Reason for the Season

I was sent the below ideas today and thought "Wow someone is thinking!" So I thought I would share it with you all.

1) Simplify. Cut a few things out if you're feeling you don't have enough time, money, etc.

2) Watch your thoughts - we get hung up on thinking "I don't have enough." Switch it to "I have enough time, money, etc. Our thoughts are what drive us crazy - not what is actually happening to us.

3) Don't lose sight of what's important: family, friends, sharing time together - being happy! Be present in the moment and grateful for the friends and family you have.

Let's remember the true reason for the season - Christ's birthday and truly thank God for such an amazing gift given freely to us all!
Namaste

I Love This Quote

A friend gave me this quote this morning after yoga class and I love it so much I had to share it!

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving well-preserved, but to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other and still screaming, 'Whoo, what a ride'"

Make it an awesome day.
Namaste.

What will Matter

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you have collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass on to someone else. Your wealth, fame, and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear, so to your hopes and ambitions. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of our days be measured?

What will matter is not what we bought but what we built.
Not what we got but what we gave.
What will matter is not our success but our significance.
Not what we learned but what we taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion and valor that encouraged others to do the same.

What will matter is not our competence but our character.
Not how many people we know but how many will feel a lasting loss when we are gone.
What will matter is not our memories but the memories of those who loved us.
What will matter is how long we will be remembered by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.
It is not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

Choose a life that matters.

Fun Things to do to Keep Your Sanity In December

This time of year we all get so wrapped up in our list of things to get done before December 25th, that we end up exhausted, sick, tired and missing the true meaning of the season. Now I know there are things we have to get done but this year I am going to make the effort to slow down and savor the season. Here is my list to help me stay on track during this fun and busy time.

1. Remember the reason for the the season and base your priorities on the birth of Jesus and his teachings.
2. Be a tourist in your own city and seek out fun holiday things you have never done before.
3. Make hot coco with real milk and melted chocolate - no Swiss Miss.
4. Cut down your own Christmas tree. Enjoy the fresh air.
5. Bake cookies, let the kids help and take lots of pictures.
6. Set aside 1 hour, once a week - make an appointment with yourself if you have to - and pour a cup of tea and grab your favorite book, set the timer and enjoy.
7. Make it a goal to get to bed once a week at 9pm. You will be amazed at how much energy that will give you.
8. When you decorate play some Christmas music - favorites for me include "Carole of the Bells", "Ave Maria", "Silent Night", and "Charlie Brown Christmas" sound track!
9. Practice Yoga and or workout a few times a week - make that appointment again if you have too. I do and I am there at 5:15am.
10. Practice patience - this time of year we are presented with many opportunities to either blow our stack or we can breathe deeply, smile and remember that we are all trying to get it all done on time.

Make it a peaceful day - it is a choice!
Namaste.

December

Each week I will be listing fun things to do in preparation for Christmas. This will give us a chance to truly enjoy this beautiful season by showing patience and love to those around us. It will also help us keep on schedule and help us prioritize things better. Here is to a happy and healthy Christmas Season!
Namaste.

Happy Thanksgiving

"Finding hearts in nature!"
Each day I practice at making it a priority to give thanks for what I have. I want to be careful so that I always realize just how good I have it. I am not rich person but a person rich in love. The job I have doesn’t include a “corner office.” However, I love what I do and look upon it with honor and as a privilege.

It’s easy to complain about many things in this world. It is simple enough to talk about not having what we want and forgetting what we have. Being dissatisfied comes all too easy today. This is what I say; it could always be worse. For me the glass is always “half full” instead of “half empty.” I thank God each day for what I have, what I’ve gone through, and my hopes for the future. This helps me cultivate my attitude of gratitude. Happy thanksgiving!
Namaste.

30 Days of Gratitude Continued

As I contemplate the next ten things I am grateful for many things come to mind, most of which I have already listed, faith, family, health etc.. And even though I have listed friends before I am going to list them again because they truly help me in my day to day journey. So hang on and here we go!!!!

