FunZen Bakery: 2012

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Oopsie Daisies

Hey there, it's Grace! Writing my second entry in the FunZen Bakery.

There are Oopsie Daisy moments everywhere in life, as long as we take the time to find them.

Oopsie Daisy moments are when you take mistakes and you turn them into blessings.
They are the moments where you take a seemingly 'bad situation' and you find a way to make
light of it.

With FunZen, it's easy to find those moments and turn negative experiences into life lessons.

For example,

Recently I got my cellphone stolen. That really sucked. It would've been easy for me to mope around completely depressed about the situation. Instead, I took some breaths and figured out where I was going to go from there.

When my mom and I were taking the picture above, in true Oopsie Daisy fashion everything was going wrong. My daisy pen wouldn't stay in my hair, the lighting was all wrong and everything was just frustrating. For a minute there I wanted to pull my hair out, rip out the grass, yell and scream. Instead, I took some centering breaths and kept my cool and once I calmed down everything started to work the way we had hoped.

To make a correlation between music and oopsie daisy moments, we can take a look at jazz improvisation. Zen and jazz have much in common, since jazz is about being in the moment. With improvisation, we adopt the beginner's mind, the zen mind, and improvise, making things up along the way. That's what improvisation is. If we strike a note we didn't mean to hit, we can keep going and just use it as a passing tone instead of freaking out and apologizing for 'messing up', which I've seen people do.

The ability to change the way you look at a situation and find the life lesson in it or find the positive aspect is one I am quite blessed to have. I'm extremely grateful that my mom has shared these tools with me and now I feel quite happy to share these tools with you!

Now my mom's going to take it away and write a little bit more on Oopsie Daisy moments.

Ti Amo,
Grace

_________________________________________________________________________

Updated 4/11/15: Zen is like jazz improv. Miles Davis said it best, "Do not fear mistakes, there are none."

Hi Everyone,

Welcome home sweet shalom. Sharing oopsie daises truly makes my heart tune into the Gratitude station. For me, it's awesome to see Grace making the choice to share her voice and direct experience of playing jazz as a mindful teen in the spirit of "FunZen" as she calls it. What is cool is that her grandfather (my dad, Jim Robinson) was a jazz musician and infused my soul with the best of the best in music from Mozart to Miles to Motown, which I'm passing on to Grace.

Miles Davis' Bitches Brew Live

Simply put, here's an oopsy daisy jazz experience that captures the essence of this blog entry. When I was 11 years of age, I met Miles Davis. With my curious georgia spirit, I asked him a question or two and he said "lil girl, you ask too many questions," Unflinching, I noted he was listening to his music "Bitches Brew", and I courageously sat next to him meditatively, and listened as well. I can honestly say today, that I can hear the magic of how Miles steps into the silent spaces between the music notes when he plays his trumpet. His famous quote "Do not fear mistakes, there are none."actually reminds me of the flower I've dedicated to him, an angel's trumpet.

Your Angel's Trumpet Inspirational Recipe:

The hidden password at the FunZen Bakery: Go Within or Go Without, go within for your life lesson or go without the aha blessing of Satori your instant insight.

Just because we start to meditate and practice living more mindfully doesn't mean we won't get our share of oopsie daises; emotional roller coaster rides. missteps, and obstacles to overcome. The difference is choosing to use our centering tools to apply coming back home to center. This is also known as facing the music of life.

Being mindful with Zen or FunZen simply helps us practice finding our balance in the dance called life. The moment we lose our balance, we can catch a centered breath wave, relax into the present moment to reach stillness and gently find our balance again.

Like zen and the art of jazz improv, with practice, we can face the music and be in balance, in the moment with effortless effort. Our problems makes us more relatable to eachother, they humanize us as a human family.

Angel Food for Thought, (off you go menu)

"Art is a journey to the Center of one's Being."
Terry Lynn Taylor & Mary Beth Crain

Oopsie Daisies Mantra: "When things are falling apart, we start making art." FunZen Girls

Please share your seeds of light, insights, and any questions, so we can make our Oopsy Daisy chain bigger and bigger...

Be a Resourcerer Tip: Cultivate your curious george or georgia spirit, gently encouraging you to empower yourself to do a little research to nurture your creativity. Imagine more, improvise, and innovate ways to see the world in a whole new light. With your zen mind, beginner's mind you will begin to make your own oopsy daisy chain of blessings.

