more related to control, does he feel like he must push the button in order to “make sure” he will get to where he needs to go.  Everyone wants control of their life....which makes sense. However, more and more I am beginning to place my trust in the Universe and allow myself to flow in the river of life. I believe control issues come up when we are resisting situations that are coming our way and we are fearful of the future. Many disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, obsessive compulsive disorder all stem from the need to feel in control. I am not too familiar with OCD but from what I know people come up with rituals and need to do everything the exact same way to prevent a mishap. For example Mr. A is afraid that when he leaves his house, something could go wrong, so he spends an hour double and triple checking that the oven is off, all the plugs are unplugged, the switches are off. So how do we release these fears? How do we release the need to be in control?

Fear is something that I have thought a lot about. A person who I have grown up with and is very close to me is a very fearful person. This person is afraid of birds attacking her, afraid of getting in an accident that she couldn’t prevent, afraid of flying, and the list goes on. It can be exhausting to be around. Perhaps I have grown up to see her live in fear so I have taken the opposite approach and have released all or any fear. I think the main fear is of dying and these are just sub fears that could end up in death. I would love to learn more about how people in other cultures perceive death because one thing we can guarantee in our life is that we will die. This should not be something that we are fearful of as it is the circle of life. So how can we promote living life and not be afraid of living because we are afraid of dying?

Float Your Cares Away

The last couple months I have found that my mind has been running more than usual. I have been consciously repeating positive affirmations to avoid getting into a negative mind space. Living in the city is a constant attack on the senses. It has taken me a little while to get used to living on the 16^th floor of an apartment building, when before I was in living in a small town of 3,000 people. I find I look out my window in my room to the street below and there is always movement. Sometimes I find I get overwhelmed with the life of a city dweller and I look to the forest for comfort, reconnect with nature and disconnect from technology.

Sometimes I am not always able to escape to the forest when I want to. But recently, I became introduced to The Float House. It is a locally owned independent business and was opened in May of this year. I went for the first time yesterday and it was an incredible experience. I took a cramped bus ride down to the Cordova Street location after leaving work in an air conditioned building. The streets were busy and I did my best to dodge the smokers along the way but I made to the peaceful sanctuary of the Float House!  

After one of the co-owners, Greg, gave me a briefing of the “float” I was ready for the unknown. The float tank is a place of sensory deprivation. No sights, no sounds, just you and yourself! I made my way into the body temperature water, it was amazingly warm and nourishing. I don’t believe I have ever floated like that. The Epsom salt water fully supported my body, I was weightless. I noticed my breathing slow down and become deeper. In the tank I found it easy to let go, relax and unwind. I was in a deep meditative state which I believe is very healing. During the float I noticed that my physical body just melted away. I was just a consciousness.

After the float I left and walked down the same street but this time it was different. I was in pure bliss. Completely detached from any thoughts or judgements, I was just an observer. I usually feel this similar bliss after a yoga class but it was about 100x heightened after my float!

I will be making floating a regular addition to my meditation practice. Next step, the Dead Sea!