The Silent Move! That was my intention set weeks before  moving to a new home recently. I envisioned the packing up and the move flowing downstream like a quiet, gray river on a misty fall day (never mind that the temperature reached 112 degrees). The vision worked for me and two movers from Redlands Moving & Storage became my heroes. The move itself flowed, however I made a personal discovery that unhinged me. I own too much stuff!

De-clutter! That’s what I always suggest to clients if they want to create space for new possibilities to emerge. Toss boxes in the garage you haven’t unpacked since the last move; park your car in the garage where it belongs. Donate books to the library! Give to the Goodwill things you display around the house but actually dislike! Above all, clear out the storage unit you’ve paid rent on since 2002!

Eliminate the excess so you can hear the sounds of your home singing!

In my head, I live in a zen environment, but in reality?

People collect signed books, fine wines, antique dolls or ceramic elephants, but someone busted me during the move for my much treasured extension cord collection, my riveting rag collection and my special assortment of colored glass knobs living in a shoebox. What? Did I ever live in a home with only one electrical outlet? The rags made from old soft t-shirts from twenty years ago offer up sweet memories, but glass knobs? What purpose do they serve stored in a box in the garage? They’re just “too valuable” to give to charity, as we tell ourselves! Anyone need a few cords, rags or knobs?  Hope your answer is NO, thank you!

De-clutter now and watch what happens!

What makes that place in your chest shine with a warm, sweet light that sometimes feels unbearable? What infuses you with the instantaneous knowing of God, magic and possibility? When your heart feels this way, take good notes! You might discover what in Life is calling YOU!

Back when Blue Mud Yoga was located on Orange St, I often watched out the window as trainers from Guide Dogs of the Desert parked their vans in the mall, brought out the dogs-in-training and began to put them through their paces in our downtown area. I cried seeing those dogs trying to get it right at the traffic light at Orange and Citrus. How could those dogs know that someday they would be guiding a blind person safely through the crosswalk?

Located in Georgia, Canine Assistants is another service dog training center. The founder, Jennifer Arnold’s story touches me deeply. I recommend her book: Through a Dog’s Eyes.

AND anything this selfless humanitarian does moves me beyond words! Greg Mortenson! A builder of schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the remotest places. At the “end of the road,” as Greg says! Read his Three Cups of Tea first, then read Stones Into Schools!

I am also moved by accounts of those who have tried to summit the highest peaks in the Himalayas: Mt Everest, K2 and others.

People overcoming  great physical limitations in order to fulfill their dream move me! D.J. Gregory is one of those heroes. In spite of having cerebral palsy, D.J. walked every hole of every tournament in the 2008 PGA golf tour–over 900 miles! Stunning achievement! His face says it all. Watch his video!

But really, what moves YOU?

Find 108 beads and cording. Assign each bead a meaning: your loved ones, teachers, intentions or concepts important to you.

String them together with a knot between each and you’ll have a personal mala that will serve you for years. Meditate with it, pray with your mala, or just enjoy its beauty!

Last spring I knew I had to make one. I used one bead for all my ancestors, one for my failures, for the Infinite, for the unknown, magic, the breath and Rumi. The red die is for good fortune! I have a cheat sheet, because I still can’t remember my assigned meanings of all 108.

Let me know if you would like to fashion such a mala. I’ll get you started and even give you a few beads to encourage you. You can drop by my office or my home and I’ll share some suggestions with you.

The project is not a quick one, but each time I sat down to add a few beads and knots over a two month period, I lapsed into a wonderful healing reverie! My personal mala sits on my desk and I never put it away!