Guest Blog; Jazz Advice, Inspiration for improvisers Beginner's Mind Shunryu Suzuki Roshi philosophy.

http://jazzadvice.com/beginners-mind/

Click Here to order my Clear Your Mind Manual "Mental Fitness" Foreword by Leonard Cohen, endorsed by Louise Hay, Dan Millman, Iyanla Vanzant, Penny Peirce, Michael Beckwith, O.C. Smith, Richard Carlson and many more...

In Gratitude w/Love and Hugs ❤

FunZen Girls OX

Michiko (lil mama) and Grace

Contact: (805) 490-2391 Twitter: @Zenmommie Email: @mjrolek@aol.com

Fun never ends, FunZen is for everyone.

I teach kids FunZen and parents to be Mindful.

Friday, July 13, 2012

FunZen Girls Jump Back In!

Grace and I at Pic at Nick!

Jill Matthews and her daughter Ellie and son Liam

Bringing our A Game of Appreciation, Authenticity, & Army of Angels Support

Jill, Missy (little sister) and Stevie Wonder

Finally it's here, 1 year later a new blog (scroll below) by Grace in her voice of a mindful teen, born to lead from her heart with art in smart... I took a year long spiritual sabbatical to write a couple of books with my daughter, Grace, about teaching kids of all ages FunZen and parents to be Mindful. The real magic was reconnecting with my birthday girl 7/13 Jill Matthews who is also my awesome student, friend and my first Dreams of a Child Jewelry customer when she was a child star in the industry 25 years ago. Her mother Karen is an earth angel who has kept all of us in touch. I actually met Jill and Missy when Jill was about 7 years old, she had just done a Japanese commercial with Stevie Wonder promoting his song; "I just called to say I love you." Jill has helped me to re-ignite my true purpose and passion to share the practical magic of mindfulness with ARTitude. Consider the word Art implies discipline (practice) and Science indicates the study of something.

Without further ado Grace is going to kick off her first entry with her short, sweet and savory words about how FunZen has helped her shift from a worrier to a warrior to handle being in the industry, get through 8 years of homeschooling. Now, Grace goes to CHAMPS Highschool of Performing & Media Arts.

This is only the beginning of sharing what works for us and hopefully will inspire more of you to join us and jump in to the spirited perspective of my latest quotelicious sweet tweet❥
"The world is mud-licious and puddle-wonderful." e.e.cummings

May these whimsical yet wise words zencourage you to empower and help yourself through the good, bad, beautiful, and ugly moments that threaten to ruin our days. However, in the words of angel warrior, best-selling author, Sue Patton Thoele of "The Mindful Woman", " A few mindful moments can make a world of difference."

Here's a ShoutOUT to some of the awesome people that have helped or inspired us to stay on pointe. Remember Ohana means family in Hawaiian, where no one is forgotten or left behind, in pure love we are One human family. I've also included some valuable resources (websites) to share a few of the illuminating people that have helped shape our lives.

ShoutOUTS to our Army of Angels:

We are honored to know the Beautiful, Brilliant and Blessed Family Lyric, Zephyr, Robby and Karla DeVito Benson http://lyricslovelightrevolution.com/?page_id=142 ;

Angel of Wisdom Warriors:

LeeAnne Taylor My angelic spiritual mentor; http://leeanntaylorstory.com/
Destiny Diva, Michelle Casto http://brightlightcoach.com/brightmichelle

Celebrity Trainer & BFF's Dion & Melinda Jackson http://www.dionthetrainer.com/

Nature's Angel Mariel Hemingway http://marielhemingway.com/

Jenuine Ward http://www.jenuinehealing.com/

Crissy Bayless http://baylessphotography.com/the-scoop

Enlightened Leaders straight from the heart:

Wendy Winks (our rock star angel) http://rockschoolfund.org/

Valencia Ray M.D. http://www.valenciaray.com

Mallika Chopra http://intentblog.com/
Julie Shanti http://www.julieshanti.com/ ;

