364 Days of Gratitude

Day 1: January 2nd, 2013 

I am grateful for my son Noah, who is turning nine today. He is the first baby I held in my arms and I am very happy he came into our lives, healthy, and perfect. I am also grateful for a clean, warm house and the gently falling snow.

Day 2: January 3, 2013

I am grateful for new beginnings and the potential for change. For finally being heard and feeling valued. I am grateful my kids found a way to all get along to day, and that I got to witness them playing and cooperating. And I am extremely grateful to my husband, my guide, the helpful soul who believes in me more than I could ever believe in myself. I am truly blessed. 

Day 3: January 4, 2013

 Today I am grateful for my return to my yoga practice-at the studio, that is. Today's class re-affirmed my commitment to practice. Exceptionally grateful, to Kayla, today's teacher for creating such a great series. Grateful to my husband, Kevin today who stayed home to get the kids off to daycare so I could practice and go to work. Grateful for the vegetable pakoras I am going to make when I get home tonight. Perfect ending to a perfect day.

Day 4: January 5, 2013

Today I am so very grateful to the amazing people I have met through my work with Weight Watchers. Staff, Upper management, members, lifetime members, every one of these people have made a positive impact in my life. Even when I thought it wasn't positive at the time. Every interaction is an opportunity for me to grow, and learn. And for that I am grateful.

Day 5:

So many things to be grateful for today, printable templates-helped me plan and create "Spy" birthday invitations for my son's birthday, and come up with some super cool activities for the party. My in home yoga studio that my AMAZING husband built for me-was able to fit in a 60 minute Moksha series AT HOME. Nice. My sister is visiting in just 10 days-always a crazy but fun time. Friends who support me through email when I just need that extra push. Sweet potato Shepherd's Pie. 

Day 6:

Snow shoveling, tree dismantling, old friends, new enterprises. Falafel. Yes, falafel. 
Oh! And school is back in session. :) 

Day 7/8:

Woops, I actually missed one. But hey I was REALLY grateful yesterday. It was one of those days where I had everything happening all at once and the anxiety in my chest was staggering. But I got it all done. I am GRATEFUL because if our ability to change how we THINK so we can change how we FEEL. You see, I took that anxiety and kept saying to myself your not anxious, your EXCITED. You GET to live today, you get to EAT, to drive your car, to see friends old and new, to practice YOGA, to hug you Kids, to be free. I GET to do ALL of that and more. And that my friends is what makes me truly GRATEFUL. 

Day 9:

Sometimes it is hard to get in the "attitude of gratitude"  I has someone say to me today "You need to be able to always from from a positive space" Not always easy. Sometimes you get a little blue and the blue goes to black. When that happens how to you find the light again? By being GRATEFUL. Tonight I am grateful for preservative free fully cooked chicken nuggets-complete with a sauce package-OK not EXACTLY whole foods, but the closest you can get with frozen chicken nuggets-don't judge. Potato and Sweet Potato "cookies" (recipe one day). Turning anxiety into excitement. And finally just being myself because that is who I am and I wont change for anyone. I'm just me and that's OK. 
Oh and one attempt at the "Law of Attraction" and Manifestation...I am grateful for the bottle of wine my husband will bring home from work. Let's hope it works.

Day 10, 11

January 11 and 12

Grateful for the ability to work hard. The last two days have been very full, just found out I will be taking on more responsibility at my job, and since I work in the weight loss industry, this is a VERY busy time. I am so glad I get to work for a company I truly believe in, and help people reach their goals. I also had the opportunity this weekend to work an energy exchange at Moksha Peterborough and it is very busy there as well. An abundant time for all wellness businesses. Thankful I have a family who supports my passion, and family who are willing and able to help out when necessary. The last 12 days have been amazing, your perspective really changes if you just take a few moments to focus on what you HAVE. Love it.

Day 12

January 13

Slow Cookers and My Weight Watchers One Pot Cookbook. Dinner has been on since 9 AM. :)
So grateful because it gave me time to wash and prep fresh veggies for this week, and clean out my fridge of any sneaky unhealthy food lurking and waiting for a weak moment. Such a great feeling going in to the week knowing I am taking care of me and my family! YAY!

My Moksha

I have been practicing hot yoga since May. I was hooked from the first class. The studio I practice at, http://peterborough.mokshayoga.ca/ is an amazing space with some really passionate teachers and students It is a home away from home, a true Sangha, and I love it dearly.

