Um....ok.

So I was navigating from blog to blog to website to website and ended up on a Deepak Chopra page. I took a quiz...and ended up with this evaluation;

"You are currently carrying an emotional burden of misunderstanding about who you are and what you deserve, you are in doubt or even denial of your inherent lovability.

You are probably struggling with issues that continue to hurt your relationships with yourself and others.

Life is too short and too miraculous an opportunity for love for you to keep carrying this load.

I encourage you to take steps to liberate yourself from your past misunderstandings and disappointments . . . to set yourself emotionally free."

Uhhhhhh...I'm not really sure what to say...

I don't even think I know any Jones'

Do not overrate what you have received,

nor envy others.

He who envies others,

does not obtain peace of mind.

~Buddha~

I came upon this quote, and it really struck a chord with me. 

My hubby & I have really been "struggling" with us, as a family,  and us as a society as of late, in regards to material objects, and how it relates to personal happiness & personal well-being etc.  I have to interrupt my own story here with hubby's version of the quote...

You can't live your life in someone else's pocket.

Ok, not really the same but I think I know what he was getting at...

I'm not proud to admit it, but I definitely overrate what I have received. Daily. I'm fairly sure that we all do.  And I am also fairly certain that at some point or another, we all envy others.  It's human nature and part of our society & every day life in this day and age.  Gotta have more than the Jones'.  Must have that new car, that new jacket, the newest tech toy, the hippest gym membership, the spa days, the best this, that and the other...you KNOW what I am talking about. 

Now, like I said, this is our society.  I think it's a somewhat healthy part of human nature to want things.  It fosters drive & creativity, teaches discipline and manners.  But when the want is never satisfactory and the things are never enough...what next?  I bet you want that peace of mind.  Heck, it's down right tiring trying to keep up with the Jones' ! I know that I want that peace of mind.  Not just for myself, but my family too!

It's a time honoured phrase you hear out of your mother's mouth, your friend's mouth, your spouse's mouth...be happy with what you have.  And that is easier said than done.  I say it to the boys all the time...and can't even take my own advice! That may well be a lifestyle shift.  A shift of focus. 

So this is my new personal challenge,  no more overrating, no more other people's pockets, no more Jones'

Ok, ok, we all know I can't just say that and do it.  Can you? 

I'm not saying I won't buy that new jacket, or want to go to the spa...I'm just saying...baby steps....peace of mind.

C'mon...you can do it!

Meditation

I WISH I could "meditate" 

I wish I could quiet my mind.

During the savasana pose in yoga....

I CANNOT quiet my mind.

Anyone have any good meditation tips?

I can barely survive a guided meditation...OY!

If I could just master it...
or at least be a good beginner,

I could start to reap some of the benefits!

Foiled!

My lovely

ZEN

weekend...

OH NO!!!

The hubby & the kids AND DOGS were to go away

TIL TUESDAY (voices carrrryyyyy)

and I was going to go to yoga,

and go to yoga

and have some p & q

and go to yoga...

Guess who decided not to go away...

Can I have ZEN  time anyway?

Is it possible?

2 boys, 2 dogs, 1 husband?

Where's my rake & sand?

I need a teensy bonsai to snip...

Have a totally ZEN Friday!

Breathe!  Relax!  Enjoy!

I see the light.

Never mind...it's the sun!

Fingers crossed today...my assignments;

a) kindness - bit vague, yet simple
b) enjoy being a person of no understanding.

Don't laugh at (b) let me explain...I THINK the message is more about acceptance. You may recall the little poem;

God grant me the serenity

 to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can

 and the wisdom to know the difference.

This was the first thing that popped into my head when I read & tried to interpret (b). {I incidentally cross-stitched that saying once for a gift, I think I was in Pioneer Girls....} Ok so it's not directly related to my assignment...it, like I said...popped into my head.

But yes, a person of no understanding...accepting that I either can't or shouldn't and that maybe that is ok...

Have a wonderful day on YOUR journey!

Journey School

(if you're singing now it's ok. dooooon't stop....i kid)

Today's assignment was to

BE FLEXIBLE.

Was this code for go to yoga?

Let the boys get away with their messy rooms?

Make chicken AGAIN??

I don't get top marks for today.

It's a journey after all.

(I have to keep reminding myself...)

I guess it's part of the journey...

The lightness is gone (insert sad face here)

I gave myself an assignment today.

I failed miserably.

Tomorrow is another day.

Weekend Update

I had a lovely, PEACEFUL afternoon...shopping of all kinds.

I started out this afternoon at the Mission Folk Fest, hanging @ the Shanti Uganda table with my peeps.

Listening to fab music, walking among the vendors, I passed a lovely tent of flowy, breezy summery clothes

and for 20 bucks I walked away with 2 beautiful wrap style skirts,  made from recycled saris! How cool is that?

After that I went on my Whole Foods shop...I enjoyed that too....and whole foods dinner number 1 was a SUCCESS! I call it, THE SALAD TO DIE FOR!

Toss together; 

Romaine, green & butter lettuce

Radishes

Green Onions

Mushrooms

Cucumbers

Sprouts

Cherry tomatoes

Strawberries

Dates

Sunflower seeds, soy nuts, pine nuts

Goat Cheese

Fresh parsley (from my garden...oh yeah)

Layer on top, thinly sliced bbq'd medium rare organic sirloin steak, sprinkled with cayenne pepper.  Fresh lemon drizzled over the works and DI-VINE!

I feel kinda pumped today...something...a sort of lightness that I haven't felt in a while...

Whole Foods

What do YOU know about eating whole foods?

Here's what I know...apparently it's good for you! (shocker) Here's the thing...I SO enjoy bad-for-you foods. The funny thing is...my husband does not, and I generally don't let the boys eat crap food...so when I get a chance (cough cough blizzard with extra stuff) I do it!

Even thought we (as a family) think we eat healthy, so many of our foods are processed and over processed to the point that the foods has lost all of its nutritional value in the first place. Also, I am VIGILANT about the boys eating 5-6 meals a day...but I could go all day on a handful of crackers, one of their chocolate chip granola bars & no water at all...yikes! Bottom line...I am unhealthy! Oh the horror! And I wonder why I can't sleep, I'm irritable, headaches, dry skin, those flabby bits that continue to grow each day (don't even get me started on exercising...we can save that for another day)

Last summer I saw a personal trainer for a few months. Boy did she whip me into shape. Funny thing is, after 6 weeks of following her workout plan (gruelling btw) for 6 days a week...yes 6! I was gaining some muscle, stamina, endurance and all that, but not losing any flab...she was as perplexed and switched me to a whole foods diet...

I felt clean! FULL! Ate no crap! Slept, I was nicer...heehee...and shed that bad weight etc.

I. felt. HEALTHY!

So here I go...whole foods all the way. I know that I need the occasional treat...OCCASIONAL, so I won't deny myself...but how can whole foods be bad?  I see so many unhealthy people in my line of work, and I have the ability to control my health as far as what I put into my body....

I've made my shopping list, I have checked it twice...I will keep you posted on how it's going...maybe chuck you in a recipe or two....

ps...sure glad i had that extra stuff Reese blizzard on Thursday! :)