Mom and T25

Okay, so the title is weird, I know, but it is the catalyst of my blog today. T25 kicked my ass today. That's the absolute truth and really just a way for me to dovetail into talking about my Mom. You see, I was an avid T25 Practitioner until December of 2014 when my Mom, who had health issues, took a turn. Now, I'm not blaming my Mom's health for my lack of motivation. It was just life and sometimes that's the only answer. Today was a big step on the journey of self study and a way for me to return to myself a little bit. 

Let me go back a little.  My Mom died on May 29th, 2015. Literally a week before I had to pack up my entire life, leave the business I love and move to Kentucky, 11 hours away from my friends and family. A part of me was grateful that she passed before I left because leaving her would have been the hardest thing I would have ever had to do in my life. But as they say, hind sight is 20/20. You see, leaving has made it very easy for me not to grieve, not to accept the fact that she is gone. I've known people who have lost parents.  I have cried with them/for them, felt compassion and sympathy but nothing, and I mean nothing, could prepare me for the gut wrenching, paralyzing grief that comes from losing a parent.

My Mom and I, we had our moments throughout the years.  The fights when I was a teen, the pushing of independence, blah blah blah...because really that's all it is is blah! The core of our relationship, through everything, was complete love. Her face, her smile, her smell all of it are love to me. The core of what this word means. As I take this journey to create a deeper understanding of who I am I know the foundation of me was built on her, who she was in this world and who she will continue to be as people remember her, tell her stories and share her within their own worlds.

I know today's blog is heavy, but it's honest. And that my dear friends is what self study is all about. Being honest with your heart. After my Mom passed a friend mentioned, that she heard, you must tell your story 1,000 times before you can start healing. That's what I'm going to do!

Namaste My Dear Friends.

Inspirational Thought/Tidbits for and about Life

If you have not read The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz I highly recommend the book, especially if you are serious about your journey of self study. There are so many aspects of who we are that are "learned behaviors" stemming from family and friends. It's important to see yourself in a very authentic way, not as the person you were formed into but as the person you knows and understands your own heart.

Check out this awesome studio! Take a class, get to know the amazing instructors and enjoy your journey of self discovery, pinklotusnj.com

Where do I go from here?

To be honest, I wasn't sure after my first blog where to go from there. I've spent a few days, okay a week, pondering. I decided in the morning to take my pondering on a walk around my new neighborhood. It's fairly large with a lot of roads that end in cul-de-sacs. The perfect setting for a peaceful, walking mediation. Not to mention a great butt lift from all the enormous hills!  Sneakers laced I began my journey.

From road to road I could not seem to get away from the garbage truck!  At first I was completely annoyed because it was loud and smelled awful. Hey, it was completely interrupting my Zen moment!  Then, a light bulb began to float above my head as I remembered that great story, first told to me by my mentor, Marianne Wells, that I shared in many a Yoga class. The story is called The Law of the Garbage Truck. If you haven't read it before it is definitely worth googling (when did that become an actual word)...

ANYWAY, the gist of the story is, people can dump their trash on you all day long, it's up to you whether or not you allow their figurative garbage to impact you and if you do are you going to spread that trash elsewhere. Much like the bad friend of paying it forward. So, as I really begin to think about this journey of self-study I realized my first reaction to the garbage truck was annoyance and anger. Once the light bulb appeared I began to change my view.  Here is what I learned:

1. My neighborhood remains a beautiful place to live because of the people working on the truck.
2. The people who work on these trucks are some of the hardest working people I have seen. It was very hot outside, they were all wearing long pants, long sleeves, boots and gloves!  Imagine the heat for them. And, then think about the winter!  YIKES!
3. Collecting trash seems like a thankless job. Next time you encounter your trash collector, smile, wave and say thank you. 

So, the lesson for me today wasn't new really, it was/is a reminder, be careful where you allow your mind to go. Keep feeding the negative thoughts and life will follow that path. Change your outlook, smile, appreciate, enjoy and feel the impact this has on your body, mind, and spirit! I am grateful the garbage truck became part of my experience today.

Namaste My Dear Friends.

Inspirational Thoughts/Tidbits for and about Life

"Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other." ~Randy Pausch

Create a space in your home, small or large, that brings you peace. Load it up with things you love, pictures and quotes that inspire you, mementos from trips or friends. Each time you look at this space it will remind you to smile, breathe and feel grateful.

Check out this awesome studio! Take a class, get to know the amazing instructors and enjoy your journey of self discovery, pinklotusnj.com

Time for Some Self-Study

As I set out on this new adventure, the big move “down south”, a few people told me I should start a blog. My initial reaction was why and who would want to hear what I have to say? The weeks began to pass and as I let the idea sit it started to take on a life of it’s own. At first I was going to wait until I had the perfect space in my new home to get started. You know how it goes, storyboards, inspirational quotes everywhere, perfect music, perfect stack of noteworthy books, etc. Well, a few weeks ago I went to a wonderful Yoga class (which let’s face it is hard for me because my heart belongs to Pink Lotus!). Throughout class the instructor kept pulling us back to Svadhyaya or self-study, one of the eight limbs, part of the Niyamas. She said something that I had forgotten…"our comfortable seat is inside us, it travels with us wherever we go, allow yourself to find that comfortable seat in every situation, at every moment throughout your life." Big light bulb…why the heck do I need the “perfect space”? The words are inside me. And now, My Kentucky Life is formed, just like that.

In thinking about creating this blog, I really needed it to have a direction. This move, as well as other aspects of my life that have changed drastically in the past few months (Preview for upcoming blogs fyi), is part of my journey.  To learn more about myself and grow but always remain rooted within myself. I hope you enjoy the journey with me, embark on your own journey of self-study and share that journey with me in the comment section. I want to hear all about the realizations in your life. I’m going to keep the tone of the blog as I would teaching a Yoga class. Because let’s face it, I miss teaching a lot right now! Svadhyaya HERE WE COME! 

Namaste My Dear Friends.

Inspirational Thoughts/Tidbits for and about Life

"Each day, ACCEPT everything that comes to you as a gift. At night, mentally give is all back. In this way, you become FREE. No one can ever take anything from you, for nothing is yours." ~Zen Card

Lake Cumberland, which is a mile from my house, is the houseboat capital of the world! Don’t believe me? Check out the YouTube videos! Lake Cumberland Fun

My brother gives various talks for work and always includes a life lesson, something fun and obvious that we rarely think of so I’m going to share those as well…

“If a woman enters a coffee shop while a gentleman holds the door for her, the woman should offer him her spot in line. Technically it would have been his spot had he not spent the time to hold the door. A true gentleman will decline the offer."

Check out this awesome studio! Take a class, get to know the amazing instructors and enjoy your journey of self discovery, pinklotusnj.com