Well, welcome to January. I am trying to stay positive, but often in my life January has felt like a slog… the fun holiday season is over, the days are short and work is everywhere, it seems. So I’ve been trying to lean into my plans and intentions for myself – and on that front, it’s working!
I am continuing to ‘micro-blog’ or ‘micro-journal,’ as I wrote about last month. Here is a photo of this week – isn’t it fascinating how quickly the day length changes?
I’m also taking seriously my word of the year: present. I intentionally chose an ambiguous word, so I can benefit from multiple meanings – I am working to notice what is around me, to take it in, and honestly I am also looking for opportunities to get myself presents. Hey it’s my word. Also, I went to bed at 11:30pm on New Year’s Eve, as a present to myself, and as a reminder that I can rest, which is what I really wanted to do.
Mostly, though, my January has been taken up with YOGA. That seems pretty remarkable to me… I’m not much for exercise, despite my now several years of blogging here. I am a feminist though, and I have a body, and it turns out I have a lot to say about it. Like many of us, I decided to take on the Yoga With Adriene’s January Flow practice. I dutifully did the first eight days of FLOW, but got sick and also noticed my wrists were getting quite sore, not having built up to working daily.
So, taking a cue from Catherine, I redesigned my plan. I am still doing the practice (or challenge?), but I’ll do it my way, which is that it’s probably going to take me until March to get through all those days. Or at least mid-February. I’m fine with that though. I have my yoga mat in my home office, and I am enjoying moving to the floor and away from my desk. I have taken a full week off and feel fine now.
To help reset my distant sense of failure, I was thrilled to sign up for a Yoga and Tea class in a rural greenhouse near my town. That was thanks to my friend Carrie, who encouraged me to go to my FIRST yoga class about a year ago (she’s great!). So I drove about 20 minutes out of town on some sketchy roads with blowing snow, to a very big greenhouse. What a GREAT idea that is – it was warm and so bright! The yoga class was satisfying but not really challenging. And let me tell you, it was a thrill when the instructor asked if everyone was familiar with some yoga and I raised my hand!
Carrie and another friend of hers and I had a great visit afterwards, and I am looking forward to going back. That is my present to myself, I think. And it keeps me present, so hey, double win!
