I don't know about you, but I feel like I am always seeking something. I'm never quite sure what that "something" is though, which can be frustrating, because if I don't know what it is, how do I know when I have found it?
If you glance over this blog, which I have come and gone from many times over the past several years, you might think that I am all over the place. But if you look closer you can see a common theme of health, wellness and human behavior. More interestingly though there is a clear progression of sorts, a journey that doesn't seem to have a road map or an end.
Up until recently I was really bothered by this. Why am I never satisfied? Why can't I stick with any one thing? But through my recent meditation practice and willingness to open myself to whatever the Universe has planned for me I had an awakening of sorts, and thus have chosen to "notice" this frustration without judgement and without trying to change it. Rather I find myself looking into it a bit deeper, and perhaps reframing my basic belief around having to be "done".
If I was truly satisfied, what would be the fun in living? If I stuck with just one thing, how would I continue to learn? While noticing my frustration, and looking at what I am actually really frustrated with, I found that it was perhaps my uneasiness with not being able to label who I am and thus realize my life's purpose. And then it became clear, I know exactly who I am...it was there all along.
I am a Seeker. I chose to follow this journey so that I can continue to learn and grow. I am also a Teacher, while in my quest to learn and grow I get pleasure out of sharing my experiences and knowledge with others. Last but not least, I am a Healer. My path my be long and winding but the stops along the way are always the same. To help people to grow, to change, and to heal.
Of course I am not "done", because if I was I would no longer be here. Now I know, that I still have lots to do and the ability to identify who I truly am will allow me to stay the course. So instead of spending my days feeling unsatisfied and frustrated, I look forward to the opportunities that are laid out in front of me that will further the journey and my life's purpose.
My message to others in all of this, is that if you find yourself constantly feeling unsatisfied, stuck or frustrated take the time to sit with the feeling and observe it with a "beginner's mind". Examine it as if you have never seen it before, with curiosity and without judgment. Open your mind to the idea that the answers you seek are already right in front of you and all you need is a bit of reframing to see them.
A blog about a working mom staying healthy, balanced and motivated in the wake of life's trials and tribulations.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Travel, Exercise, and Staying Healthy - Guest Blogger
The following blog was written by a fellow fitness and healthy living enthusiast, Mike Manning. Visit mikemanningmusings.blogspot.
In the meantime, I love his ideas on how to continue a fitness regime while traveling...something that tends to be difficult, especially if you have kids! The in-room yoga is a fabulous perk, and exercise bands are easy to pack!
Enjoy!
Many aspects of travel can take a toll on your health. The crazy schedules and unfamiliar surroundings can make it difficult to stick to healthy routines you have established at home. Sadly, many frequent travelers experience serious health concerns, including obesity, but it doesn’t have to be this way. If you take the time to plan and also maintain your self-awareness, you can perform your exercise and maintain your personal health no matter how much you travel.
Before you leave, learn about your destination. Find out what fitness amenities your hotel offers. If you can book your own accommodations, try to find a place to stay where you will have access to a well-equipped fitness center and other amenities that will encourage you to get some exercise during your visit. Some hotels have in-room yoga or fitness videos for guests. Others offer fitness sessions in the hotel gym or running trails on the premises. On a trip to Maui I was able to book a hotel with a phenomenal 24-hour gym, which allowed me to keep up my early morning workouts. I did this by scrolling through all of the Maui hotels on a travel site where I could see reviews and amenities offered.
When packing, remember everything you will need to get a good workout during your trip. Pack comfortable clothes and shoes for working out, and never leave home without a refillable water bottle to help you stay hydrated. Also, bring along portable workout equipment such as a simple workout band.
When flying, pay attention to exercise opportunities that present themselves. Walk around the airport terminals, or get some exercise in the Zen room, if your airport provides one. On the plane, be sure to stretch and do some in-flight exercises every hour or so. This will help alleviate common travel complaints such as cramping, stiffness and swelling.
Throughout your travels, remember to keep a realistic view of your personal fitness. You probably won’t be able to execute your usual exercise routine each day, but you will have time to get some exercise. In the morning, you may be able to get up early and go for a run or do some in-room yoga. If you have some time to relax by the pool in the evening, take the opportunity to get some exercise by hopping in and splashing around. If your schedule is particularly busy, get a little exercise during short breaks between or during meetings. You can get a great power workout in about 10 minutes using a chair and your exercise band.
Taking small steps toward fitness during your travels will help you make great strides in your overall health. When you pay attention and take advantage of fitness opportunities, you will find yourself more energized. Travel will be less stressful for you, and you will be better able to return to healthy routines when you arrive back home.
