Your Zen Tune-up Experience

"One can appreciate & celebrate each moment there’s nothing more sacred."

Pema Chodrun

I recently read Author, Host, Tom Bergeron's superb book I'm Hosting as Fast as I Can! Zen and the Art of Staying Sane in Hollywood. When he mentioned "giving himself a Zen tune-up backstage to find his center" I was spellbound. Tom fondly mentioned an Alan Watts quote "If you hold your breath, you lose it." In that moment of reading that quote, I instantly recalled a "A Single Breath" meditation exercise I learned at Cal Arts from legendary Zen poet Gary Snyder. He was friends with philosopher, Alan Watts (also a student of my great grand father Sokei-an) and studied Zen at my family's First Zen Institute in Kyoto, Japan.

Without further ado, here's a quick on the spot application you can use to find your center, in the gift called the precious present, your Zen moment to be zenjoyed, that's what gifts are for. Consider Phil Jackson's wise words " The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single breath. Here we go...

Inspirational Recipe; Snow Globe Cupcakes

One Breath Meditation (Centering technique)

Consider a Snow globe turned upside down and shaken about. When it is set upright, the snow begins to settle and the scene is clear once again. Think of your mind the same way. We get tossed about by the stressful events but in an instant of the miracle of mindfulness, with One Breath, we get ourselves upright, our thoughts begin to settle and our mind becomes more clear.

Gentle Reminder; Stop (press your zen button, Whooosh) Breathe, Feel (Centered) ; Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart activation of your warrior (warriorette) spirit... It doesn't take more time to get centered, thinking on your feet, it takes intent. It's always an empowering choice we can make to live in what brilliant Author, Eckhart Tolle calls "The Power of Now."

Thank you straight from my heart inspired author of Along the Winding Path: A Little Personal Journey, a mind-body-spirit work ...@JulieShanti for being my cheerleader soul angel and inspiring me to post this to share my best and highest good, Ti amo... ❤ Brain storming with you is refreshing, like tasting zenlighten-mints.

Tom inspired me to mention Starbucks & this Heartwarmer quote:

"Friends are like snowflakes: each one different and beautiful..."❤

Cupcakes in picture from click here Sprinkles

Mental Fitness (Foreword by Leonard Cohen) still available: Amazon, Bodhi Tree Books or, contact me for an autographed copy.

In Gratitude w/Love ❤

FunZen Girls OX
Michiko (lil mama) and Grace

Life Coaching Services now available: 805 490-2391
Contact: MJRolek@aol.com
Twitter: @Zenmommie

I teach Kids FunZen and train Parents to be Mindful.

Yoko (ocean child) Ono's commitment to spread Imagine Peace clarifies the meaning of a zen mommie; let a little peace begin with the me in mommie.

What's Luck Got to Do with It?

My intent is to share my kismet experience of meeting and sharing a pith meaningful conversation with Jerry Seinfeld at Starbucks in Burbank California. Beforehand, let's look at L.U.C.K. as an acronym: (L)abor (U)nder (C)onstructive (K)nowledge meaning with a solid work ethic or discipline, knowledge applied (wisdom) and preparation (foundation) will allow good things to happen for anyone. From a zen perspective consider that resistance or fear pushes away what we want and non resistance and love magnetizes and draws our best and highest good to us. Basically, it's the right attitude, not a random fluke that leads to making your own luck and living a charmed life.

The words that danced through my mind when I spotted Jerry Seinfeld sitting at a table near the front door talking to his colleague who looked more unapproachable than Jerry was "he looks too busy, play it by ear". I only had a couple of minutes and was actually almost late picking up my daughter, so thinking fearlessly on my feet meant I had milliseconds to respond (from my soul) or react (from my ego) and pretend I didn't notice him.

When I quieted down my monkey chatter with a few mindful breaths, I trusted my intuition and just took some heart steps over to his table. Blossoming where I landed, I uttered "this is a Shy to Hi" moment. He smiled and I whooshed feeling comfort and joy that he appeared receptive to my inquiry. I asked him how Zen influenced his "show about nothing" comedy ... He said he was flattered that I asked and shared that Zen had inspired him. He added that he'd read many books on Zen... I mentioned how Grace & I started the FunZen Bakery and shared it's message of light, to help kids shine brilliantly by going within for life lessons or going without their blessed Aha's.

He smiled with a simpatico (friendly) sense of resonating with the point to offer kids and parents Perspective Life Skills. I felt this yin yang creative tension of appreciation that Jerry was open to discussing a bit of zen, yet a strong urgency that I had to go get Grace. It is beyond the scope of this blog to share more details about my Lady Luck experience. Perhaps in a future blog I'll share more awesome details on this idea of Zen and The Art of Jerry Seinfeld which is an actual chapter in a Biography, Jerry Seinfeld, Much Ado About Nothing by Josh Levine that I researched after I met him.

