Contentment

     My yoga classes have just finished a deep look at santosa, or contentment, one of the principles that the 8-limb system of yoga encourages us to live by.
     What does contentment mean to you? It's a worthwhile question to consider. As we piece together minutes, hours and days of contentment, we create a happy life. There's a key point in what I just wrote... contentment is a present-moment practice. We choose it, it doesn't drop on us from the sky, it's something we bring forth from within. Alas, it cannot be bought or acquired through others, though many try.
     How do I feel content?  By spending time at places I love and with people I love. Taking care of myself, for instance by massage, rest time, chiropractic, creating, exercising, traveling. Practicing yoga, of course. Noticing the beauty of our magnificent planet. Laughter. Faith. Tears. Fun.
     Contentment does not mean I'm always happy or in a good mood, but it's the calm undercurrent when I am experiencing some drama. It means I am satisfied that I am enough, I have enough, I do enough. It is comfortable being in my own skin, in my own life. It truly is a gift to practice contentment.
     Contentedly,
        Leta

The REAL Reason Men Get Married...

... is so there is someone who will clean the science projects out of the refrigerator for them.
                  LOL,
                     Leta

Continuing with the Mother Earth theme

     I'm reading a very interesting book about taking responsibility for one's own health. There are a lot of questions in it. The question that fits this blog post theme is, "Do you take walks, garden, or have other regular contact with Nature?"
     At the moment, Sunday is my only day off. I want to be lazy and watch non-stop basketball. However, I made myself go out and do more garden clean-up. I really do love gardening, it's just getting myself motivated to go outside. And guess what? I feel better. Fresh air, green grass, bright sunshine on my skin, loads of weeds in the trash, a feeling of accomplishment, an appreciation for the wide variety of growing things in our little spot of Mother Earth.
     Let's remember how good it feels to be in the sunshine, breathe fresh air, and move about in Nature. Our health and happiness depend on it!
         Breathe!
             Leta

Mother Earth

     I am blessed on my workdays that about 15 minutes of my drive to and from work take me through the glorious fertile farmlands of the midwest. In the past few weeks, it has gone from brown soil with the seeds preparing to burst to the rich emerald green of sprouted wheat. But this isn't the only beauty. These wheat fields stretch on for miles of relatively flat ground, leaving huge expanses of sky for the most awesome sunrises and sunsets one might imagine. Mother Earth truly is the finest artist!
     I am blessed to notice these things and appreciate them. It makes for a great start to a workday and comforting drive home. Can you find something of beauty on your way to and from work? Can you find something big and awe-inspiring to be curious about? Can you simply enjoy a full breath of truly fresh air? Mother Earth is full of treasures for us!
     Loving nature,
          Leta

What do you love about where you live?

     My husband and I have been talking lately about the things we love about living in Wichita. With all the political unrest in our state, it's a nice change of focus.
     Just off the top of my head, I love that it's easy to get around (if you don't think so, go drive around say, Houston, for a few days). We have great art and theater, lots of variety. Downtown along the river has transformed into a thing of beauty. We have a lot of great locally-owned restaurants. Folks smile a lot here. Botanica is amazing, as is our Sedgwick County Zoo. It's comfortable to live here.
     This is a fun exercise. Wherever you live, it surely has lots going for it, if only you'll notice. If not, maybe it's time to move, but remember, if you do that, you're taking you with you.
      Enjoying where I live,
              Leta

How does it feel?

It's Monday. "Monday" most likely inspires some sort of feeling within your body. Check that out... is it a joyous "Wow, another new week of fun!" or "Shit! It's Monday already!"??? I expect that with just reading those two options, you can see that the first one feels better than the second. This is an example of an extremely important concept...
From Buddha: "We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like the shadow that never leaves."
I encourage you to pay attention to your thoughts and how they make you feel. If you don't like the feeling, change the thought. You can do that.
I'm choosing joy this Monday. I'm ready to go!
       Leta

Lovin' life, be still...

I'm back. I haven't written in a while, because...
I took a more-than-full-time, temporary job doing taxes, in Clearwater. So not only is there the work, but there's also the half-hour-one-way drive to that fair town.
I'm really enjoying it. I'm learning a lot! And I'm getting to meet lots of great folks who live and work in the area. It's a neat small town. I also teach yoga there, and I love my students!

My quote for this writing is from Lao Tzu: "Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river." My job has put me into a beginner's role again, because though I'm a numbers-nerd, there is virtually an infinite amount to learn about our federal and Kansas tax systems. I'm also challenged by the long hours, as I am still teaching my four weekly yoga classes, too.

Some things I'm practicing to sustain this effort (other than counting down the days to April 15!) are staying in the present day, and what is right in front of me, rather than how I'll make it working yet another Saturday. I'm not trying to do too much in my off-time. I'm getting plenty of rest (my husband will vouch for this!). I'm doing something creative for myself--teaching myself to crochet again. It's great to do that on my lunch break, to give my brain a break from numbers.

Overall I feel strong in my ability to learn and do the job (mountain) and stay centered comfortably as each day flows (river). And every day I am finding more in my life to appreciate. I am happy and grateful!
          Celebrating LOVE every day,
                  Leta