: Like : Me
Posted: January 23, 2015 Filed under: Kindness, Meditation, Yoga | Tags: beauty, Body Image, compassion, cycling, Daily Meditation, eating disorders, Guilt, Identity, kindness, life, love, meditation, Omaha, passion, What if?, yoga 17 CommentsI seem to have run in a great circle, and met myself again on the starting line-
“I feel a little queasy this morning before class. What if it’s cancer of the liver? What will happen to my mat, my car, my phone – if I die in class?!?”
“I haven’t heard from my friend since yesterday. What if he was hit by a car commuting to work?!?” He’s in a ditch I just know it … “
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The most unimaginative “things” in this thing called life do happen, and they create real and lasting pain in our cruel world. Although, when left to our devices, the imagined fantasies above cause senseless suffering in our hearts and minds, whether there is a once of truth in them or not. Why do we bathe ourselves in worry with “what if” thinking?
Daily Meditation:
I caught myself this morning causing my own suffering with “what ifs” … The trick to easing my own self induced pain, is acknowledging my pesky thoughts, smiling, and then moving on. I hope this post greets you with a smile as well – Have a wonderful weekend!
It Is Enough
Posted: January 22, 2015 Filed under: Kindness, Meditation, Yoga | Tags: Adventure, Anne Alexander Bingham, beauty, cycling, family, gratitude, Identity, kindness, life, love, Mindfulness, Omaha, passion, Poetry, Prose, writing, yoga 9 Comments…
To know that the atoms
of my body
will remain
to think of them rising
through the roots of a great oak
to live in
leaves, branches, twigs
perhaps to feed the
crimson peony
the blue iris
the broccoli
or rest on water
freeze and thaw
with the seasons
some atoms might become a
bit of fluff on the wing
of a chickadee
to feel the breeze
know the support of air
and some might drift
up and up into space
star dust returning from
whence it came
it is enough to know that
as long as there is a universe
I am a part of it.
– Anne Alexander Bingham
: Oooh :
Posted: January 21, 2015 Filed under: Kindness, Meditation, Yoga | Tags: beauty, Buddhism, cycling, Identity, life, love, meditation, Mindfulness, Omaha, passion, Rituals, writing, yoga, Zen 10 CommentsThe best way out is always through-
Early this morning, like most mornings, I eventually wake up (key word = eventually) and so begins a series of gentle actions that are my morning ritual.
As each cold foot plants shakily on the floor, I take a deep breath and smile. I raise my hips from the side of the warm bed and stretch my fingers and wiggle my achy toes while walking to ready the shower. Somewhere between the warm bed and the freezing shower, I set an intention for the morning, smile again and then its time to get moving.
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Starting a daily ritual, even when rubbing eye boogers from your tired eyes can help to shift our focus and energy. Rituals, however small and silly they may seem, are a powerful way to acknowledge and release negative feelings, failure and disappointment. If you spend a fair amount of time “hanging on” to “things” like I seem to do or you can’t quite seem to let go after a stressful day? Peaceful rituals help … Stopping mid-ride to bask in the beauty that nature graces us with. Taking a deep breath as you roll out your yoga mat before practice … Peaceful rituals.
Daily Meditation:
Rituals help to bring awareness and keep us engaged during everyday life. I suppose that’s why I always click in with my left foot first before a ride?!?
How Deep is the : Ocean :
Posted: December 9, 2014 Filed under: Kindness, Meditation, Yoga | Tags: Bliss, blogging, Body Image, Buddhism, compassion, cycling, exercise, family, fitness, freshly pressed, gratitude, happiness, health, holidays, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, Mindfulness, Omaha, passion, pilates, Self-love, Solitude, winter, yoga, Zen 24 CommentsSolitude is fine but you need someone to tell that solitude is fine.-
When I became chronically “injured” over five years ago, I was forced to trade the exciting life of an aspiring athlete for the isolation of my own mind … The loneliness was dense, palpable at times, it was hard to distinguish between the injury I was struggling through at the time and the loneliness that gripped me all of the time.
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Back in the wonder years, I found being alone anything but glorious, and far from being soothing. It wasn’t even remotely sweet and delicious. Although, a close friends advice that yoga was what I needed – planted a delicate seed in my mind, and so I began to explore the meaning of “being alone.” I realized early on that being alone on my mat, in and of itself, is neither positive nor negative. This profound feedback described a good portion of my life trying to be someone who I was not – The painful loneliness of striving to be better than the person next me on the starting line or the glorious solitude of going home broken and empty-handed.
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The spiritual manifestation of yoga (not to be confused with the physical) and a deeply rooted mindfulness “practice” showed me that if I could let go of the desire to win at all costs, I might be able to open my heart and soul to the possibility that life could be sweet, maybe even delicious?!? I gradually warmed to the quiet calm of my mind, mindfully following my breath entering and leaving my body. My powers of observation, began to bloom – noting the subtle details swirling around me, details that in the past – Escaped me, like the play of sunlight reflecting from the metallic rims on the road as I cycle along or leaves dancing carelessly in the air on a windy fall morning.
Daily Meditation:
Once I opened my heart and soul to being alone, my loneliness did become sweet and delicious. And some days, when all is calm, it’s even beautiful. Cultivating self-compassion more so than anything else, softens my loneliness and pain, which in turn makes me smile.
Rachelle, Jeff, Cheryl – Sandra, Jim, Katelon, Alyssa, Susie – Michelle, Sara and Maia. To all of you who have “followed” my ramblings from the beginning – My sincerest gratitude for your kindness and support. There truly is no way I can accurately put into words how much you have helped me – Thank you.
The : Resist : Stance
Posted: December 5, 2014 Filed under: Kindness, Meditation, Yoga | Tags: Advent, blogging, Body Image, compassion, cycling, exercise, family, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, holidays, hope, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, Mindfulness, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, passion, perspective, pilates, running, trail running, Truth, weekend, writing, yoga 8 CommentsThe two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter-
Yup, Gotcha! Seriously I already know patience is totally valuable for dealing with the long lines this time of the year, soccer moms searching for the one true parking spot at the mall, or interacting with “disagreeable” folks ordering a coffee. Seriously! I’m keenly aware that true inner change takes time, and why am I becoming frustrated talking about impatience?!? Oh – Maybe it has something to do with not seeing the instant results we desire in life?
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My lack of patience stems from a false sense of belief about myself. I think I should be able to handle everything in the world, myself. I think there is only one way to achieve my goals and when “things” don’t quite work out? … I become increasing impatient.
*Breathe*
I try so hard not to get discouraged when my progress is slow.
*Pause*
True change takes times.
*Reflect*
I am gently walking my path to recovery from bad habits that have defined me for a better part of my life. I’ve come so far, there’s no way I can quit right now!
Daily Meditation:
If we foster and nurture patience, if we can wait for ourselves to arrive in this inspiring moment, anything can happen.
CultFit 