Moksha Peterborough offers a wide variety of classes, from the traditional 60 and 90 minute Moksha series classes, to reduced heat Vinyasa, Yin, And Yin/Yang Classes. Recent additions to the schedule are Laughter Yoga and Hot Pilates, two classes I really look forward to attending when my schedule permits. Personally I love the Vinyasa classes and 90 minute Moksha. I feel the extra 30 minutes does it for me. We also had the opportunity to practice Ashtanga yoga, with a guest instructor, probably the highlight so far of my "official" yogadom.

 Seriously, if I could be there everyday, I would.

I started out with an Intro Monthly Pass-$40!!! for a month of unlimited yoga. Then I moved on to an auto renew pass. When finances became an issue for me, I spoke to the manager and asked about the "Energy Exchange" program. this program is designed to help people who could otherwise not practice, by offering free weekly passes in exchange for working at the studio. So I help clean the place  my home away from home, and in exchange I get FREE YOGA. How cool is that.


Today, I dropped in just as a class was ending. I ran into some old friends, students who I practiced with daily and haven't seen since our work schedules changed, three of my FAVORITE teachers, hanging out, taking care of the sangha and just being, and the little yogi, our dear studio owners' new baby boy.

Everyone welcomed me like an old friend and we chatted about upcoming classes, workshops and just STUFF. Highlight of my day. Thanks guys. 

Moksha Peterborough offers more than just a "Calm Mind and a Fit Body" It is a community, a deeply caring and spiritual group of people who have made a huge impact on my life.

For that I am eternally grateful.

So go....you will be glad you did.

Check out your local, Moksha studio, I hope you find what I have. If you live in Peterborough ON, and haven't dropped in, I highly recommend it. You might never leave.

Namaste

Cleaning up my act

I mentioned in my gratitude post (which I WILL update daily) that my weight was at an all time high, my mood low, and I wasn't feeling that into change.

The only constant in life, is that it will change.

And today it did.

Nothing significant, but a feeling, a deep inner knowledge that everything was (is) OK. I know I can resume healthy eating, get back to my (mostly) daily yoga practice, and hell why not throw in some meditation while I am at it. I've done it before, it works, and I can do it again.

Sometimes it is really easy to lose sight of what we HAVE when we focus on what we don't have. That is what I was doing. Today I choose to let go of things that no longer serve me, like Big Macs, entire bags of chips and hours of endless TV. NO more hours of facebook games.

The time has come to focus on the things that truly serve me.

Whole foods, inspired living, yoga, music, life and love.

Sounds amazing doesn't it. What things have you been holding on to that no longer serve you? How will you focus on what truly does? I would love to hear about it!

In the Bleak Midwinter?

Ever have those days where EVERYTHING is a struggle? Even the simplest things like putting on your make up, doing the dishes.....that turns into forgetting to pack your lunch or a snack, your gym clothes, your bank card. I could go on. I have been having one of those days, well to be honest it is more like one of those months. 

So today I embark on the path out of the darkness....back to feeling good, healthy, strong.

How? Glad you asked. 

1.) Start small.Pick one thing you can commit to. Waking up at the same time every day, making your bed, drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day. Make it small, make it fit your lifestyle, and do it!

I commit to drinking 2 litres of water a day 

2.) Be kind to your self. Look back at all the things you have accomplished in the last ten years, five years, year, 6 months. Start recording the things you accomplish everyday.

Today I:

folded laundry

baked cookies, muffins and squares,

kept my children fed, warm and safe

worked on my presentation

practiced, my horn

practiced yoga

While some of these things we do everyday don't seem like much, when you write them down and REALLY look at them you will be amazed at how good it can make you feel. When you feel good you get MORE good.  

3.) Do five acts of kindness everyday. Leave quarters in the grocery carts at the grocery store, Tell someone they look nice today, offer to watch a new mom's baby so she can have a nap.

Sound do-able? 

Since I started this post two days ago, things have been looking up. My strength is back! (I did two hot yoga classes yesterday and felt AMAZING after each) , I am drinking LOTS of water, lots more veggies and doing my best to be kind. (ACTUALLY someone gave me their cart at No Frills on Friday, so I made sure I filled up the others before I left )

How do you "Break the Bleak" ?