Rest, in December?!?!?! YES!

     So December is close upon us. Folks tend to get crazy with stuff-to-do in December.
     Rev. Christian Sorensen asks, "When was the last time you just sat and watched a bird for an hour doing its bird thing, without feeling rushed inside or as if you were wasting precious time?"
     If you look back over past Decembers, chances are extremely high that everything that HAD to get done, got done, and you don't remember what did not get done. This year will be no different, especially if you choose to take some breathers in your busy pace.
     Two things to consider: 1) time and 2) necessity.
     First, time. It is a human invention. We create time, and we (i.e., you) can create as much as we need. If this sounds wacko, I refer you to the book, The Big Leap, by Gay Hendricks. Read about "Einstein time." Speaking from personal experience, it works.
     Second, necessity. What a great idea to use the occasional breather to decide if some task really is a necessity. Habits tend to overload us, and if we can simply take a few moments to consider a chore, we may find that it really isn't necessary or could be accomplished in some other way.
     Peacefully enjoying the Christmas season,
              Leta

It Matters, It Doesn't Matter

     I am writing this to record a point of grace in my own spiritual journey, it feels a bit jumbled, but please bear with me.
     I am studying the Ultimate Freedom teachings of Robert Scheinfeld (author: Busting Loose from the Money Game), have just passed through a 2nd in-depth study of Emotional Currency (EC, Kate Levinson), and I am enjoying Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. My stress and uptightness relative to money has been greatly reduced as a result of the self-exploration induced by EC. And yesterday, in both Scheinfeld's and Gilbert's work, I hit on "it matters, it doesn't matter."
     Both Scheinfeld and Gilbert are about being who we truly are, creative spiritual beings, and letting the results go. As in, it matters what we do, doing it because it is our nature to create, to fully express who we are, but what doesn't matter is the outcome, people's reactions, etc. We live our wholeness, and that takes care of the rest. This is Ultimate Freedom, per Scheinfeld, and I think Gilbert would agree.
     Scheinfeld talks about the need to Experience this, that simply being told about it doesn't work. And as I read and listened to his work yesterday, I realized I have experienced it, and I get it. Here's my Experience...
     I am a yoga teacher, and at one of the places I teach, I am paid based on the number of students attending. I went through a (money-stress related) period in which I prayed, forced, demanded, and pouted to the Universe to deliver me more students so that I'd make more money. This offered very random results, and my mood went up with more students and down with fewer.
     Then, one day a couple months ago, probably as a result of my EC work, I awakened to the fact that the number of students... "It doesn't matter!" What does matter is to enjoy teaching yoga as only I can (which I had been doing anyway), and let the results (i.e., number of students) go. A huge weight lifted. Being the spiritual learner I am, I am letting this wisdom spill over into other areas of my life, and it truly does feel like Ultimate Freedom. It truly is a spiritual practice to be present, flow with life, and let the results simply be. And, oh my, it surely does feel great!
     Thanks for listening!
     Learning and growing,
       Leta

ThanksGIVING

Here are some excellent words about giving written by Dr. Christian Sorensen:

"Are your thoughts filled with appreciation? Are your words ones of gratitude? Are your actions filled with joy? Do you serve with a sense of appreciation? Do you give without expectation of return? Or is that all too exhausting to think about and too mind-boggling of an effort to pursue? But that is exactly how you activate the affluent flow. Giving is not about duty, religion or manipulation; it's a spiritual practice that is intended to be the natural state of being. It's an extension of your consciousness. You are being the activity of the abundant flow through your life."

     Where might you give with joy this ThanksGIVING season?  Enjoy!
              Leta

A New Word

     Wellelujah! Well and hallelujah combined. Knowing all is well (no matter what appearances may seem to indicate) and feeling the joy of hallelujah. I came up with this yesterday morning as I was swimming a mile. I LOVE to swim, and I'm so grateful for the wellness that enables me to do so. I also love one-word reminders of how great life is.
     Wellelujah! The KC Royals won the World Series last night in yet another thriller. Congratulations, Royals, and thanks for a fabulous, fun, exciting season.
     Wellelujah! I am immersed in a Higher Power that loves and supports me always. You are, too! Cause for great celebration, I'd say.
           Joyous Monday,
                 Leta

