Liz Esquirol

Feel Full

This week, let’s get full. Not the Thanksgiving kind, when we’ve had one too many helpings of pumpkin pie, but the kind of fullness that comes from being good to ourselves and one another.

Be mindful. Be attentive to what other’s are truly saying. Listen to your heart.

Be helpful. Find a way to help someone you care about – or even someone you don’t.

Be powerful. Understand that the power to change your life is right in your hands.

Be playful. Get on the floor and play with the kids. Laugh at your spouse’s jokes. Be silly.

Be hopeful. Believe that the universe has wonderful things in store for you. (No, I mean really believe it!)

Be purposeful. Find your purpose. Follow it.

But most of all…Be grateful. Everyday, opportunity is standing right next to you.

Fill ‘er up! – BB

TBIF (Thank Buddha It's Friday)

What does it mean to be brave? The obvious definitions apply here – those who face danger head on, those who forge ahead in the face of fear – the men and women of our military. Yes, those are all true. But let’s do a flip of what we think to be brave in the 9 to 5 world.

A friend of mine decided she had “enough” and resigned from her job yesterday. She’s young, energetic, smart – and she wants more. More than the endless hours, more than the late night and weekend calls, more than a boss who doesn’t appreciate who she is. She’s decided to move on, pursue a number of side passions she’s had, and to try to live a life that doesn’t, in her words, “make her stomach hurt.”

She is brave. Many of us would immediately think that – that she is courageous to leave a well-paying job to go out into the fearful unemployment landscape. Many dream – “I wish I could do that!” as they head home after a long day at the office.

The Buddha Balboa flip here is this – why do we consider leaving a job or situation we are in that makes us feel unhappy, underappreciated and unfulfilled, brave? Because we live in fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. If we were to look at our work culture a little differently, we may see STAYING as being brave in that we are sacrificing ourselves for the benefit of others, with little reward. Bravery, from this viewpoint, doesn’t appear so noble.

Doesn’t it make sense to move forward instead of holding down the fort at all costs – the cost of our hopes and our dreams? What is the true price of this bravery? Too high, my friends, too high. – BB

Lessons from the Stage

Al Hirschfeld Theatre, view to the stage 302 West 45th Street, Manhattan, New York City (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lesson #1: The show must go on.

We’ve all heard it – and every performer embodies it. The ‘no matter what’ ideology, that the show must go on for the awaiting patrons.

It doesn’t matter if there is illness, or pains, or sadness, or fear – the show must go on. There are no excuses. You can’t just not feel like performing today, your audience awaits. And they want a show and don’t care what you’re feeling or thinking. It sounds kind of ruthless, but it’s really a lesson in strength and perseverance. It builds strong character.

In the lay world, it’s the same thing. We must keep going – there is no giving up or throwing in the towel. We must see our tasks through, our performances finish. It is this philosophy that can keep us afloat in our darkest moments.

We are all actors at one moment or another – and the show must go on. – BB

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Walking Contradiction

If sometimes you feel like you are a walking contradiction, then welcome! Welcome to the human race.

The idea that life or morals or principles are black and white is absurd. Life is not either/or, it is AND. This AND that, you AND I. There is no one way to go, no cookie cutter recipe to follow. It is subjective – all through how you were raised, what your parents and teachers told you, what the media wants you to believe.

But you are more than that. You can be excited and scared, happy and sad, bold and timid all in the same soul package.

I feel contradictory on a daily basis. Sometimes I’m feeling kind and the next moment I’m feeling frustrated. One minute I can be understanding, then next not so. No – I’m not crazy, I’m human. I have feelings and emotions. I don’t want the same thing all the time. I am growing, changing and learning which essentially makes me a constant contradiction of myself. You could’ve loved ice cream all your life and one day it doesn’t taste as good anymore. You can enjoy dressing up in your finest clothes, but also look forward to wearing sweatpants and a baseball cap. You can appreciate sleeping in your fabulous bed but also get excited to go camping in the dirt.

I see contradiction as development. An ever evolving idea, thought or opinion. A growing individual who is inspired to learn and take chances and fail. You have the right to change your mind.

Embrace what it means to be contradictory. And by this I don’t mean “talk out of both sides of your mouth” to please the masses – I mean understand and accept that inside each of us is whole lot of gray. – BB