Breathe in the Passion

THe Timing of Time

2009-11-19T19:09:00.000-08:00

The Timing of Time

Time on your hands………….where should time sit? Time flies, time stands still, time and time again…………how do we handle time or does time handle us????

It’s Thursday the 19^th of November. The TIME is 6:12pm. I’m listening to an amazing tune called Cyberia by a group called Afro-Celt. If you’re around your computer, go listen to it right now!!! At around 1:26 the sound is incredible…….very mysterious and powerful.

OK, now that I’ve set the mood, back to time.

It’s so odd to me that something so constant can feel so shaky! Thoughts like: “I’m not sure I can make it in time”…….”Does anyone have the time”……….”I’ll never finish this in time”!!!

How can we shake time off………are we suppose to try??

I think not.

There is a certainty to life and one of those certainties is time. It guides us, connects us, and helps us understand our course. We have no control over time. To try and take control of it will only lead us down a path of anxiousness.

Don’t try.

Time teaches us patience. The constant with time can allow us to calm down in the moment.

Here’s what I’m trying to say: TAKE TIME……don’t abuse it. Take the constant of time……take the security of time knowing each and every minute will happen no matter what.

It’s a good thing.

Sorry to interrupt, but now I’m listening to Alicia Keys. I can’t seem to get enough of the song “Fallin’”. I know the media saturated us with this song, but that doesn’t take away the fact that this song rocks on every level……the lyrics, the backbeat, her voice, and the emotional journey!!

I’m back again from my own musical nirvana!!! (Remember my first entry!! Music heals the heart…….don’t forget that!!!)

I’m sitting here trying to understand what compelled me to write about time?? I think I wanted to talk about something that we have absolutely no control over!! As much as we try, we will never be able to control time………Time is as independent as it gets. Time needs no one. Time over time……..time out.

Does anyone out there like Annie Lennox? I think she is an amazing entertainer…….musician, singer, composer. She’s all heart and soul. I’m bringing her up because I just finished listening to her song “Sing”. This song was written to be a platform to focus on the issue of HIV, Aids, women and children. It’s a female anthem. I saw Annie Lennox in concert not too long ago, and I can honestly say I have never seen such a force on stage!! She sings from her “core” and her energy explodes!!!!!

So where does that leave us. I think it leaves us knowing that everyday we can get out of bed…….get dressed………take a deep breath and go out and conquer the world. The world is there for us to conquer if we choose to. All of us are qualified for this position!!

Time won’t leave us. Time won’t go away. Time won’t change.

It’s what we do within it.

Time is precious…….don’t waste time………time won’t waste you…

I don’t want to waste another moment…….what about you???

Peace Sideways, Helene

2009-11-16T21:48:00.000-08:00

The Balancing Act

I call it The Balancing Act……your mind’s powerful reference that decides between listening to your heart or your head…………Between “What am I suppose to be doing” versus “What do I really want to do”???

The battle begins…..that power struggle within ourselves that keeps us up at night wondering what our next move will be?

How do we find that balance? A good visual is imagining your body is like a seesaw. If we are always in our heads……always doing what society deems “right” then one end of the see-saw stays all the way down while the other is always up. There is no chance to find balance.

Our souls need balance. As a dancer, I can tell you that dancers can’t function without it. I truly feel that the world can’t function without it.

Once again I find myself thinking…”Life lesson…….Dance lesson”…….there is so much similarity within the two.

Balancing work and play…….love and hate………right from wrong.

I believe the balance comes from deep within. The place inside all of us.

I call it “Our Instinctual Soul”. The place that is reactive; a place capable of making a decision in a heartbeat; a place where we can all live and breathe and make AMAZING decisions for ourselves!

I’ve mentioned in this blog how intelligent we have become as a society, yet the more knowledge we have; the less we seem to know what to do with it?? Somewhere along the way, we’ve stopped relying on ourselves. We’ve lost the ability to trust what our inner voices are saying.

In essence we’re instinctually “challenged”. I believe if we don’t start exercising our instinctual souls we will lose them forever. Maybe you’ll understand this better if I put it in terms of our bodies as a whole. We all understand the importance of exercising our bodies. When we work out, we are happier, healthier, and more balanced. If we don’t exercise, the chances of depression and illness greatly increase. Our instinctual souls need as much attention as our bodies do. If we view our instincts as a muscle, then we understand if that muscle is not used, atrophy will set in.

It’s time to exercise your soul.

