Basking in the sun

One of my favourite quotes is from Louise May Alcott -

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow them.”

For the past few days I have been a little in the dark. As I studied for my interview this weekend I looked to the sun to inspire me. I sat at my office desk in the sun - hoping it would shine it's light on me. I headed to the lake to let the glistening waters wash over my soul and cleanse my mind so I could reach those aspirations.

For the past 12 years I have enjoyed my career in the public service. I have had lots of interesting opportunities and challenges over the years, and I am ready to embark on a greater challenge, a new direction - upward. 2011 is to be MY YEAR of success, personally and professionally. When I awoke this morning I raised my spirit to the sky - sun salutations can brighten the darkest of day. It wasn't a dark day at all, I did my best in the interview and I hope I was able to convince the panel. That said, what will be will be.

Sometimes I think I have too many goals this year, but then, why not . We must aspire to greatness...reach for the sun. For me, I may not reach all of them, but I can believe and that will bring me success. Namaste.

Taking care of ME!

Today began with my monthly visit to my chiropractor - spine adjustment. As a runner, and more importantly someone over 50, finding methods to keep me healthy and on the road means accepting different forms of treatment. I don't like taking drugs to relieve my pains, so it is so much easier to take advantage of the non-traditional medicine methods, chiropractors, massage, yogi, and meditation, there are so many ways to find wellness and balance.

I have been feeling additional stress in my neck & head lately at work lately, so rather than take asprin, advil, whatever, I tried an Indian Head massage. If you have never experienced an Indian Head Massage, I highly recommend it. That is what I did at lunch today. I heading back to work feeling invigorated, and productive, versus, stressed and looking to snack on bad choices.

Today was my wellness day. Call it my selfish day. So often we take care of other - our children, our parents, our boss - we tend to forget about the most important person in our life - ourselves. I always think about the drill when on an airplane and the steward announces you must put your mask on first before putting it on your child. How can we help others, unless we take care of ourselves. My health is so important - I want to be around for a very long time and healthy. I hope to see my daughters happy in their grown up lives, maybe married, maybe grandchildren, not to mention hopefully growing old with the love of my life (need to find him first).

This year is about taking care of me. One day at a time.

A Diary on Practice

Today I embarked on a challenge with one of my best friends. Jocelyne and I have been friends now for more than 5 years.

We met at a Weight Watchers group and as much as we lost weight, we gained a friendship. Our friendship has grown almost as quickly as the weight we have managed to gain back, so today we made a commitment, set goals and will support each other this journey (basically lose the weight we have gained back and take back our health). Rather than give WW our money again, we have decided to put the money ($20.00ea) into a sealed jar and take a holiday together at a yoga spa/retreat the week between Christmas and New Year's 2011.

I was reflecting this evening and wondered why we "practice yoga", but we don't practice eating, right like I need to practice eating. To become a yogi master, one must practice for many years and with intention and focus. There are so many yogi masters in the world, they eat to live, not live to eat. This year, I will try to integrate my yoga practice with my eating practice. Yoga helps me relieve the burdens of my day and life, it helps me to gain focus. What I do need to do is practice eating with intention and focus, in order to master my diet. My diet practice will help me to remove the burdens excess weight has on my health. That is my goal.

As a commitment to myself, I'll share my diet and yoga practice here.

Day One
My day started with green tea, 1/2 bagel with peanut butter (tablespoon). Jocelyne & I managed a short yoga session and then a lovely lunch - sauteed shrimp on romaine with a ginger/soy dressing. Apple for an afternoon snack. For dinner I grilled a 4 oz of salmon and 6 asparagus spears, 1/2 cup brown rice, 1/2 cup mushrooms sauteed in ginger/soy dressing. For dessert, 1 cup diet pudding. My eating today was just a little more mindful than my usual habits.

Here's to 2011.
Cheers & Namaste