Sticking to the Point

Wellness Wednesday :: ME(i)festo

Skimming through the current issue of Yoga + at work, I came across the yoga manifesto. As I read along, it struck me that a manifesto such as this could become a declaration of how I want my life to be.

The Yoga Manifesto

there will be no correct clothes
there will be no proper payment
there will be no right answers
no glorified teachers
no ego, no script, no pedestals
no you're not good enough or rich enough
this yoga is for everyone
this sweating and breathing and becoming
this knowing glowing feeling
is for the big small weak strong
able and crazy
brothers, sisters, grandmothers
the mighty and the meek
bones that creak
those who seek
this power is for everyone
yoga for the people
all bodies rise

The ME(i)festo

there will be no should's with my clothing
my work is as fruitful or barren as i create it
there will be no right answers
no one has the power to make me feel bad
no ego, no envy, no pedestals
no you're not good enough or is this what i deserve?
everything is not about ME
this sweating and breathing and becoming
working towards this knowing glowing feeling
becoming big and strong, overcoming small and weak
embracing able and crazy
me, myself and I
mighty, not meek
with bones that creak
i do seek
the power available to everyone
power to the people
my power will rise

Happy Halloween.

Self Portrait Challenge - food and me.5

Bananas ripen quickly in our bright kitchen. Never one to waste, a banana bread was born on Sunday.

Even though most participants have already started with the November theme, you might stumble upon the last of the revelations about food over here

My Sacred Life Sunday #2

One of my earliest memories is sitting on top of a wicker hamper, reading to my Dad while he shaved. I can't remember a time when books weren't an integral part of my life, a way to escape, my salvation. Growing up, the F-word, football, was a constant. My dad being a rabid fan, converted my sister into a pig skin-loving fanatic sporty-type of girl. And then there was me. I detest the game and have never fully understood how the sport is played. While my sister and Dad watched football, I read. To this day, I can tune everything out around me when I'm in a book.

No matter how tired or where I am, I must read before I turn off the light. Reading is my way of clearing the slate. My brain needs to be lulled into relaxation by the written word, or Bailey's and vodka,  nothing else will do.

I almost always read paper back novels for the ease of transport. And yet there's no smell I like better than a fresh, crisp new hard back book. Go on, take a good whiff, there's something magically indescribable,  a scent that settles peacefully inside me.

Books are sacred although there are very few books I actually keep, once read. I prefer to own books rather than borrow. The inherent pressure to finish the book when it belongs to someone else, (there's that commitment thing again), stresses me out. Either I end up putting the novel down or I completely forget about it and incur late charges (if it's from the library), or keep a book which doesn't belong to me.

Tonight I heard A talking about the new purse M brought back from Paris. Describing the possible contents to carry around, I heard A say that a book would be important, just in case she needed something to read.

A wish for this mama has been fullfilled.

It's Friday Love #80

Photo booth Friday. Bella and me, 10.2007

I love that each square matches its sister square on the next strip. Both are clickable for full size.

The little stuff.

• knitting this pattern with this yarn, #2011
• getting my girl to bed by 7:30pm this week while M has been traveling because she needs more sleep and because i needed a break
• reading books like it's going out of style
• these shoes

• and this hoodie

I don't have much else, it's been a long week of single parenting. I have  a power 3 hour CPR class on Sunday in the city, (are you alright? are you ok? quick, someone, call 911), to keep my CPR card-carrying status current.

What do you have planned?

Wellness Wednesday #1

With NaBloPoMo fast approaching, I've been pondering how I'll keep up with blogging everyday. Wordy girl that I am, when I signed on  I wasn't really worried about an everyday commitment; most days I show up here with something to say. Like anything that I commit to, once I've actually committed and have to do something... well let's just say that sometimes inspiration can become scarce.

I've stumbled upon been gifted by finding a couple of projects that speak to my heart and one such project is Wellness Wednesday.  I'm on a journey that has mostly been a blind leap of faith, trying to heal mind, body and soul, without making too many commitments to structures and systems of change with a mission, like the South Beach Diet.

