Begin it now

I'm reading "Bringing Yoga to Life" by Donna Farhi. I'm inspired. And I have a few quotes to share:

"Regardless of the specific form of meditation we choose or the specific style or tradition of Yoga we practice, we can begin to channel our energy by asking the questions, 'Are my choices supporting what is deeply satisfying in my life?' And, 'Are my choices leading to long-term freedom or short-lived pleasure?' If we went through an average day asking these questions, our day might look quite different. These kinds of questions lead us to evaluate what is important to us and to choose to what purpose we will devote our time and energy."

And, an introductory quote from a chapter called 'The Freedom of Discipline':

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative and creation. There is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." 
-- Goethe

The Dolphin's Tooth

I achieved something spectacular: I finished a novel. This is wonderful news.

The Dolphin's Tooth, written by Bruce Kirkby, a Canadian, only eight years my senior, is about the fine tuning of listening to that inner voice telling you there is more to life than sitting at a desk, about taking leaps of faith, and ending up on a path to endless adventures and a life worth living. It's a miraculous life story, and the guy is still in his forties.

I couldn't help but notice a little envy creeping around my head as I read his novel. But I also noticed myself turning that envy into inspiration: motivation to create my own reality, to plan adventures with my family and to take opportunities that may at first seem risky or illogical. For adventures like these are the salt of life.

The headings of Bruce's chapters are quotations regarding adventure. Two, in particular, resonated within me.

"The cure for anything is salt water; sweat, tears, or the sea."
- Isak Dinesen

And...

"Of the gladdest moments of human life, methinks, is the departure on a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off, with one mighty effort, the fetters of Habit, the leaden weight of Routine, the cloak of many Cares, and the slavery of Home, one feels once more happy. The blood flows with the fast circulation of childhood.... A journey, in fact, appeals to Imagination, to Memory, to Hope - the three sister graces of our moral being."

- Sir Richard Francis Burton, ZANZIBAR

I'm inspired.

Pop Culture

Do I know the latest fun songs on the radio? What movies are in the theatre? Uh, no. But, I find myself reciting the following in my mind as I sit in the bath:

Ben's band. Bim's band. Big bands. Pig bands.

Bim and Ben lead bands with brooms.

Ben's band bangs and Bim's band booms.

Dr. Seuss is pop culture, right? Well, from many, many moons ago.

I secretly feel kind of privileged not to be a part of the mainstream coolness factor. It's so much easier not knowing about all that stuff, and therefore not caring about it or spending time trying to be immersed in it all.

Plus, my memorization of Dr. Seuss literature probably makes for a much better party discussions, should I ever find myself at a party these days. Ha! Yeah, right.

Glue them shut

It is kind of interesting, this whole tired mama thing. It makes everything slow down and simmer a bit longer. I will be totally fine, and I know this too shall pass, but in the immediate moment, I wish my eyelids were glued shut.

Cracks Let the Light In

I've had a rough couple of days. I actually broke down crying twice in the past 24 hours. The Little Bean is not sleeping well, and so neither am I. I think my body is just tired of not sleeping well for the past year. My tears felt like grief for lost sleep, time by myself, and whatever else I've pushed aside to be his mom. I'm normally okay with all this, but it's been coming to a head, and when I'm tired and then more tired, I just feel like I can't keep it together.

In the middle of my leaky breakdown, wrapped in my hand-knit blanket, laying huddled on the floor, I remembered Leonard Cohen's lyric: "There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." I think I just let more light in.

If I change my posture, will it change my life?

My body tells me I've been slouching too much lately: aching thoracic back, tension where my neck joins my head, compression in my belly, rapid and shallow breath, tightness in my buttocks and hamstrings. It's a slippery slope, this slouching thing. It starts out slow, and then suddenly I'm scooped down looking like the 'Before' picture below.

During my yoga practices of late, I've contemplated attempting the anti-slouch. Basically, every time I notice that I'm slouching (while standing, sitting, walking, breastfeeding, etc.), I will rise up to the occasion and grow long. That's it. I just raise everything a little bit like an imaginary string from the top of my head is being pulled taught. It's amazing how quickly that shift makes me feel better.

So, I'm wondering if I change my posture, will it change my life? Will I guard my heart less, be open to new adventures, breath more deeply, reach into the depths of my being and come out with confidence, openness, and lightness? Will I release some of my grip on fear and move ahead with some of my ideas and ventures? Will I let go of the slouch and allow my body to relax into the balanced, strong, flexible being that I naturally want to be? Ooooh, it sounds so juicy, I am eager to give this a try!

This reminds me of a wonderful catch phrase in yoga, "Get grounded, grow long." Thanks Brahmani and Jashoda!

Fill 'er up!

This is the quinoa plant... Yum.
Photo: unmomentonordico.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-is-quinoa.html

 

 

 

 

For a little guy who decided he would like to wait until nearly one full year before transitioning from all-milk-all-the-time to a bit of solid food here and there, he's sure picking up the brownie points from us in the department known as "What He Will Eat".

Little Bean's a big fan of the homemade apple sauce (our main go-to for the quick and dirty meal). He'll also down bananas and apples and the odd Nutrio (a cheerio without all the salt and sugar = tastes like cardboard) and some other random veggies and fruits.

Here's the exciting part: Now we can add quinoa to the list! He's currently gobbling it up with his own fingers. I thought it would be too much like rice (which he won't currently eat), but I guess it's that nutty flavour that he can't resist!

But can he use chopsticks to eat this quinoa? This has yet to be determined. I'm guessing he'll inherit his mama's ambidextrous and super-dexterous appendages and he'll win the state champs one day. (Note: If there isn't a state championship on chopstick quinoa eating, there should be).

On the food front, he's also a fan of black beans (whole), garbanzo beans (whole), and lentils. He's beefin' up on the protein in anticipation of walking soon.

Using the words of Little Bean, "Boom!"