My Son is My Inspiration

My son is in gymnastics. I take him to class every Thursday night. We have a routine of hitting the gym and then getting frozen yogurt together. It's our special time together and we both look forward to it. I love watching his amazing little body perform feats of flexibility and strength. I am jealous of that young skinny body. His natural fitness inspires me to workout hard, grow stronger and more flexible. He reminds me of the days when I was a gymnast and how much I loved it. I didn't think about how hard I was working out, whether I was tired or sore. I just did it, because it gave me so much pleasure...so much joy.

One week he had to miss class and he was devastated. He was crying. It broke my heart. That was when I realized what the class meant to him. The happiness he gets from jumping around on those blue mats and swinging from the parallel bars is infectious. He smiles throughout the workout despite the fact that most of his attempts end in falling to the mat. Gymnastics is teaching him how to try and try again, no matter what.

I am realizing things about the sport that I learned early in life, but lost with age. Being there weekly and watching him and the other kids practicing has reignited my love of being fit and strong. His practice sets a great example of how to love something without reservation...how to enjoy something you love without worry or care...how to put your whole mind and body into practicing something....how to ignore failure and try again. That is joy. That is peace. That is happiness. That is the secret to life.

Approaching Enlightenment: A Sorta-Poem about that Untouchable Moment...Here Now Gone

Life can be a series of enlightenments.

There are infinite possibilities and combinations. 

Wonders are waiting around the corner.

The perspective you choose can be different every time.

Move towards your chosen destination with purpose.

Be open and aware.

Approach boldly,

but with sensitivity

and a childlike curiosity.

Be humble in all that you do,

and offer grace to every being you encounter.

Playing with Photography: Photo Manipulation and Collage

I use a photo editing website called Pic Monkey to edit all my photos. You can use it for free, with access to many tools, or pay an annual fee to get access to even more tools. For someone like me, a novice, who has never learned to use Photoshop, or can't afford to buy it, Pic Monkey offers tools to do most of the things I want to do to my photos. It's so much fun to use and really easy to figure out. There are endless combinations of edits that you can do to your photos. As you can see I lean towards making my photos look  faded and vintage. I grew up looking at photos in my parent's albums that were taken in the 60's, 70's and 80's. I miss the quality of those old photos and seek to re-create them in my own. Take some time and play with your photos. See what you can come up with. I think you will have lots of fun. xox

Yosemite National Park: My Heart, My Inspiration

10 Ways to Manage Negative Thoughts Through Mindfulness

Negative thoughts are part of our daily lives. They can arise more often in some of us, and learning how to manage them when they become overwhelming is a great skill to have. I have lived with an anxiety and depression disorder for many years, and I have tried many different therapies and medications to deal with the illness. Here are some helpful ways to approach dealing with negative thoughts as they pass through your mind. The goal is to catch the negative thoughts before they become negative feelings. The practice of being aware of each and every thought that passes through your mind is called Mindfulness. It takes practice. It takes patience. It asks each participant to approach without judgement or expectation. With daily practice, Mindfulness can be a very powerful tool in healing and overcoming the fears and anxieties that have held you back from achieving your goals.

Here are 10 things you can do to manage a moment when negative thoughts become too overwhelming:

1. Stop what you are doing. Take a moment and acknowledge each and every thought that arises. 

2. Don't judge the thoughts as good or bad. 

3. Recognize thoughts are only thoughts and not reality.

4. Give each thought the respect it deserves without an emotional reaction.

5. Don't dwell on the thoughts. 

6. Don't become attached to thoughts, but rather let them sit on the sidelines and wait.

7. Don't try to change the thoughts or get rid of them. 

8. Now look at each thought closely. Is is a negative thought or a positive thought?

9. Take the positive thoughts and say them aloud.

10. Take the negative thoughts and turn them into positive thoughts. Then say them aloud.

It's always nice to have someone to help you through these times of stress and anxiety. Find a friend who you can trust to see you through this process. It makes it easier.

Peace and love to you this week.

xo