In the meantime, I love his ideas on how to continue a fitness regime while traveling...something that tends to be difficult, especially if you have kids! The in-room yoga is a fabulous perk, and exercise bands are easy to pack!
Enjoy!
Travel, Exercise, and Staying Healthy
Many aspects of travel can take a toll on your health. The crazy schedules and unfamiliar surroundings can make it difficult to stick to healthy routines you have established at home. Sadly, many frequent travelers experience serious health concerns, including obesity, but it doesn’t have to be this way. If you take the time to plan and also maintain your self-awareness, you can perform your exercise and maintain your personal health no matter how much you travel.
Before you leave, learn about your destination. Find out what fitness amenities your hotel offers. If you can book your own accommodations, try to find a place to stay where you will have access to a well-equipped fitness center and other amenities that will encourage you to get some exercise during your visit. Some hotels have in-room yoga or fitness videos for guests. Others offer fitness sessions in the hotel gym or running trails on the premises. On a trip to Maui I was able to book a hotel with a phenomenal 24-hour gym, which allowed me to keep up my early morning workouts. I did this by scrolling through all of the Maui hotels on a travel site where I could see reviews and amenities offered.
When packing, remember everything you will need to get a good workout during your trip. Pack comfortable clothes and shoes for working out, and never leave home without a refillable water bottle to help you stay hydrated. Also, bring along portable workout equipment such as a simple workout band.
When flying, pay attention to exercise opportunities that present themselves. Walk around the airport terminals, or get some exercise in the Zen room, if your airport provides one. On the plane, be sure to stretch and do some in-flight exercises every hour or so. This will help alleviate common travel complaints such as cramping, stiffness and swelling.
Throughout your travels, remember to keep a realistic view of your personal fitness. You probably won’t be able to execute your usual exercise routine each day, but you will have time to get some exercise. In the morning, you may be able to get up early and go for a run or do some in-room yoga. If you have some time to relax by the pool in the evening, take the opportunity to get some exercise by hopping in and splashing around. If your schedule is particularly busy, get a little exercise during short breaks between or during meetings. You can get a great power workout in about 10 minutes using a chair and your exercise band.
Taking small steps toward fitness during your travels will help you make great strides in your overall health. When you pay attention and take advantage of fitness opportunities, you will find yourself more energized. Travel will be less stressful for you, and you will be better able to return to healthy routines when you arrive back home.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Meditating with a Carpenter Bee
This past Saturday, as I made my way to the shed with the intention of fishing through some old boxes, I found myself pausing to admire the beauty of our backyard. Although our yard is not much to look at (other than the well cared for grass that my husband tends to each year), I could feel the warmth in the air and the rays of the sun as they kissed the earth. The smell of fresh cut grass was pleasantly overwhelming and for some reason always takes me back to 8th grade typing class with Mr. Klick in the late afternoons of a May school day. The sound of the birds and lawn mowers in the distance grazed my ears and a smile played across my lips as I embraced the moment.
Halfway to my destination I realized that I had stopped, although not sure as to why, I turned around and made my way to the play structure that took up a large bit of landscape in the yard. I climbed to the platform and sat cross legged with the sun beating down on my back. I closed my eyes, somewhat aware that neighbors could probably see me over the fence, and settled somewhat hesitantly into my breath. Grateful for a moment of silence and the opportunity to be still in the midst of a busy day I slowly released my anxiety and turned my attention inward.
As I began to drop in, I became acutely aware of a large carpenter bee buzzing nearby. Anyone who has a wooden play structure knows what I mean. Come early spring, just when the children actually want to use the swings again, the carpenter bees swarm the structure, dancing around the slide and the monkey bars with their loud buzzing and impressive size. They often scare us off, forcing us to vacate that area of the yard until the summer heat settles in and the bees find a new home.
I decided however, in this moment, not to react. Rather, I found myself noticing. With my eyes closed I could only hear the bee as it whirled around me, coming in and out of my awareness as it made it's presence known and then flew off again. Once I muscled past the urge to open my eyes and/or move away, I was amazed at how easily I was able to observe my body's response to what I perceived to be the bee's antagonistic behavior. As the buzzing grew louder, I knew the bee was closer and acutely felt my body tense and my heart quickly accelerate as if in unison with the growing intensity of the bee's buzz. Then, as the bee flew away, I was simply left with the sound of my heart beat vibrating through my body and hastening my breath. Noticing, just noticing. Tuning in again, to my breath I purposely inhaled just a bit deeper and exhaled just a bit longer, effectively slowing my heart rate and coming back to calm.... no sooner would I drop in and the bee would be back.
