Mindful Monday // Find your own Rhythm

The Writing by Tania Debono

Last night I had a nice little chat at the laundry shop. She was on her phone, I was with my magazine. It was one of those moments where one would think: hm, should I talk to her or shouldn't I? It may sound creepy talking to strangers, but for those of you who don't do that at all, some of those strangers can actually turn to your dearest friends, even if they happen to be on another continent. Or they could even change your life, but that's another story. Just be open to small everyday encounters. Anyways, I started talking to her and it turned out to be a wonderful conversation about living in New York day to day.

We drew a nice comparison: this college girl, who is experiencing a student exchange semester in this great city, finding everything crazy amazing, inspired by any-and everything, sucking it all in, was sitting next to a nature-lover, world-traveler, an adventurous, but also calm person who thinks that the city is draining her energy. Couldn't you agree with both of them? Some New Yorkers told me that they have a love-and-hate relationship with this city. On the one hand, it's super multicultural, very diverse and dense, many creatives and artists in one big apple. On the other hand, it's super busy, crowded, very very fast paced and everyone is hustlin', working several jobs to make ends meet. Crazy, huh? Honestly, it does drain your energy, you are seeking for fresh air, more sleep and less people. And although I have a bug in my ear who keeps telling me that I have to do MORE, sleep LESS, socialize and go to every single event that is happening here, I don't. 

It's okay to miss events, to say NO to others, and YES to yourself. It's okay to sleep in, it's okay to take your time to rest, relax and recharge. It's okay to find your own rhythm. When you're new to a city or new to an environment, you don't have to pack your 24hours full with stuff. Allow yourself sometimes to go day by day, live in the present moment and maybe.. not plan everything out. Even if you only have 7 weeks left. Some things I do to keep me present and find my own rhythm: 

1. Don't overstructure your day,

but some routines will help you when you feel lost.

Work/school schedules will do that for you.

2. Try Yoga or Meditation.

After every morning of yoga,

I feel so blessed, so grounded, so grateful 
and am happy to start the day with a smile.

4. Do some reading. 

This helps me to focus on only one action,

subway commutes are best for this.

5. Enjoy some tea.
I love the mornings when I just sit there
and enjoy the herbs, the flavor of my tea.

6. Most importantly,
do more of what you love.

It's about finding a balance between work and rest. Sometimes, it can be essential to just sit back and see the bigger picture, think about what's really important to you and how you can change your actions towards a better lifestyle.

In one of my communications readings I came across this: 

Creativity has paradoxical qualities:
passion & objectivity
tradition & rebelliousness
play & serious work

Give yourself some time to breathe because a relaxed mind is a creative mind.

NYC #12 // TCS Marathon // Running Towards Greatness

Wow!!! Congratulations to all 50,000 runners, 10,000 volunteers and the millions who cheered and watched them run this town! This was my first time being at a marathon and watching this happening. I had no expectations. That day, it was freezing cold, there was a harsh wind, but the music, the sun, the people and all the runners warmed us up when we cheered for the founders of Undo Magazine Robin and Vasha, but also for their friends from Black Roses NYC and the Bridgerunners.

It was really exciting to spread out positive vibes and love to everyone who passed by. They were so inspiring, encouraging and I was just like: Wow! These champions accomplished 26.2 miles (42,2km) on Nov, 2nd in the city of dreams. 

Have a look at the emotions yourself!

Robin Arzon

Nai Vasha

So many smiles, so much fun!

And we definitely need more women in sports, 

chasing their dreams and running towards greatness!

NYC #11 // When in New York...

Start the day right.. nope.. not with brunch, 

but with real yummy breakfast. Recipe here.

 

 Walk around and enjoy the little things.

 Visit the Costume Institute Exhibition Death becomes Her

in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Diego Rivera // The Café Terrace

Max Weber // Athletic Contest

Find your favorite artwork

in the many, many exhibitions.

Dream yourself back in time.

Pamela Barsky

Stroll through Chelsea Market.

See Ms. Liberty, at least once and

for free from the Staten Island Ferry.

Explore Downtown.

Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.

 End the day with a nice sunset from Dumbo.

Celebrate Pumpkin Season

and do pumpkin-everything!

Look up. Yep, away from your phone.

 Siblings Army

Discover new artists and designers at

Artists & Fleas, Williamsburg.

Try something New!

Have delicious food at Smorgasburg.

Take a moment to step back and

be grateful.

NYC #10 // My personal Broadway Bomb Weekend

Ian Nichols, co-founder of the Broadway Bomb

Do you know the feeling when you skate through the streets of your town with some of your best friends? Imagine this with hundreds and hundreds of skaters pushing next to you in New York City! Anyways, let's start this post with Uncle Funky's Potluck Picnic on Friday Night. The Uncle Funky's family set up a small get-together to kick off the Broadway Bomb Weekend. A bunch of skaters from New York, the U.S. and even from Sweden and Germany came ;) 

After a while, we decided to move the skate party inwards. To be honest, I didn't really know what that meant... until I found myself skating by night on the big streets of Manhattan. We skated from the West to the Eastside, then on to the Williamsburg Bridge, the famous bridge - never done that before, so for me, über exciting! Then, skating down the brigde was another huge adrenaline kick! It was a long, very fast and a sweaty journey, but worth every single push.

Landed somewhere in Brooklyn, I was stoked as hell and couldn't hide my enthusiasm about the past moments. But it wasn't over yet. We stepped into a house party (I called it skate heaven because there was a Miniramp in the basement and hey, 6 rad skaters living under one roof) and we even played Adam Colton's famous Bite the Bag Game.

The next morning, THE day of the Broadway Bomb, everyone started at noon on 116th Street. For my part, I decided to wait on 14th & Broadway to take some pictures, and dived into the first big crowd. Even though it was only the last bit of the Bomb, it was sick! We were all pushing through red lights, making these crazy taxi drivers, pedestrians and cyclists stop, some held their smartphones up high to take a snap and it was such a cool vibe skating with amazing people, pushing and not giving a fuck. Just do what you love, get rad or get lost! And don't die! Haha!

 Kiefer Dixon on his way. 

 Jamie Nieves // Cami Best // Mike Girard

After hitting the finish line at the Charging Bull, we cruised down to the East River Park to announce the winners. Kiefer Dixon and Claudia Clase made it first. Some of us took off shortly after and went for some food, naps and beers, just to land at skate heaven again later that night. 

It was like a never-ending skate party with positive people, doing what they do every single day, being stoked about their passion and making the best out of the urban streets of New York. What I think can be related to any community or passion is, when you feel like your legs are killing you, the positivity and drive of the community make you go further and not care about pain. Everything is mental, so enjoy the time while doing it and push harder! Also, one of the most inspiring things about the last weekend was: it doesn't matter whether longboarding or skateboarding, whether long / small / or even middle boards, there is no difference, you are a skater and we skate everything. We all share one love, one passion. 

 Slide Jam with Steve Kong

Sector 9's Scavenger Hunt

 

The weekend went on with a small Slide Jam on Sunday Morning and ended with a fun Scavenger Hunt through the city organized by Sector 9 in the afternoon. Hopefully this will happen again next year! 

I cannot believe how my life has changed by getting my first longboard, back last year. Everyone else and everything what happened next were connected. This whole community of positive, creative, and motivated skaters opened up a new world. I cannot say it enough: thank you to everyone who is part of this, never did I feel so much freedom and vitality before. 

I hope this skate party will never end, 

cheers and keep your heads up high,

inspire and aspire

from New York with stoke,

Huyen