Monday, February 28, 2011

NeoSoul Lifestyle Experiment - Plan (March)

Meant to get this out earlier...but let's just say flight turbulence and a screaming child were just two elements of a night full of surprises!

So, let's begin! Here's our experiment...

Detoxification - This is one of my favorites! Drink 1/2 of your body weight in ounces. Let's purify our bodies!

Restoration - Get 7-8 hours of sleep

Flow - 30 minutes of quiet time, a nap doesn't count! You must be awake to experience the time! Meditate, listen to soothing music, journal, and/or pray.

Karma - Give a compliment to a stranger

Now remember....the goal is to do each of the lifestyle elements EACH DAY of the experiment (March 1st - 7th). Seems simple right? Give it your best, and share your thoughts along the way!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

NeoSoul Lifestyle Experiment (Finally...It's Back!)

Its been a long time since I hosted my monthly NeoSoul Lifestyle Experiment...and I realize that its what I miss about blogging the most! The NeoSoul Lifestyle is about evolving and experiencing your life in a new way. As for me, the catalyst for my lifesytle evolution is creative expression. To experience life through my music, travel, art, & food.

If you are new to the monthly NeoSoul Lifestyle Experiment, here's a quick refresher:

The first seven days of the month we take some time to "recover" our lives through simple, yet practical actions, within four key elements; Detoxification, Restoration, Flow, and Karma. As a new twist for 2011, I'll be simplifying each element to 1-2 actions and then we'll layer new actions each month. I'm hoping this will help folks to fully engage in the experiment.

So, more about the four lifestyle elements...
DETOXIFICATION - Defined as a process by which the body/mind/spirit is allowed to free itself. The goal of detoxification is to release and/or neutralize toxins so that the body can heal itself after some type of dependency. Within this element we will remove things from our lifestyle that are inhibiting us from evolving.

RESTORATION - Defined as an act of restoring to an improved condition; a reconstruction of an original form. In contrast to detoxification, we will restore things in our lives that enable us to live the lifestyles we envision.

FLOW - Defined as the ability to move or run smoothly with unbroken continuity, as in the manner characteristic of a fluid; To proceed steadily and easily; To arise. Now THIS is truly the essence of The NeoSoul Lifestyle! What more needs to be said?

Karma - Known as a "deed" or "act" and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction, that governs all life. We will utilize this element knowing that we live together in this world interdependently. So, after we detox, restore, and live in our flow...we then time to add positive synergy in our communities.

Monday evening I will be annonucing the plan for the March experiment. I hope you'll join me and share your insights. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to support one another. I am really looking forward to this as I have been on the go, go, GO! I need some time to recover and refresh. I also thought that this would be a great time for people to review their New Years resolutions...have they fizzled? Or are some of you already dreaming of Spring? The season of rebirth, maybe the NeoSoul Lifestyle
Experiment will give you a bit of a head start?!

Oh, one more thing....you can also share your comments about the experiments on Twitter using this hashtag => #NeoSoulXp

Here's to a great March, and the evolution of our NeoSoul Lifestyles!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Hair Salons...Queendoms or Temples of Doom?

Like most women I look forward to a fresh hairdo! Yet I must say...lately, I haven't found a salon that has given me that "DIVA" feeling. And to be quite honest, it annoys me! Now, to be fair...I can admit that I am VERY sensitive about my hair. I experienced unexplained hairline loss and have been quite traumatized by the ordeal. So when I go to a hair salon, I am anticipating indulging in a fulfilling experience that will soothe my anxiety. Is that too much to ask?

Yet, it seems that there is always SOMETHING lacking in each new salon I try! I have yet to find a salon that has ALL the things I am looking for. For example...a welcoming greeting, the offering of a beverage and light snack, excellent customer services, healthy hair practices, knowledge of new products and trends, versatile styling techniques, cleanliness, beautiful decor, appointment reminders, online booking, social media/website utilization.

It is so disheartening! And...is it just me? Or do other women feel that we (particularly women of color) are being taken advantage of? Overbooking, leaving us under the dryer long than necessary to kill time, over-pricing for mediocore services, and EXTENSIVE WAITING!!! Yet, we continue to go back for more!! Where is the incentive for many of these hair salons to upgrade their business practices?

Now that I have relocated, I dread the experience of trying to find a new hair salon! So I have already decided to supplement my hair salon visits with more at-home care treatments. So I will be watching YouTube tutorials to brush up on my skills! Hmmm...and it will likely help out my budget too.

Yet still, as woman living "The Neo-Soul Lifestyle" can't do EVERYTHING herself! I can't go cold turkey on salon visits! So I would love for you all to share information about the hair salons you love in your city! Let's support those that are doing their best! And we'll have great resource list for those of us who travel quite a bit!

Let's groove while on this hair journey!

Friday, February 18, 2011

A Global Citizen

Let me start by saying, it feels so good to blog again! Quite a bit has happened in my life, and to sum it up nicely...I've moved to Toronto for a 1 year assignment! I'm looking forward to sharing the experience with you.

At first, I didn't allow myself to get too excited. For a little while I thought, "It's Canada, you've been there before (although its been years, the last time I visited you didn't need a passport) how different could it be from the U.S.?

Then I quickly realized that I need to FULLY experience this opportunity and be open to the possibilites of meeting new people with different values, new cuisines, and music. It is indeed a different country...it is not like moving to a different county.

So there it is...I have become a global citizen. Did I ever think think I would be presented with this type of opportunity?! Actually, yes I did! It's funny...when I created my Twitter profile (@NeoLifeCEO) I wrote "Motown Roots, Global Living"...I am so thankful to be living the manifestation of those words.

If you have any places, people, and/or "beware" tips that you'd like to share with me....I'd love to hear them!