I am so thankful to have attended the National Kids Yoga Conference last weekend. It was an opportunity to recharge and be in the presence of some inspiring folks who sing and breathe their way into more mindful being. In light of what is going on the world, it's most moving when people choose love instead of fear.
If more people greeted each other with authentic intention, perhaps our world would be less of a vast mystery and instead a more magnificent magnum of respect and tenderness.
During my yoga retreat, teacher Kira Willey led us in song,
may we breathe in light, breathe out love
may we breathe in hope, breathe out joy
may we breathe in peace, breathe out kindness
May we pray . . . for Paris, Syria, Beirut, Baghdad, Ferguson, Mizzou, Claremont, Ithaca, Yale, Spring Valley, Kenya, Palestine, Ayotzinapa . . . & so many others in our world that is smaller than we make it out to be . . . (it's a small world after all, isn't it?)
wishes for hearts to grow as wide as the sky
wishes for hands to hold others'
in courage and in dignity
with reverent light as brilliant as breaking dawn
Back and forth with our attorney to sell our Jersey home, constantly in touch with our realtor to make the necessary repairs to meet Certificate of Occupancy and buyer's needs along with settling into our new (temporary) home, trying to get organized and make sure N. eats well enough to have a satisfactory poo (which is my greatest daily stress!) makes it challenging to stay sane -- some days more than others.
I have ongoing to-do lists for the Jersey home, for our NoVA home, alongside N.'s food /poo journal (sad faces for when she doesn't poo & happy dancing faces for when she does!), notebooks of penned information across our kitchen counters that sit next to file folders with inspection reports and requests for transfers of medical records. I'm also scheduling doctors' (specialists included) appointments for all three of us to make sure we're on top of our health and wellness needs.
It's not pretty.
While I try to have my moments of peaceful meditation, I can't seem to get enough calm or sleep.
Did we really gain an hour this past weekend?
Reminder to self: Self care isn't selfish. Taking care of me means that the people in my life, especially the loves of my life, will receive the best of me, not what's left of me.
So when I went on my run/walk yesterday on the W&OD trail, I forced myself to pause several times, look up and breathe. I repeated, I am grateful for this Life. I am grateful for my partner. I am grateful for my daughter. For every concern, there is a solution.
I am thankful for every opportunity to take care of myself.
My prayer for self-compassion . . .
May I be filled with loving kindness. May I be well. May I be peaceful and at ease. May I be happy.
My wish for you . . .
May you find moments to be kind to yourself. May you give yourself the compassion you need.