As if it was actively engaging in this game with me, the bee would approach and retreat, sometimes staying longer, other times a quick buzz and it was gone. This dance went on for quite a while, and after a time I realized that the bee was not antagonizing me anymore, although it's behavior had not changed. In fact I welcomed it's approach, and felt pride in how it's presence pushed me beyond my normal limits. Rather than reacting, I noticed, I observed and I controlled what I could. I wish I could say that eventually I could sit with the bee without bodily response, perhaps if I had lasted another hour or two it might have happened. What did happen though, is that with each pass the bee made I was able to come back to center quicker and easier.
And this is where the story begins, because in real life bees happen all the time. How often do we find ourselves reacting to events, people, stress or trauma without noticing and observing? Our lizard brain response takes over and we fight, flee or freeze, reacting from a place of fear because that is what our body is telling us to do. Although useful when in serious danger, more often than not there is space to come back to center, if only we were able to stop and just notice. And maybe, just maybe we would realize that sometimes the bees are not really antagonizing, they are just simply being. We could then respond, or not, from a place of calm and love instead of fear.
I will try to remember this experience the next time my kids are fighting, or someone cuts me off in traffic or someone's anger is coming toward me. I now know that I have complete control over how I feel and I am able to choose how I will react to the bees in my world. Hopefully with practice I will reach a place where I stay close to my center and respond from the place I found on top of the play set while meditating with a carpenter bee!
Halfway to my destination I realized that I had stopped, although not sure as to why, I turned around and made my way to the play structure that took up a large bit of landscape in the yard. I climbed to the platform and sat cross legged with the sun beating down on my back. I closed my eyes, somewhat aware that neighbors could probably see me over the fence, and settled somewhat hesitantly into my breath. Grateful for a moment of silence and the opportunity to be still in the midst of a busy day I slowly released my anxiety and turned my attention inward.
As I began to drop in, I became acutely aware of a large carpenter bee buzzing nearby. Anyone who has a wooden play structure knows what I mean. Come early spring, just when the children actually want to use the swings again, the carpenter bees swarm the structure, dancing around the slide and the monkey bars with their loud buzzing and impressive size. They often scare us off, forcing us to vacate that area of the yard until the summer heat settles in and the bees find a new home.
I decided however, in this moment, not to react. Rather, I found myself noticing. With my eyes closed I could only hear the bee as it whirled around me, coming in and out of my awareness as it made it's presence known and then flew off again. Once I muscled past the urge to open my eyes and/or move away, I was amazed at how easily I was able to observe my body's response to what I perceived to be the bee's antagonistic behavior. As the buzzing grew louder, I knew the bee was closer and acutely felt my body tense and my heart quickly accelerate as if in unison with the growing intensity of the bee's buzz. Then, as the bee flew away, I was simply left with the sound of my heart beat vibrating through my body and hastening my breath. Noticing, just noticing. Tuning in again, to my breath I purposely inhaled just a bit deeper and exhaled just a bit longer, effectively slowing my heart rate and coming back to calm.... no sooner would I drop in and the bee would be back.
As if it was actively engaging in this game with me, the bee would approach and retreat, sometimes staying longer, other times a quick buzz and it was gone. This dance went on for quite a while, and after a time I realized that the bee was not antagonizing me anymore, although it's behavior had not changed. In fact I welcomed it's approach, and felt pride in how it's presence pushed me beyond my normal limits. Rather than reacting, I noticed, I observed and I controlled what I could. I wish I could say that eventually I could sit with the bee without bodily response, perhaps if I had lasted another hour or two it might have happened. What did happen though, is that with each pass the bee made I was able to come back to center quicker and easier.
And this is where the story begins, because in real life bees happen all the time. How often do we find ourselves reacting to events, people, stress or trauma without noticing and observing? Our lizard brain response takes over and we fight, flee or freeze, reacting from a place of fear because that is what our body is telling us to do. Although useful when in serious danger, more often than not there is space to come back to center, if only we were able to stop and just notice. And maybe, just maybe we would realize that sometimes the bees are not really antagonizing, they are just simply being. We could then respond, or not, from a place of calm and love instead of fear.
I will try to remember this experience the next time my kids are fighting, or someone cuts me off in traffic or someone's anger is coming toward me. I now know that I have complete control over how I feel and I am able to choose how I will react to the bees in my world. Hopefully with practice I will reach a place where I stay close to my center and respond from the place I found on top of the play set while meditating with a carpenter bee!
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