5 Months Out

I was able to return to New Jersey this past weekend. While there I taught a Yoga class at my favorite studio on the planet, Pink Lotus Yoga! I went back and forth about whether or not to share the "theme" of that practice on my blog. Sometimes the things that happen in a Yoga class are just perfect for that moment in time.  A week has passed and I still feel this pull to post here. I'm trusting my instincts on this one. It's not exact, because the platform is different, but it is the essence.

The past 5 months has taught me a lot about life, loss and the incredible capacity human beings have to endure. Through this time of self study and reflection, through the loss of my Mom, moving and even writing this blog I have learned that everyone has an incredible story of courage in their lives. I feel like everyday someone is sharing their story with me. I am blessed to be able to receive their stories and their words as I work to share mine with all of you. It's an unexpected gift that sharing has given me.

The point is, we ALL go about our day interacting...basic human contact...sometimes by choice like with our family and friends, sometimes out of necessity as we go to the store or make doctor's appointments. Rarely do we stop and think, "I wonder how that persons day is, I wonder how much courage and strength it took them to get out of bed or leave the house today."

Perhaps it's the person you stand next to in line as you wait for coffee, a co-worker who sits next to you, or maybe just someone you pass on the street. Have you given any thought to those around you or are you completely focused on yourself? It really is quite remarkable how we can move through our own life disconnected from the world around us when we are surrounded by so many. I am definitely guilty of this!

Part of what I am doing in my own self study is learning to be part of the moment. This moment is not an egocentric moment. It encompasses everything around me, teaching me not to get caught up in my mind, my thoughts, my busyness...but to become involved completely! Try it...care for yourself and love and encourage others.

Inspirational Thought/Tidbits for and about Life

Do these things and notice how your perspective changes...
Say hello to everyone you encounter, hold the door for someone, smile at a stranger, ask someone how there day was and actually listen to the response, admit when you are not okay and be okay with that, care, sympathize, love, cry, laugh, grieve, let go, move forward, let yourself off the hook, accept your imperfections as part of what make you perfectly you!

Keep working to discover more about yourself and if you are in South Jersey visit this amazing yoga studio where everyone is at home! Take a class, get to know the amazing instructors and enjoy your journey of self discovery, pinklotusnj.com

If you enjoy my blog, please follow my great friend, Kelly, at Mind-Body-Soul Living.

Community

This past weekend life shifted a little bit for me in Kentucky. Friday, Julia and I went with some new friends the see the ballet in Lexington. James was invited to spend the weekend with a great new friend he met at school. Saturday we spent the day going to various community football games followed by a pumpkin carve and bar-b-que at a friend of Julia's house. We went to church on Sunday and a family we have been chatting with after mass asked us to come to dinner this week. Now, why the heck am I giving you the run down of our social activities?! Well, it's to lead to the purpose of my blog today!

One of the things I noticed through my reflection/self study time is I really miss the feeling of community that we had in Woodstown. I even "unfollowed" a lot of places and events because seeing the posts on Facebook made me so sad. For a place to feel like home, it's important to become part of something. As an adult I tend to find this more difficult than I did as a kid. I mean, really, am I suppose to walk up to someone at the grocery store and ask them to be my friend?! But, it's not an impossible undertaking.

My Mom gave me a piece of advice after we made the decision to move. She told me to say YES to every invitation that comes our way. With a yes here and a yes there, you meet more and more people. Those of you who know me well know that "yes" isn't an easy thing for me. Believe it or not, I am shy. Putting myself out there is a scary thing for me. So, once again, I am forced out of my comfort zone. I laugh a little at this advice because I realize once again how well my Mom knew me! She knew it would take courage for me to find my way. 

Meeting new people this weekend and connecting a little bit more with people I have already met truly helped me feel more ingrained in the community. I look forward to continuing to grow the relationships I have found here and creating new ones. So, if you are like me, and putting yourself out there in the world seems scary, take my Mom's advice. Say YES! 

Inspirational Thought/Tidbits for and about Life

I love this Christopher Robin quote to Winnie The Pooh, "You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." 

