One of my sisters graduated college today, which meant I spent a lot of time with family. I had the special task of tending to my grandmother. My grandmother can be hard to be around, she seems to have a negative opinion about everything and likes to pick fights. Most of the time we shy away from her and try to pass her off to one another instead of engaging in conversation.
Well – today I was determined to be satisfied with her no matter what. When she fought, I fought back. When she complained, I called her out on it. Today was also the first time in years that I truly had fun being with her, and possibly the first time that it actually looked like she was enjoying herself. After a few times of hanging in there when she tried to pick fights, she backed off and opened up. It was way cool, and now it is 1:00 am and she is still sitting with me and talking about things.
Tonight was a good example of how I limit myself with others and what is possible for me in relationships when I choose to go for my satisfaction.
– Lab Member, Tabasco Lab
Tabasco Lab is getting in the arena. We’re feeling it and now is the time to test what we’re made of.
For me personally too. Experiential living. In the real world. With real humans. Not in my head.
What’s your arena? Let’s do this.
“…The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…”
– Theadore Roosevelt
– Lab Member, Tabasco Lab
A covenant. An agreement. A pact. A pledge.
How I give of myself. Each little moment of my day exhibits a covenant I’ve made. I agree to be committed to lab. I agree to be in relationship with others. I agree to give my best, or alternatively, I agree to let someone off the hook so they will let me off the hook. I’m always going around making agreements, even with myself.
My personal power exhibits itself in my Covenants. I can turn them into the fire of life inside of me.
I’m scared as head of Covenants for the June training. It’s not a role I’ve taken on before…AND I made an agreement to give the role my best in the service of learning and growing.
What agreement will you make today to support your next best self?
– Lab Member, Tabasco Lab
I’ve been asked this question a lot in Lab lately. “What are you feeling?” I often stumble with this question. There are a lot of feelings. It is COMPLICATED. I feel the joy that I can finally go outside and play with my family as the weather just turned the corner. Also, Joy for meeting a friend that I have lost contact with for a long time. Fear that I feel overwhelmed at work lately. I think I’m feeling all the emotions at once.
But is that true?
I used to draw a lot as a kid. I found it is interesting that when I mixed vibrant colors on my palette, I got grey. I’m feeling the same way when I am asked: “What are you feeling”. I know Grey is not an emotion, but I feel “grey” a lot as I scan and MIX my emotions a lot.
What if I choose to focus on the joy of playing outside with my family on the weekend without having to worry about work. What if I choose to truly enjoy the moment of reconnecting with my old friend without trying to remember why we got separated years ago? What if I choose to focus on the most vibrant color right in front of me without scanning the background?
What is the most VIBRANT color right in front of you?
– Lab Member, Tabasco Lab
I went to see my doctor yesterday. As usual, I was guided to the examining room by a nurse who took my vitals and then left with a pleasant smile and said: “the doctor will be in shortly”. Here I go, the wait started. I would historically reach out to my phone immediately to check my emails they would disappear after my appointment while counting how long I had to wait. But today, I told myself what if I meditate as I just had a conversation with a friend that I’d like to meditate more but can never find the time to do it.
It was less than 10 minutes before the doctor came in and it is funny that I wished she would come in a bit later. What I realized is that I just turned the table around and carved out a space for myself in a situation that was historically totally up to someone else.
What if I find ways to turn the table around more often in my life?
– Lab Member, Tabasco Lab
I’ve been asked this question a lot in Lab lately. “What are you feeling?” I often stumble with this question. There are a lot of feelings. It is COMPLICATED. I feel the joy that I can finally go outside and play with my family as the weather just turned the corner. Also, Joy for meeting a friend that I have lost contact with for a long time. Fear that I feel overwhelmed at work lately. I think I’m feeling all the emotions at once.
But is that true?
I used to draw a lot as a kid. I found it is interesting that when I mixed vibrant colors on my palette, I got grey. I’m feeling the same way when I am asked: “What are you feeling”. I know Grey is not an emotion, but I feel “grey” a lot as I scan and MIX my emotions a lot.
What if I choose to focus on the joy of playing outside with my family on the weekend without having to worry about work. What if I choose to truly enjoy the moment of reconnecting with my old friend without trying to remember why we got separated years ago? What if I choose to focus on the most vibrant color right in front of me without scanning the background?
What is the most VIBRANT color right in front of you?
– Lab Member, Tabasco Lab
