...be present...

I've practiced yoga for years, and one of the hardest tenets is to be present in the moment. Don't think about the future, don't focus on the past, but just be in the moment. So very difficult but I think when you are able to do it, then life is so much more...enjoyable. Because you are not thinking about what you need to do tomorrow (or even later today) or fretting about something that you did yesterday (or an hour ago). You are noticing the NOW and everything with it. Even trying to take pictures takes away from the moment....though we are all guilty of wanting the perfect photo to remember by. 

I think part of this practice is to also notice how you are feeling in each moment, and how (or if) it is serving you. If someone is saying something to you and you are feeling negative (or having a negative reaction), perhaps you should stop, take a moment, and consider what it is that is making you feel this way, why, and where the other person is coming from. Because you can change how you react. I feel like many of us react before really considering what is going on, which can then make the other person defensive and then any further discussion is ultimately not very fruitful. But if you are in the moment, maybe you take a few seconds to digest what they have to say, can maybe see why they are saying it, and can have a more positive or more productive response which may lead to better results. This too is difficult because I feel like we have become so addicted to instant gratification - and I saw a quote recently too that states it perfectly: "We do not listen to understand, we listen to reply." As someone is speaking to us, instead of being present in the moment, we start analyzing what they are saying, and - more so - we are preparing our response...but without truly and completely listening to them. 

These are habits or practices that I am by no means an expert at, but that seem to me to make sense to make life just a little bit better.

What do I do?

The task for this post is, if you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question "what do you do?"  

Hmmm... a toughie. And given that this is a standard "small talk" question, a "getting to know you" type thing, difficult to answer when you can't just say, "Oh I work for a _________ company doing __________."  

So what do I do?

I take care of my dog. And sometimes my parents' dog. 
I practice yoga. And sometimes meditate.
I try to eat healthfully and deliciously - sometimes the two are not the same. :)
I drink wine. (and beer, and cocktails...but preferably wine, as I get older.)
I try to be a good friend/sister/cousin/niece/daughter.
I laugh. Not as much as I would like, but I do enjoy when I do.
I definitely overanalyze. It's part of what makes me good at what pays the bills. But it can be rough on other aspects of my life.
I try to live in the moment - often difficult (see above). 
I work at being happy and content, and focusing on the positive rather than the negative (it's so easy to get pulled into that pit of negativity). 
Sometimes, I cook. And bake. And occasionally I share the results with others.
I travel - though not as often as I would like, and there are so many places that I want to see, and not enough time or money to do it. But my vacations have been awesome. :)
I read. A lot. 
I love to learn new things. (But I hate those "life lessons" that always such but apparently build character ;)
Occasionally I try my hand at being artsy-craftsy.
I try to grow a bit each day to better myself. Sometimes that's through yoga/meditation, or through the people I interact with, or something I read...but betterment of self is always a goal.


Have a lovely day!

Who do ya love?

You can't choose your family (though mine is pretty stinkin' awesome, in general), and your friends are the family you choose. I have happened upon some pretty stinkin' awesome friends who are part of my family now, and tonight showed me just how much.

I've had a bit of a rough week and went to my yoga studio tonight hoping that a class would help. One of my friends, Cathy, noticed when she arrived for class that I looked upset, that something was really bothering me. As did some of my other friends, though they didn't truly realize how much until after class. So during class, i could tell I was taking things personally that were DEFINITELY not any kind of personal attack, not even remotely so. And after class I just boogied right on out of there after putting away my props and gathering my stuff. Cathy managed to catch me on my way out the door, and we chatted a bit on the way to the elevator (and bless her heart, she rode with me too, since I have pissy knees that can't do the stairs right now). By the time we got to the ground floor (which was all of about 30 seconds, since we were only on the 2nd),  I was teary. Then my friends Elizabeth, Terri, and Suzie joined us, and all helped me so much. I have needed to cry for so very long - that good cry that is so cleansing. But as a single woman, I have always felt like I have to put up a strong front - "I am a strong and independent woman, and can do it all!" so I can't even remember the last time I cried. I still didn't get that full-on ugly cry (like I'm pretty sure I need to) but I did get a little out, and I hope by tomorrow I am feeling better. I love these ladies, and obviously I feel safe enough to be vulnerable around them. Not to mention such words of wisdom, as I approach my 40s and the hormonal changes that will inevitably occur with the 40s (if not sooner).  

Namaste. And may you have such wonderful friends as these that I have found.