Last night's yoga class marked two months of continuous practice! In early December I decided to give yoga another try. I'd tried it only once before and I felt I needed to give it another go and to devote myself more fully. Even though it's only been a short two months, I'm already feeling such a connection and devotion to my practice.
My yoga practice gives me the time my soul needs to rejuvenate and RELAX! It's tough for me (and everyone else, right?) to take time away from my often-times hectic, overstimulated, noisy, frustrating, days to be still, quiet, mindful, and introspective.
Tonight I left class with a smile on my face!
"...bring on the wonder, bring on the song, I pushed you down deep in my soul for too long..."
-Performed by Sarah McLachlan (Bring on the Wonder, from Laws of Illusion), written by Susan Enan
[These photos are of our Amaryllis bulbs that have finally bloomed! They're commonly referred to as "the Christmas flower". It may not be Christmas but they're still gorgeous!]
For anyone that has rummaged through their closet, dresser, or junk drawers knows that it feels so great to get rid of the items that are no longer used or loved. Isn't it true? One girl's trash is another girl's treasure! One of the joys of my life is the hunt for new things to love - especially among second hand stores, antique shops, and the like!
Over the weekend I was able to give away many bag-fulls of clothing, shoes, and other household items that I no longer use. It feels good, no, great knowing that someone else can enjoy them. And, my closet is looking a lot better!
Another Friday! Another striking article from Whole Living. It is one of my favorite magazines to receive each month and I look forward to reading it cover to cover. (If you haven't seen an issue before, what are you waiting for?). This magazine is my number one inspiration for living a healthier, happier, and more mindful life.
A blog post a few days ago caught my eye: You Matter More Than You Think: The Art of Developing Presence by Max Strom. Perhaps I've been extra emotional lately, but I have been struggling lately with the fact that I feel invisible to others. There are many instances I feel taken advantage of emotionally, disrespected, and underappreciated. Are these normal feelings? Am I being unrealistic? Maybe. But I also deserve to be treated the way I treat others. Right? There are times I feel I give too much and receive a fraction in return.
After reading this article I realized that maybe I have a weak presence. Am I not accessible emotionally to others? Maybe I give off a negative vibe? Just thoughts... I'm intrigued by the three keys to developing presence. These will be clipped and pinned on my bulletin board. They seem promising!
Happy weekend!
There are a few places I'd like to visit before this summer is through. My excuse? I don't have enough time! Weekends seem to be swallowed up months in advance. True, wedding preparations are time consuming and often need to be completed on the weekends. Not to mention the weekly errands and chores that need to get done. All of this combined with working full-time often leaves us "too tired" to do the fun things.
Pmmmfff.
What works for me is scheduling in advance. I have about six calendars I use to organize my time. Anal? OCD? Impersonal? Perhaps. But also comforting. When I schedule something I can stop worrying about wanting to do do that thing - all I have to do is await the day!
The article Don't Think; Do: Your Dreams Will Thank You by Tammy Wise courtesy of Whole Living Daily inspired me to think about this subject in depth.
We may be "too tired" or "too busy" at this second but we are likely to regret not choosing to accomplish something in the future because of these excuses.
