Yoga Rant

Okay, let me preface my rant with the statement that I am an old mom.  I had my first (yes, first) child at age 36 and my third child at age 40.  I am 42 now, they are 5, 4, and 1.  

Most of the time, I feel like I am 80 (see previous paragraph for why).

That being said, I try very hard not to let my children lose out because mommy and daddy are old fogeys.  I take my kids for walks, take them to the park, let them “practice” the piano, and get into tickle fights and giggle storms with them.  And because my life just wasn’t stressful enough, I have taken on the task of homeschooling my oldest little darling—an exercise not for the faint of heart.  Since I have a couple of collegiate degrees under my belt, I felt I should be able to handle the kindergarten curriculum without too much trouble and that I might even be able to teach it.   

Even so, sometimes, I just can’t help being old.  Or at least feeling it.

Take today for example, I took my daughter to the library to let her check out some books and to play in the wonderfully stocked kids area.  (In case you were wondering about my other two hoodlums, they were in preschool at our church.)  It was a nice break from the home classroom, and reminded me that there is, indeed, life beyond math facts and phonic rules.  

Things were going well until we were checking out.  Across the foyer from the circulation desk at our library is a large open multi-purpose room.  Today, the purpose was to host the “Mommy and Me Yoga” class.  I had seen the signs for this class before but never gave it more than a passing thought.  It said Mommy-and-Me Yoga, not Mommy-and-Me-and-Me-and-Me.  I just couldn’t comprehend how I could make it work with three preschoolers.  Yoga, as I have practiced and understand it, is supposed to be about being calm and peaceful, focusing on your essentials of being like breathing and muscle control.  There is nothing calm about my three kids, and there is no peace for me when they are all awake in the same room.

But still, as we were waiting patiently in line, we couldn’t help but notice all the activity across the way from the gaggle of tots and moms laughing and packing up to go home.  My daughter asked what all of the kids were doing in the other room.  I pretended not to know.  I didn’t want her asking why her mommy didn’t take her to such an exciting activity.  But I couldn’t avoid the conversation altogether.  The moms were rolling up yoga mats, zipping up stylish hoodies, and slipping on colorful sneakers, all the while smiling and chatting with each other and their children.  They seemed like a happy lot.  

I am not normally one to play the competition game with any other mom.  I firmly believe we all have different cards to play, and each and every one of us has been given a different set of struggles to work through.  I don’t envy anyone else’s life or think I have it that much better (or worse) than the next mom.  But, I realized

something as I sat in my minivan (yeah, minivan.  I used to be cool…stress the “used to” part), those moms in their yoga pants, ponytails and big smiles were almost young enough to be my kids.  And that’s when it hit me:  I am just too old to be at peace with community yoga.  In another life or in a different decade of life, maybe.  But right now, I don’t think I could find the mental peace to even pretend I would enjoy it.  I am just not there anymore.  And, after shaking my head at myself for the comparisons (the negative ones aimed at me), I decided I am okay with this.  I’ve been dealt a different hand to play, and I need to stop trying to peek at someone else’s.

So I did what any 40-something homeschooling mom of a kindergartener would do, I looked at my daughter and asked, “Hey, do you wanna go to Panera Bread to finish your lessons and get some lunch?”

Without blinking her eye, she said “Oh, yes, mommy!”  Mommy’s age crisis over…at for the moment.

Give Me

Give me your ear to hear,

Give me a shoulder to cry on,

Don’t tell me that it will be better

Don’t say you understand

Just be there.

Don’t say I told you so.

Don’t tell me what I did wrong.

I feel bad enough.

Leave me some dignity.

Changing Diet

I have discovered that I have a few food allergies.

Now this has been hard because before I ate whatever I wanted.

Not that I didn't experience a bit of stomach trouble but

is that what happens when you eat spicy food.

It is for my own good that I change my diet, shy do I resist?

Is making a change so hard that I can not accomplish this small task?

Maybe I just don't have the energy. Change takes work.

I feel stretched so thin that I can't take on anything else or so I htink

Do you know how many times you must do a new thing to replace an old one?

It takes a while to change. Guess I am like most and want it to happen over night.

Little wonder I have no motivation when it includes giving up bread and chocolate.

I am not exactly a chochaulic but when I have a chocolate attack, nothing but the

real stuff will suffice.

So I am going to give it a try and see what happens.

Wish me luck.

Savor Each Moment

        Savor Each Moment

First cup of coffee in the morning is the best.

A cool shower after being in the heat invigorates.

Watching the sunset brings peace.

Take a sniff of fresh washed linens.

Enjoy one spoon at a time of a luscious dessert.

Smile, it gives your face something to do.

Music calms the ravaged soul.

Step Out in Faith

Step out if Faith

Even a small change can make a big difference.

My neighbor had a heart attack.

Each day you could see him out walking.

