September Closing

     I'm taking a leap of faith here. Yes, that's brave.
     Some background... the overwhelming number of bad events in my life have happened in the month of September. So much so that it's fairly freakish to me, for instance, my mom and dad both died on the same day, September 24, 21 years apart.
     Pretty much I've gotten over my fears of the month, through considerable spiritual work and thought management, but nonetheless, I am generally glad when the month is over. So my leap of faith is breathing a sigh of relief that I had no personal disasters in September this year. Keeping my fingers crossed for the last 17 hours. My mantra for the day...
     Life is good, life is good, life is good!
                Leta

Young or Old?

     A short "food for thought" quote from Ernest Holmes:

"You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair."

     Mighty words, those are!
              Leta

Money, Money, Money, Money

     I'm working with a group of courageous folks who are using the book Emotional Currency (Kate Levinson, author) to explore their emotions relative to all aspects of money.
     I've been through the book already, doing all the exercises, and these are a few of the things I've noticed about myself and my thoughts and beliefs relative to money:

1. While I will buy things at the grocery store that are not on sale, I get a bit of a rush when something I intend to buy IS on sale. I also always do the math relative to sizes and prices to make sure I'm getting the best deal.
2. My first consideration on whether to buy something is nearly always (99.9%) based on price.
3. I LOVE a good deal. I did know this before, but I see how emotionally-charged a good deal is for me.
4. There are certain money-related "unmentionables." These are thoughts I have (and I believe we all have) relative to money that we consider embarrassing or shameful, and we would never want anyone to know we have them.
5. I, personally, cannot separate love from money, and this stems all the way back to childhood. This was a huge realization, and something that will be a topic for much introspection over time, I'm sure.
6. I knew I was spoiled as a child, but that spoiling went way far beyond what I had initially realized. Please note that I consider "spoiled" to be a compliment (smile).

     Emotional Currency is quite a worthwhile book!
                  Leta

"Best Day Yet"

     This blog title comes from a story by David Goldberg, wherein a friend of his family, when asked how he was doing, consistently said, "Best day yet!" That phrase struck a very harmonious cord with me, and I've been using it repeatedly in my head and out loud for over a week now.
     One result I see is that even if a day is fairly "ordinary," including such basic human tasks as grocery shopping, laundry, tidying, etc., with "best day yet," I have a greater appreciation of being able to do those "ordinary" things.
     There is also the aspect that as life continues to get better and better for me, every additional day on Planet Earth is a huge blessing. Granted, my life has its down times, too, and overall, eventually, I am grateful to be here to experience even those.
     I just finished leading a hugely successful Forrest Yoga retreat weekend at a retreat house about three hours from Wichita. Driving home, I was feeling "best day yet" all over my spirit and body. And believe it or not, "best day yet" got even better. There is great power in using that simple phrase.
    What happened? I had entered a contest and won... tickets to this Saturday's KC Royals game, transportation via the Royals Fan Express bus, Royals shirts and hats for two. This baseball nut is squealing excited.
     Where will "best day yet" take me next!?!?!?
               Leta

Perfectionism rears its ugly head

     Being a person who likes active meditation (as in, I don't do well sitting still for many minutes), I decided that an adult coloring book would be the perfect means to still my mind and take pleasure in one of my favorite things in life, color. There is a great selection of these books out there now--it's "all the rage."
     I was drawn to the one titled "Secret Garden," and I spent some time this morning going through my coloring supplies from my stamping and card-making stock.
     As soon as I pulled the cap off a pen and approached the paper, perfectionism reared its ugly head. What will I do if I mess up? Leave the page a mess? Are these markers fine-pointed enough for these tiny spaces? Why didn't I get something with bigger spaces? And I kid you not, there are youtube videos showing you how to color in this book! Good freakin' heavens!
     I see that this was the perfect purchase for me, and I am undaunted by my "inner roommate" ragging at me. I shall have great fun putting color to paper... lines, what lines!?!?!
     Colorfully perfect,
             Leta

Tribute to Bev Wake

     Bev Wake passed into her next life experience on August 9. I've known Bev for many years as my favorite yoga instructor at the YMCA. Not very many weeks ago, she was diagnosed with cancer, and her beautiful light was extinguished all too soon.
     Bev's yoga teaching was inspiring to me, and I credit her classes with generating in me the desire to become a yoga instructor also. I have completed nearly 700 hours of teaching thus far, so Bev's life really has had a very profound effect on mine, for which I am eternally grateful.
     I was able to express my appreciation in a card to her after I learned of her illness. Due to my own yoga class teaching schedule, my contact with Bev had lessened quite a bit over the past year.
     This all leads me to a suggestion (of course!)... if someone has been important to your life's path and enjoyment, let them know. It's a win-win for all.
     Joyful for Bev, though missing her light,
                 Leta

No worries on vacation, to be continued

     I'm joyously back home, after a vacation including 20 days, 10 states, and 3,696 miles driving.
     I'm not much of a worrier most of the time, and my worries hit an all-time low as I was lying in the pool and walking on the beach at the Outer Banks, North Carolina. I spent a week there in a huge house beside the ocean with 19 assorted friends and relatives. We had outstanding weather. It was great. Though I would have preferred to stay there much longer, I did leave with a very peaceful feeling that all is well, and there's nothing for me to worry about.
     In one of my daily readings this morning, I hit this line, "Worry is praying for what we don't want." (David Goldberg) Well, there's some incentive not to worry!
     I can feel in my body, still, that feeling of calm, relaxation, "everything's fine." It feels good to recall this feeling, and I plan to revisit it often to keep the great feelings of vacation flowing through my "regular" life. It also helps to re-visualize the full moon rising over the ocean, another treat from the trip.
     "Don't worry, be happy,"
             Leta

 to the beach...