I just heard this on a rerun of a Queen Latifah show on which Gloria Steinem was her guest. Her words struck a chord with me so I thought I would share. "As human beings we are made to believe that we are ranked, not linked, and we are linked." - Gloria Steinem
Here is to hoping this blog helps more people feel linked!
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Life with Little Lumen
So very much has changed since my last post and my initial plan for this blog! I am newly married, have had a daughter who is now one, and have moved south of the metro area. I have shifted gears, but I guess that is the intention behind this blog... tapping in to the joy that can be found by rearranging our lives as old things fall apart.
After years of working outside the home, being a single parent of two almost grown boys, and having a pretty regular yoga practice and self-care routine, my life was shaken up with a new little one gloriously dictating my days. Not only was I a lot younger when I had my boys, but they also have much more easy going personalities! It has literally taken me a year to start re-claiming my health, my sleep, and my "new" identity. I have had to re-purpose the pieces of what I thought I was and what my life was about into something even more fabulous (albeit exhausting!) than I could have imagined.
I now stay at home and would like this blog to become a resource and discussion board for health conscious and environmentally friendly households and families. I would like it to evolve organically, so although I have my vision of what I would like it to be like, I have no idea what exactly it will become. I would like feedback from visitors to help determine that. That being said, if you happen across this blog and are interested in the same things, please comment and follow as I build momentum!
After years of working outside the home, being a single parent of two almost grown boys, and having a pretty regular yoga practice and self-care routine, my life was shaken up with a new little one gloriously dictating my days. Not only was I a lot younger when I had my boys, but they also have much more easy going personalities! It has literally taken me a year to start re-claiming my health, my sleep, and my "new" identity. I have had to re-purpose the pieces of what I thought I was and what my life was about into something even more fabulous (albeit exhausting!) than I could have imagined.
I now stay at home and would like this blog to become a resource and discussion board for health conscious and environmentally friendly households and families. I would like it to evolve organically, so although I have my vision of what I would like it to be like, I have no idea what exactly it will become. I would like feedback from visitors to help determine that. That being said, if you happen across this blog and are interested in the same things, please comment and follow as I build momentum!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
No news is good news???
For those of you following the blog, sorry for the hiatus. I have been so busy with the new job that I haven't taken the time to post anything for over a week!
I feel frustrated sometimes lately. I am only a few weeks from 40 and when I was younger I had envisioned my life as being so much more "together" by now. Not that it is "apart," but perhaps my understanding of what brings me joy and changes in what I value are just so different that it is hard to compare what I thought my life would be and what it is.
At any rate, here I am. As forty knocks on my door and the last 12 months have brought more changes to my life than ever...I can't help but wonder what the next decade of my life has in store. What wonderful things might manifest from this glorious debris???
I feel frustrated sometimes lately. I am only a few weeks from 40 and when I was younger I had envisioned my life as being so much more "together" by now. Not that it is "apart," but perhaps my understanding of what brings me joy and changes in what I value are just so different that it is hard to compare what I thought my life would be and what it is.
At any rate, here I am. As forty knocks on my door and the last 12 months have brought more changes to my life than ever...I can't help but wonder what the next decade of my life has in store. What wonderful things might manifest from this glorious debris???
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Heart Day
Instead of focusing on the mass marketed perception of the day, let's focus on having happy hearts today. Think of all the things you have to be grateful for, all the beauty around you (which here includes a layer of white from the snowfall yesterday!), and extending kindnesses to others who may be in need, or perhaps are lonely, hurting, or sad.
So often I hear people lament the fact that they are alone on Valentine's Day or didn't get enough from that special someone in their life. What if it wasn't about that today? What if we took the focus off of ourselves and instead made it a day of gratitude and selfless giving to others.
Why not try shooting your positive energy out like Cupid's arrow and see what it can do? Please share any great stories about how it turns out!
Of course all this being said, it is still perfectly acceptable to use today as an excuse to indulge in a little too much chocolate. ;)
So often I hear people lament the fact that they are alone on Valentine's Day or didn't get enough from that special someone in their life. What if it wasn't about that today? What if we took the focus off of ourselves and instead made it a day of gratitude and selfless giving to others.
Why not try shooting your positive energy out like Cupid's arrow and see what it can do? Please share any great stories about how it turns out!
Of course all this being said, it is still perfectly acceptable to use today as an excuse to indulge in a little too much chocolate. ;)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Here's to New Beginnings
Today I have a external new beginning as I start a new job. It doesn't take something like that though. Each day, each hour, each second we have the opportunity to create change in our life, alter our path, shift our view...it really is that simple.
