Day 351 Intention ~ Get The Holiday Spirit

Day 351 Intention ~ Get the Holiday Spirit

 

 

Interestingly enough, after yesterday's post and voicing out loud that I had the holiday blues, I almost immediately started to perk back up. I took the dog for a walk and went to start the old holiday shopping. It was as if I purged a little bit.

 

 

Today, I feel like a different person. I am ready to tackle this holiday madness and get in the spirit. Really, I feel the spirit of giving and love, peace, joy and happiness all year round. It's just this time of year when spending money that I don't necessarily have to spend that I can get a little bit down. But, it's once a year. It will be okay and it's not like I go too too nuts anyhow.

 

 

It's not really about the gift giving anyhow as we all know. It's about spending time with loved ones. No matter what you believe...for some it's about Jesus, for others, it's not. Most importantly, get together with people and spread some joy and peace. Laugh, love, and let's just enjoy some time together...as one.

 

 

Til tomorrow...

 

 

Shanti,

 

 

Marcia

Day 255 Intention ~ Bring Joy To Another

Day 255 Intention ~ Bring Joy To Another

Perhaps it's just a smile or a laugh. Maybe it's letting someone in your driving lane. Maybe it's by listening...really listening. There are so many ways to bring joy to another person that you come across in your day. Whether it is a stranger or your dearest loved one, bring someone some joy and it is sure to be passed on. 

Seems like that should be an everyday intention...for everyone. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 185 Intention ~ Reconnect With My Family

Day 185 Intention ~ Reconnect With My Family

This is the cabin that we are staying in this holiday weekend with my family. There is one week a year that we all get together and this is it. My father turned 84 on this trip this year and it is fantastic to get to spend time with him. For him, the best gift is to get to spend time with all of us. I have learned to really cherish this time together too. 

Family is wonderful & we all laugh a lot when we are together which is great. And at least once a trip I can get my mother to laugh so hard she starts to cry. That night was tonite.

Happy 4th to all!

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 167 Intention ~ Give My Dad A Little Love

(In Portland, Maine summer 2011)

Day 167 Intention ~ Give My Dad A Little Love

Happy Father's Day to all of the dad's out there. Just like many little girls, yep, I think that mine is the best. Even as an adult I think so. Just one of those genuine, hard-working, honest, laid back guys that did (and does) what he needs for his family and lives how he feels it is right. My dad is that guy who always mowed the older people in the neighborhood's lawn or shoveled their driveway in the snow. Even now at almost 84, he tends the lawn at his church. 

He worked 2 jobs when my brothers and I were growing up to make ends meet. He was a fireman for 40 years and on the side, he installed electric garage doors. He always grows a beautiful garden and just plain knows how to do stuff. 

As a kid, it seemed like he was always at work, but when he was around, he was always working outside or taking care of things around the house for us. 

As an adult, I love to talk to him about football and baseball, gardening, and whatever's on his mind. We joke around a lot. We laugh a lot. Even today, when I talked to him, we mostly laughed and talked about our upcoming trip to Virginia with my whole family. 

This fall it'll be 3 years since he had a quintuple bypass, but he is doing great and I am so blessed and lucky to still have him around. 

Happy Father's Day to my dad, thank you for everything. 

I love you. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 95 Intention ~ Embrace the Day

Day 95 Intention ~ Embrace the Day

This is gonna be short and sweet today, because it's gonna be another busy one for me...but the plan is to embrace the day! Whatever it brings! 

Enjoy what comes your way. Smile at people, laugh, appreciate this great big world while you're here! Why waste time being negative about things, it only makes it worse, never better. Try to see the light in all things and you just may find that your heart and your mind open more and more. 

Happy Friday you all! 

Til tomorrow...(told ya it was gonna be a short one today!)

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 88 Intention ~ Celebrate Spring!

Day 88 Intention ~ Celebrate Spring!

Okay, so this picture may seem more like, celebrate summer, but I have a lot of excitement over this nice weather. 

Today in Cleveland, the sun is shining bright, it's 50 degrees out and it's supposed to be a beautiful weekend. Since Spring started, we have been hit by snow, after snow, after snow...none of it really sticking, but grey skies and snow do not a Spring-like day make. So, today, I celebrate! 

And apparently, others feel the same. Everywhere I have ventured today, there are people all over, walking around, riding bikes, chatting, laughing and most importantly, smiling. 

Amazing what a little sunshine can do for the spirit. I love all of the seasons, don't get me wrong, but there's just something about that bright sun after months of cloudy, grey , snowy days. 

On that note, have a great Friday. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 84 Intention ~ Get Playful

Day 84 Intention ~ Get Playful

It may have dumped more snow here in Cleveland last night, but this time, it's not getting me down in the dumps. It's making me playful. As my dog and I ran around outside in the snow, I found myself laughing and he was having a blast as he always does in the snow. 

Being a little playful helps to keep us young. Laughter is known to relieve stress, which helps not only to make life a little bit more positive (or at least our attitude), but stress reduction can keep us healthy. 

Laughter yoga, also known as Hasya Yoga, is just what it sounds like. People make themselves laugh, which may start out forced, but quickly turns into real laughter and a fun situation. Created by Dr. Madan Kataria from Mumbai, India in 1995, it is a combination of pranayama (yogic breathing) and laughter. To learn more about Laughter Yoga, check out www.laughteryoga.org.

So, keep having fun & keep on laughing! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 68 Intention ~ Act Like A Kid Again

Day 68 Intention ~ Act Like A Kid Again

It's so easy to get caught up in all of the stresses, obligations and responsibilities of being an adult. Why not let it go and act like a kid again?!?! Remember when life was fun and your worries were about simpler things like where to go play and have fun rather than bills, work, family or other responsibilities? 

It's great for the mindset and for morale to just let things go, even if it is just for a few hours and go have some fun. Laugh, be silly, fall down...go rollerskating! 

Let yourself have a little time for fun and let your inner kid come out and play! 

Happy Saturday everyone! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 51 Intention ~ To Smile at the People I Meet

Day 51 Intention ~ To Smile at the People I Meet Today

Pretty simple and pretty easy to do. My goal today is to just smile and be friendly to those I meet up with today. It could just make someone's day, who knows! It may cause a chain reaction of people smiling and being courteous and friendly to one another. Isn't that a nice way to live! 

In my yoga classes, I try to smile and laugh and put people at ease, so they feel more relaxed and calm and usually more willing to try poses they may not have been willing to try. Today was no different. I have a student who used to practice all the time, but has recently discovered that she has rheumatoid arthritis and things that she used to do, are much more difficult now, if she can even do them. But, she smiles and breathes and does what she can. I applaud her for that, and I am glad that she feels at ease in my class to know that that is okay. 

I even tried this smiling at the BMV today. And guess what, the woman behind the counter helping me, at first, wasn't looking at me, but then she yawned, and I smiled and cracked a joke. From then on out, she was as attentive and friendly as can be. Interesting. 

I am going to keep this going for the rest of the day, and try to do it everyday. We are all connected, so why not give a warm smile to someone who may look like they need it. You may just make their day! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia