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“Sufi sheikh who preached nonviolence laid to rest”…may his spirit guide us still. One of the sweetest men I have ever met, a man I am grateful to have had the occasion to learn from and work with (for far too short a time), a man of peace and true heart, has passed on. Continue reading Sheikh Bukhari, man of peace, laid to rest in Jerusalem at age of 61 The visual and written work of Aman Mojadidi is head and heart provoking. A bold vision and voice that brings conflict, global and personal, back home to the “I” through the transpersonal and interpersonal. May it break hearts open. Perhaps life will find hold in the fissures left behind. If nothing else, be sure to read Continue reading REVIEW: Art, Visual and Written, Aman Mojadidi A year is a measure of time between two points. The day that anniversary marks is by nature both an ending and beginning. Birthdays have had gravity for me for many years. My own personal “new year” – I take inventory, whether I want to or not. What have I done to better myself? What have Continue reading My 39th Birthday! 1. Be yourself, and represent yourself truly and fully. If you don’t, you’ll be getting into a relationship with someone who thinks they’re getting into a relationship with someone other than the real you! Not a good start to a relationship that you may want to be a lifelong thing, right? Show up as who you Continue reading Getting the Relationship You Want Do you want more gratitude in your life? If so, cultivate it! This article will give you tools that allow you to take an active part in creating a more grateful world. As AJ Muste, a committed nonviolent peace activist said, “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.” The more we practice peace, Continue reading How to Grow a Grateful World: Three Steps to Engaged Gratitude The world is what you make it. The Buddha is credited with this quote: “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.” Consider how you are making your world – what thoughts are building what outcomes in your life? If you can change how Continue reading An Empowerment for Presence: Change Your Mind, Change the World Prayer of Saint Francis O Divine Master, Continue reading A Meditation on Peace, and the Prayer of Saint Francis As a mom, sometimes the most perfect intentions for self love and self care fall short of reality. You have a very full life, and it’s often a challenge to find the “extra” time to build in those moments of self-nurturing. Resistance may be deeper than it even looks at first, too. When you first start Continue reading Moms and Self Care; Do it For Those You Love The good news of the week; Constance McMillen, the young woman whose request to wear a tuxedo and take her girlfriend to her senior prom was denied, has won a hearing about the violation of her First Amendment rights; the right to freedom of speech. McMillen’s family has been amongst some of her strongest supports in Continue reading Thank You Constance McMillen; A Victory for One is a Victory for All! Reprinted from Gauntlet Magazine, 1999, edited 10/2008, very partial edit, 3/2010, edit, 3/25/2010 Neo-Feminism: I call myself a neo-feminist rather than a post-feminist. Post-feminist implies that feminism may indeed be dead, as was the cultural myth for a while (still under debate?) whereas the term neo-feminist illustrates that the movement is vital, alive, evolving. The term post-feminist gives Continue reading Outrageous Roots and a Bright Future; Sex and Feminism Claim your prize by posting here, and then writing a personal e-mail with your contact info to: ms.allen@lasaraallen.com. (Your contact info will be used only for shipping purposes and then discarded.) Remember; if you do not come back to claim your prize by midnight pacific time on March 24th to claim your prize it will Continue reading Winners of the Good Medicine Bath and Beauty Products Contest/Giveaway! Dress You Up In My Love is a nationwide equality celebration designed to protest the school in Mississippi that took action against Constance McMillan, the girl who wanted to take her girlfriend to the prom. Yes, it is 2010…but instead of allowing a tuxedoed young lesbian woman to attend the prom with her lovely beloved Continue reading Dress You Up in My Love Equality Prom – Everywhere! Bodies communicate, moods, good or bad, are caught and transmitted like a virus. Like ripples in a pond, what you feel radiates out. Your happiness, your ease, your joy. Or, your stress, your fear, your anger. Every moment, you are modeling the creation of the world. And, every moment, your children are building the foundation of Continue reading Your Family is a Living System LaSara has been featured on: “Life and Style” (Sony Pictures Television) Continue reading Media Modeling is always the strongest message. You want your kids to be honest? How about you be honest, too? What is transparency? The definition I like the most is; the quality that allows light to pass through, undisturbed. As a parenting metaphor, this is a great image; we’re transparent when there’s nothing clouding our interactions with Continue reading How to be Transparent in Parenting by Lasara Allen Lasara is a seasoned speaker and presenter, with over 20 years experience in both public speaking and seminar development and facilitation. She is available for teleseminars, e-conferences, conferences, seminars, and speaking engagements. Contact us for rates and scheduling. Comments from participants in Lasára’s seminars: Continue reading Public Speaking, Workshops, and Seminars Welcome to the inaugural www.LasaraAllen.com giveaway! Review of products below the giveaway prizes and rules – add comments/entries below that! GIVEAWAY: There will be FOUR lucky prize winners. Prizes below: One amazing, full size travel kit like the one above, valued at $125 Continue reading GIVEAWAY: Natural Good Medicine Bath & Beauty Products Each of us has a desired level of clean. Or in the case of my daughters and I, a desired level of comfortable mess. The desire for “comfortable mess” on the part of the ladies and the desire for an orderly point within the chaos that is life on the part of my husband sometimes Continue reading Mess or No Mess? That is the Question. It’s happened to all of us; you wake up in a great mood. The sun is shinning, and the first thought you had when you opened your eyes was, “Ah, I’m so lucky to have this life!” You happily hum your way into the kitchen, and begin getting ready for another full and fabulous day. You’re Continue reading How To Stop the Spread of a Bad Mood Once upon a time there was a beautiful little girl. Her skin was the color of dark mocha. Her hair was joyfully bouncy, and curled like baby grapevines do. It was as black as darkest night. Her teeth gleamed white and her lips were full. Her smile shone like light breaking through clouds. One day the Continue reading The Question Box This interview is full of authenticity, gratitude and transformation. -Alexandra Enjoy my interview at My Goddess Life!
I haven’t written an update in a while. That’s because I hit a wall. And learned from it! For two weeks, I could barely move from over training. I was tired and in pain. I decided I would reduce my miles, and started healing immediately. I’m now back to being able to run, and workout, without Continue reading Update 2.19.10 As conscious parents working to create a better world, we know that the work – and joy – of it begins at home. Here are seven steps that offer you a foundation for clear and healthy communication with your most precious focus; your Continue reading Seven Steps to Healthy Communication with Your Kids Happy Mardi Gras! Are you celebrating Lent? Lent is a period of fasting. Mardi Gras and Carnival are based on the last day of indulgence before the fast. If so, what kind of fast are you observing? Fasting is about giving something up. Temporarily in most cases, unless your fast is indefinite. Spiritual fasting is common in most Continue reading Lent – Do You Celebrate It?
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Even on your darkest days you can get to gratitude in three easy steps. Here’s the low-down! 1. Take Inventory There’s ALWAYS SOMETHING to be grateful for. It’s just true. There always is. Every complaint is a request. Where you see a complaint (“The financial news is so bad!”) there’s a request underneath it (“I Continue reading Three Simple Steps to Gratitude Written Aug., 2008 (Follow me: http://www.twitter.com/Yoga_Mama) I was skeptical at first, but now Twitter is my golden city. As a busy mom and entrepreneur, I can take a few minutes and digest a handful of posts from my favorite Twitter friends, or post a bite-sized delight about my own day – Continue reading Be a Model Twitizen: A Twitter How-To Samhain: Celtic The word Samhain seems to have come from the word samhraidreadh, which in the Gaelic, the language of the Celts, means “summer’s end.” The Celts divided the year up into two parts; the Winter Half, or Dark Half, and the Summer Half, or Light Half. The Celts considered the day as starting with Continue reading Origins of Halloween: Celtic New Year, Dia de los Muertos. Fun family activities! Election Special – Nov., 2008 I have a lot going on in my life right now, as do we all. All of it is an opportunity to achieve a more constant state (or station) of awakening to compassion. One of the largest of my personal challenges to living in my compassionate Continue reading Generating Compassion for Sarah Palin – Election 2008 Special Oct., 2008 **This piece was written shortly before the presidential election of Barack Obama, but can easily be carried across to any election, or even to daily life.** As the election nears, there are questions on everyone’s lips. Whether it’s okay to talk about politics is one of this big ones. My opinion; Continue reading A Guide to Compassionate Citizenry – Election Year Special **This meditation is modeled on the loving kindness meditation from Ezra Bayda’s book, Being Zen, and further modeled on many practice for what in Buddhism is called generating bodhicitta.