Don’t Make Me Tell You Twice

When my Mother used to say, “Don’t make me tell you twice, (first name, middle name, last name)!”, I always listened.

It comes with a tone and a threat and a force all at one time.  And my sisters and I would straighten up, get real and get right.

I have been walking around, biking and scooter-ing around my neighborhood, and I notice a lot of plastic bag decoration in the trees, cigarette butts thrown from car windows (really, who smokes anymore?), and all out trash thrown in the middle of the sidewalk!  I ponder our dear Mother Earth, and I feel that she has told us twice, if not thrice, to clean it up.  Are we listening?  As I feared the wrath of my Mother’s threat as a child (and even still now), I am in sheer awe combined with utter fear at the patience exemplified by the Mother that is Mother Earth.

So to you, (first name) (middle name) (last name), listen up!  Pick up your trash.  Reuse, Recycle, Respect.  And get real and get right.

If you live on the West Coast, join me with Whole Foods Market, Heal the Bay, and yogi love, Kyra Anastasia tomorrow on the sand for some yoga + beach clean up to rock local action, global change!

Not in my hood, no prob.  Rock your flow and see trash, pick it up!

And, don’t make me tell you twice.

NOTE:  If this could only count for my 8 hours of community service I owe the state of California for a litter ticket?  But that, my friends, is another blog post about one expensive orange peel.  #biodegradable

 

Adventure: Beautiful Distraction

Okay, I admit it, I hate running and talking at the same time.  I was never great with running partners because I never truly mastered the syncing of rhythm + speed +breath  to allow for smooth conversation.  Thus, my ability to talk without sounding completely out of shape was not there.  Ego check?  Oh yes, you’re still there.   

So today, it was an incredibly glorious day.  I had to get my feet in the sand and body in the sun!  Give me that sweat and Vitamin D, please.

I begin the mile trek from my apartment down to Venice beach on my bicycle and my dear Mother calls.  I am already rocking out to some 80′ s station on Pandora, so I flip the switch and answer.  To my disbelief, she says my headphones are crystal clear.  So, we are chatting about life, my day, her crazy day and what she is up to for the evening, all while I am biking and being very defensive and safe (hands free headphones).  We actually continue the conversation while I lock my bike up and embark on my beach run.   Smooth so far and really a beautiful distraction to my beginning-to-barkcalves due to barefoot on the sand running.  Note #1:  Beach runs are such a gnarly workout for the legs, get out there in that soft sand!

So a 1/2 mile in and Mom has to jet.  I immediately miss the friendly banter and run partner of a family member via mobile unit.  So I stop short and peruse the contact sheet, I dial up my sister.  She answers and the run is back on.  We chat about this and that, the sunny day here, the absolute absurd amount of bathing suits she owns, about our Mother …the usual.  And my run is over!  I am schlepping through the soft sand back to my bike and she hands the phone over to good ol’ Dad!  There we are…chatting away about our upcoming family trip to Aspen, his birthday, when the family should visit me in California this Summer…and my bike comes to a halt and I am home.

What?  How phenomenal is that? 

Biking in the sun to the beach while talking to Mom.  Running in the sand while talking to Mom.  Continued and completed run while talking to Sister.  Biking in the sun back home while talking to Dad.

It was one of the most enjoyable workouts … ever.  Two of my favorite things coming together:  family and sweating-in-the-sun.  If you were like me with the ego around the out of breath convos while running, I say give it another try…well, and maybe slow down a notch!  So yes, I highly recommend the family reconnection while working out in the sunshine and on the sand.  #beautifuldistraction  #clearconnection

Note #2: Take no mind to all the staring passersby who think you are crazy talking to yourself about swimsuits or your Mother while running.  It keeps it interesting.

Barefoot Beach Run, taken while talking to the Sister

Project Inspiration: my Mother, Marti Carr

As I dig deep and look into who I really am, I look into who I invest my time with and how they have moved me in what I have called Project Inspiration.

I wanted to take this time to tell you how my mother, Marti Carr has inspired me and been a part of my life evolution. You probably have one of these: the do-everything-talk-through-anything-ridiculously-good-looking-super-woman-best-friend-rockstar of a Mom. Let’s compare notes.

Dear Mom,

You are the beginning. There for the first breath, to the first step, my first dance recital and as my PE teacher, from boyfriends to the mother/daughter talks to friendship.

You’re my hero, Mom.

What I wanted to let you know is that who you are, has and continues to shape who I am every day.

You love what you do and you do it damn well. You are a great teacher. And you are a teacher not only to your students, but your friends and family, as well. You teach from your heart, you teach for greatness and you are ones of this life’s greatest leaders. The passion you have inspires me to live a passionate life in all domains, even when it is not easy.

Mom, you cry at everything. Absolutely everything. Your tear ducts are on overload and it is a beautiful thing. Some people see crying as a weakness, relate it to pain or sadness. I look at your tears and see you feeling life. Allowing life, people, love and conversation to move you to an emotional state, and it is so empowering. I used to be naively proud of ‘never crying’ because I am so ‘macho’ or ‘hardcore’. Lame. Now I look to feel, be and have more moments in life that rock my emotions. Thank you for being open and feeling the World around you; it inspires me to do the same.

My life evolution has been so interesting, as I am sure most can relate when their relationship with their parents begins to shift to a radical friendship. I recall watching you teaching when I was young as one of your many students during Lap Day standing for kids’ health, watching you at 6am when we used to work out together before school and we were quite the mother/daughter duo, and watching us now in conversation for possibilities at the kitchen island in our home. You are there for it all, you are my Mother, my teacher, my hero, my friend. The ability to shift and transform in relationship is one that takes patience, listening and kindness. Noted and you are appreciated to the infinite.

I am in love with your relationship with Dad. Quite the pair, I am grateful for the life I have, the family you both built and foundation you have paved for me. You both hold hands, kiss in public and smile at one another. I hope that Chris and I are as much in love as you and Dad are 28 years later.

And finally, Mom, I love you. As I sit here thinking of my final note to type out – I cannot put words together. Tears scurry down my face behind my horn-rimmed thick glasses, my heart beats a beat faster and I sit here in such gratitude and amazing peace for a mom, a family and a life that moves me to tears. I am you, crying over something I cannot explain. And that is beautiful. Thank you.

Thank you for giving me life and loving me, Mom. I am inspired every single day by you, your work for possibility and greatness, your stand for your family and your ability to shift and cry over the unexplained in this beautiful life that Mom built. You are my mother, my teacher, my hero, and my friend and I am forever grateful for you.

As you continue to rock in this life, keep being who you are. And I promise that I will do the same.

Your Inspired Daughter,
Jacki Carr

Mom + Dad = LOVE

Family

Happy Mother’s Day!