In a recent self portrait, I talked about refining my eating habits following Weight Watchers. Food journaling helps me control mindless eating, a rut I can fall into when I'm home during the day. It's been about 3 weeks now with following my own, structure of journaling and tracking. Not really prescribing to the diet point system, instead I've tried to be conscious of what's going in my body, even if it's sugar.

Have I been the stellar portrait of a conscious, food journaling woman? Hardly. I knew going into this that I would have days where I would slip. But I also prepared for that, knowing that life happens and instead of saying screw it all, I wake up the next day and begin anew. Not resigning myself to the guilty, negative talk that derails most of my healthful efforts. Instead, I choose to see each new day with continuity, focusing on healthful meals, portion control and balance.

Most days I feel great. I'm less bloated and I have more energy. I'm not reliant on caffeine and I find that I think less and less of sugary snacks to get me through my day.  Some days I feel puffy and my jeans cut into the flesh of my waist. On those days, I wear lipstick and a sparkly necklace. And I drink a ton of water so I can flush the crap from my body while feeding myself with more care.

The days that I slip, those are the days that I've skimped on meals or short-changed myself on a snack. Empty calories leave me unsatisfied and eventually, my hand starts reaching for the dark chocolate with almonds, the chocolate biscotti. I'll even reach for A's fruit gummy snacks if I'm desperate.

This is a learning process and a lifestyle. I am a work in progress.

Self Portrait Challenge - food and me.4

As I cook dinner, she reads. Our evening ritual.


More food related rituals over here

Enough with the navel gazing, how about some candy?

NYC, 10.14.07

not a meme, but i liked the play on the word

My Sacred Life Sunday #1

I found My Sacred Life Sunday visiting Daisies blog and immediately wanted to participate.

I have a blessed life and much to be thankful for. I've got a beautiful home, a full refridgerator and we want for nothing. Truly, we are blessed. And yet, I've got a litany of things that I can complain about, petty things really, but annoyances still. And for what I wonder? Because I've got a blessed life, I act with a sense of entitlement to my complaints, as if in the big picture, my complaints really matter.

Finding the sacred within my life will do my heart good. I've lost a connection with my intuitive, creative self and with that loss, comes negativity. Nurturing myself means I can nurture those around me. Appreciating all that is good, finding beauty in minutae...this in turn brings more joy and appreciation and beauty. Like begets like. Bring it.

It's Friday Love #79

Photo booth Friday. me and neen, madison wi.

The little stuff.

• kismet. selling stuff ebay left me with a paypal balance that was exactly, (to the cent exactly), the same amount as the auction i recently won for this cape.

 

• a road trip to philly on saturday over night
• a barter exchange massage on wednesday (i heart barter) that left me feeling rejuvenated
• acupuncture treatments for my sciatica have been working. i'm cautiously optimistic and a little superstitious even writing it. after my last treatment, i had 24 hours with no pain. none. and now it's about 85% healed - still tender and sore, but(t) better.
• a neighborhood pre-halloween party on sunday
• a rummage sale to end all rummage sales, i found exactly what i wanted for six dollars.

with a little love (paint and a new seat/cover), she will be perfect with my vanity table.

Heard. 

As miss A was getting into the shower,

'my ears were so un-interesting until i got them pierced'

Let Me Go

I've been quiet around here lately. Not for lack of time, although I have been busy. I've been internalizing, focusing on the fluidity of my thoughts and ideas, nothing concrete. I come here brimming with words but find myself at a loss of what to say once I arrive.

Recently DeeZee sent me a blog link from a lovely woman whom I only recently began to read. (more on that later.)  Marinating in the back of my brain is this very ritual, that I'm going to borrow, to let go of my fears. Included along with fear will be an abridged version of the 7 deadly sins, namely envy and wrath.

The leaves are falling and I've been collecting perfect, streamlined vessels to  carry my missives away. Instead of washable ink, I'll write mine with a Sharpie. I want to permanently release the tired restraints that confine me.