Letting Go; Our Last Day at The Brooklyn Residential Center

I always got super excited on the last day of school.

Perhaps it was the energy of completing something that I never thought I would, or maybe its the peace of mind of having something behind you and the renewal of opportunity when the next door opens.

Maybe it's just because I hated school so much, that every "last day" was a day closer to me moving to New York to be a big star on Broadway.

Things change when you are the teacher. (Most of the Time)
Today was one of those "Last Day's" that I wished that I could have had a few more days of.

Each semester I continue My work with SFK in some capacity. Usually in the Youth/Teen division. Last year I had the opportunity to teach two groups of young men (13-19) at Rikers Island and this year the same principle that wast there invited us to come to his new location, The Brooklyn Residential Center.
The residential center is a home which houses young ladies who have been incarcerated for a previous period of time and allows them the opportunity to "get their feet wet" before heading back into the main world again. The girls are still incarcerated, but are treated with a little more freedom by allowing for home visits and for parent visitation.

I have learned in this line of work to take a very "Anything Goes" approach to what we do. There are reasons for that too, trust me. We have our days. Today, the last day, certainly was one of them.
Upon arriving to the location, we learned that one of the residents had gone AWOL. In doing so, she tied six bedsheet's together, busted the bars off her bedroom window and managed to escape nearly 4 stories below.
A remarkable fete I commented.
It was obvious that she planned the whole thing very carefully.

Things happen for a reason, ya know. This is no different.
In our class, as we said good bye with pretty pink cupcakes and some pop music, you could see the wheels spinning in our ladies heads.

Always open for an opportunity, I let them hash it all out. Several of them were rather proud of their "Superhero" sister that got away. But the majority of them had some incredible insight that suggested that our last 10 weeks there was not in vain. The comparison to what they had learned in our class vs. the choice their "Escape Sister" made, was unbelievable. One of them even pointed out that maybe if she could have been in the class longer, she would have thought differently.

"The chick that got away" I told them, "was brilliant" They looked at me puzzled. I went on to tell them that she is incredibly powerful and smart. The problem was what she was doing with all those gifts. If she could only transform them from her own selfish choices and use them for the good of others, with "skillz" like that, she could be in the CIA one day.

Their eyes got really wide when I said that. One of the more honest ones said "You know something, Daniel. You are right. We could. But I know, for me, it's easier here. I think it's comfortable to live the negative lifestyle."

Always a sucker for one's honesty, I thanked her and gave her this analogy that my teacher once shared with me;

"Image that you are going to the movies. You have everything you need to have a good time - a friend, some popcorn, some juju beads. The movie starts, and about 10 minutes in you know it's gonna be really crap movie. However, next door you can hear everyone oohing and ahhing at the latest James Cameron blockbuster that you have not seen yet. What do you do? Do you sit there and watch your crap movie, or do you get up and go see the better one?"

"I'll go see the bettah one" She said. They all agreed.

"The life you are living now is that first movie" I continued. "That movie playing next door, is the movie your life could be, if you made some different choices"

"How" she inquired with great interest.

"Take the first step. Get up and move. Make a conscious choice that you want the movie of your life to be a blockbuster"

"Wow" "I just got everything you been teaching me" She said as she starred at me in amazement.
There was a long pause, as I watched the wheels turn in her head.

They were incredibly great full for the time we shared with them. In their own special way, they each pledged to work hard to transform and not make the same choices again.

This is the part where I tell you, that this makes it very hard for me to accept the fact that it's 'The Last Day of School".
But I did, and I let go knowing that they are in the hands of the universe.

Let go. What a lesson for a day full of Scorpio energy!

To learn more about Success For Kids visit www.sfk.org
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Now onto Saggitarius;

Sagittarius – Stand up for Something You Believe in. Don’t be Complacent.

Tips for the month of Sagittarius

· Practice forgiveness

· Look out for details

· Make a commitment and stick to it

· Analyze the whole situation before making a decision

· Be more sensitive to others; watch what you say

A Balancing Act; Picking Up From Before

I managed to pull myself together and got back to Yoga today. It was so challenging. Unusually challenging. I thought for sure that because of the rain outside it would be warm and cozy to be enveloped in the Bikram studio for a couple of hours. Boy was I wrong!
Warm, it was (always ranges in between 100 - 125 deg) but definitely not cozy! I was not prepared for the humidity that made doing 28 asana's (poses) like trudging through the trenches on a hot Florida day!

But I made it through.

That's what they say the important part is - just to make it through. Hard concept for a Virgo, trust me. We want everything to be perfect, including our sweaty asana's.
I tried to concentrate with "English Bull Dog Determination & Bengal Tiger Strength" and found my mind (and my spiritual guides) helping me make sense of it all by way of comparing these two hours to my 33 years of life.
Yoga is such a metaphor for life.
This is what I had to remind myself of today in my heated room, whilst on my toes praying in padangustatsa.
Focus.
Don't give up.
When you begin to fall, just put your hands on the ground and catch your balance.
Once you've got it, lift your gaze to see yourself in the mirror.
Return to stillness.

