Day 335 Intention ~ Be Present & Content

Day 335 Intention ~ Be Present & Content

As the holiday weekend winds down, many of you may be dreading heading back to work tomorrow. For me, besides Thanksgiving day, I have been working all weekend long. So, as I wrapped up the two classes that I subbed this morning, I was so happy to not have any other obligations til tomorrow evening. 

I found myself sitting in the lazy boy chair, snuggled with a blanket and fire in the in the wood burning stove, watching the Browns (yes, I do love my Brownies still), I felt so content. So comfy, so happy, and relaxed. The best part to me besides feeling this way was realizing that I felt this way. In the moment. Ahhhhhhhhh. 

It's so great when we have these little moments. I hope that they happen often for you. Of course I feel like they could happen more often (at least the relaxed part), but I will take them when I get them.

Remember to breathe deep tomorrow & if you stay in the moment and think positively, you will have a great Monday back from a long weekend. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 280 Intention ~ Back to Work

Day 280 Intention ~ Back to Work

Although it was great to spend a whole day napping and relaxing without a care in the world yesterday, today it is back to reality. Back to work. But, because of yesterday, I feel ready to take on the world. With so much stuff coming up, it is time to buckle down and put the nose to the grindstone...any other cliches I can throw in there?? ha ha ha

So, happy Monday everyone! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 259 Intention ~ Get Positive

Day 259 Intention ~ Get Positive

Monday morning. Some mornings just have a more gloomy factor to them than others. For me, this morning is one of those. Why? Not sure. Mondays really don't make too much difference to me since I work pretty much every day of the week. The sun is even peeking out through the clouds. 

So what's the problem here? 

My attitude. I need to get positive and know it's going to be a good day...if I decide to make it that way. In the Yoga Sutras it reads, "When transgressions hinder, the weight of the imagination should be thrown to the other side." A.k.a., change your attitude. Make the negative energy positive. 

Still working on it for today, but I am getting there. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 210 Intention ~ Make Today Fun

Day 210 Intention ~ Make Today Fun

It's funny, I don't work a regular 9-5 type job, yet on Monday's, I still feel what I guess most Americans feel starting the work week. Weird. Maybe I have just been trained to think that way? Maybe it's John leaving for work that makes it seem like a drag? I don't know, but really, Monday is one of my more mellow days, so it's funny that I allow myself to get in a rut about it. 

Not today! Today, although I do have 3 classes to teach and research to do, I am going to make today fun. Please, I love my work anyhow, so that's already fun. It's gorgeous outside and I have a few free hours before my evening classes...all the makings for a fun filled Monday! 

The way to make something better is to change your thoughts about it, so from now on when I feel dread about a certain day or event or meeting (anything really) that I don't necessarily want to do, change the attitude about it and it will surely turn out better than expected! 

Have a great day!

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 182 Intention ~ See The Bright Side

Day 182 Intention ~ See The Bright Side

Monday, Monday...sure it's cliche. But, man oh man, what a day so far. One of those days when things are just annoying and more difficult than those easy breezy days of Jupiter. I did see a friend post something about Mercury being retrograde. 

It started when I couldn't sleep last night...that usually starts it. Then my drive through the University Circle construction zone was a mess. And even though I kept asking myself, "Why are you letting this bug you?", I still felt crabby about it. Even when the radio played an old Aerosmith tune that I love and then right into The Stones. Surely it was the universe trying to tell me to just enjoy the ride with a side of some classic rock that I love.

Things started to look up. 

When I went home, I felt productivity take over me. Then, I tried to walk my beloved George. Now George is a powerful beast when he wants to get to something or to another dog. As we are walking, he takes care of his business. I bend down to pick it up and see a guy with a dog across the street. George starts to get excited and starts to drag me a bit. I try to stop him. Granted, I should have stood up at this point, but I thought he would stop. What the heck was I thinking?!?!?!

Next thing I know, I have been dragged through what I was trying to pick up and I'm still wondering if George may have pulled my already screwy shoulder out of its socket. Ugh. The guy then says, "He just wants to play." Arghhhh.