1. Girl friends – because they listen, even if they don’t have the answer and you know they will be there for you as we travel through life. And it is great to talk about “Hot” flashes to those who really can understand!!!!
2. Watching birds fly – their grace and heights are something to aspire to.
3. My hair dresser - because he gave me a fun hair cut and I have cut down my getting ready time to under 25 minutes – an all time record for me, and that includes a shower too!!!!
4. My yoga practice - because it teaches me all things come with patience and practice.
5. That my kids still like to hang out and talk with me - of course hot coco and cookies always help them get into the mood!
6. That I have had a very positive response to my Art show coming up in December.
7. That even though my kids disobeyed Mike and I last week - it has opened the door for more great teaching moments throughout the week.
8. That my car gets me around town – or else I couldn’t do all that I want to do such as teaching yoga downtown etc…
9. That the kids have a long weekend - we can all do fun things together like set up our Christmas lights outside!
10. My parents – they truly helped form the person I am today by giving me a great and solid foundation
11. Bonus: Last but never least Michael – my husband that I am so blessed to have in my life and who loves me for me and has built a beautiful life with me – I truly am blessed!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone and may God bless you all!
Namaste.

30 Days of Gratitude Continued

As I continue to list what I am grateful for, I stopped and thought about this past weekend. It was a challenging one in terms of parenting. Even though we found out that the boys had disobeyed us, it was a great "Teaching Opportunity" for us as a family to reconnect with our core values and to teach the boys that not everyone is going to agree with us but that we have to remain true to who we are rather than conforming just to fit in. So here are my next top ten items I am grateful for.

1. Time – with the people you love
2. Forgiveness – sometimes a challenging gift to give and a beautiful gift to receive
3. Timmy’s morning smile – it starts my day off on the right foot
4. Hugging my children – I know for those moments that are completely protected
5. Coffee – that is it decaffeinated so I can drink it all day without the shakes
6. Washer and dryer – it saves me so much time than if I had to hand wash everything
7. The weather in upstate NY – this November has been amazing and I bet lots of Christmas lights will be on more houses than normal since the weather has been so beautiful and more people are out
8. Holding the door open – especially when it is your child doing it for you without being asked
9. My feet – they get me from place to place and are priceless when working out
10. Life’s “Ah ah” moments – when you truly get want is going on – better late than never


I hope this post has got you thinking of your next top 10 things you are grateful for and hopefully you will share that with someone and this spark of gratitude will catch on fire!
Namaste.

Grow in Peace

Hard work and dreams are always characteristics I admire in people. My friend Carrie is this sort of person. She has a dream of helping children in Uganda and is holding a fund raiser this Saturday November 14th. I am sure it will be a wonderful and enlightening evening. I hope all that can make it will there. Here is Carrie's website for additional information www.yogashines4change.com . I hope to see you there!

To help Carrie with her efforts I will be donating a piece of wearable art. This necklace is called "Grow in Peace" and is chuck full of symbolism. Below are the details.

Description: This 16 to 17 inch adjustable necklace is full of symbolism. I used a variety of materials including fine silver for the heart pendant; sterling silver chain, wire and clasp; 4, 6mm grade “A” cultured white round pearls; hand crafted brass “s” hook; a real birch twig: and a 10mm briolette cut amethyst.

Symbolism:
The heart shape symbolizes “Love”.
The “Sunflower” motif on the heart was casted from an antique ink tray that I molded, and represents always looking and facing the light.
The twig branch reminds us to keep ourselves rooted while we grow.
The pearls are for protection, honesty and innocence – all gifts we strive to give children.
The brass “S” hook represents the unexpected turns in life that bring about great change.
And the amethyst represents contentment, spirituality, dreams, healing and peace – gifts for our world.

Special note of the placement of the pearls. I placed 3 pearls on the right side to represent the "Trinity" and on the left side I placed a single pearl to show that one person can help change the world.
Namaste.

30 Days of November, 30 Days of Gratitude

As I start thinking about the upcoming holidays two thoughts run through my head, one of panic – will I get it all done and the second one is of gratitude. Thinking back to past years I know I will get everything that needs to get done, done and that helps calm me down which allows me to put time into meditating on things I am grateful for. So I thought I would share my top 30 with you all throughout the month of November. So here are my first ten:

1. Faith – knowing that there is a loving God
2. Family – a blessing that goes beyond words
3. Health – being able to move around comfortably
4. Friends – knowing they are there for me and I am there for them
5. Home – a warm and safe place to be with family and friends
6. Books – they keep me entertained as they teach me many things
7. My hands – they help me express myself creatively
8. An unexpected smile – it can be from anyone and you feel its radiance
9. The sound of children laughing – the best music out there
10. Hope – makes life worth living

I hope this post has got you thinking of your top 30 things you are grateful for and hopefully you will share that with someone and this spark of gratitude will catch on fire!
Namaste.