But, the writing hasn't been so much a part of it (yet). What I have been enjoying is:
creating mandalas
yoga/exercise
laughing!!!
But "where" have I really been? From February 27-March 8, I journeyed to Jamaica with 6 other women (all of whom, except me, were from the Ann Arbor, MI area). My sister was one of the women. Each day we got up early and did a "Pure Barre" class for core strength on the upper deck of a pavilion overlooking the ocean. We'd go back for breakfast, and then have a late morning yoga session. Afternoons/evenings were either times for excursions around the small tropical country or hanging out in the local neighborhood. We were staying in a very small town - Oracabessa - which has no tourist trade at all from what we could see.
It was WONDERFUL!!! Restful, rejuvenating, relaxing, and left me ready to jump into exercise in a whole new way. Since I've been back, I've gotten back to (some) running, found some Anusura yoga classes so I can continue what I started, and I have begun some Pilates workouts! So far, the Pilates has been with a one-on-one instructor. In the morning I have my first mat session. I have a full month - 6 weeks of Pilates planned, then it is on to boot camp at the end of April!
Not only do I feel like I'm embracing my mantra - 47 IS PRIME - I feel more alive!
My husband keeps commenting on how soft my skin is - he still thinks it's due to some fancy massage oil or something. No, I think it's just the inner glow radiating outwards - along with more exercise, more sweating to get rid of things, more water, and more cleansing (ie exercise=shower).
Or maybe it was all the cold showers in Jamaica.
While I had originally intended this to be a blog of goals/results - keeping track of a fabulous year all for me - those are more like a foundation that I am building on. February: I did a mandala every day. I am still doing them!! I love it. March: I am exercising every day. It is the 11th, and with the exception of the 7th when I travelled home, I have done something EVERY day. Oh, and I'm down about 10 pounds so far. I'll take on the fruits and vegetables with a vengence soon enough - right now I'm still focusing on eating lunch.
The consistent exercise is already paying off. Today I went to a yoga class for the first time since Jamaica. Wow - I actually felt strong!! I could get deeper into the stretches than just a week ago, and could do twists and hold my foot behind me in a way I wasn't even close to last week. PLUS - I did TREE!!! With my foot on my thigh instead of beneath my knee. And, just after I had told the instructor that I could do it with my foot lower. I love to find out that I am wrong!
Being wrong....well actually I found out last week that the notion of being wrong is one of my "triggers". Not really a surprise, but an attitude I am trying to let go of. Why bother? Why bother asserting that you are right (regardless of whether or not you are)? Yet, for so long, that has seemed to be such a survival tactic! My husband jokes that in my family of origin, we come from a position of "100% certain, 80% correct". The self-assuredness can be wonderful - but I also see that it can also damage or limit relationships. Plus, let's face it - I like to be right. But, I am trying not to let that be a huge way of being and direction in my life. It takes some sitting back, and I find that I spend more time listening. I still have work to do on how that triggers me, why, and what parts of that I want to embrace and which I would prefer to discard. But, only with the PRIME perspective in place!
Lastly, I find myself in a place of embracing laughter more often. The women I was with in Jamaica seemed to have a great sense of humor and were often laughing, even just about little things or throughout conversation. I realized how much I valued that in them and how serious I can be. Still - why not laugh? I have found myself laughing more easily and more often. I laughed in yoga today many times. It felt great!! I noticed that usually I was laughing at myself, or something the yogi said, or a combination of both. I also noticed that I usually am a "good student" and don't laugh and therefore disrupt the class. HA! I say, HA! It was great to laugh, and who cares about disruptions. I was there for me, and my practice, and laughing just fit right in.
As my "life card" from Teculah said at the end of the Jamaica week, I am about RELEASE right now. I laugh in the face of adversity - HA! HA! HA!
Even if the adversity is just a twisted yoga pose or a reminder to tighten my abs. I laugh!