Some of us become so ingrained in our habits and ways of thinking that we see the ability to manifest change as impossible, or at best way too difficult and complicated. I have found that it really just comes down to a willingness to take a few moments to set the intention for the change you would like to see and then releasing that intention out into the universe. Just hand it over to whatever you believe in...something greater than yourself. Often our clinging to the thoughts of how badly we want change actually prevent that change. We are giving all our energy to the thoughts that we will fail in our efforts. Try giving the energy to the thoughts that your intentions can, and will result in the change you wish to create.
Some of us become so ingrained in our habits and ways of thinking that we see the ability to manifest change as impossible, or at best way too difficult and complicated. I have found that it really just comes down to a willingness to take a few moments to set the intention for the change you would like to see and then releasing that intention out into the universe. Just hand it over to whatever you believe in...something greater than yourself. Often our clinging to the thoughts of how badly we want change actually prevent that change. We are giving all our energy to the thoughts that we will fail in our efforts. Try giving the energy to the thoughts that your intentions can, and will result in the change you wish to create.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Be Kind
Yesterday I was reminded of how just simple kindness and genuine listening are the best gifts you can give another person. As I worked my last day with my previous employer, I received numerous hugs and words of gratitude from the diverse group of people I worked with about how much they appreciated the way I treated them.
I didn't think I was doing anything exceptional, yet it touched so many people in such profound ways. I strive to live my life with intention and integrity and yesterday I felt reassured that the energy I offer is making a difference in many people's lives. I feel bursting with a feeling of inner contentment to know that what I aspire to give out is being received. It reaffirms for me that each of us can make a difference, every moment, of every day.
I am sure you all have examples of time when something seemingly insignificant had a significantly positive and meaningful impact on another.
I didn't think I was doing anything exceptional, yet it touched so many people in such profound ways. I strive to live my life with intention and integrity and yesterday I felt reassured that the energy I offer is making a difference in many people's lives. I feel bursting with a feeling of inner contentment to know that what I aspire to give out is being received. It reaffirms for me that each of us can make a difference, every moment, of every day.
I am sure you all have examples of time when something seemingly insignificant had a significantly positive and meaningful impact on another.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The Upward Spiral
Today I am preparing for my second to the last day at a job I chose to stay at less than four months. Monday, I will embark on a journey with a new job. Less than a year ago I left my career to start down a new path. I left the financial industry determined never to look back, focus on my creativity, and work in the green or non-profit industry. Well, guess what?? I am going back to a financial institution (albeit a non-profit.)
As I was making the decision to go back to my previous career, I initially felt like I was going backwards, and wondered how I could end up back where I had already been. Then I remembered how one of my yoga teacher's suggested we think of a mountain as a metaphor for our life, and our individual journey as the road spiraling around the mountain to the summit. At many points during the journey we are going to stop and see a view that seems familiar. We may feel despair because we think we have ended up right back where we already were, as if we are going in circles. In those moments, if we are mindful, we will notice that the view is not exactly the same. We are a little bit higher up on our path and our view is expanding each time. Our perspective continues to grow the closer we get to the summit. We can now see more and carry with us what we learned from our perspective of this place at a lower point on our path. There is no need to feel frustrated, we are moving forward and getting closer to the top. When we reach the summit, we will have a panoramic view in all directions!
The last year has brought many twists and turns I never would have imagined. Ultimately it has made me stronger, humbled me, and made me much more aware of who and what really matters. I am not back where I started I have a whole new chance to have a entirely different experience with the experience and lessons I carry with me.
As I was making the decision to go back to my previous career, I initially felt like I was going backwards, and wondered how I could end up back where I had already been. Then I remembered how one of my yoga teacher's suggested we think of a mountain as a metaphor for our life, and our individual journey as the road spiraling around the mountain to the summit. At many points during the journey we are going to stop and see a view that seems familiar. We may feel despair because we think we have ended up right back where we already were, as if we are going in circles. In those moments, if we are mindful, we will notice that the view is not exactly the same. We are a little bit higher up on our path and our view is expanding each time. Our perspective continues to grow the closer we get to the summit. We can now see more and carry with us what we learned from our perspective of this place at a lower point on our path. There is no need to feel frustrated, we are moving forward and getting closer to the top. When we reach the summit, we will have a panoramic view in all directions!
The last year has brought many twists and turns I never would have imagined. Ultimately it has made me stronger, humbled me, and made me much more aware of who and what really matters. I am not back where I started I have a whole new chance to have a entirely different experience with the experience and lessons I carry with me.
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