This is life.

After Yoga, I met an old friend for lunch. My friend and I have gone through waves of closeness through the past 15 years. Regardless of what is going on in each other lives though we are always there for each other. No matter what.

Brad (not his real name) has been through a huge battle over the last 6 years. A battle that includes abuse, neglect and an affair with Crystal Meth. This guy who has always been talented and handsome beyond his own belief, has - in recent years- lost his sense of self. When I started to notice his dance with destruction I became gravely concerned. Unfortunately, you can not help someone who doesn't want help, so I had to sit back and do what I could from a far.

Brad is a fighter, thank god, and always has been. At one point he even turned his battle with Meth into a one-man-show that got the attention of producers at CNN.

I never lost faith.

When I saw him today, he was different. I noticed immediately that the luster in his eyes was beginning to return. He asked me questions about spirituality and the mechanics of the universe and we talked like we have never talked before. And trust me, we have talked before! but what was different this time was that ee listened. To each other.
For the first time in a long time, I feel confident that Brad is going to come out of his challenges making a huge difference in his life, and those around him.

I share this with you, because it was a huge reminder to me about how vital it is to never give up. Not on our friends, on our loves one, on ourselves.
Never to give up on our hopes and dreams. Our Passions.
Never give up the ability we have to constantly create and recreate something from nothing.
To transform ourselves.

Remember Bikram -
Focus.
Don't give up.
When you begin to fall, just put your hands on the ground and catch your balance.
Make up your mind, you won't fail.
Once you've got it, lift your gaze to see yourself in the mirror.
Return to stillness.

We have to remember that the light of the creator NEVER gives up on us. As we are "Created in his image" we must constantly remind ourselves.

Thanks for listening. I will never give up on you.

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Now we enter the energy of Scorpio. Here are the specs;

Scorpio – Don’t Hate Yourself. Don’t Judge or Be Jealous of Others.

Tips for the month of Scorpio

· Stay calm; don’t create crises

· Be proactive

· Think of consequences on self and others

· Invite the Light in

· Achieve fulfillment through self-control

· Don’t control

Back On Track / Tipping the Scales

Sorry about the detour from the weekly task of keeping you informed on the 12 days of Aires. We have passed through Leo and Virgo in the last two days, and now we begin the energy of Libra.

While I think the last 48 hours were very powerful, I have to say, I did fall off my "wagon" a bit.

For starters, I haven't been to Yoga (or the gym for that matter) in several days. Leo made me a bit lazy and Virgo made me even more neurotic than I already am (after all I am a Virgo). So ... let's try this again.

For Tomorrow ...

Libra – Decide without Fear. Decide with Certainty.

Tips for the month of Libra

· Make decisions and be certain about them

Like, Do I take that job or not?

· Don’t question past decisions

Oh, you mean, like I am right now?

· Share for the right reasons

You mean, NOT SO PEOPLE WILL LIKE ME ????

As Children Do

Today I woke up thinking about the hundreds of students I have
taught over the years, how now my only involvement in their lives is
to give over to the light, my fear and worry for their safety and well
being.

I can't help but ask "What More could I have done?"

I have one student in particular, we'll call him Keith.
Keith found the direct route to my soul. He came into my class nearly
half way through the year. He moved to Far Rockaway directly from
Puerto Rico. His Mom, Sister and He escaped the violence of his father
and fled to the states to live with their uncle.
Keith picked up immediately. He is charismatic, sensitive and
incredibly intelligent. He begged me to teach him all that he had
missed in the previous 5 months. So I did.
He excelled so much that I selected him to come to Wales for an
international summer camp with over 200 kids from around the world.
The summer camp changed his life. He could not stop talking about it
for years to come and begged me every year if he could go to the next.
Fortunately enough, that was the last summer camp we ever had, and I
am thankful he had that experience.

What was going on in his home life, was well masked by his humor and smile.
I learned from school officials that his Mom had lost her job and they
had no choice but to relocate to a shelter in Manhattan.
I called his Mom to confirm what I had heard. It was all true. The
hospital she was working in as a receptionist had fired her for
"mental instability".
I asked her how that could be and she told me the horror, that her
brother had started smoking crack and was being abusive to her
children. They all shared one bedroom together in his apartment and
now he was kicking them out.
For the rest of the semester I kept Keith in my after school program
and drove him back to the shelter in the city afterwards. He continued
to beam with gratitude and appreciation for everything he had. He
held a lot of resentment toward his father and all the male role
models who he turned to. Except me, he said. I was "a little bit like
a brother, but I would rather have you for a father" he told me.
Several weeks after that, his mom had to relocate him to a school in
Manhattan to be closer to their shelter. She called regularly to check
in, but always when I called back the number was disconnected or
unavailable.
I think of Keith regularly and always wonder, how I could have done
more. I pray that his intelligence and street smarts have kept him out
of gangs and that his care for his Mom and Sister are enough to feed
his "be a man" machismo in a healthy way.

