Focus on Me

This is my 3rd year going through the Awaken To Joy program. For sure it is going to be the best because I have chosen MYSELF as the focus! It took a little time to come to this conclusion. My original thought was to have everyone be my focus but that did not feel right. Then Laura and Marya suggested I focus on myself - brilliant! Thank you both. The Year of Me has officially commenced!

Morning Radio Wakeup

When I worked in the 8 to 5 world the "wakeup alarm" was the radio set to a well known national talk radio station. After leaving the 8 to 5 world, the alarm is not always on and was not for the first 16 days of March - for no other reason than it just wasn't :-) My husband wanted to get up early on March 17th and asked me to set it. The next morning I woke up to what I will call "bad news". It was depressing and sad. As I was listening, I felt a heavy feeling in my heart. Later I noticed that I wasn't feeling the joy or connection that I usually feel each day. The experience has stayed with me since that morning as I have thought about it often. I have since changed the "alarm" to a CD that has very up-lifting music. A much better way to start my day.

Unmet Needs

(by Karen) February has been very interesting for me as I have been sick and recovering every day of it. I went out of town to help my husband with a work project and just when I returned, I became very ill. I have questioned why many times. The more I am able to look back on it, I know I have my answer, it is from unmet needs.

I went to a place I did not want to travel to, to do work that does not inspire or "fill me up". In fact, it wore me down. We worked long hours, ate at different times each day (or sometimes skipped meals all together), stayed in a hotel that was not very comfortable which was right above a bandstand where the band played until 2:00am each morning. The weather was cold and I did not have a proper coat.

For me, taking care of myself (read: meeting my needs) is very important. It is important for me to have enough sleep, to eat healthy and nutritious foods at the same time each day, to spend time doing work and activities that nourish me spiritually and fill me up. While I was away, even though I did do a short yoga practice each day and eat the most healthy and nutritious meals I was able to find (not easy), my needs still were not met.

The sickness has caused me to look a little deeper. Do I have other needs that I am unaware of that were not met before I left? Time will tell :-)

Restorative Yoga = Irritation ???

(by Karen) I am not one for letting go, and I am not one for restorative yoga. I get IMPATIENT and IRRITATED in restorative yoga. Forever, I thought it was because of all the folding of blankets and the organizing and placement of all the props. Wrong! I was feeling the irritation because I knew that after I got everything set up, my work in that pose is to let go, to give up control. Interesting isn't it? Each day this month I have added at least one restorative pose to my yoga practice. I will continue with this for the month of January. It is already making a difference. There is a saying that "there is no place that is not your yoga mat". By working on this on my mat, it will help me to take it off the mat, with the intention of being more aware of where my control issues may lead to impatience, irritation and anger in my life. I'll keep you posted :-)

Ready for more!

(by Karen) I am so excited to participate in this program again. I learned and grew so much the first time through and I am ready for more. It will be wonderful to see how much more compassion, and ultimately joy, that I will cultivate this year and carry with me for the rest of my life. I just finished the pre-assignment and I am inspired and ready to go!