RobbieKaye http://www.robbiekaye.com/works.html ;
Rita Ross http://www.pocketpeople.net/
Lori Lite http://www.stressfreekids.com/resources/about-lori-lite
Zen Audrey Li, LaLicenciada http://www.blogger.com/profile/15155116476790680637

Anne Merrem BFF brilliant lifelong friend ;) http://www.anne-merrem.com/index.php?L=1

Be on your A Game with the Best of the Best:

Julie Stevens, Grace's fave studio teacher, Vocal and Acting coaching: http://www.juliestevens.com/

Lynnanne Zager awesome VoiceOver Coaching http://www.voclass.com/
Miss Linda DeFilipo, Grace's amazing manager, http://dctalentmanagement.com/home2.html

Grace discovered Andy Puddicombe, our favorite meditation guru who makes becoming mindful and getting some Headspace a curiously delightful experience; http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/

Cesar Millan (Dog Whisperer) Thanks for asking me in person what I teach? and I said FunZen, that was a game changer moment that has stayed with me. http://www.cesarsway.com/

In Gratitude w/Love and Hugs ❤

FunZen Girls OX

Michiko (lil mama) and Grace

Contact: (805) 490-2391 Twitter: @Zenmommie Email: @mjrolek@aol.com

Fun never ends, FunZen is for everyone.

I teach kids FunZen and parents to be Mindful.

How FunZen Helps Me Everyday

Me with my Young Artist Award for Best Actress In a Voice Over Role for my portrayal of Lucy in Happiness Is A Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown

Hi Guys, it's me Grace. I thought I'd take a shot at writing my own entry on how my mom and I use FunZen and here it is.

FunZen. Simply put, making zen fun. It helps me everyday as a mindful teen: At school, on stage, and in the voice over booth. It makes my life easier in so many ways. Whenever I'm stressed I have a magic mood tool to help me out and keep my cool by shifting from a worrier to a warrior.

Everyday, we all face challenges that can threaten to send us off spiraling into a black hole of anger and frustration. However, with cool tools you can find a way out of that said black hole. At school, sometimes the pressure can get a bit intense. That with taking honors classes and test taking, it's easy to let the pressure swallow you up. However, when you have zen breathing and centering techniques by your side, it's easy to keep on keeping on. Being on my A game starts with my approach... I actually met Dr John Demartini from the movie The Secret. He taught me to say I'm a genius and I apply my wisdom. My mom has the secrets to unleash our hidden potential. At school, I have to walk up a ton of stairs too! That's where the core-strengthening miracle diamond and my posture come in. I have to stay upright or the weight of my backpack could hurt my back.

It also helps me when I'm on stage! When I'm performing in front of crowds of people, it's a little nerve wracking. They say that fear of public speaking is more prominent than fear of death, well with FunZen that fear dissipates substantially. I can get up on stage, do my thing, sing my heart out and play my guitar like nobody's business. All I have to do is take some deep slow breaths before I go on. No shallow ones, deep ones straight from my core and then I'm ready to go. When you press your zen button of effortless effort with a long breath out, whoooosh, your nerves ease away.

Then there's my voice over acting behind a microphone stand in a sound proof booth. When you're reading a script, they want variation and lots of it. It can be overwhelming and sometimes it threatens to put you into a panic. To shift from panic to poise, I remember to press my zen button to mentally start over, whooosh stopping in the name of love, Breathe deeply to relax into the present moment and focus on my lines with 'I got this' confidence. No matter how many lines, how many different takes, no matter how long it takes I've got a happy calm, cool, collected state of mind thanks to my cool mood tools.

Now, I'm not keeping all of these tools to myself. Everyone needs tools for those moments where some breathing tips and tricks would be extremely helpful. Like when someone gets on your bad side or just anytime things don't go your way.The FunZen tools I use will help you with ease any time you're feeling less than your best.

M&M - Mindful Moments

My Aha-Candy Secret Inspirational Recipe. (Mm, M&Ms)

Relax and Soften into the present moment, Tune in to your breathing naturally...Breathe in I am Being

Long Breath Out my best and letting go and letting God (Divinity) handle or do the rest...

All it takes is a mini zen breath tune-up and a sprinkle of empowering heart thoughts and you're ready to handle and overcome anything thrown at you by life. Lemons and all.

Ti Amo!
-Grace

Go to www.gracerolek.com to stay updated on what I'm doing!