Comparison

     Stop comparing yourself to others. Just stop it!
     As a yoga teacher, I see a lot of the self-defeating habit of comparison. We do classic sun salutations (a flowing sequence of several yoga postures) in nearly all my classes. They are always the same, and I usually lead the students through them. Occasionally I say to them, "Do a sun salutation on your own at your own pace." Comparison bursts onto the scene. What if I don't do it right? What if I'm slower than so-and-so? I can't do it myself. On and on.
     There will always be someone smarter, quicker, richer, thinner, more creative, whatever (!!) than you or me. Each of us has plenty of challenge being who we are--there is no time or energy to waste trying to be someone else.
     One way to notice the ugly habit of comparison is if the words "should" or "shouldn't" are invading your thoughts or spoken word. These indicate dissension between how you want to be or behave and how you think you ought to be or behave, based on some comparison. For example, I really want to go to my local coffee shop and read, relax and have coffee. But I should clean the house so that my weekend guests will think I'm as good a housekeeper as they are. There's lots of stress involved in this scenario. Can I live with a not-so-perfect house? What will my guests think? How clean is clean enough? It's irritating that I can't do what I really want to do. On and on.
     See? Comparison is endlessly self-defeating. Stop it!
              Leta

Joy in Kansas

     My friend Phil and I went on another of our favorite adventures yesterday... a day trip to a new-to-us spot in Kansas. It was so nice to have time to visit during the drive and not be on any time agenda.
     We started out at Carriage Crossing in Yoder having a yummy breakfast. We held off on a morning piece of pie. Then we drove to Sterling so that Phil could see what a lovely town it is and so we could investigate the beautiful Sterling College.
     We backtracked a bit and went to Quivira Wildlife Refuge. While we didn't see any whooping cranes, we did see several varieties of waterfowl. I was most impressed, actually frightened, by how little water there was in this wetlands area. Water levels were really low and there were very large areas so dry that the ground was cracked. It reminded me not to take water for granted.
     Next we drove to Hudson to visit the Hudson Flour Mills, home of our favorite flour, Hudson Cream. While we were not there on a tour day, we were able to see the informational film about the history of the Mills and how they make the Cream flour. It's a very interesting and involved process.
     Our (late) lunch stop was in Stafford at The Gathering Place where we had an excellent lunch, including the day-trip-requisite pie, coconut cream (Phil) and peanut butter (me). Heaven! Then to our complete delight, right next to the restaurant was a Mercantile. Not only did it have most everything one could think of, but there was also an old-fashioned soda fountain at the back of the store. It was a trip back in time, like going to the old 5&10.
     Then we headed back to Wichita. I am so grateful I live here. The soil is fertile, the spaces wide open, the people friendly, the sky magnificent. We are blessed!
     Go explore your world, be it Kansas or some other state. You DO have time, and you'll be glad you did!
             Leta

Enthusiasm

"None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm."  Henry David Thoreau

     I am about to mark 60 years on the planet, so "old" has been in my mind a lot. I don't feel old, and this Thoreau quote gave me the reason why. I am enthusiastic about life.
     I am also quite enthusiastic about baseball. This year, not one, but TWO, as in BOTH my favorite teams are in the playoffs. The Cubs and the Royals. I am in baseball nirvana. Pretty often I don't even get one team in, but two?!?!? I am wildly enthusiastic. My brother even called this afternoon to congratulate me!
     I am enthusiastic about yoga, both practicing and teaching it. It has made a huge difference in my life, my spirit, and my body. It has brought the most amazing and wonderful and loving people into my life. What's not to love?
     I am enthusiastic about my family. I am blessed with an awesome husband and two terrific sons. I am dedicated to staying fit and healthy and hope that someday I may have grandkids to play with. There's some long-term enthusiasm for you!! :)
     I am enthusiastic about people. I enjoy smiling. I love to brighten someone's day with a "good job" or "thank you." Simple, kind interactions are the things a joyous life is made of.
     Ponder enthusiasm in your life. Get yourself jazzed up. I'm betting you'll feel younger!
             Coming to you from baseball nirvana,
                    Leta