"Zen is just looking at something from a different perspective, and that's what
a lot of comedy is". Jerry Seinfeld

For now, what is key is that you carry the vibe that you can Be your best and make your own luck. With this one thing: Trust your Intuitive Heart which knows how to blossom where you land, with your unique "Shy to Hi" zen moment of; asking a challenging question, meeting someone new, listening to your inner wisdom and shifting away from: what if (future worry) what was (past) to the sweet acceptance of reality or what is (present).

Back to the opening? What's luck got to do with it? It appears that luck has to do with Oprah Winfrey's common sense wisdom; "I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity."

Inspirational Recipe: Lady Luck Cupcakes

Following your heart begins within with setting aside a little Quiet Time for Getting Centered.

3's a Charm Stay In Your Heart Interactive Steps:❤❤❤

1) ❤ Blossom where you land by feeling your feet pressing down (root lower body) and gently reach up (rise) through your heavenly crown, eyes closed (center up between your eyebrows; or lower your eye lids) keeping your head to the sky, shoulders ( heart wings) spreading soft and wide.

2) ❤ Mindfully (non judgmentally, be kind to your mind) Observe your breath flowing out and in...up to a minute or so. Gradually deepen your breath by feeling the rise and fall of your tummy ~Ride the waves ~(Discover Centered Breath in Mental Fitness pg 22)

3) ❤ Ignore and dismiss any (monkey chatter) self defeating thoughts like doubt and regrets sweep your mind clear with your long breath out. Welcome the compassionate heart thoughts that inspire you to aspire and take action for your highest good.

Here's your Lady Luck Centering Charm to make or bake your own luck. This is one that Grace (daughter) and I use often to zencourage positive thinking, raise our energy and deepen our fearless faith.

Exhale, relax and refocus, Breathe in ~I am (pixie pause) Long Breath Out~

Being my best and allowing God (Divine Love or Spirit) to handle the rest...repeat 3 or more times. Note starting to sense zen-like calm to carry on... comes naturally.

As mentioned in the previous blogs Got Zen? Becoming A Resourcerer, we are exploring ways to activate brilliant author, Neil Pasricha's 3A's of Awesome, Attitude (way of being) Awareness (mindfulness) Authenticity (return to your original nature) using Mental Fitness to get your head in the A game.

Any suggestions or questions: tweet me, call me, email me, facebook awaits; How can I help you empower yourself to shine? Looking forward... Let's start the conversation.

Mental Fitness (Foreword by Leonard Cohen) still available: Amazon, Bodhi Tree Books , or, contact me for an autographed copy and free gift telecoaching session. Share with your friends and Zenjoy!

In Gratitude w/Love ❤

FunZen Girls OX
Michiko and Grace

Life Coaching Services now available: 805 490-2391
Contact: MJRolek@aol.com
Twitter: @Zenmommie

I teach Kids FunZen and train Parents to be Mindful.

Yoko (ocean child) Ono's commitment to spread Imagine Peace clarifies the meaning of a zen mommie; let a little peace begin with the me in mommie.

Blessing in Disguise

My Zen Experience: From Cursed to Charmed

Recently I was asked by Ogun and Jennifer @UFamilyMatters to be on their talk show to share how (Grace and I) practice Zen (the art of present moment living) and apply it to parenting. It may sound simple on the surface. Well, as the expression suggests still waters run deep. I trusted my vibes to dive in deeper and share a bit of honesty re. my family history. What inspired the idea from "cursed to charmed" is the enchanting Bestselling author, Victoria Moran. Her writing is an inspiration for me, she has said "In fairy tales, being charmed was the opposite of being cursed."

Those simple words reminded me of the mother of Zen, Taoism, which reveals that everything is made from its opposite. Sending a wave of Gratitude to @MarthaBeck for helping me realize this insight... For instance, if we ask for strength, we get weakness. If we ask for confidence, we get lack of believing in ourselves. Looking back, being born into a Zen legacy felt like a huge burden yet a blessing. My heritage on my dad's side is Afro-European and Japanese on my mom's side. This East meets West contrast has been a blessing in building a bridge of appreciation for the rich tones of music and dance while honoring the zen-like silent space between the music notes of life.

During the almost one hour @UnityOnlinRadio interview, I opened up and shared a few pivotal moments of growing up in a home where we kept the fun in the dysfunctional. The toxic drama or ill will and envy continues to this day...

Without further ado, my grateful heart is overjoyed for the opportunity Rev. Jennifer and Ogun Holder has given us to share our vision and voice of renewed Hope. We are honored to be on the same music page with their timely message

of "Spiritual Parenting" by divine design vs. default.

From a Zen mind, Beginner's mind, parenting perspective I've gleaned from being a life long learner to practice the wisdom from My friend Laura and Editor of @DailyWordMag ; Let go, Let God. I mentioned on the show that my beloved mother set the example when she was well, to lead from my presence with passion and purpose. Those character values modeled the first 5 years of my life and have helped shaped me into who I am today, choosing to teach Grace and myself to live a charmed life. The FunZen Bakery was created with the intent to help ourselves to help others shine brilliantly from within.

