Everyday Yogini

Beginning long before the the illness that I deal with, after I (finally) passed the CPA exam, I started thinking seriously about the big question. You know. THAT question.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE???

You know. THAT one. Meaning. Purpose. Passion. Excellence. All that jazz…

My brain and my heart have been circling the question for a while now. Like the word that is on the tip of your tongue that you can’t quite access. That frustrating place of knowing that it’s close, but, not within range.

All that changed recently through a really amazing series of events that COULD be construed as coincidence, but they weren’t. Not at all. Let me tell you. Somehow, I came upon a free course called The Butterfly Experiment (which is no longer free) that is all about manifesting what you want in your life. The course has you focus on manifesting butterflies. I sort of half paid attention to the program and spent a total of about 4 minutes per day on it (I think she asks for 10 - 15 minutes per day), and, every day (I’m not kidding) I saw butterflies. It was pretty impressive, but even MORE impressive was the dissolution of the barrier in my mind that was hiding the answer to my burning question (remember? The one up the page a bit?).

In addition to the Butterfly Experiment (which I DO highly recommend), I have been listening to, and using the self-coaching techniques of Brooke Castillo and also doing Byron Katie’s Work as well, so perhaps I was just ready to hear it. It hit me like a ton of bricks. My whole life has been a preparation for this - even this blog is like a big neon sign announcing my purpose to the world - I just didn’t see it! What I most want to do is to offer others a safe venue to dissolve their own barriers to living the lives they are meant to be living. A guide of sorts. A personal coach and mentor.

I am very excited about this (which is sort of an understatement) and can’t wait to get started! I have signed up for the Life Coach training that is offered by Martha Beck and I am busily reading books and doing my homework. I am also lining up people who want to be my first coach clients, so say the word if you are interested. Seriously.

So, big changes are afoot. I begin my course in June. I anticipate I will archive this blog very soon and switch to a new website and blog - once the name of my coaching business is clear!! So many ideas for classes and programs are popping into my brain, I feel like I’m trying to run to keep up with a fast moving train! When I sit down to work on my homework and do my reading and take notes, time evaporates and I look up two, three hours later. It is a wonderful feeling.

And here is what I need from you. I have a really horrible time coming up with names. Really, it just makes me grumpy. All the names I like are taken (of course), so I have to think up bigger and better names and it’s not really my strong point. Below I have a list of the BEST names that I’ve come up with. I would be EVER so grateful if you weighed in on my poll.

I am so pleased, too, to have received another blog award from the lovely Nadine! A lemonade award, to be exact! Which means, “A Lemonade Award is given to bloggers who show a positive attitude, gratitude, and a willingness to share their ideas, support and online friendship. In other words, people who make lemonade when they get lemons!” I thank you so much Nadine…

And, last but not least! I recently ordered brand new eco-Yoga mats for my home studio classes!! YAY!! They are on their way and I cannot wait to get them. The colors are beautiful and the material is gentle on the environment - so, if you are in the market for a new mat, might I suggest you go see Lotus Pad Yoga Mats?

Tangles, Brushes, and Combs, OH MY!

Speaking of V8 moments, let me pick up where I left off. My daughter now has an art box that she adores and uses often. I am a better parent for developing a deeper level of curiosity about who she is (instead of who I think she is). This, of course, is all about mindfulness and being in the present moment, where creative action and change can happen. Another case in point is the hair brushing incident, as I fondly refer to it now…

One of the ways my daughter is significantly different than me is her hair. My daughter has beautiful, curly hair – golden brown ringlets that frame her face perfectly. I have short, straight hair and do not use a brush. In fact, I avoid brushes at all costs. Fortunately for Clara, she didn’t really start needing her hair combed until she was about 3. Prior to that, she didn’t have enough hair for it to tangle or do anything else, for that matter. Which is my sort of hairstyle.

Once her hair got long enough that it obviously required some regular attention and care, I tried a stupid baby brush with soft bristles. Nothing. All it did was create frizz and leave the dread-lock like tangles in place. So, I decided, on the spot, that using a comb to get tangles out (with water and conditioner sprayed on her hair first) was the best solution.

Never mind that my daughter screamed bloody murder when I would comb her hair – I thought she was OVERREACTING. After all, I would hold the base of small sections of her hair and then gently comb through the tangles at the end. Still, lots of heartache and frustration, every morning, for both of us (no, Erick NEVER combs hair – clear division of duty). We both dreaded the hair-readiness time of morning.

But recently all that changed. We were on an overnight trip and, in the morning, I was shuffling around, looking for the comb and realized I had forgotten the comb. I was cursing under my breath, because we were going to an event where there was a good chance newspapers were going to get pictures of Clara, as Erick was speaking. Italians like well-groomed children. And, I like moderately well groomed children. It just so happens that her hair was REALLY bad that morning, and NEEDED some fixing.

Since I am growing my hair out, I happened to bring a brush with hard bristles to tame my wacky bang cowlicks during blowdrying (that is the ONLY thing I use a brush for). In desperation, I sprayed Clara’s hair down and proceeded to brush her hair. Which I was CONVINCED would not work.

Two things happened:
1. The brush did, in fact, work. Beautifully. Actually better and faster than the stupid comb ever did.
2. Clara didn’t cry. Not one “OW” escaped her lips. It was the most peaceful hair brushing we’ve ever had.

As with the art box, I felt elation over this fabulous discovery (a brush!! A BRUSH WORKS!), and then felt a fairly overwhelming wave of “duh”. Why NOT try something different if the experience I’m having sucks and is totally difficult? Why? Because I’m human, that’s why. We all tend to keep doing things that support our beliefs, like “Hair brushing is painful and hurts and that is JUST THE WAY IT IS.” A silly example, perhaps, but obviously I was completely hooked by this and it took accidental forgetfulness to figure out it could be different. I do this to myself all the time, and I suspect that other people do, too, unconsciously.

Does any of this sound familiar? Are there any experiences that you have on a regular basis that are just downright unpleasant? Have you resigned yourself in a, “That’s just the way it is.” sort of way? The homework I’ve given myself since the brush incident is to notice when I am NOT having a pleasant experience and step back to evaluate whether there is a way for me to a. change the situation or b. change the way I think about the situation.

Care to join me? Have you had your own V8 moments? What “that’s just the way it is” experience would you like to change? Share in the comments.

Next up in this series: Me, impatient? Come on… Hurry up!

And, a quick note of gratitude… I was recently awarded a blog award by the lovely writer of Graceful Yoga. A heartfelt thank you for thinking of Everyday Yogini for your list…