Author: takeawalk44

Allowing Grace

There is a simple adjustment that allows peace and enjoyment to filter into each day.  This adjustment is not difficult or revolutionary.  It is much like breathing in that it can feel like nothing, yet effect so much with it’s wake.

This adjustment is simply allowing 10 more minutes than we ever think necessary for any commute, project, chore, ‘set up’ or conversation.  If this extra 10 minutes is not possible, then do not begin the task OR excuse something around that task as less important, thereby, erasing it from that part of our day.

With our ability to have knowledge, directions, speed and food at the touch of a button we tend to forget a reasonable and JOYFUL schedule for a day. A day that we can smile with if it happens to be our last.  A day that we can remember.  A day that leaves room for Life to work in it’s magic fingers into without our iPhone calender’s dictating it’s every move.

We schedule and say ‘yes’ to 5 events or tasks that leave us rushing, irritated and unforgiving to the pace of the world.  When you do not allow this 10 minutes it can seem that the world is all of the sudden against us and our itinerary!  When the world is against us we get defensive, aggressive and forget the pieces of this day that heal; eating slowly and healthfully,  breathing deeply, allowing fellow humans kindness and grace.

When ours paths cross one day I want to have time to allow a smile, grace on the road, hold the door open for you or even take a listen to your answer when I ask ‘How are you?’.

 

img_6758

Bravery!

From the movie Ratatouille:

“I know I’m supposed to hate humans, but there’s something about them. They don’t just survive, they discover, they create…I mean, just look at what they do with food!”

IMG_2635

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do in a day is to taste something new and different. One of our favorite things to do is go to the seafood counter with our 4 year old and let him choose what we have with dinner that night.  Living in Texas, seafood isn’t the most popular thing around and I love fostering the ‘odd ball’ choice.

Try something new and strange and scary this weekend with a brave friend!

A plate can have one new item and two old favorites.  The two old favorites can draw you into Mindful Eating.  Close your eyes, chew a few moments longer and see if you can put words or feelings to the taste.

 

The Journey of a Breath

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” ~Thích Nhat Hạnh

IMG_4484

I was asked today, before one of my yoga classes, to teach them how to breathe.  Then they asked, “Why don’t I know how to breathe?  Why hasn’t this been taught to me before, what’s the problem with our culture that we don’t know how to breathe?”

As adults, we usually breathe from our chests unconsciously.  Our bodies take over and we stay alive every day with most of our attention focused on productivity, earning and spending money, food, and I’m sure you can fill in a few more blanks.  This is an act that nourishes our entire bodies, calms our minds, and allows for ‘a say’ in our mood and reactions at any given time.  Yet, we leave our breath to a small and quiet rhythm with little notice.

Breathing is the only vital function that we have full and continuous control over.

3 Part Breath:  Reclined or seated, place one hand on your lower belly and the other on your chest.  Relax your torso and begin to breath naturally, flowing toward long, slow inhales and exhales.  Notice which hand rises first or if both are equal.  Let your mind divide your inhale into 3 parts: lower belly, middle ribs and chest.  As you begin fill your torso with air starting low and pausing in between each of these 3 sections.  Retain that breath for a moment before allowing your exhale to flow slowly down and empty your torso 1/3 at a time.

Learning to breathe with purpose is about slowing down and listening, relaxing, and leaking air in slowly. This leak, this Ocean Breath, creates a sound much like the rhythmic, subtle ocean. We then have time to observe and impact the journey of each inhale and each exhale.

“Inhale, and God approaches you. Hold the inhalation, and God remains with you. Exhale, and you approach God. Hold the exhalation, and surrender to God.” ~Krishnamacharya

 

 

 

The Uphill Flow

IMG_5182

Post by:   Tracy Weaver, Life Coach, EFT Practitioner

So there you are doing something, some cranky ol’ bear of a task, that really really was not even on the same planet as your “Can’t wait to!” list. What’s the use, gotta get it done. What choice do you have? Physically, maybe not so many choices at the moment. But inside, in that interesting universe called your mind, your imagination? Well! If anybody knew the things you think about!