I'm traveling to New Jersey this week and will be teaching at Pink Lotus Friday morning at 9:15!!!  I would love to see as many of you as I can. 

Keep working to discover more about yourself and if you are in South Jersey visit this amazing yoga studio where everyone is at home! Take a class, get to know the amazing instructors and enjoy your journey of self discovery, pinklotusnj.com

If you enjoy my blog, please follow my great friend, Kelly, at Mind-Body-Soul Living.

Take Small Steps

Hello All! I'm back from my adventure in the mountains of Tennessee. I thought I would spend all of my time in the wilderness journaling, but guess what, the only thing I wrote down was a list of the things I need to bring next time. Actually, I'm glad that I didn't write!  Because, in all honesty, I was completely present in the experience with my family, not all stuck up in my head with my thoughts. It was a nice change of pace for me. I wanted to hold onto the quiet for a while so today is the first day I am sitting back down to write.

I had an interesting experience today, on my self study journey, that I thought I would share. Since I moved to Kentucky I have been putting off getting my Kentucky license. One day I didn't feel like it, another day I was "too busy", concern over the fact that the address on my license would no longer match my passport (btw that doesn't matter). Today, I had to get it done. I'm applying to substitute teach in my kids' schools so I needed a background check and a valid Kentucky license. 

This morning I was feeling funky... you know that whole tired for no reason, on edge, unmotivated thing that happens. I realized, through some early morning self study, that I was upset about letting go. All of this time that New Jersey license was a part of me that I wasn't ready to let go of yet. It was some sort of anchor to the past. Like, if I can hold on to that one thing life hasn't REALLY changed all that much! I literally dragged myself off the sofa, fluffed my hair, headed to Yoga to help me motivate and went to the judicial center. Well, once I arrived I realized I didn't have all the paperwork I needed. But, I will not be put off, today is the day!  I head back to my car, step in a steaming pile of dog poop and think...Yup, the universe does NOT want me to do this today!  Well, my friends, it was time. No lack of paperwork or dog poop was going to deter me. I needed to let go. So, I did! Goodbye NJ license, hello Kentucky. 

My entire life I've had a problem letting go. I remember as a kid taking straws home from McDonalds because I felt bad letting them go. So, here is the thing. No matter what tethers us in our lives. At some point the time needs to come where we let go. It's hard. It's often painful but each moment is a step. Take small steps each and everyday. I know my next step in letting go, think of something in your own life that you are willing to release!  We will do it together!

Namaste My Dear Friends.

Inspirational Thought/Tidbits for and about Life

I could definitely use this quote as a daily reminder in my own life.

“The secret to life is to have no fear. When you can let go of what others think about you, how something is going to turn out, or how your past will affect your future, then you are finally living life free.” 

― Shannon L. Alder

Keep working to discover more about yourself and if you are in South Jersey visit this amazing yoga studio where everyone is at home! Take a class, get to know the amazing instructors and enjoy your journey of self discovery, pinklotusnj.com

If you enjoy my blog, please follow my great friend, Kelly, at Mind-Body-Soul Living.

Life's Questions

I was involved in a discussion group the other day where the question, "What do you miss most from your childhood?" was asked. Before continuing to read, take a moment to think about your own answer....

For me the answer came fast and furious as if this one word had been holding it's breath just waiting to shout from the rooftops.  My answer was/is simplicity. My fondest memories are the most simple things I participated in with my family and my neighbors...flashlight tag, Wiffle Ball games, catching lightening bugs, running around outside AFTER my bath in my nightgown! How scandalous! My favorite trips with my family were camping. I loved loading up the station wagon and pop-up camper at a moments notice to enjoy a weekend in the woods. Campfire chats, my Mom's sing-a-longs, picking blueberries for the pancakes Dad was making, the smell of coffee, the sound of my parents voices around the campfire while I was falling asleep in the camper.  We would spend two weeks at the shore every other summer. Do people even take two weeks vacation anymore? I loved those trips too, all day running on the sand, swimming in the ocean, avoiding jelly fish. Playing Bingo at night with my Aunt calling the numbers. I remember exactly the moment I won my first dollar playing Bingo! I guess you could say there was some Utopian charm to my childhood. But mostly, it was simple. There were moments each day to breath, dream, play, pray, laugh, cry. 

