The 4th of July is a festive time - people celebrating this great country we live in. So many people gathering with friends and family, enjoying their freedom, and, of course, the fireworks!
I've been blessed in my life to live in a few different places across this great nation - New Hampshire, Kansas, and California - as well as another place across the globe - the Phillippines. I've been to Australia, Japan, Mexico, and Canada as well. And within the US, I've been all over the place! Maine, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Louisiana, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Virginia, Michigan, Alaska, and probably other places I'm forgetting right now, or was too young to remember!
I bring this up not to brag, but to share with you all some things I've learned along the way. I've learned that no matter where we live, how we talk or how we dress, we're all people, and we all deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. I lived in a third world country for 3 years, and while I still had many of the same amenities we're used to in the US, many in the country did not. I got to see people living in shacks with no electricity or running water, and still many of these people were happy and had beautiful spirits and souls.
And because of my experience of living in a third world country, I'm more appreciative of all that I do have here in the states. Still, like many others, I do have moments when I forget to be grateful for the little things. I have food on my plate, a roof over my head, and a great abundance of many other things. But it's not money or cars or clothes or furniture that bring me the greatest joy. The abundance I most appreciate are the smiles on my children's faces, their contagious laughter, their precious hugs, and their sweet kisses. And I can also appreciate the tantrums and fussiness - at least at times. =)
Not to lose sight of my husband, because I appreciate him as well. He brings to our home passion and purpose, love, strength, integrity, and a bit of silliness, too. Married 10 years now, our love and our relationship continues to grow and strengthen with each passing day. (Sean, I love you!)
My wish for all of you today is freedom. Freedom to feel what you feel, to do what you want, and to enjoy every aspect of your day and your life...for each day that has passed has brought you to where you are, and you can choose where to go from here. I choose to smile and keep on moving forward! I hope you'll join me!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
A Bad Day Golfing is Better Than....
...many things! I had the great opportunity to golf with my hubby again today. We used to golf almost weekly about 12 years ago. We golfed on our honeymoon 10 years ago, and then about 7 years ago it came to a halt. We had a beautiful baby girl. Golfing no longer had the same importance or interest level for me. As for my hubby, he didn't golf much either, but he did manage to get away to Palm Springs each summer for a tourney with some of his friends.
I didn't miss it...at least I didn't know I missed it until recently. My hubby started playing weekly again, and I was using "my time" to do yoga and other things. But then we had the crazy idea to play golf again together. It started a couple weeks ago, and we've kept it up now. My first game "back" I shot a 50 on the front and a 50 on the back - my best score ever! I've been playing every once in a while, and I go to the range every now and then, so I'm a little rusty, but it doesn't take much for me to get back in the swing of things.
But today, while my swing was working well for my drives and irons, it was horrible around and on the green...at least for the front 9. Still, after my worst hole...I believe it was a 10...I still was able to smile. A bad day golfing really is still a good day. I was outside, I was walking and getting some exercise, and I was spending time with my hubby. And, even though he works from home and we see a lot of each other, it's good to get out and do something together that removes us from the day to day. We really enjoyed today.
So whether it's golf you love, or something else, make sure to make time in your schedule to do it often. And if it's something you love to do with your mate, make sure to schedule that, too! When we don't take a break from the day to day, sometimes the routine can drag us down - and it can really drag down a relationship. Taking breaks and spending time together doing something you both love can build you both back up, and make your relationship even stronger.
Here's to a good day for you (and hopefully your mate, too!)
Cyb
I didn't miss it...at least I didn't know I missed it until recently. My hubby started playing weekly again, and I was using "my time" to do yoga and other things. But then we had the crazy idea to play golf again together. It started a couple weeks ago, and we've kept it up now. My first game "back" I shot a 50 on the front and a 50 on the back - my best score ever! I've been playing every once in a while, and I go to the range every now and then, so I'm a little rusty, but it doesn't take much for me to get back in the swing of things.
But today, while my swing was working well for my drives and irons, it was horrible around and on the green...at least for the front 9. Still, after my worst hole...I believe it was a 10...I still was able to smile. A bad day golfing really is still a good day. I was outside, I was walking and getting some exercise, and I was spending time with my hubby. And, even though he works from home and we see a lot of each other, it's good to get out and do something together that removes us from the day to day. We really enjoyed today.
So whether it's golf you love, or something else, make sure to make time in your schedule to do it often. And if it's something you love to do with your mate, make sure to schedule that, too! When we don't take a break from the day to day, sometimes the routine can drag us down - and it can really drag down a relationship. Taking breaks and spending time together doing something you both love can build you both back up, and make your relationship even stronger.
Here's to a good day for you (and hopefully your mate, too!)
Cyb
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
A Year of Yoga
About a year ago this time I took a BIG step for me. I signed up for a yoga class. It may not sound like such a BIG deal, but to me, for some reason, it was HUGE! Now, looking back, I know why.
For a long time, I had "Yoga" as one of my goals, desires and dreams. It seems like it would have been such a simple action to sign up for a class and cross this one off my list...but I did not...for a long time. When the time did come, I still had an internal struggle with it.