Here’s what I’d like you to try……….The next time you’re shopping and you see something you really like (and you can afford it) - buy it!!! Don’t convince yourself you don’t need it. Don’t give yourself a few days to think about it. The odds are when you return to get it, it will be gone……..Trust me on this one!!

Work that muscle and take action!!!

How about one more……..You’re at work and someone you know has said something to upset you. REACT!! Don’t tell yourself that you’re being overly sensitive. Don’t rationalize the situation so that you end up defending the person that just hurt you! Go over to that person and tell them how you feel. Don’t worry about how they will react!! Are you listening to me…….DON’T WORRY ABOUT HOW THEY WILL REACT!!

Our “power” only exists for ourselves.

Please, please……let me know if I am helping!! I want to hear from you!!

NOW………get down and give me 20 “instinctual” push-ups!!!! :)

Peace Sideways, Helene

P.S. Can all of you out there start clicking that you are a “Follower” on my site??? I’d REALLY appreciate it!!!

2009-11-08T16:07:00.000-08:00

The Challenge: Taking Risks or Playing it Safe??

Do you want to take the challenge??? OK, I know it’s not your typical topic sentence, but it’s the question I want to propose to you. DO YOU WANT TO PLAY IT SAFE, OR TAKE RISKS??

I ask you……how do you want to play it???

The reason this topic has come up is I realized that if I’m here to help you find the path to nirvana, then I need to address some of the hurdles that might come up along the way.

Years ago, I was watching some documentary (don’t ask me which one???) and the interviewer was asking people in their 80’s and 90’s if they regretted anything about their past. Hands down, most everyone said…….”I wish I took more risks”.

With that, my entire inner being took over and thought……”I never want to have that regret”!! As uncomfortable as I might get going through my world and taking the risks I need to take, I would rather have those uncomfortable feelings than play it safe.

THEN, the question comes up……..how do I get out of my rut of playing it safe?? What is my first move? What if I’m too scared to take another path? What happens if I fail?? Who will be there to catch me if I fall??

The list goes on and on………

With all our insecure thoughts, it’s important to understand that we have as much potential to feed ourselves “positive” thoughts as it is to drown ourselves in “negative” ones. Those positive thoughts that make us smile……get us outdoors to breathe in fresh air……..to hold our head high and go out into the world and get what we want from it. It is possible!!!

So why is it we allow ourselves to carry such insecure thoughts?? What does it accomplish?? Where does it take us?? Most likely you are answering “I have no idea” to all of these questions. If that is your truth, then AGAIN, I ask you……

How do you want to play it????

If I might make a suggestion………I say “Take the Risks!!!!” What have you to lose?

Here’s the thing about failing…….it doesn’t exist!! I’m serious!! Failing is something our society has created. Can anyone really measure success or failure??

I think not!!

As always, measure your life according to your own set of rules……no one elses!! Throw the rule book away!!! In fact, RIGHT NOW I want you to go write down on a piece of paper all those “negative” thoughts that keep you from moving forward. GO!!!! Make it as long or as short as you like!

Now, take that piece of paper and get rid of it!!!! Burn it, throw it far away, rip it up……..whatever you want, but know that once it’s gone……IT’S GONE!!!!

Now, take a deep breath and begin....

How do you want to embrace today? What do you want for yourself tomorrow? Where do you want to be right now!!

Have it your way……..your life is not for anyone else to decide. It’s precisely that……..YOUR LIFE!!

GO LIVE IT!!!

Peace Sideways, Helene

The Music in Me

2009-10-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

Hey to all on this fine Halloween morning!!! If you've been reading my blog......(if not, why not??)....

you'll remember that the first entry was about finding your song. I want to hear from you if you have. I want to know what song it is!! I want to know how you felt while listening to your song!!! I want to know everything!!!!

It's only fair that I share with you what music moves me........my sound is all over the map (literally!!!)

Remember.......play your music loud and often!! Blanket yourself in it!! Stop listening and start FEELING the sound!!!!!

Let's start with my "must haves":

Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" version - very important to only play the 11:34 minute version and listen to the entire song!!!! Let your heart soar with him!!

Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" - the passion in this song kills me every time!!

George Michael's "Father Figure" - can't get enough of it

Michael Jackson's "Wanna be Startin' Something" - this songs sends me!! When he sings "I know I am someone and let the truth unfurl.......No one can hurt me know, because you know it's true, cause I believe in me, so you believe in you!!!!" When you get to that part you should scream it out so the entire world hears you!!!

Chaka Khan's "Ain't Nobody" - this woman is amazing. I've seen her in concert at a small venue and she hardly opens her mouth when she sings, but what comes out is sheer heaven!

