This past Monday we returned from a ten day trip to South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. I’ll write more about that adventure soon which we did in our Vamper – our Chevy Cargo Van converted to a camper. It was quite the whirlwind!
While I took along my journal and oracle cards on the trip and planned to meditate, I never did get around to doing my daily ritual while away. Though honestly, I really did miss it. But with adjusting to being in a van for ten days it just never presented itself in feeling right to take time to do this inner work. And that’s okay, really.
But I was thrilled to return to it Tuesday morning. You know how they say when away from someone you love it makes the heart grow fonder? Well, that’s what I realized about this practice I have in place, and how much I value this time to center and ground myself.
Adapting to getting in and out of the Vamper often I also found that when I returned to my first yoga practice since being gone, along with my journaling and consulting with my oracle cards, how thirsty my body was for the stretching and my mind for the expansion. Just visualize both drinking it all in with gusto!
It felt incredibly good to get back to starting my day in this way. I enjoyed vacation, don’t get me wrong, but it was confirmation for me that being away from these practices is something I truly do value as part of my self-care routine. And this is a good thing. It made it all the sweeter to return.
XO,
Barbara
P.S. While our beds in the vamper are pretty comfy, oh, how I welcomed sinking into my bed at home too. Everyday since, morning and night, I’ve been telling it how much I love it! 🙂
March… the month of transition…that in-between space. Winter still shows itself at times, but it doesn’t linger as long. As the sun moves closer to the earth it helps usher in a tease of warmth of the promise of what is on the way.
A space of in-between is where I find myself also. Are you feeling this too? During my yoga practice Friday morning I held boat pose with a new resolved strength of determination.
As I gazed at the gully of naked trees outside my window, a Robin landed on a Sumac bush. Pecking at the dried seed, I thought how even though the bush was dormant all these months it was still providing nourishment, thus life, to the Robin.
I’ve been in this deep-seated space of inward contemplation again, peeling back layers I never thought would be part of my unfolding. At times, it’s been emotionally painful with a new recognition of how it affected my body with a deep ache.
The good news is that my willingness to look inward I was able to make the connection between my thoughts and my body. Once I did, the pain I was experiencing faded away within a few days. I’m grateful for the new awareness of how our emotions truly can affect our bodies.
The other good news is that while I’m not ready to share fully what my contemplation has been about, as I’m still navigating and integrating it all, I’ve had this tickling in my heart.
A tickling that what I’m going through may be leading to another book I will write. While I can’t say for sure at this point, I’m gathering thoughts and insights that are currently flowing through me.
There is a stirring of wanting a change in my life and this recognition of a need to honor the truth of where I am and the feelings I’m having, and how it continues to reveal itself to me. While watching the Robin fill himself with nourishment, I recognized myself in the reflection.
A moment of reflective understanding from Robin
In order to be at peace and in this space of the unknown and what lies ahead, it’s important to nourish and care for myself. It’s something I guide my clients to do when they come to me needing help when feeling stuck as it’s vital in order to be able to move outwardly when the time is right.
Nurturing our inner world is the first step before we can take steps toward what is next for our lives. It will never come from external forces, and if it does, they are only temporary.
Feeling more empowered as I continued to hold boat pose, enveloping it as fully as possible so I could carry it with me, I came to understand something.
As I visualize the distance along the shoreline of where I wish to head and am already on my way, I must also remain flexible, and gently tend to a space of inner calm so the flow of my life can unfold as it’s meant to.
While I trust I will reach my destination, I’ve also come to understand that I’m already there in many ways. There is no need to rock the boat.
Instead, be with the flow of the ride, stay open for signposts, and appreciate the larger waves that may try to engulf me as all part of the process.
I’m also reminded once again that within transition lie blessings waiting to be revealed. Writing another book was not on my conscious radar until now and I’m beginning to see this as an unexpected gift.
And the more I open to the idea, the more I see an authentic opportunity. And so this boat becomes my vessel to a revelation that calm waters are here now and more are on the horizon as well.
This darling little red squirrel came to visit yesterday. Perhaps he has been around these parts before, but it’s the first time I’ve seen him.
I stopped what I was doing to watch him. I mean, how could I not, right?
I’ve been in a funk for the last two weeks with concerns about Gidget, of which I’m still working through.
Watching Mr. Red Squirrel I found my mood lightening up a bit and a smile came to my face.
After dining on a few kernels of corn he scampered down the side of the deck railing, and skittered here, there, and everywhere on the deck, making me laugh out loud. Then into Mr. Tree he ran (formerly our Christmas tree) who is now lying on his side on our deck. If you missed my post about Mr. Tree, who created a special memory, you can read about it here.
For a few weeks Mr. Tree was upright in the corner where I was able to enjoy him just a wee bit longer, gazing at him through the patio door often when sitting in my big red chair in my living room. But his needles are quickly drying as the sun moves closer to the earth everyday now, along with some windy days we’ve had.
I’ve felt bad that Mr. Tree can no longer stand and is moving through this transition. But as Mr. Red Squirrel scampered in-between the branches having fun jumping all around, I realized how sweet that Mr. Tree, even though now frail, had a new purpose.
Those few moments of pausing and reflecting with Mr. Red Squirrel as my animal allie with was just the therapy I needed. Reminding me that change is always present. Accepting this is key to living a life with less suffering. Perhaps I’ll have this challenge mastered before I leave this earthly plane, but for now, I thank Mr. Red Squirrel and Mr. Tree for the needed reflection.
Mr. Red Squirrel also reminded me to not take life too seriously and to be sure to have fun… and yup…even when life feels challenging.
I’ve not seen Mr. Red Squirrel today as of yet, but see that Hank, the grey squirrel has returned. So perhaps Mr. Red Squirrel feels I got the message and may not appear until I need another reminder…and rest assured, I likely will. So best keep a cob of corn on the deck for him. 🙂
