Gratitude All Year Long

We just returned from celebrating Thanksgiving and the 90th birthday of my husband’s grandfather.  It was a nice time just being with family that we don’t get to see very often (and some I had never met before).  We had a good mix of activities, dinners and normal everyday tasks.  Even did a little living room yoga with my nieces…(it’s amazing how flexible 5 and 8 year olds are!)

Thanksgiving and milestone birthdays evoke feelings of nostalgia and gratitude.  Reflecting on past holidays & events, remembering those no longer with us and cherishing the moments and people right before us.  But how do we keep the spirit of gratitude alive all year long and from day to day?   I have a childhood friend who often updates her facebook status with “I am thankful for…” throughout the year.   I love that. It’s a simple thing, but something that keeps gratitude in the forefront…

I looked up “grateful” in the dictionary and found this:

warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received

Many express thanks or gratitude in prayer, in journals or directly to the special people in our life.  But do we live that way everyday? Even in the tough times…when it’s challenging to find something to be grateful for?

I know at times I can be a “glass half empty” person…not seeing the good, and only seeing that which could be better or needs improvement.  There are so many lessons of gratitude that can be learned from a yoga practice.  For me, one important lesson is acceptance.  Accepting what is.  In class, that might mean accepting my physical abilities and limitations or accepting thoughts and concerns as they enter the mind.  In life, it might mean accepting challenges and circumstances before me, or accepting that there are some things that cannot be undone, changed or controlled.   It also means accepting life’s simple, endearing moments and finding gratitude in the good. Not just in November, but all year long.

Yoga and Deer Hunting

The following post is from one of my favorite clients Pat Perry, CEO, trail runner, vegan, yogi and deer hunter…thanks, Pat for sharing with us!

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Yoga & Deer Hunting….Most unlikely combination?  Maybe.  Add to that, I am a vegan with the only exception being wild game.  Hence the deer hunting.

I took last Thursday and Friday off work.  My goal was to spend each day alone, sun up to sun down, in my tree stand.  I chose these days because this time of year is peak for deer activity and also because the forecast called for a beautiful fall weekend.  When I say I am in the tree stand all day, what I mean is  I only allow myself an hour or so to come down, stretch, take care of other business in the woods and then climb back up until dark.  Think of an all day drive in your car, only you must sit very, very still and turn off the radio.  At times this can become what I would describe as a sort of meditation.

This last Thursday I climbed down at roughly noon, started stretching a little, and before you knew it, my yoga teacher Heidi – was right there with me, guiding me through an entire routine.  I set my bow and release down, took off my outer layers and my pack and did a solid 50 minutes of yoga.  Then the best part, of course, Savasana.  I laid down in the middle of the forest and closed my eyes.  I heard Heidi’s voice “thoughts will come into your head, let them go.  Relax your jaw”.  I just laid there in the sun, on the leaf covered bare earth, with the breeze blowing through me, I felt like I was moving with the earth and clouds.  Not your stereotypical image of a deer hunter I know.

Then I took a nap.  What an awesome, peaceful, experience.  After waking, I lay there a few more minutes, maybe 15, and then climbed back up the tree where I sat in total bliss until evening.  I guess I’m an enlightened deer hunter.  If I belonged to a hunting club, I would likely be kicked out for life.

Thank you, Heidi.

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Check out Pat’s Blog: www.energycreatesenergy.blogspot.com

Planning ahead for a sane holiday season

It’s starting….Christmas music on the radio…red & green in the stores….last time I checked we hadn’t had Thanksgiving yet…but the holiday cycle seems to turn faster and faster.  This time of year it’s more important than ever to keep the things that keep you sane in your daily and weekly routine.  Maybe that’s yoga, maybe it’s a nightly walk with your furry friend or an early morning run.  Set those dates with yourself as non-negotiable and don’t let the frenzy of activity (thanksgiving dinner shopping, holiday to-do lists) take you off-course.

I had lunch today with my sister. It’s a monthly tradition that we started this past January as a way to make sure that despite the busyness of our lives, we would have an hour each month to reconnect and share a meal together.  Today was our 11th installment of our lunches and I do feel like we’re closer having had this focused, scheduled time.

The same is true of those dates with ourselves — the ones that fill you up, calm you and propel you forward.  More than any other time of year, these last two months are stressful!  We have more demands, more pressures, more activities and more expectations that are placed on us, or that we place on ourselves.  Here are some thoughts on how to keep the crazy out of your holiday season:

Re-think gifts – On my side of the family, we’ve decided to opt out of the gift exchange this year and instead just spend time together celebrating the holidays.  We might go to a Christmas program together or a funny movie…but we’re all at the age where we have all the stuff we need and what we don’t have we can purchase ourselves. Why not just spend some focused time together instead? Another option might be just buying for the kids…

Give back – We all have those melancholy, blue moments at holiday time.  There’s no better cure than to focus your attention on someone else’s need.  Whether you write a check or volunteer at a local shelter, shifting your focus to others can give you a sense of gratitude and peace.

Maintain at least 80% of your Jan-Oct schedule – I know we’re running out of shopping days, have to order the turkey, etc…but if you maintain 80% of your usual schedule of energizing and nurturing activities and rest, I know you’ll be better able to handle and even flourish in the buzz of the season.  So, go for the run,  take 10 minutes of quiet just for you, go to yoga class or boxing or pilates….so that you remain reasonably grounded and peaceful. We just have to be intentional about it…so that it doesn’t get lost…