** This Awakened Heart meditation is designed to encourage awakening, develop presence, and to cultivate compassion. Bring your whole self to this experience, and come fully Continue reading An Awakened Heart Meditation: Cultivating Compassion Another run with Beth – Yay Beth! We clocked two miles at: Beth: 11:09/mile Lasara: 12:11/mile Pretty good, I say. Forgot the Red Bull again, and my lungs paid the price. Treated post run asthma attack with Astragalus, Herbal Expectorant Cough, and Yin Chiao. And hot Ovaltine with some extra Malt. Yum. The lungs feel better now. My shake Continue reading Update 2.7.10 Do you have serious fitness goals, AND obstacles to overcome in reaching them? Here’s the answer: The Real Sexy, Smart, and Strong by David Patchell-Evans – Wiley – 9/9/09 – BOOK REVIEW David Patchcell-Evans’s new book, The Real Sexy, Smart, and Strong, is another one of those messages that the universe delivered to me right on Continue reading BOOK REVIEW – The Real Sexy, Smart, and Strong by David Patchell-Evans – Wiley – 9/9/09 From time to time the home-fires cool. Here are some sure-fire ways to raise the temperature in your personal temple of love! Man or woman, we all love to loved. We love to be appreciated, showered in praise, listened to, noticed. We love being recognized and worshiped in little and big ways, quiet and loud ones. Here are some simple steps to gently coaxing those glowing coals of desire to full Continue reading Heat Up the Home-Fires and Reintroduce Romance – Everyday! With respect, a clear understanding of the rules, and a whole lotta love for the kids, ex-spouses are redefining family. Some call it divorce; I call it the “Two-Family Solution.” Assuming your divorce was peaceful and you and your ex have basic respect for one another, there’s no reason not to revel in the benefits the Continue reading A New View of Divorce; Three Simple Benefits of the Two-Family Solution Give your loved ones sweetly creative, inexpensive gifts that will make them smile the whole year round! These easy to make, creative, do it yourself Valentine’s Day gifts can be given to your lover, your child, your mother, or anyone you’re grateful for. For even more smiles, you can make one or more of theses gifts Continue reading Sweet Valentine’s Gifts that Won’t Break the Bank! Sunday run with Beth! They say the trail is 6 miles rt, but it is FOR SURE more. Not only that, but pretty brutal up and down, too. We did it though! Still rockin’ the minimal support shoes. We ran at the lake today (Lake Mendocino) instead of by the house, so no concrete anymore – Continue reading Update 1.31.10 Give your loved ones gifts that will make them smile the whole year round! These easy to make, creative, do it yourself Valentine’s Day gifts can be given to your lover, your child, your mother, or anyone you’re grateful for. For even more smiles, you can make one or more of theses gifts with a loved Continue reading Sweetly Creative D.I.Y. Valentine’s Day Gifts A Gratitude Altar or Gratitude Shrine gives you and your loved ones a visible reminder of all there is to be grateful for. Creating this altar with family and/or friends can be an act that allows for bonding, as well as an opportunity to focus on the gratitude you all have for each other, and Continue reading How to Create a Gratitude Altar or Shrine Gratitude for Talib Kweli, my buddy Jamers and his pushing me on our run today, 5 MILES DOWN on a casual…, for a run on a the roads of my youth – a reminder of how miles were shorter whan I was young’un, even tho my legs were, too. The smell on my skin after Continue reading Update 1.28.10 A preface for the ladies; Continue reading What Women Want – The Ten Secrets Every Husband, Lover, or Partner Needs to Know! GOOD news; ran just OVER 6 miles (if the signs were accurate…)… BAD news; I ran the OVER part because someone stole my bag I’d placed, slightly hidden by the trail. I didnt think anyone was crazy enough to be out there today besides me! GOOD news: I left the keys in the car, not in the Continue reading Update 1/25/09 Sometimes arguments just happen. And in those moments, anger can flare. Voices are raised. Postures are struck. Positions are held. Of course this never solves Continue reading Men, Anger, and Arguments; Some Do’s and Don’ts by Lasára Allen, MPNLP, www.lasaraallen.com As Continue reading Seven Steps to Healthy Communication With Your Kids First, I have to say that I love Lillian. I mean, I really have a lot of love for her. She’s the sweetest, most gentle-touch, fully real, honest transparent aesthetician I’ve ever had the pleasure of sharing time with. She’s responsive to my needs and desires, generous with her time, and honest. She’s also very Continue reading REVIEW – Day Spa, Ukiah, CA: Lillian’s Medical Spa ROCKS!!! See below the text box for our other green business policies, and ways that you, too, can reduce your carbon footprint. We Sell Primarily Green Products, and Our Services are Green, Too Continue reading Doing Our Part to Safeguard the Ecological Heritage of Future Generations 1. Because it’s fun to help create a Twitterwave of Gratitude, and share the love. Continue reading Why Guest Host a Twitter #GRATITUDE Gathering? http://www.LasaraAllen.com Okay, I admit it; we