The Challenge

Posted on May 31, 2013 by blogadmin

An Om symbol in the sand at a beach

Tomorrow…it begins.

“It” being the 30 day yoga challenge I signed up for at DoYouYoga.com. I wasn’t sure I was going to do it but had been playing with the idea for several days. That, along with the lack of getting off my butt on my own lead me to enter my email address on the sign up page and make the commitment.

I’m pretty nervous. I’m scared I won’t stay with it. I don’t know about you but my brain is really good at rationalizing excuses, even when it’s something I need to do and know I’ll be happier for.

A 30 day challenge is something I’ve never done and like most new things, the thought of it is causing some discomfort and worry. That’s not terrible though. One of the many things I hope to learn through this process is walking through those kinds of feelings, especially when it comes to new things or facing the unknown.

Because honestly, doing the actual yoga every day isn’t what I’m worried about. It’s all the mental garbage I’ll be confronting and shifting and learning to work with.
Continue reading →

Lopsided

Posted on April 23, 2013 by blogadmin

This afternoon, I was reading an article on healing relationships and was completely awestruck as it told about part of a couples vows from their wedding:

that all circumstances might serve the awakening of wisdom and compassion.

All circumstances – the good, the bad and the ugly. The days when you can hardly drag yourself out of bed, the times when you just want to cry or punch someone in the face and the days when you can’t remember if you’ve ever laughed so hard or felt so happy.

Serving the awakening of wisdom and compassion.

What a thing to strive for. Hard enough just concentrating on yourself, now put this in the context of a marriage or serious relationship. Yowza!

It resonated with me, that’s for sure. And another reminder of what a padawan I continue to be because I’m not even close to this much of the time but I love when I find these kinds of reminders. A beautiful intention, something so worth while to work toward.

Especially while I’m feeling off off track and lopsided and not quite myself.
Continue reading →

One Idea

Posted on January 11, 2013 by blogadmin

quote from Yoga Journal magazine - Feb. 2013 edition. Take one idea....

Every month, I look forward to the next issue of Yoga Journal set to arrive in my mailbox. Besides all the great information on poses and general health and wellness, there is always something unexpected that touches or inspires me in some great way.

A few days ago, the February 2013 issue arrived. Flipping through, I landed on a page with the following quote and sat, re-reading it several times.

“Take up one idea. Make that idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, and every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.”
– Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)

It made me think of how many times, I’ve gotten too tangled up with worries of:
I want this but how am I going to be able to do it?
How will I ever have enough time, money, etc?

Truthfully, letting my own fears and insecurities take over and slowly losing sight of a dream or goal, ending with feeling hopeless and depressed.
Continue reading →

Freaky 40

Posted on January 9, 2013 by blogadmin

Assorted, colorful 40th birthday cupcakes

The last few years have been full of changes, some pretty big changes actually and most of them for the better. But there’s something that has changed in a bad way and I’m trying to figure out exactly why or how it has happened.

I love birthdays, always have. And I have always thought it was silly and ridiculous that some women try to hide their true age, won’t give out their birthday or get depressed on the day.

Because me? I celebrate. I make a big freaking deal. I used to schedule a shopping day off from work for my birthday every year before my stay at home mom days.

My 21st birthday was awesome! 30th birthday, felt great. Turning 35, ok that one was rough, I was pregnant and horribly sick but felt no ill will about my age at all.

I even used to think, yes I am getting older but I’m also getting – better.
Continue reading →

Shop Girl

Posted on January 2, 2013 by blogadmin

This morning, when my son asked about going to the movies, I quickly answered “I’ll get paid on Friday so maybe we can go this weekend.”

It felt so good to say, so natural and I instantly felt happy about it. Then, my stomach tightened and I remembered, this will be my last pay day for a while.

I’d previously written about my nervousness, how strange it felt to be venturing back in to the work force after so long at home and then adjusting to my new schedule and busyness around the holidays.

But regardless of everything, I loved it.

I loved working, I loved my job. I loved having this new responsibility outside of the house and making my own money again.
Continue reading →

Gratitude

Posted on November 21, 2012 by blogadmin

rock with the word gratitude written on it

I know I’ve said it before, but these holidays just keep sneaking up on me!

On Tuesday, after a brief panic when I realized the toddler was off from preschool until next week and I had not done any dinner planning yet for Thanksgiving, I sat down and started making lists (my go-to planning strategy) and realized I don’t really have too much to do or worry about.

Which makes me SO very thankful. Thankful for our laid back life, our little family and how much every day good I have in my life right now.

Here’s what I’m super happy about this year:
Continue reading →

Hand Stands and Facing Fears

Posted on October 22, 2012 by blogadmin

Sunday morning, I proudly announced to my husband that I’d tried my first hand stand.

“It was scary and awesome!” I told him, still feeling a little of both myself.

I’ve been wanting to start learning more inversions and challenging poses for a while now. And I have to admit, I choose a hand stand to start with because of a poses I’m kind of obsessed with, Vrschikasana or scorpion pose.

Here’s what it looks like.

woman doing yoga in scorpion pose

Image source – tumblr.com
Continue reading →

Growing Pains

Posted on October 17, 2012 by blogadmin

Last week was a true challenge. Actually, it was stressful, scary, difficult and exhausting. Things were really hard. It sucked.

I’m pretty good about looking for the lessons in things, especially in the difficult moments but sometimes I do want to ask, “Why so rough, life? Do you really have to slap me around like that? Have I not been seeing what you wanted me to see for so long you’ve lost patience? I thought we were kind of friends!”

A friend of mine always says, you will keep being presented with the same lessons over and over until you learn what you need to and grow from them.
Continue reading →

Watching The Path Unfold

Posted on October 7, 2012 by blogadmin

Blue sky and open field

Is it harder to not know what you want in life or to know but have your goals seem far out of reach?

I’ve been on both sides of this question as most probably have and I don’t know if there is one, simple answer. The answer is probably different for each one of us. What feels worse to me may not be so terrible for you.

Both situations can be difficult, both are uncomfortable and sometimes scary and frustrating as well. Both can make us feel hopeless or sad, confused and grasping.

But both situations can also require the same difficult but simple thing – letting go.
Continue reading →

Do You Have Time For Love?

Posted on October 4, 2012 by blogadmin

artist picture of a heart

Do you have enough time for love? Can you make sure that in your everyday life you have a little time to love? We do not have much time together; we are too busy. In the morning while eating breakfast, we do not look at the person we love, we do not have enough time for it. We eat very quickly while thinking about other things, and sometimes we even hold a newspaper that hides the face of the person we love. In the evening when we come home, we are too tired to be able to look at the person we love.

We must bring about a revolution in our way of living our everyday lives, because our happiness, our lives, are within ourselves.

– True Love by Thich Nhat Hahn