Annie Lennox - Anything she does!!! She can do no wrong in my book!!! Power to all that she represents!!!

Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" - there's nothing better from that generation of sound

George Benson's "On Broadway" - Makes me crazy!!

Gino Vannelli's "Where am I Going" - This goes back a bit. The song takes such a journey. Very sexy

James Taylor's it's a toss up between "Sweet Baby James" and "Carolina in my Mind" - I cry every time I see him in concert. His voice is still as clear as it was 30 years ago!

Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright" - He's one of a kind!! His whole body sings when he is on stage!!

OK, here's a corny one that I absolutely love!!! John Denver!!!! "The Eagle and the Hawk" - you have to trust me on this one!! Listen to the 2:16 version

Joni Mitchell's "River" - Her sounds floats

Kenny Loggins - "I'm Alright" - listen ONLY to the 8:50 version!!! Should definitely get your blood movin'!!! At 5:56 it kicks!!

Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" - a whole different time......a whole different sound.......extraordinary lyrics

Mariah Carey's "Can't Let Go" - First time I heard this I was in Japan. I was in a room full of dancers and everyone in the room was amazing and I went to Heaven!!

Nick Drake's "Northern Sky" - There is a lyric in this song that I love......."I never held emotion in the palm of my hand" What a great line!!

P.M. Dawn's "I'd Die Without You" - I've danced to this song for years, and each time it kicks for me harder and harder!

Paul Van Dyk's "Time of Our Lives" - the 3:32 version It's definitely our time......Let's all make it happen - NOW

Stevie Wonder - One of the most brilliant musicians in all the world!!! My favorite - "As"

Yaz's "Midnight" - all soul

Wow, now that I've totally overwhelmed you and my blog keeps telling me something is wrong (maybe too long????) I guess I need to sign off for the moment.

I have so much more to share with you.......musically as well as emotionally!!

This is just the beginning.........and it only gets better and better!!

Let's get to know each other through sound...............Foreplay!!!

Peace Sideways, Helene

Living with Intent

2009-10-30T08:29:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!! I'm sure by the time you read this, it will most certainly not be morning, but I woke up this morning with so many thoughts rolling around in my head! Maybe it's the wind???? Actually, I don't really sleep much, so truthfully speaking, I go ALL NIGHT with thoughts rolling around in my head!! Can you relate?

I guess the question then becomes......what do we do with all these thoughts??? How can we channel all this amazing energy into something that is worthwhile and worthy of all our sleepless nights?

I think one way is to realize that the world is constantly speaking to us, and if we listen......I mean really listen.....we can move ourselves through all these sleepless nights in the direction we want.

Making positive out of negative.

Pulling ourselves out of the "Woe is me" syndrome and putting ourselves into "what can I learn from this situation"......"why was this scenario given to me"......"what is my next move to head in the direction I want".

All of a sudden, life becomes the classroom and your role is to simply keep learning. Negative energy is so damaging. We all go through a million moments allowing such thoughts to haunt us. I ask you......WHY DO WE KEEP DOING THIS???

It's time we take more control of our own lives and live the way we want. TO LIVE WITH INTENT.

As I've mentioned before, I used to be a professional dancer. When I started teaching other dancers how to powerfully move through space, I realized I was teaching the same way. To dance with intent. Make every move count. Shouldn't it be the same for life? What an amazing idea.....to live and breathe and love with a 24/7 commitment!!! Make all your "steps" count!!

This is what I strive for. I don't always succeed at it, but that's part of the learning process. Can you imagine,,,,,Taking the "negative" completely out of the situation!!

Now that's a life worth living!! That's a life to be proud of.....no matter what you are doing!

So, my fine feathered friends......make today count. Have today any way you want it. Learn from it. Grow with it. Move forward with it.

Until next time.......may the passion stay within all of you!!

Peace Sideways, Helene

The power of feeling!!

2009-10-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

To all my readers who probably have not yet read anything I've written!!!! (this is due to the fact that as of this moment, I still do not know how to get my thoughts out to all of you!!!!) :)

My apologies for not getting back to you sooner!! Life always seems to get the best of us and before we know it, many full moons have past with a blink of an eye.

Today is not my best day. I know I told you I am here to help you live large and enjoy the ride, but in order to fully understand the power of "feeling", you must first accept the reality that some of the time, "feeling" doesn't feel very good.

I'm sure you have all heard the premise behind if you love someone hard, then at some point, you will hate them just as hard. We rarely feel the need to waste our emotions (be it hate or love) on someone we don't care much about.