bipolar folks can be a real handful. If you have close friends who live with bipolar disorder (BD), you’ve probably had a couple – or more – not-so-easy interactions with them/us. This is my invitation to walk a mile in their/my shoes. But before we go further, terms; I choose to say, Continue reading Bipolar Disorder: …It Sucks. While Peggy McColl’s The Won Thing may sound like a “Rah rah!” guide to the entrepreneurial pursuit, like many of the books on the entrepreneurial life, this is a much more comprehensive guide to finding, creating and living the life you want - the whole life. Peggy talks about her confusion about relationships in a real Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: The Won Thing; the latest from amazing bestseller Peggy McColl Necklace of Kisses: A Novel She healed my heart with tears. SO good. I read this in a 3-hour time span on a Pacific – Atlantic flight, cover to cover. I laughed, I cried, I didn’t care that I was in public. Francesca Lia Block has offered reading I lusted for since Weetzie Bat. I’m ashamed to say Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: Necklace of Kisses, Francesca Lia Block The celebration of this season has roots in the timeless, hidden promise of light and warmth that lives within the dark. Even after the longest night of the year is over, winter still holds sway. But the light does begin its ascent to grandeur and glory in the eternal procession of seasons. With eyes open to Continue reading Finding Light in the Darkness – The Reason for the Season Keywords: — The Answer to the Season’s Biggest Question; Yes, Santa IS Real!, santa claus, santa clause, god, christmas, family, values, generosity, mysticism, children, santa is real, holiday season, hard questions, faith, christmas spirit, jesus, belief , magic, miracles, christmas miracles, question, santa, spirit, babbo natale When it comes to the delicate matter Continue reading The Answer to the Season’s Biggest Question; Yes, Santa IS Real! Recycling is probably the most mentioned, but least effective of the three Rs. Of the four items mentioned above, only the yogurt container can be recycled. And at, that, only at some recycling centers. The shirt and plastic bag are landfill. Over time, the shirt will rot away. The plastic bag will not. Of all the Continue reading THE THIRD R: RECYCLE Reusing is step two; once you’ve purchased an item and put it into circulation, the more times the item is used, the less the overall impact. This is just as true for a plastic bag, yogurt container, t-shirt, or computer. Of the four items mentioned, only the shirt is biodegradable. And, at that, only truly biodegradable Continue reading THE SECOND R: REUSE Reduce, Reuse, Recycle -it’s actually a pyramid, not a circle! The slogan “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is in that order for a reason; it makes more sense to envision it as a pyramid than the circular form it’s usually represented as. Reduce is the foundation of that pyramid. Reevaluating and reducing consumer habits is the best thing we Continue reading THE FIRST R: REDUCE Every challenge is an opportunity. The recession is a perfect chance to create a shift in your family’s, and your own, values; a chance to move from want-based, status-based, and impulse spending, to sustainable consumer choices. Of course, the first step is to that reframe is in shifting your own thought process. In this article you’ll Continue reading Re-Framing Your Family’s Recession Anxiety to Conscious Consumerism The Gratitude Place Grateful Sacred Heart Gratitude can be a wonderful, large, beautiful part of your living spiritual practice. Gratitude offers benefits that range from the physical, to the psychological, to the spiritual, and affects both our inner and outer lives. Gratitude practice, in and of itself, bring us into creative co-creation with our personal reality, our Continue reading The Gratitude Place Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving. ~ Kahlil Gibran You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, Continue reading Some of Lasára Allen’s Favorite Gratitude Quotes Gratitude increases health dramatically on all levels; there are health benefits to gratitude on the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual levels. It’s been scientifically proven that the regular practice of gratitude can improve your level of overall happiness by Continue reading The Benefits of Gratitude in Family Life I just found out the 2011 is the 2500th anniversary of the marathon! This is super cool, as my plan is to run a full marathon for my 40th birthday – in 2011! The fact it’s such a momentous occassion makes my goal that much sweeter. (See more on this soon.) My other piece of news Continue reading News About Long-Term Goals – the 2500th Marathon Anniversary in 2011! Race as Platform for Bipolar Advocacy & Education. Photo credit; Khalid Arar Schawabkeh How to Host a Gratitude Gathering! by Lasára Allen, MPNLP 1. Choose a date! What date makes you want to practice gratitude? You can choose Sunday, and have it be your church. You can choose the new moon, and have it be