The MOST Important Thing I Learned At My Audition At La Reve Today (And You Can Learn It Too)

I’m wiping chlorine from my eyes, slugging my training bag over my shoulder and shuffling my way back to the parking garage. The audition was at La Reve, the big production water show at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.

I came into the audition with few expectations, simply pleased to be back in my element, dancing, flipping, improvising. The first part of the audition was strength testing like rope climbs and core exercises. The second part was learning dance routines and improvising. The third part was seeing if you could swim.

Here is what I learned.

I learned that having fun is that matters. I learned the ruthless competitive, cutthroat strive to the top attitude we harbor and encourage in western society isn’t the norm across the board. We can still be competitive, have fun, and help each other.

Doesn’t make sense? It’s not supposed to. Read more

Obama, Gandhi, and You

Yesterday I sat mesmerized in front of my computer screen watching Obama’s address to congress online. Did you watch it?

Now, whether or not you are a supporter of Obama or not isn’t my point. My point is that here’s a man who is able to carry a message into millions of hearts because of the truth of his words.

Gandhi did it, Mother Theresa did it, Martin Luther King did it.

Then I had a very mixed reaction: I felt at the same time completely inspired, and totally deflated. Read more

I Ditched My Cell Phone

The headline in today’s paper in the Las Vegas Review Journal reads:

* Number of new home sales is lowest on record
* Fed downgrades economic forecast for this yea
* Obama unveils $75 billion mortgage relief plan

There’s a lot of doom and gloom going on here in the States and we are known for our sensationalism and drama. The economy feels like it teetering on a fragile balance and good news is a distant wish.

I disagree.

I am reminded by a comment by a dear friend that this could be the best of times for this country, this people. He believes that “we are finally getting back to basics.” What fantastic insight! Read more

Alan Watts Music and Life

I used to love reading Alan Watts’ books, full of incredible insight. Here is someone’s animated rendition of some very simple, but potent words.

Fear, Money, and Mindset

The headline in today’s paper in the Las Vegas Review Journal reads:

* Number of new home sales is lowest on record
* Fed downgrades economic forecast for this yea
* Obama unveils $75 billion mortgage relief plan

There’s a lot of doom and gloom going on here in the States and we are known for our sensationalism and drama. The economy feels like it teetering on a fragile balance and good news is a distant wish.

I disagree.

I am reminded by a comment by a dear friend that this could be the best of times for this country, this people. He believes that “we are finally getting back to basics.” What fantastic insight!

In moments of fear, people cut back and return to essentials. It’s an opportunity to discard all the useless junk we’ve accumulated, and keep only what’s truly important.

My revelation this month? I’ve bucked the trend and ditched my cell phone. Yes, it’s gone, gasp! I only use an Internet phone from my computer which means I have to be sitting down to make a call.

Gone are the days of driving and talking, walking the dog and talking, checking out items at the store and talking, going to the bathroom (you’ve done it) and talking. I actually have to pay attention to people when I’m on the phone…

I’m not against cell phones or any other technology. My point is that in good times, we pick up trash we think we need but we don’t. I was paying over $80 a month to have a portable answering machine. Not worth it.

This is the mindset of returning to basics. Can you train your mind to let go of the things you think you need? Acrobatic mindset training begins with using only what you need and nothing else.