        He never complained that it was too hot, he walked early                                                                    

in the morning on those day.

        He never complained of the cold, He layered and walked.

I don't remember him walking in the rain but truth be told,

         I didn't get out in the rain.

What I learned is that the doctor told him to walk to prevent

another heart attack.

He took the doctors words to heart and did as he was told hoping

that by walking he could improve his quality of life.

Last I saw of him, he was still walking.

Flowers or Candy

Flowers or Candy

Valentine’s just passed and Easter.

What do you get someone to show you care?

Personally, I am allergic to flowers.

I LOVE them but the real things make me sneeze and my eyes water.

Synthetic ones are not much better as the chemicals and the collected

dust illicit the same response.

So how about candy?

Glad you asked. I am allergic to chocolate.

Do you know what percentage of candy is chocolate?

Just the smell of chocolate sends my heart racing, in a good way.

However, now I must forgo the delicious treat.

That leaves some in a quandary as to what to give me.

Let me help. First get to know me: know my likes and dislikes.

If all else fails, spend some time with me.

Conversation with a grownup is stimulating. (I taught elementary.)

Every Time

Every time we leave things unresolved, we leave a piece of us lying around.

Remember the Greeks said a sound mind in a sound body., but don’t forget spirit.

You must revitalize the areas of your life that are deficient to fully reclaim the person you can be.                                                                                                                            

You need a curve in the road to see how far you have come.                                  

If where you are, there is nothing for you to do; then it’s not a good place that you are in.

If there is nothing for you to do, it’s not a good place to be

You made a change

Meditation

I am struggling to get my blood pressure under control. It's like trying to harness a wave a never ending task.

Upon discovery of the problem, I did as instructed and took the prescribed medication. That is why I am

dealing with a bigger issue now.

Are there things you can do besides take medicine? I decided to find out.

Losing ten pounds can affect your blood pressure. Well try as I might, I lose than find that ten pounds.

It seemed like an easy task but it has gotten the best of me.

Some one suggested I try meditation. Now I know a little bit about meditation. Have you heard that a little

knowledge can be dangerous?

So far the only danger I have encountered is a lack of commitment.

Herbal remedies are out for I fear an allergic reaction much more that I am certain that the cure would

not be worse than the problem.

I am not making light of high blood pressure as it can lead to a heart attack among other things.

It is just the uncertainty of taking more meds that causes me to pause because that's what got me into

this situation in the first place.

I am not coordinated enough to try Yoga so i will give meditation a try and keep you informed

on what sort of progress I make.

Reasons

I keep finding reasons not to do things.

Not sure you would call is procrastination but more the feeling of not doing

something worth while.

Like being trapped in snow or stuck in the mud, I spin my tires and get no where

part is because I don't know where I want to go.

Let go the the negatives and do something. If it is wrong, you have the right 

to change your mind and try something different.

Let me know if you have changed your mind about something and how

it worked out for you.

Missed Out

Before the end of the Twentieth Century, I read an article about 100 things you should do. 

I completed all but three. I watched only the first of the “Godfather” trilogies.

 I can only stand so much violence. 

I haven’t swum with dolphins. 

I did take up snorkeling to get a different view of the world below the water’s surface. 

There had been chances but I opted out of the petting part much less getting in the dolphin’s 

space.

Lastly, I have never driven a convertible. 

Technically it said to drive a convertible down the coast. 

If you know me, I drive the coast from one end to the other. 

I have ridden in a red convertible but it was on the interstate. 

That may be the one thing that I try to complete before this decade is over. 

Have a better chance of doing that I think.

Wonder what else I have missed?

Do Angels Take Naps in Heaven

Grandparents mean a lot to children, and their lose leaves a void.
Keeping the memory of a grandparent alive, can help

Savor It!

Savor It!

Each day is a gift from God. Enjoy it.

Try this:

Invite some friends as few as 3 as many as you can accommodate.

Take turns bringing a dish- something you want to try or a tried and true recipe.

Taste it, savor it, enjoy it.

Enjoy the companionship of friends or if a bigger group, make new friends.

 

Make a game where each person puts a gratitude on a slip of paper and displays it on the back.

Of course you have to have someone put it on the back but you can see what the person is grateful for

without staring at the tag on the front. It can be disconcerting if you don’t make eye contact.

Or make it a prayer request. You can find someone with a similar need and share support.

Keep it simple. One dish to savor what you are savoring is friendship.

 

I think keeping a gratitude journal is a good idea but how about a Prayer Journal?

At the top of the page write a prayer- be specific. You can add a date if you like.

Each day pray with that request in mind.

When God answers the request, write it down. Not only the date but how it was answered.

Feeling down, go back and read your answered prayers.

 

Want to combine? Put the prayer request at the top and

use the bottom half of the page for listing amazing things that happened to you that day.