I have felt this eagerness almost like an unsettling nudge, inside me for quite a while. I couldn't but my finger on what it was until the word simplicity. Sometimes I feel like my children are missing out on simplicity. I began to realize I was already making unconscious efforts to capture this simplicity for my children, to slow down the schedule. Our summer was spent lazing around, reading, playing games, exploring. I have been fortunate to be home a lot with my children since James was 1 but for the first time I feel like I am truly taking the time to be present with them. We all got lost in the running, scheduling, texting, instagramming...

I've decide to take back simplicity, to teach my children what it means to just be. Each day finding time to breath, dream, play, pray, laugh and even cry when needed! This week, we are going camping for five days. Five whole days in nature, listening to the sounds of the wind, birds, bugs, hiking, sitting by the fire, sleeping on the ground in our tent, just being together. The excitement we all feel for this trip is palpable. It's the same excitement we have for our beach trips, and our Disney adventure. Self study is teaching me that we don't need a lot...we just need time together, presence and love. 

Namaste My Dear Friends.

Inspirational Thought/Tidbits for and about Life

Today's post reminded me of this quote from Henry David Thoreau, which ironically I used as my senior quote in my high school yearbook. I guess I've come full circle...

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life..."

Have you signed up for Lotusfest yet!!!!!!???? Take a class, get to know the amazing instructors and enjoy your journey of self discovery, pinklotusnj.com

If you enjoy my blog, please follow my great friend, Kelly, at Mind-Body-Soul Living.

Blueprint for Life

Over the past 7 years I was extremely grateful that I was one of those people who got to "do" what I love. In my naivety I was almost smug about it...like I had things figured out at such an early stage in my life. Teaching Yoga was not a decision I made, it was a calling. From the very first moment I stepped on my Yoga mat, through a dear friends urging, I knew that this was something deep and profound in my life.  Now, I realize not everyone practices Yoga or has any desire to practice Yoga but in order for me to get to the point I need to lead you there through what I know. Through teaching I met some of the most amazing and inspirational people on the planet! Everyone came to their mat with a story to share. I was blessed to be able to hear the stories. I knew, in my heart, this is where I would be for the rest of my life.  YEAH RIGHT!

My Yoga teacher in Kentucky, who is such a gift in my life, said the most profound thing in class the other day. To paraphrase she was talking about change and growth. How it's important for us to change and grow through our lives in order to fulfill the blueprint that has been laid out for us. Literally, I almost burst into tears! I was so angry at first thinking I already did that!  I followed the path, I had it right there, everyday! I'm tired, you know! At the ripe old age of 42 I'm too tired to follow the blueprint any further. (Cue the violins please!)

My blueprint changed when we decided to move to Kentucky. This is not a negative thing! I know there is a reason for this path but it can be hard to NOT grab ahold of the negative and let it fester, right?! The image of the blueprint and the truth behind the meaning has stayed with me the last few days. During class I could have allowed the emotions to take over, fed the anger but I reminded myself of what we are doing here. Self study is the blueprint. Now that the journey is out in front of me I don't want to roll it back up and place it tightly into one of those circular tubes. My mind went back to the old Cherokee Legend that I love and use often as a mantra: 

The Two Wolves

"One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, generosity, empathy, truth, compassion and faith.” The grandson thought about this for a minute and then asked the grandfather, “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Namaste My Dear Friends.

Inspirational Thought/Tidbits for and about Life

The Cherokee Legend is a great tidbit and inspiration for today!

Have you signed up for Lotusfest yet!!!!!!???? Take a class, get to know the amazing instructors and enjoy your journey of self discovery, pinklotusnj.com

If you enjoy my blog, please follow my great friend, Kelly, at Mind-Body-Soul Living.