by Gina Marie
Categories: Addiction, Healing, Inspiration, Journal, Life, Love, Meditation, Photography, Psychology, Random, Thoughts for the Day, Trees, Writing • Tags: boundaries, daily meditation, Dogs, Inspiration, mental health, NYC, Photography
by Gina Marie
On the second day of my period during a marital separation, feeling extra hormonal and mopey, I hopped on a bicycle and passed a scene that could only happen in New York. A scruffy-looking fellow who I probably would have mistaken for homeless except that he was riding an expensive-looking bicycle, was BLASTING Sinead O’Connor’s rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which—under the circumstances—brought tears to my eyes. I pedaled behind him for a few blocks, listening to the mournful […]
Categories: Bicycles, Brooklyn, Heartbreak, Life, Love, Memoir, New York City, NYC, Personal, Short Story
by Gina Marie
I love it here in the southwestern Mexican state of Oaxaca. The capital, Oaxaca de Juárez, which I have dubbed “ODJ”, makes for the perfect balance between relaxed and urban, and between grounded and sublime. ODJ is an undeniably unique, colorful, and charming city. Inquiring about my travels, my sister recently asked, “So, is this the real Mexico, or are there lots of Americans there?” I answered, “Both.” And for the next four weeks, I am fortunate to be among them.
Categories: Architecture, Art, Color, Life, Light, Love, Mexico, Mural, Oaxaca, Photo Journal, Photography, Travel, Urban • Tags: Architecture, Gratitude, Journey, Journeys, Mexico, Mural, Murals, Oaxaca, Photo Journal, Photography, Travel, Urban
by Gina Marie
Categories: America, Art, Betty Boop, Book Excerpts, Boston, Brooklyn, Chögyam Trungpa, Collage, Color, Compassion, Consumerism, Divination, Earth, Friendship, Gratitude, Healing, Health, Humor, Journal, Life, Light, Love, Meditation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mixed Media, Mural, Mythology, Nature, New Jersey, New York, New York City, Philadelphia, Photo Essay, Photography, Poetry, Pop Art, Pop Culture, Psychology, Rainbows, Random, Recovery, Spirituality, Surrealism, Thoughts for the Day, True Confessions, Writing
by Gina Marie
Four teenagers unroll yoga mats in the common area of the East Coast drug rehabilitation center they currently call home. They’re ready for their Sunday afternoon vinyasa flow. Today, they seem tired. One of the teens, Vicki (name changed to preserve confidentiality), requests a gentle practice. She emphasizes: “No downward dogs!” I tell them I’ll happily oblige. Working with recovering addicts, you quickly learn to meet them where they’re at. They can be cooperative on some days and challenging, if not downright defiant, on others. Patience is tested. […]
Categories: Addiction, Compassion, Life, Meditation, Recovery, Spirituality, Yoga
by Gina Marie
What a gift to have found an activity that makes you feel strong enough to fly, and to have a community that will be there for you in case you slip and fall. I am one grateful yogi who is, by the way, now certified to teach! And I have the feeling my journey has only just begun . . .
Categories: Healing, Health, Life, Minneapolis, Yoga • Tags: Healing, Health, Yoga
by Gina Marie
As of today (Thursday) I’ve had one week off: no work, limited responsibility, and beautiful weather here on the shore. And my “staycation” is not over yet! I have three days left before a month-long trip to Minneapolis, wherein I’ll be participating in an intensive yoga teacher training. This trip will be the capstone of a year full of personal transformation on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. For me, the theme of the past 365 days has been “making […]
Categories: Beaches, Boxers, Color, Dogs, Earth, Jersey Shore, Life, Moon, New Jersey, Nikon, Ocean, Photo Journal, Photography • Tags: Beaches, Colorful, Jersey Shore, Moon, New Jersey, ocean, Photography, Sunset
by Gina Marie
Life is just beachy. As of this week, I’ve lived on the Jersey Shore for precisely one year . . . and when I say “on the shore,” I mean we are literally steps away from the beach. The curious thing is, I’ve only brought my good camera out there two or three times! I generally just bring my camera phone because it’s easier. To be fair, I have caught some great photos that way, as well. However, there’s nothing quite like a […]
Categories: America, Beaches, Bicycles, Birds, Jersey Shore, Life, Light, New Jersey, Nikon, Ocean, Photo Essay, Photo Journal, Photography • Tags: Beaches, Jersey Shore, New Jersey, ocean, Photography, summer
by Gina Marie
You find an old box of slides, untouched for years, containing images of loved ones long gone from the earthly plane. Get very quiet and you might hear them say: Come out and play . . . we’ll meet you halfway. Images are of my father, grandmother, and uncle, plus an unknown girl in the uppermost image. Originally captured in the 1960s and printed as slides, I used a Nikon to zoom into these images, thus converting them into digital format . . […]
Categories: Fathers, Ghosts, Life, Love, Paranormal, Photography, Spooky • Tags: Ghosts, Mysticism, Paranormal, Photography
Virtually Gina