The same goes for staying in our world with our hearts. I have to admit, there are times I wish I could live more in logic than in instinct. Logic allows us out of most every situation. With logic we can ride the wave of semantic verbiage to get us out of feeling anything at all!!

Instinctual living forces us to live in our hearts. If we are to take the "ride" then we have to accept the downs as much as the ups. Trust me, there will always be downs as well as ups!!!

The question then becomes - What do we do when we are diving deep into the abyss of sadness??? The answer is simple.......We continue to "feel". Sadness never killed anyone. Sadness, depression, loneliness, whatever emotion surfaces for you, is just another way our bodies speak to us. It's a reminder that we are human!! Such a reminder forces us to take a look at our lives......To do inventory and reassess.

It's so simple and so hard to accept......Feeling bad will never feel good!! Don't expect it to!!

Once you've accepted the "bad" feeling, then it's really important that you recognize it and say to yourself.....

"TODAY I feel bad"

"TODAY is not going how I want it to go"

"TODAY is the worst day of my life"

SAY IT OUT LOUD!! OWN IT!! Understand with all your being that it's only about TODAY. Tomorrow can be a totally different experience for you. We have power in "today". Yesterday might have been a great day, and tomorrow might be a great day. "TODAY" is not.

Here's a good example: You wake up one morning and look in the mirror and think..."Wow, my hair looks like shit!!!", OR, "OK, I look like I just gained a million pounds" OR, "I don't have any friends!!".

Now, with this thought, how many of you woke up the day before thinking..."Wow, my hair is rocks", OR, "OK, I look really thin today", OR, "I'm so lucky to have so many friends!!"

How can we possibly change so much in one day!!!!!! We can't. This is where we realize that we are in our heads and out of our hearts. We didn't gain a million pounds, or lose all our friends overnight!!!

We are just having a shitty day!!!!! Remember: "TODAY is a shitty day!!!!!"

Well....TODAY is a bad day for me. TODAY I am lonely. TODAY I am going to allow myself to "feel" and know that my body is trying to tell me something.

We can all handle "TODAY".

Peace Sideways, Helene

Being the best "you"!!!!!

2009-10-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

My "hey" to all!!! I want to talk about being the best "you" that you can, but I think I need to backtrack a little......as you already know, my name is Helene Phillips. I was a professional dancer - turned assistant choreographer - turned choreographer - turned dance teacher - turned director!!!! Instead of going through my credits, you can easily go to youtube and punch in my name, or simply go to helenephillips.com. Either way, you'll get a little taste of where I've been.

With all the amazing gigs I've done and all the stars I've met, I sometimes think my best moments have been teaching. I teach advance jazz dance at a dance studio in Hollywood, CA called Edge. I have the greatest dancers in town and I feel very fortunate. With each passing year that I teach, I realize that how I teach dance is how I live life. They have become interchangeable.........Life Lessons; Dance Lessons.......however you look at it. If you understand the lesson, you'll begin to make the most out of your life (whether you dance or not).

Which brings me back to being the best "you"!!!

One day, not too long ago, a student of mine asked me how I make my dance lines look so easy. My answer was, "I stay cogniscent of who I am inside it". I never let go of that fact that HELENE is doing this step. We can ONLY be ourselves in whatever we are doing!! Whoever we are, and whatever we have to offer is the best we can do!!! It then becomes an issue of.......Now that I know who I am, what am I going to do with it?? YOU HAVE TO STAY WITH YOU!! There is no one on this planet that is Helene Phillips other than me!! Why not make the best of me???? For instance, I have a head of curls!! Some people love it, some probably think it falls under the "crazy hair" category!! I don't care. I like my hair. In a small way, it defines me. I'm not concerned if my hairdo is the style of the month (or year).....it's my hair and I'll do what I want with it!!

I often wonder....."Does anyone think about what they really like in life or does everyone just wait to see what's "hip" and then go for that???" I like living with what works for me. You should try it!! Just imagine, a world that isn't run by "how to" books, or fashion magazines showing us the latest trends, or talk shows telling us how to raise a family!! INSTEAD, just imagine a world where you think for yourself. You decide what clothes you like. You decide how you are going to live your life. You listen to you!!!!

For all of you shaking your head right now........IT'S TOTALLY POSSIBLE!!!! I do it every day. It's not always easy, but the rewards are enormous!!

