One of the benefits of having a bit of OCD is my daily workouts aren't options, they're what I do. A downfall of this mentality, though, is it can sometimes get in the way of important stuff, like, you know, connecting with people! Ridiculous as it may sound, on Saturday Lisa's daughter, Tiffany, invited us to celebrate with them on their big, beautiful new boat "sometime" on Sunday. Since that's a day for sleeping in and going for a long run, part of me immediately fretted over the potentiality of not getting my run in. Right away, though, these more True words came to me from Somewhere: "It's joyful to me to NOT be joyful." While working out is part of my daily dose of bliss, it's infinitely more joyous to me to spend time with people I love. Something I've been working on is finding Santosha in all situations. While Santosha is the yogic practice of "contentment", the more I make a habit of it, the more I find the word "contentment" barely scratches the surface of the WOWness it brings to life.
So, how does one receive this gift of being lit up from the inside out? I think there's lots of ways. What's working for me is walking the Way of Wonder St. Paul recommends in 1 Thessalonians 5.16-18 when he says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances". To me, this means doing our best to continually be on the lookout for reasons to celebrate, being open and connected to the Love that's always all around and within us, and cultivating an attitude of gratitude. So, today, with celebratory spirits, open hearts, and grateful minds, I invite us to together practice finding Santosha in all situations, while also asking: What's working for you?
#love #lovealone #light #life #santosha #contentment #wow #bliss #joy #joyful #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #celebrate #gratitude #connection #prayer #thanks #attitude #litup #lightup #upwardspiral #blissarmy #blissology #whitelotus_yoga_poulsbo #kitsaphotyoga
This summer, when I've worked at home (most afternoons) I've frequently gotten the glorious gift of being able to write, read, and research on our patio (with our dog, Biscuits, hooked to my chair). The peaceful shade, soothing breeze, blue sky, and surrounding plants generally make a great space to create ... but also leaves me open to interruptions. Neighbors walking by with their dogs will "annoyingly" want to chat and connect with me when I have important stuff to do! They are truly my teachers!! Poignantly, most of the times Jesus healed, freed, or cared for people it was an interruption to what he was doing, where he was going, or what he had planned. Isn't that fascinating ... and a valuable Life Lesson for our accomplishment obsessed, task-oriented culture? What I think of as "interruptions" are generally people, and people are more important than the things on my to-do list. Do you know what I mean? The lesson I'm gradually learning is True success is connecting with and caring for people, much more than my accomplishments.
On Mondays the yard maintenance people come to our neighborhood to mow, weed, trim, etc. As I worked in the shade on one of hottest days of the year, I smiled and waived at one of them as he walked by. With a grin he said, "hello", but while part of me wanted to quickly get back to my doings, the Love in me noticed the sun was taking a toll on him. So, I asked if I could get him some water, which he eagerly accepted, and shared with his coworkers. To borrow from author Jared Byas: "Inter-ruptions" are opportunities for people and experiences to "rupture" us "internally", and thus expand our hearts, change our perspectives, and enrich our lives! Here's to embracing interruptions as opportunities to Love and be Loved!
#love #lovealone #light #life #heart #kindness #interruption #connection #relationship #Jesus #transformation #care #caring #lifelesson #healing #compassion #success #bliss #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #upwardspiral #blissarmy #blissology #whitelotus_yoga_poulsbo #kitsaphotyoga
Why do we have such a hard time talking about guns in the U.S.? Why are we so adamant about our “right” to own tools for killing? Is it possible America worships guns and violence? Does it seem like we’re more preoccupied with our right to own arms, than concerned with the quality, or worth, of other people’s lives? Is it possible it’d be more accurate for our currency to say, “In Guns We Trust”, rather than “In God We Trust”? We name ourselves a “Christian nation” … yet, does what our news focuses on, the plague of mass shootings in our country, the increasing political divide, the way we tend to scapegoat people different than us on social media and television, and the obscene amount of money we spend on our military, etc. reflect a people who follows the Prince of Peace? Or, is it possible our actions are more reflective of the religion of Ares/Mars (the gods of violence and war)? With each mass shooting my heart grows heavier, and in my spirit I felt compelled to say something to help. So, this is the intro to a blog I wrote that I’d be honored for you to read and engage.
https://gracenpeaceyoga.com/2019/08/09/turning-violence-into-nourishment-talking-about-americas-gun-culture-mass-shootings-and-the-way-forward/
#love #lovealone #light #life #guns #violence #nonviolence #gunproblem #gunlaws #heart #kindness #God #Jesus #yoga #ahimsa #loveenemies #peace #noharm #unity #wellness #harmony #healing #masshootings #people #princeofpeace #gunculture #blissarmy #blissology #whitelotus_yoga_poulsbo #kitsaphotyoga