the beginning of a new cycle. You can choose Continue reading Host a Gratitude Gathering! The Benefits of Gratitude in Family Life Gratitude increases health dramatically on all levels; there are health benefits to gratitude on the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual levels. It’s been scientifically proven that the regular practice of gratitude can improve your level of overall happiness by 25%! Practicing gratitude with your children encourages both humility and empowerment. Continue reading The Benefits of Gratitude in Family Life When funds are tight, giving reminds us of how much we have, and how fortunate we are. While coming face-to-face with money problems can be a challenging experience, being able to do something about it is a saving grace. Especially for children, a sense of empowerment is a key factor to viewing the global situation Continue reading Five Ways to Engage Your Kids in Grateful Giving Robert (the Mr.) just went out to meet the fedEx guy…I thought it was the Mr’s second cashmere sweater (wine colored v-neck! First was a black, double weight), a late delivery from Santa… But he comes back in and says, “It’s a box of macho.” I was like, “What?” He says “It’s a box of macho Continue reading Supplements I’m Starting With. This is my training updates page. And here’s the beginning of my training story: Update, day two of training: Running with Elk Completed the scheduled three miles! I had my appendectomy just over a month ago – and haven’t run in well over a month. Even before the appendectomy, I had fallen off the running wagon for Continue reading Lasára’s Progress Page – Races, Competitions, Goals Long- and Short-Term A Bodhisattva Meditation for Cultivating Loving Compassion for the Self by Lasára Allen, www.lasaraallen.com Gate gate, para gate, parasam gate, bodhi svaha. The one responsibility of the bodhisattva is to not cause suffering. The one commitment of the bodhisattva is to love all beings pervading space and time, regardless of any beings ability to return, Continue reading A Bodhisattva Meditation for Cultivating Loving Compassion for the Self Click HERE for another beautiful page about the Heart Sutra. GATE GATE PARA GATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA!Mantra of the Prajna Paramita (Hint: Gate is pronounced like “gah-tay”) The mantra of the Prajna Paramita is found at the end of a brief, but classic Buddhist scripture, Continue reading Gate Gate Paragate Para Sam Gate Bodhi Svaha A NEW New Year’s Tradition; Give Up Resolutions! – Try Dedications, Intentions, and WHY NOTs Instead. Have you made any resolutions for 2010? Many of us make resolutions – and then fail. Though I have almost always met with success in my new year’s resolutions, I think resolutions come from a somewhat limited, and Continue reading A New New Year Tradition; Give Up Resolutions! Things I’m most grateful for from 2009 Getting married to my true and eternal love. It’s for reals, yo! Seriously now, I didn’t think that love like this was possible, and there’s nothing I have loved more to be proved wrong about that. I want to shout it from the mountaintops; TRUE LOVE IS REAL! Continue reading I’m Grateful for 2009! Nine of the most awesome products, vendors, or other items I found or was introduced to in 2009: Sephora; If I had an any credit available, I’d be in trouble because I could easily spend thousands at Sephora.com. Amazing products, great company. As it is, I spend too much there – in the TIME department. It’s Continue reading These are a few of my favorite things… (Goodbye, 2009!) Photo credit; Khalid Arar Schawabkeh Host a Gratitude Gathering! by Lasára Allen, MPNLP 1. Choose a date! What date makes you want to practice gratitude? You can choose Sunday, and have it be your church. You can choose the new moon, and have it be the beginning of a new cycle. You can choose your birthday, Continue reading Host a Gratitude Gathering! Reviews: Fun for you and yours; product reviews! Reviews will often include giveaways and contests, too. You’ll get many opportunities to learn about great stuff, and possibly end up with some of it in your pretty hands! Reviews include health, bath, & beauty products – family fun & education products – books, magazines, blogs – Continue reading Lasára Allen’s News & Reviews When funds are tight, giving reminds us of how much we have, and how fortunate we are. While coming face-to-face with money problems can be a challenging experience, being able to do something about it is a saving grace. Especially or children, a sense of empowerment is a key factor to viewing the global situation Continue reading 5 Ways to Engage Your Kids in Grateful Giving Self-Care for the Holiday Season Lasára Allen, MPNLP, http://www.LasaraAllen.com The holidays are upon us. No matter what your spiritual persuasion, you’re probably going to be finding time within this season of cold days and long nights to gather with family and friends, sit around the feast table, and celebrate some light in the darkness. What a Continue reading Self-Care for the Holiday Season |
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