So, what you’re saying is, you actually do have choices, they’re just inside your head instead of outside. Well, what’s wrong with that? Your emotions are reactions to your thoughts, right? An idea pops up and you react to it. The thought makes you feel better, the same, or worse. If what you’re thinking isn’t helping you to feel good – seems obvious – change the thoughts! Look, if you were alone watching TV and you didn’t care much for the program, what would you do in a heartbeat? Grab that remote and find a more enjoyable program, right? Darn straight.

You may be stuck doing some task, but chances are there is some room inside to choose thoughts, memories, imaginings that make you happier. Let’s just work backwards here. Start here: how would you like to feel right now? Thought so. Well, what kind of thoughts or memories make you feel that way? Without abandoning attention to your task, could you call up just enough of a memory or use a little creative imagination to catch that feeling? That’s it, I saw that little smile. Now, hook onto that good feeling. Just enjoy its company for a bit. Doesn’t have to be a memory, you know. What about your secret plans, your cherished goals? Nobody can take those from you, and they would just love a visit from you.

If you are having a tough time getting the flow going, you might need some bigger guns, at least to start. How about some music? What tunes make you feel the best, make you soar? How about a little soulful singing on your part? Depending on your task, what about a recorded book? A self-improvement audio course? Nature sounds? If you can spare your eyes, what about movies you’ve been meaning to watch? They say you can learn anything on YouTube, right?  Here’s a challenging one, how aware and alert can you be? Wake up your senses. Reach out and really hear all the sounds going on around you. What’s happening out there? How about smells? Anything you didn’t notice before? I can see you’re getting the drift.

You know, if you really wanted to, you could do your onerous task and still have a party going on inside! It’ll take some practicing, and maybe you’ll have to let go of some resentment so you have room to think some better thoughts, but really, which way would you rather spend your time? Thought so.

Our Thanks to Tracy for contributing!

Cheers!

For the weekend, I thought it would be fun to share my Sangria recipe.  Invite some friends over and have FUN!

Image result for red sangria

  • 1 large bottle of Red Table Wine (I use Fronterra-Cab/Merlot mix $9)
  • 1 cup of Spiced Rum
  • 2 cups of GOOD Orange Juice, no cheap imitation!
  • 2 small lemons squeezed or 7 seconds of lemon juice squeezed
  • 3 limes juiced or 10 seconds of lime juice squeezed
  • 1/2-3/4 cup of powdered sugar, start small and add to taste, using a whisk to thoroughly mix
  • 8 oz bag of frozen berries, I stick mostly with raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and small slices strawberries because the taste the best when eating at the end.
  • 3-4 dashes of nutmeg

A sliced orange can be a festive garnish.  Mix and drink right away or keep it over night!  Letting it marinate is never a bad thing.

Truly a party in a glass.  Have one for me and if you try it I’d love to see a picture on the comments!

 

 

 

 

 

Rainbows

I was able to see Maya Angelou speak in Canyon, TX a few years before she died.  It was so wonderful to know she was right there, all of that life and wisdom, right there on stage. I had hoped I would hear her one more time before she passed, but that did not happen.  Thank goodness she talks to me regularly anyway, and thank goodness for what she left behind.  She is a rainbow in my clouds.

The Only Moment We Truly Have

IMG_5800

“Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is the only moment.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

We move.  We do.  We ‘get it done’.  There are days when you may not remember much about your day specifically and then other moments that it seems door frames, corners, and furniture jump right out into your way and BAM!  Some days flow and some days simply do not.

We breathe and move.  Does our breath lead our movement or does our movement lead our breath?  Do we breathe in the shallows or into the deep?  Science has proven that deep breathing massages the heart, pumping nutrients and fluid into the vascular system while pumping toxins out and away, leading to better cardiac health.  When you have the choice…..breathe in the deep.  Aim to find the beginning of an inhale down below your navel and the top near your shoulders.

“The men of old breathed clear down to their heels.”  -Chuang Tzu

Try this when you find stress overcoming your body and mind.

Stair Step breath:

Exhale fully and let sips of air in with pauses so that your full inhale takes 8-10 sips and then slowly exhale to the count of about 6 seconds.  Try this for 2 breaths.

Then stair step or sip your next inhale as well as your exhale for 2 breaths.

Now return to a stair stepping inhale with the long 6 second exhale.

If you find any discomfort or anxiety with this simply breathe as usual or come to an even 3 count breath.

Thank your body for doing as you ask and breathing in this moment, with purpose.  Be thankful for your body and your breath.