Conscious Strokes, a blog about kayaking and mindfulness.

The Journey of Self

Dec 1, 2018 | mindfulness

Can one truly know one’s self? My search for knowledge led me to yoga, The Gita describes Yoga as the journey of the Self, Through the Self, To the Self. The journey never ends so I interpret “To the self” as a continuum of growing understanding.

Unshackling compassion

Nov 24, 2018 | mindfulness

The effervescent tumult of an ocean of suppressed emotions; guilt, blame, doubt rising to the surface, to be released upon the shores of my soul by the breaking waves of tears.

What does recovery look like?

Nov 1, 2018 | mindfulness

24 months ago, as I stood on a cliff top, I felt the cool lake chilled wind rip through my shirt. I looked down on the distant lakes and watched as waves rushed from the west across the disturbed surface. The intense Fall sun’s rays were not enough to overpower the...

Drinking from a wooden cup – consciousness in everything

Apr 27, 2018 | food, mindfulness

Yesterday I was driving home from the office and needed to get lunch. A veggie burger and fries resonated inside my head, I could sense the flavors. Perhaps a double whammy, a mass of fries from Five Guys, plus a veggie burger from Smash Burger, the perfect glutinous...

If its so easy, why is it so hard?

Feb 26, 2018 | meditation, mindfulness, yoga

There is no point in worrying about the past, or the future, as neither are in your control. Focus then only on the present. Oh, thank you, that was so helpful. If you had written that in the first paragraph I would not have had to read the entire tome. To an extent, I am not jesting. I have consumed with varying degrees of voracity numerous books about ancient and modern philosophies trying to educate myself on the inner workings of my, human, condition.

Happiness

Dec 7, 2017 | mindfulness

When my mind stops screaming and the pain within my chest subsides then the opportunity exists for happiness. Before happiness manifests there is a quiet time, a peaceful calm where the voices of depression are silent and rational emotion processing takes over. Happiness is a response, a physical and mental outcome, a manifestation of decisions made, a conscious and physical realization of emotions.

Cogitating on Compassion

Nov 29, 2017 | meditation, mindfulness

How can someone state they have compassion for the pain a circumstance creates, and then express a desire to not improve said circumstance and instead continue to worsen the pain? To me this seems counter-intuitive when one examines the definition of compassion: Compassion. /kəmˈpæʃən/ noun. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Rolling with plants

Nov 12, 2017 | food, kayaking

My life’s journey has been taking me to Europe a lot lately, for work but also a little “play”. In a small alley near the Plaça de Catalunya in the center of Barcelona, there is an equally small restaurant that serves nothing but vegan food. Teresa Carles (http://teresacarles.com) on the Carrer de Jovellanos has become my favorite restaurant out of any I have found during my travels.

Moribund morning elocution

Nov 12, 2017 | meditation, mindfulness, yoga

Why is it hard to change the way your mind works? Why is it hard to do the things you know will bring you the most happiness? Why is it that depression is the easiest path? Why does depression want more depression and drags you to its depths?

Conscious Strokes – A mindful, yogic, vegan, kayaking blog