Needless to say, this is in the top 5 grossest and worst walk experiences George and I have ever had. As I moped all the way home, determined to be annoyed, George settled in next to me and gave me his unconditional love. And, I still wouldn't trade that love beast for any other dog in the world. 

So, there are worse things that could have happened. Sure, I'm a little embarrassed and my shoulder is a little, okay, very sore, but we are okay. And life is still good, Mercury retrograde Monday or not. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 126 Intention ~ Keep Smiling

Day 126 Intention ~ Keep Smiling

Monday blahs. Many of us get them. Back to work after a beautiful weekend. Today, I vow to keep smiling. If we can change our attitude towards something and make it a positive, well, lo and behold, it usually becomes more positive. 

So, although I don't work a regular 9-5 job, it doesn't mean that I am not busy. Today is no different, but smiling and being positive through it all just makes it more pleasant all around. 

Monday Funday! (Okay, maybe that is extreme for some of you, but please try to enjoy every day ~ it's the only one of that day you'll ever get!)

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 105 Intention ~ Ride My Bike

Day 105 Intention ~ Ride My Bike

It's really a pretty simple intention, straightforward. No life changing events here (although I suppose you never know). Just a nice little ride on a nice sunny Monday here in Cleveland. 

I was so excited to finally get my bike fixed after years of talk a few weeks back, just to have the weather turn cold, rainy, sometimes snowy, so today I will ride! 

So, in some ways I will change things by getting some fresh air, some exercise, not sitting on the couch eating junk food or watching t.v., but riding around my lovely city soaking it all in.

Sometimes it's nice to keep it simple, which I suppose could be considered yogic. :)

Happy Monday all! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 91 Intention ~ Laugh Out Loud

Day 90 Intention ~ Laugh Out Loud

Granted, this happens daily in my life, for which I am very grateful. I was going to try to write some witty joke and say "April Fool's" at the end, but, alas, I am just not feeling that witty this morning. 

But, I will laugh at your silly April Fool's Day jokes, and enjoy  it! 

Laughter is a wonderful tool. It makes us happy, it gives us energy and it just plain feels good. 

Just last week, I was writing about Laughter Yoga and its benefits. Why not try it out?! Worse case scenario, you get to laugh. So, crack some jokes with a friend or co-worker, or perhaps with someone in the grocery line...you may make their day (or yours).

I wish all of you a happy Monday, a happy April 1st, and a happy week ahead. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 49 Intention - Embrace Monday

Day 49 Intention - Embrace Monday!

And, boy, was it one...hence, I am just getting this entered on Tuesday evening. My computer was freezing every time I went online yesterday. I tried to blog from my so-called smartphone, but, alas, it would shut down when I started to blog. Ugh. 

Monday battles: 

• discovered that a rate increase that my credit card pulled on me is actually legal and allowed when I was certain they were breaking the new-ish credit card act that passed a couple years back 
• the computer freeze started 
• a friend told me about the vegan bakery at Nature's Bin, so I made a trip (this is not a bad thing), so craving sweet delights, I drove over there between classes in a nearby neighborhood. Some punk kid (yes, I'm waving my cane as I type), chucked some sort of fleshy, I'm assuming rotting, produce at my windshield ~ side note, I am also assuming it was some young kid, which is still leaving a streak
• no one came to my last class

Ahhhh Monday! But, you've got to just roll with it, right? On the plus side, it's nice to know my credit card isn't screwing me over (well, this time anyhow), I didn't really have to do anything on the computer yesterday, aka no writing assignments due, I got my vegan sweet treats and I do think it's my karma from my teenage years when I will admit, I egged a car or two and luckily I had gone to Julie Kirkpatrick's class last weekend (sister to David Life, co-founder of Jivamukti yoga) who talked about one person showing up for her class, so I've learned to accept low attendance, so long as it isn't permanent! And, I got to go home to my family earlier than expected, so that's always a treat. 

So, there you have it. A day late, but these are the things I was thinking of yesterday, so til...a few moments from now, when I type up today's intention! 

Shanti, 

Marcia