Keith is but one of hundreds of these stories. Many far, far, far,
more painful to hear.

I thank them all for making me a man. Pushing me to face the truth,
that I am not the center of the universe, but inspiring me to be an
important star in their's.

If you want to learn more about the work I do with Success For Kids or
to make a donation go to sfk.org.

Sent from my iPhone

___________________________

Just Moments later...

After I wrote the above, I went to a lecture and meditation at the Kabbalah Center. Last summer I had the opportunity to teach a family class there for members of the community. Each week, I get to see a lot of the same students that I taught in that class. Several of the girls ALWAYS make us Art projects and we come home and decorate our fridge with their creations and absolutely adore each of them. This week, Miriam's gift to me was quite profound. She made the piece below which features a picture of me surrounded by stars and a Kiwi fruit holding up the 72 Name of God for Certainty. Quite chillingly, I should tell you that the nickname of the boy above is "Kiwi".

The 72 Names of God, aren't "Names" per say. They are a combination of letters that are contained within the story of the splitting of the red sea in the book of Exodus from the bible. While all of them are powerful in their unique way, Certainty is the tool we need above everything. Certainty is not knowing that "Things are going to happen the way I want them to happen". Certainty is having nothing short of complete trust in the creator and the perfection of the universe. Certainty is knowing that everything is in the creators hands and what you are experiencing, or going through, is just what your soul needs to go to it's next level.

I guess the angels sent me this message by way a very special messenger because I need to be reminded that all of these Children are in the creator's hands, with the tools I have been given to share with them, my job is to let go know, without any shadow of a doubt, they are taken care of.

Not an easy task, but thanks to Miriam, I am reminded 'Trust the Light; Kiwi will be fine".

Mr. Task Master !

Yesterday proved to be an exhausting and fulfilling day, full of completing tasks and tying up loose ends.

One project in particular that has been out there in space looming is my Bi-Weekly podcast called "Eliminating Space".

I am happy to say that the details have been arranged and we will record our first episode in the coming days. We hope to launch it by this time next week and we hope all of you will subscribe.

The idea for my podcast came about as I walked through my daily experience taking note of the amazing people I meet. I have been so blessed with the gift of being a "people person" and I decided to turn that

into something to share with the world. EliminatingSpace simply means just that. I will single-handedly attempt to bring everyone closer together by getting to know our guests for who they are and celebrating our differences.

In the first episode, I interview one of my best friends who I have recently been reunited with after a 17 year hiatus, Stacey Rauch Roseberry. Stacey is a beautiful mother of twins and a delivery nurse who has a passion for babies and a gift for gab!

In other news of yesterday, we met a new friend of ours, Ophir, at my favorite Happy Hour place, Red Egg (which I have blogged about in previous posts) last night. Now on Tuesday, when we were at Red Egg I noticed there was a hot

new bartender who made fabulous drinks. She made it pretty clear that she wasn't going to be there long, so I didn't bother to get her details. Well, last night, we went back and low and behold she was there! So, me being me, I had to get to know her. Her name is Jenny and she is about 5'9 with a gorgeous body and a sexy cancerian soul. As if it couldn't get any better, she made us the most AMAZING cocktails and I finally got to learn a little bit about her! I am hoping she will be a guest on My EliminatingSpace Podcast one day in the near future. If you are ever downtown in the Chinatown/Little Italy area go visit her at Red Egg (202 Centre Street New York, NY 10013-3613 (212) 966-1123). If she is not there, you can catch her at THE HOUSE in Gramercy Park. (121 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003-2105, (212) 353-2121).

Ok. Enough with yesterday, and onto the energy of today !

As of Sundown last night, we began the energy of CANCER. Welcome the waterworks in folks, it's gonna be a bumpy day!

here are the specs for Cancer

Cancer – Break False Sense of Security. Let Go of Something That Provides Security.

Tips for Cancer

· Let go of fears and possessions

· Take a risk – Trust the Light

· Create a space for the Light

· Do a sharing action daily

· Count your blessings

· Live in the present

Have a miraculous day and I will see you tomorrow !

A Little Bit of This, A While Lot of That

Today was an amazing day. To recite it's details would seem futile, so I wrote a poem about the day. Remember it was Taurus, so the goal was to break comfort levels and remain in a positive light. Read past the poem for the details of Gemini which we are in now, through tomorrow evening. Have a beautiful day !

Bull Fighting

There are those days,

when things seem, to fall into place.

When you push against the grain,

and smile through the pain.

A sunny day knocked at my window,

while a cozy bed, enveloped my skin

commitments made, from the day before

a dance with my soul, a battle within.

Energy from resistance,

excitement won in the end.

Tone set for the day ahead,

supported love from a friend.

A Communion of energy,

clearing out some ole' sludge.

someone I hardly know

helping me, let go a nagging grudge.

A little bit of that, a lot of this

the chance to give a piece of my heart

to someone in remiss.

Sharing moments,

seriously in secret

never shared before

I promised to keep it.

Gemini – Focus and Commit

Tips for the month of Gemini

· Focus on details

· See the big picture

· Finish what you start

· Trust the Light, not your mind

Fighting the Ram, Red Flag in Hand

Welcome to Day 2 of the "Going for it" plan. Each day we are planting the seeds for the new year through renewed commitment which I have made to you (Dear Reader) through this column.

I don't know about you, but I felt an incredible shift in energy today. Surely, there was a lighter vibe in the ear, but none-the-less it had it's challenges.

Every Tuesday I teach a group of amazing girls, age 14 - 19, that happen to be incarcerated in a girls halfway house in Brooklyn.

Today was challenging.

For the first time since we began (which has been nearly 8 weeks now) we saw the arrival of two new girls. One who is four months pregnant and another who could no be bothered with anything other than her desire to speak her mind against the establishment. I asked her to listen and to, at very least, pay attention to the class. She proceeded to dive her nose into a book and rely on the psychosis of her "ADHD" which has obviously been stigmatized to her nearly her entire life, to get her through the hour and a half that was ahead of her.

Today marked our 8th week with these ladies and as each class builds on the class before. There is very little I can do to catch these new recruits up to the standard the rest of the class has achieved thus far. It continues to be one of the great challenges in this particular level of work that I do. One day they are in, the next they are out.

The entire purpose of what we do at SFK (sfk.org) relies on the principle of empowering teens to believe in themselves and to know that the challenges that they face are nothing more than opportunities to reveal their greatness.

With that understanding I created and assigned a new activity. Instead of holding those who have begin to implement our tools into thier own lives, I wanted them to go to their next level while trying my best to bring the newbies up to speed.

I came up with a new project. I asked each of them to creatively express themselves through the power of letter writing. In doing so, I asked them to write (or draw .. etc...) a letter to themselves from the perspective of the absolute best version of who they wish to become in the future. In doing so they will highlight the challenges they have overcome in their life and how all of it has made them who they are now.

You would not believe these chicks desires. So many of them, so huge - including (but not limited to) becoming the female version of Johnny Chochran, Doctors, Nurses, Surgeons and the first female member of the NFL.

In lieu of all the challenges that I faced in teaching them today and the insight of the cosmos and what we know is available to us now, I was inspired to share with you my own personal letter from my higher version of me.

Dear Bobby,

From me to you, I promise the truth

Something you struggled with, lost in your youth.

You didn't believe; so much in yourself -

wanted it all; talent and wealth.

I'd like to show you, who you will become.

I am you, from where you have won.

We are talented, far beyond you ever conceived;

Worked with Stars, traveled the world, in wonder and belief.

We have inspired many; to live out their dreams.

We've persevered through all the challenges

and all that it seemed.

Be at peace, know your story

it's far more exciting, in all it's glory.

All truth - no mirrors and smoke;

the facts about you, going for broke.

You are loved, beyond all measure

So much so,

Now and Forever.

Love,

Daniel

Doing this activity gave me so much peace. I encourage you to try it as well.

So with that said, as of sundown tonight we are onto day two; the day of Taurus. Here are the Facts;

Taurus – Avoid being Comfortable. If it’s Uncomfortable, do it.

Tips for the month of Taurus

· Listen to others

· Embrace discomfort

· Actively share with others

· Transform complacency to movement

Notes on Taurus from our Teacher, Eitan Yardenni;

Our natural tendencey is not the get out of our comfort zone. However one of the best ways to break fears, laziness and tiredness is to chase after the opportunity to break this comfort. Shut the mind down, jump into action. This alone allows us the opportunity and the strength to overcome.

The goal is to build natural desire to go beyond our comfort zone to go for this aspect and fire of sharing, that we know is the right thing to do.

When we face a situation, the only thing we can do is change the desire. Do I "want" to or do I not? today, lets jump into action into the things that we know we should do , but those that we procrastinate in doing.

One thing recommended; anything you know you should do - jump to do it. Do not hesitate. Go all the way, without hesitation.

When we feed our body the whole way with pleasures, like food, sleep, sex etc, we give power to our heaviness and laziness. However when we do not go "all the way" with these desires by cutting off 25% of the physical comfort it diffusses the heaviness of the body and connect the soul a lot easier.