Gleek Inspirational Recipe of "Greek Honey Cookies" to nourish Being a Cheerleader for your Soul:

In previous blogs we've shared inspirational recipes with easy to do heart steps to reach for that miraculous state of BEing Centered to access feeling Grounded in Spirit with Zen-like Calm to Carry on this message of light; as Children of God or the Universe we are here to sing our heart's song and shine like the dancing stars You and I already are.

Right now, I want to share how Grace and I simply live our practice moment to moment, with a cool tool newly called the Whoooshh Mindful Breath Charm... Some moments or many, (lol) we are thrown off balance. I remind Grace what I remember from dancing that I have to lose my center to trust finding it again and again. We call this process learning to love what is, @ByronKatie or "Acceptance Therapy". For more details on how to get centered check out my book Mental Fitness which Head Coach, Phil Jackson of the LA Lakers has used successfully to bring the best out of his players.

Simply by Exhaling right now, Whoooshh...Stop in the name of Love and drawing in an All is One (deep blue whale) Breath we allow ourselves to experience a wave of letting go with the long breath out Ahhhh.

Your Whoooshh Mindful Breath Charm empowers you to taste the honey of non judgmental observation. We can access reaching Stillness from breathing mindfully to reveal our Socratic-zen lesson known as the Delphi Oracle "Know thyself, Be thyself, Love thyself."

Being the Head Cheerleading for the Soul Coach I would like to send a Gratitude Wave of Love and Cheer On my awesome peeps & tweet-hearts who help all of us Shine. Starting with my you glow girl, High Performance Coach Anne Merrem, who is taking the Whoooshh Mindful Breath charm to a whole new winning results level in Germany, Berlin;

my editing angel, @BeautyofWisdom, @CrissyBayless ,

@JRavenHawk,@JenuineHealing, @Marielhemingway,@JulieShanti,
@mallikachopra, @MarthaBeck @stressfreekids, @PocketPeople,

@DrBenlo, @ValenciaRay, @TheZenMama, @ZenMommy @SamHorn_dot_com,
and the list goes on and on... Remember Ohana means family, nobody is forgotten or left behind. I love ya'll.Gentle reminder; @TheDailyLove take your daily love vites to stay in the light of love. Ti Amo. <3

Life Coaching Services now available: 805 490-2391

Contact: MJRolek@aol.com

Twitter: @Zenmommie

I teach Kids and train Parents.

How To Be So Blessed & Destressed! Interview with Lori Lite

"Stressed is desserts spelled backwards." Unknown

We are serving up spiritual dessert at the FunZen Bakery with Lori Lite, Zentrepreneur Mom, Author and Founder of Stress Free Kids and ABC's Shark Tank Winner. Stress Management Expert, Author Brian Luke Seaward Ph.D says "With stress now as American as apple pie...,everyone, kids too, must deal with stress and changing your attitude toward it is the best way of coping."

Grace and I are delighted to share a fun Q & A Interview with Lori presenting some of her Magical Tools: To Educate, Empower, and Inspire kids and the kid in all of us to Release Stress, Relaxercise, and Refresh from Top to Toe.


Here's 3's a Charm Interview Teasers to Zenjoy!


1. Find out how to breathe away stress and feel blessed~in one simple breath.


2. Discover how Lori used her Stress Free Techniques before swimming with the sharks.


3. Find out why we call Lori the sweet Dreamzzz Fairy.


Visit Stress Free Kids and check out Lori's Indigo Dreams Collection of Books and CD's that Rock! Also, Meet, Greet and Tweet with her.



Pixie Pause Pointer: Blowing a zen KISS means Keep It So Simple, (Short, Sweet and to
the point) Smiling in the present moment; Centered and stress free like a deeply rooted wisdom tree.

Getting here and now into the present moment doesn't take more time, it's a micro-shift (1000 milliseconds in a second) of mindfulness. Just imagine blowing your pinwheel (long breath out) and instantly note feeling empowered and zenergized from your center, its that simple. MUAH OX Go and twirl with Kendra @pinwheelgirl to continue feeling so blessed :)


Just sayin; Cool Tools you'll use found at Stress Free Kids and The FunZen Bakery can be used by any child that is feeling stressed, facing ADD, ADHD, Anger issues, Anxiety, Autism, and everyday modern life. Simply put, We are here to help you and your kids activate self-healing and empowerment mindfully. Remember "Ohana" means family where no one is forgotten...Sharing in the spirit of generosity "Ubuntu" makes us a human family.

Please spread the word and share with your friends, Thank you. We Love you. FunZen Girls OX

Remember; It's not just Zen. It's FunZen and Dr Seuss says "Fun is good."


p.s. Re. anyone needing foolproof hi tech angel support (like me) for leaving a comment just scroll to name/url, url is optional include your website, twitter, facebook & leave comment, Thx :)