In my mind, there are two options...to love yourself or to hate yourself. Now, I admit, there are many days when I'm not thrilled with myself, but the "hating yourself" thing just doesn't get you very far. Why not be your best friend?? Why not LOVE the sum of you?? Who we are as humans goes so far beyond our outer layer. We all know that (intellectually) but we don't seem to REALLY know it.

Loving the SUM of you!! Everyday you should look into a mirror and say that to yourself......."I am going to love the sum of me today!!!!" We are who we are. Why battle it???? Why change it?? Why not embrace it??????

We all deserve to live in this world how we want to. Moving forward in this world in the direction we want. Not letting anyone else designate where our path will take us.........Listening to our own hearts beating and being the best "me's" that we can!!

PLEASE!!!!! Talk to me. I want to hear it all!! I want to get to know you!!!

I want and want and then I want more!!!!!

Until next time..

Breathe deep.........Look up........Smile often, and as always,

Peace Sideways, Helene

Tasting life

2009-10-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

I'm back!! Have you missed me?? Did you go out and find music that moves you??? I want to hear from you and what music moves you?? Did you take your sound with you wherever you went......to the market.....work......in your car???? Have you gotten a sound inside your heart to keep you moving forward??? PLEASE......tell me everything!!!

Today, I would like to marinate on the subject of "staying in your heart" rather than "in your head". As humans, we have such an extraordinary ability to live to the fullest, yet most of the time we end up "just getting by". Why is that????? I think we have forgotten the art of listening to ourselves. We've shoved our inner dialogue out and replaced it with society's voice. Do you think your decision making skills aren't up to par??? Does it feel safer to live how the majority is living?? Even though you might feel safer within society's walls, is it really the life you have imagined??? Are you where you want to be and doing what you want??

Here are my thoughts: I believe without a shadow of a doubt that we all have the capability of living life however we choose. We just need to get past wondering....."What does everyone think about what I'm doing???" When push comes to shove, does it really matter what anyone thinks?? If we really get down to the "nitty gritty", do we want to have to world tell us what to do.......how to think......what to wear.......how to feel?????? For me, there is only one answer......NO.

Let me give you an example of letting society in too far. Have you ever heard anyone who is older say to you......"I don't feel like I'm (insert an age that feels old to you)" "I still feel like I'm 20 years old!!!" OK, we have all heard someone say this.....if not ourselves!! My question is, if you are feeling a certain way, then why don't continue living that youthful way??? Why are you acting like an old person when you don't feel like an old person?? And who's to say what is old??? Is it the world that barks at you to act a certain way?? I don't buy it. We need to start being the people we want to be. We need to start trusting ourselves and our feelings and stop listening to everyone else!! No one knows you better than YOU!!

I want to discuss this further, but unfortunately I have to leave you now. Before I go, here is a quote from Henry David Thoreau...

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

I'll be back, Helene

On the path to Nirvana

2009-09-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

To all of you out there who want to live larger......have everything.........lick in your life every step of the way.......To breathe in the passion!! This is my first proclamation letting you know that I am here to take you down that path!! A path that only feels good!! A path that gets you out of your heads, and into your hearts!! We live in a world where each decade keeps getting smarter and smarter, yet we seem to have forgotten how to listen to our own hearts beating. How to trust our instincts and move forward the way we want to......not the way others tell us!! I promise you that once you begin to listen to your soul, you will never go back to listening to anyone or anything else!

First.....and foremost - GO AND FIND A SONG THAT GETS YOUR BLOOD MOVING THROUGH YOUR VEINS!! I'm not talking some "nice" tune that you like to listen to. I'm talking something that makes you "feel"!! A song that gets you screaming the lyrics out. A song that allows you to take a deep breath. A song that might bring you to tears, but then after you feel like you can conquer the world!! Keep this song everywhere - your house, your car - anywhere you go. Before you enter each day, listen to the song. If you have several tunes that you absolutely love, keep them all with you!! Let the sound help you, feed you, give you the power to take on the day!! If you have an important interview, find a song that gives you the strength to kick the shit out of the interview!! You deserve it!!! Did you hear me.....YOU DESERVE IT!!!!! If you are having a day where you feel like you are choking on each minute, listen to your sound. Music can feed your soul.

Music gives us breath. Once we allow ourselves to breathe, then all else is possible.....All else!! As long as we are living, breathing, existing, the possibilities are endless.

So......for today......all I'm going to ask of you is to:

Stand tall Look up Find your song Listen with your heart, and....

BREATHE IN THE PASSION!!!

I promise to come back again and again until we all are breathing deep and getting all that we want out of life!! Together, we each blog, we will learn how to have it all!!!

Peace Sideways, Helene