The Power of Silent Stuff - by Robin Gorman Newman

I'm actually not sure what to blog about today.

I had planned to get this done much earlier, but my day got away from me.

I can't complain. I do believe that things flow as they should, but it it did throw me off schedule.

I had a 10AM call planned to discuss a project for my moms venture, http://www.motherhoodlater.com/, and what I thought would be a 1/2 hour phone chat turned into 1.5 hours.

Then, my 90 year old dad with health challenges, called, and we discussed some alternative approaches he might explore for his ailments. (I'm always on the lookout for something that might help him to feel better.)

That put me behind in my plans to tackle various items on my To Do list.

Before I knew it, it was time to run out the door. I had an appointment for a private discussion/meditation session with a woman at an amazing place in town called Global Harmony House. http://www.ghhny.com/ It's a worldwide organization that teaches raj yoga meditation, which I embrace. It has changed my life, though I don't practice it nearly as I should.

But, a number of years ago, I had a major health scare, and through meditation, I was able to learn the benefits of silence. Going into myself to learn to trust my gut and to hear my inner voice. It gave me tremendous clarity and decision-making power.

I definitely need more of that. I'm feeling very indecisive and a bit overwhelmed at the moment. I'm in that racing the clock mode, and I don't like it.

I'm trying to make a few decisions re: projects to move forward with, and I'm getting all caught up in the details and it's making me feel somewhat stuck. I find that when I feel like I have too much on my plate, I just cannot think clearly.

I need to somehow take a step back and dwell less on all the minutia. It doesn't help to overthink a situation.

That is part of what we discussed in my meditation session today.

People are so busy and think way too much. We don't always allow ourselves to feel and just be. And, the more we think, the more we can get overwhelmed with thoughts that are self-defeating. We anticipate that something may seem harder than it would really be if we just tackled it. Even if that meant breaking it down into steps that make it more approachable for us.

But, why is it so hard to give yourself permission for some silence? I'm SO bad at allowing that for myself. And, then we wonder how we could be more joyful. If our brains are constantly on overdrive, we don't even know after awhile what does make us happy.

I am truly guilty of that.

And, in a fast paced city like NY, where I live, we are surrounded by noise and the desire for achievement.

At least I have the awareness of my behavior and attitude.

I will endeavor to stop and breathe more during the day. To get into a periodic mode of silence. To allow my creative juices to flow. To invite answers to come to me. And, to be grateful for all the exciting projects I am involved with...and for my health...loved ones.....etc.

I know that I will ultimately know what choices are best for me.

Keeping Track of Stuff -- by Robin

I'm away on a business/pleasure trip and had been making a list for some time re: things to go before I left, things to pack, things to remember upon my return, etc.

Friends and others make "fun" of me...in a loving way...that I'm "so organized". It's funny. At times I actual wonder if I have a bit of an "anal" tendency, but then I decide it's not about that. Any, why put myself down for being detail-minded?

I create a system for myself, and it works most of the time.

My dad was over this past weekend, and saw me making notations already on a 2009 calendar. He commented that he doesn't do that. But, I have a 5 year old, I explained, and life can get busy. We do a lot of planning, and of course, things arise spontaneously as well. And, if for example, we get play tickets, you do purchase them in advance, and you sure don't want to forget when you are going, with the price of Broadway these days.

We booked my son's 5th birthday party for March and sent out the invitations this weekend. Yes...it was planning way ahead...but lots of kids party places get so booked up, it's crazy. And, one of my friends already asked me when his party would be because she was making some plans.

Interestingly, I then, received an email from one of the moms who said we'd likely to have to remind invitees in February. That people will lose the invitation, forget about the party, etc.

This same mom asked about my experiences having a Blackberry. She wondered if she should get one. If I have found it to be helpful organization-wise.

Now you may be thinking I'm an organization pro, but truly, that is not the case. I have tons of piles of paperwork in my office that in a perfect world would be neatly filed away. But, it's how I work, and while I dislike clutter, I put up with it.

But, when it comes to my "to do list", if I don't write it down, it doesn't happen. I have piles of post-it pads that I use regularly, and I am known to carry my hard-covered daily planner with me. That way, I am always prepared if something arises that I need to schedule.

My trainer at the gym can never remember when we reschedule an appointment. Frankly, it's irritating. Is it a crime to have some semblance of organization? And, if you run a business, don't you need to? So, she always asks me to call and remind her re: a workout time, if it has changed. But, why is that my job? To pick up the slack for her because she doesn't have a system of remembering?

My dad is a CPA, and I think I inherited his detail-minded mind. And, I'm proud of it.

How do you live your life and keep track of things?

Do you feel justified in putting your "stuff" on others and asking them to call or write to remind you of things?

I'm curious to know your story.