I found a yoga class offered at our parks & rec for a reasonable rate, and I figured out I could work it into our family schedule. But I almost stopped myself because it was a six week class, and I knew I would miss a week. Realizing that if I held back like that all my life, I'd never get anywhere, I went ahead and signed up for the class. Plus, the week I was going to miss class, I was to be attending Jack Canfield's "Breakthrough to Success" seminar, and my hubby promised me there would be the opportunity to do yoga there. So I'd still get it in. OK - I handled all my own objections and signed up.
When the day came for my first class, I was prepared. I had bought a yoga mat, and arrived to class on time. And an hour later, my life was completely transformed.
The main reason I held back for so long on taking a yoga class was that I didn't know how to do it, and I was afraid I was going to look silly or hurt myself or that other people were going to think badly of me for how I did yoga. Boy, was I wrong!
That first night, I learned that yoga has one main rule - if it hurts, don't do it. Now, I push myself and get in uncomfortable positions in yoga, but I never ever do something if it does not feel good for my body. There's a difference between stretching and hurting, and I've been able to easily find that distinction. That's a second thing I learned from yoga - how to listen to my body. It's incredible! The third thing I learned was how to turn off my mind. This alone was worth any amount of money! I used to have so much trouble falling asleep at night, because thoughts would always race through my head - things to do, things I failed to do, things that were bothering me, etc. So when I experienced my first relaxation in yoga - I knew I had been given a blessing. I was able to quiet my mind, and just be. It is amazing!
So needless to say, I recommend yoga to any and everyone! Somewhere in my first few months of practice, my instructor, Mina, mentioned that "Yoga provides whatever you need. If you are tired and need to keep going, it brings you energy. If you are excited and need to be calm, it brings you that, too. Whatever you need, yoga can give you." And every day that I practice yoga, I find this statement to be true. Yoga gave me the ability to focus on me and forget about what other people are thinking. I used to hold back so much, worried about what other people think. Now, I know I can't worry about what other people think. I can only be myself and when I am, I am not wondering if someone thinks my butt looks big in this pose or my armpits are sweaty in that pose. I'm aware of myself, completely, and practicing yoga has given me that self-awareness.
It's also given me a new opportunity now. Mina has opened a new studio - SoulBodyYoga.com and asked me to teach kids yoga classes. I've taken a couple trainer courses and loved what I learned. It's a new adventure for me, and I'm excited to share what I've learned with kids. I think about all that would be different in my life if I had found yoga at an earlier age - but then I wouldn't be where I am. So I'm thankful that my journey brought me to yoga when it did, because it was just the right time for me. I pray that you will find yoga when the time is right for you, if you haven't found it already.
Namaste.
Cyb
For a long time, I had "Yoga" as one of my goals, desires and dreams. It seems like it would have been such a simple action to sign up for a class and cross this one off my list...but I did not...for a long time. When the time did come, I still had an internal struggle with it.
I found a yoga class offered at our parks & rec for a reasonable rate, and I figured out I could work it into our family schedule. But I almost stopped myself because it was a six week class, and I knew I would miss a week. Realizing that if I held back like that all my life, I'd never get anywhere, I went ahead and signed up for the class. Plus, the week I was going to miss class, I was to be attending Jack Canfield's "Breakthrough to Success" seminar, and my hubby promised me there would be the opportunity to do yoga there. So I'd still get it in. OK - I handled all my own objections and signed up.
When the day came for my first class, I was prepared. I had bought a yoga mat, and arrived to class on time. And an hour later, my life was completely transformed.
The main reason I held back for so long on taking a yoga class was that I didn't know how to do it, and I was afraid I was going to look silly or hurt myself or that other people were going to think badly of me for how I did yoga. Boy, was I wrong!
That first night, I learned that yoga has one main rule - if it hurts, don't do it. Now, I push myself and get in uncomfortable positions in yoga, but I never ever do something if it does not feel good for my body. There's a difference between stretching and hurting, and I've been able to easily find that distinction. That's a second thing I learned from yoga - how to listen to my body. It's incredible! The third thing I learned was how to turn off my mind. This alone was worth any amount of money! I used to have so much trouble falling asleep at night, because thoughts would always race through my head - things to do, things I failed to do, things that were bothering me, etc. So when I experienced my first relaxation in yoga - I knew I had been given a blessing. I was able to quiet my mind, and just be. It is amazing!
So needless to say, I recommend yoga to any and everyone! Somewhere in my first few months of practice, my instructor, Mina, mentioned that "Yoga provides whatever you need. If you are tired and need to keep going, it brings you energy. If you are excited and need to be calm, it brings you that, too. Whatever you need, yoga can give you." And every day that I practice yoga, I find this statement to be true. Yoga gave me the ability to focus on me and forget about what other people are thinking. I used to hold back so much, worried about what other people think. Now, I know I can't worry about what other people think. I can only be myself and when I am, I am not wondering if someone thinks my butt looks big in this pose or my armpits are sweaty in that pose. I'm aware of myself, completely, and practicing yoga has given me that self-awareness.
It's also given me a new opportunity now. Mina has opened a new studio - SoulBodyYoga.com and asked me to teach kids yoga classes. I've taken a couple trainer courses and loved what I learned. It's a new adventure for me, and I'm excited to share what I've learned with kids. I think about all that would be different in my life if I had found yoga at an earlier age - but then I wouldn't be where I am. So I'm thankful that my journey brought me to yoga when it did, because it was just the right time for me. I pray that you will find yoga when the time is right for you, if you haven't found it already.
Namaste.
Cyb
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