Day 38 Intention ~ Wag More, Bark Less

Day 38 Intention ~ Wag More, Bark Less

Pretty self-explanatory I think. But, yes, my goal is to be more like my dog. He's always happy to see me, will take a walk in any weather with exuberance, takes a nap when he needs one, will protect those he loves and can't hide who he is...ever. 

I aim to be so true all the time & real all the time. To treat others like they are the most important person on the planet.

Don't get me wrong, I know he's a dog and his biggest concern is his next treat. But he is also so full of love and that is a wonderful thing in another being. If we could all be so open to love each other. 

So today is my ode to George. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 37 Intention ~ Give Thanks

Day 37 Intention ~ Give Thanks

I am thankful for many things in my life. I love my work, my family, my friends, my dog, laughter, yoga, the delicious vegan soup a friend gave me today, The Rolling Stones...you name it. Often when it's not around Thanksgiving or the holidays anymore, we forget to appreciate and give thanks for everything in our lives and for this magnificent world. 

So today, I invite you to pause with me & give thanks for all the good (and even the bad-we learn from those things, right?!) that are in our lives. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 36 Intention ~ Be Okay Asking for Help

Day 36 Intention ~ Be okay asking for help. 

If you've been reading these intentions, you may have noticed a theme of, well, stress in my posts. It is true. As much as I talk about letting go and being strong and letting the universe unfold as it may, I am still susceptible to stress. But today, I sucked up my ego and asked for help. I had been thinking about a deadline that I have for days now, worrying about my experts not coming through. Today I finally broke down and let my editor know that I wouldn't be ready. "We can extend the deadline.", she said. Poof! That stress was a feeling of relief...at least for now. 

It's amazing what people will put themselves through before just asking for some help. Tucking the ego in and asking for help can be hard for a lot of us, who are taught to be strong, get the job done, and on and on. But, asking for help does not make you weak. It makes you human. Next time you feel yourself pushing yourself to the limit and not getting anywhere, just ask for some help. You may find it's the biggest push you can get. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 35 Intention ~ Stay Strong

Day 35 Intention ~ Stay Strong

These days, we all have several things on our plates. Whether it's working 2 jobs, volunteering, taking care of kids and a household, and all of the other chores and responsibilities that are part of our everyday life. And, just as life goes, sometimes we are just busier than other times. Or, perhaps we're not actually busier, but we just seem to have less energy for all of our activities than we have had on other days. 

Just remember to stay strong, this feeling will pass. But, if for some reason it continues for days or weeks...or even longer, it's time to look at some habits. Are you working out? Are you eating healthy foods? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you taking time for yourself for pleasure? Regardless of how busy you are, if you don't take time to go to a yoga class, the gym or take a walk, meditate, eat right and sleep enough, you will feel run down. You may even make yourself sick. Having some down time to enjoy life with your spouse or see friends or maybe just watch a movie by yourself are so important in helping us feel more balanced and less ragged to work on all of our, well...work. 

Life is best lived in a balanced way. It will be much more pleasurable for not only you, but for everyone in your life and those you come in contact with each day. 

Stay strong my friends! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 34 Intention ~ Stop Worrying

Day 34 Intention ~ Stop Worrying

Yep, it's that simple. I have a writing assignment due and none of my experts are getting back to me. It stresses me out wondering if I will be able to fulfill this assignment or not....

But, worrying does no good. If I just let go, things usually fall into place. The universe has a funny way of working like that. Walk away for a bit. Do other things, breathe, practice yoga, just let go. Keep the faith that things will work out as they are supposed to, which is hard when you are stuck waiting. But, that is when the practice sets in. This is that "off the mat" yoga practice. How do you handle stressful situations? Do you freak out, do you calmly deal with the task at hand or do you just walk away, not dealing with it at all? The breathe is one of our greatest tools for calming all the mind chatter that goes on. When you feel stressed take 10 long deep breaths & you will feel calmer by the end of them. 

That's what I am going to go do right now! :)

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 33 Intention ~ Stay Motivated

Day 33 Intention ~ Stay motivated.

It is a cold, snowy day in Cleveland. The perfect day to snuggle up to the fire and watch a movie or read a book...and it's the weekend. Well, weekends don't necessarily mean a day off for me anyhow, and with writing assignments looming and "experts" for those articles not getting back to me, I must trudge forward and keep working at least a little bit. 

If you read last Sunday's post, then you know how much I love Sunday! Therefore, best to do this stuff now...the reward will be when I can hit up some friends Superbowl parties tomorrow night and not feel like I should be working. 

On that note, this one is short. No rest for the weary :)

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 32 Intention ~ Take My Time, I Will Get When It's Time

Day 32 Intention ~ Take my time, I will get there when it's time.

This can be applied to many things...my yoga practice, my career, my enlightenment, even my drive to Berea in the snow. Friends that have known me for a long time know that rushing is not something that I like to do. Whether it is to get out of the house in the morning or to get into a yoga pose that I find challenging. When I was younger, I would sometimes feel little less accomplished because I wasn't working in a career that I necessarily wanted to be in, or I wasn't with my life partner yet when my friends all had seemed to find that love already. Whatever it was that came up, I hadn't figured out what it was that I needed and wanted from this life and it made me feel insecure. 

Nowadays, I feel like I am finally doing what I want to do, but am still unsure of what direction it will end up. That's okay. I have realized that my slow & steady pace is what works for me. I am working in the field I want to be in, I have found that love that I want to share a life with, and I can finally (after many years), at least lift up into a forearm stand albeit still armed with a strap & a block...that is okay. 

I know that I quote my African proverbs calendar a lot on this blog, but it's kind of going along with my life, sending me little reminders, and today is no exception. It's a Ugandan proverb that reads, "The long, sure way will take you to your destination." Perfect. I can't wait to see what is going to happen when I arrive.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia