Becoming a "grown up"

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”~ Anais Nin

To blossom - each person's definition of blossoming would be slightly different but I suppose for most of us it'd be about becoming bright, unfurling to our full potential. Getting organised to finally get private health insurance might not exactly be what Anais Nin meant by blossoming, but for me, it's just another small step on my path to becoming a grown up.

For me, this past year has been all about these 'small' steps - which when you add them all up, become a wonderful strong journey. Small steps like getting health insurance, paying off a credit card, holding yoga workshops, furthering my study, getting a pay rise at work... which all add up to getting it together, aka Growing Up. For me, these things are all about me blossoming - opening up.

We often think that to be a success we need to achieve and get this and that and do amazing astounding things.. and in doing so we can forget about the day to day things that actually are pretty darn shiny.

Take a moment to think about your year so far and be excited peeps - be excited about the seemingly ordinary, the seemingly 'everyday' - which when you add them up, become the most important life of all: YOUR life : )

Enjoy x

What if married people were treated like Singles?

Owners of the singles advocate blog, Onely, came up with this list of the types of statements couples would be forced to endure:
"Don't worry, you'll get a divorce someday."
"Oh, you're married? I'm so sorry!"
"You're so great - how come you're still married?"
"It's OK to be married for a while but eventually you need to grow up and become single."
"You're so lucky to be married and not have as much responsibility."
"But don't you feel bad not having a life, seeing as you're married?"
"When are you going to get a divorce?"
"It's so sad having to come home to a house with someone in it all the time."
"Well, I would've invited you to book group, except you're married and I thought you wouldn't want to be around all those happily single people."
"What's a beautiful woman like you doing married?"
From professorwhatif.wordpress.com

I LOVED reading this in the SMH yesterday. Giggle-worthy (and so true!!!).

Hello, you GORGEOUS people!

Just curious, friends, when was the last time you looked into a mirror and addressed yourself as "Gorgeous," "Magnificent," or "Sublime"?
Friends, it matters.

Isn't that a beautiful sentiment? Dear friends, remind yourself daily of these ideas by signing up to Notes from the Universe. They'll make you smile!

It sounds good to me

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk?” ~Albert Einstein

Al Gore's desk!

Slowing Down is not a waste of time

If a lumberjack stops work to sharpen his axe, it is not a waste of time.

No one would say the lumberjack is lazy - in fact, most would praise his work ethic in stopping, taking care of his tools and going back to work more efficiently.

So why is it that in yoga there are so many of us who will not stop when we really need to rest? When a pose is beyond our capabilities that day - as often happens in yoga, things change day to day - why is it that we'll struggle through and PUSH ourselves into a pose we think we should be in?

This idea isn't specific just to yoga either - but in all aspects of life, both on and off the mat. Someone mentioned this lumberjack reference to me today and it really has stuck with me. I hope it makes you think too!

29 Gifts Challenge

I recently discovered the most beautiful movement - a worldwide giving movement called 29 Gifts. What's it about? Well, as the title suggests, it's positive community helping to create a revival of the giving spirit in the world. I'm giving a gift to someone each day for the next 29 days. Simple!

There are already more than 2,000 people taking part from 37 countries and the goal is to grow the movement to 20,000 givers as soon as possible. Think you'd be keen to join in? Just sign up at 29 Gifts and commit to give away 29 gifts in 29 days. You can start your personal challenge any time, and your 29 Gifts can be anything... money, food, old clothes, smiles, your time, kind words or positive thoughts.
WHY SHOULD YOU DO THIS? To inspire more generosity on our planet. Because to see our world change, we have to do something to change our world. Plus, the best way to attract abundance into your own life is to be in a perpetual state of giving and gratitude.

x

Do we have a choice???

"Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice, you make it now."

This is from the wonderful song, “Falling Slowly” from the Once soundtrack. Do you know it? The one that Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova won a grammy or something for... very technical - a big award tho!

Anyway, as I am sitting on the couch in my pj's with a steaming hot cup of ginger tea next to me, I am making the choice NOT to get sick. My throat is so so sore and I know it's just because I'm run down (moving, busy at work, teaching, studying etc!) but it still sux. Blah.

Anyway, that quote is just perfect for me right now - I've been too busy lately and not taking care of myself so next week it's all about health. I'm doing yoga. I'm eating well. I'm slowing down.

x

Learning to love myself

Today I was told I am a spunky Sister Goddess.

What exactly is this exquisite creature, a Sister Goddess?

She speaks her mind
She is vibrantly alive
She revels in her originality
She knows what she wants

She is a bit naughty
She is often outrageous
She is her own unique brand of Sassy and Sexy
She uses the power of her own pleasure as a way of life

She loves herself as she is now
She finds pleasure in all that she does
She knows that enjoying herself in the presence of others is a great gift
She tends to flirt with everyone - men, women, babies, dogs, and cats included!

She is a sensual being, a sexual being
She takes reverent care of her self
She has extraordinary relationships with the men and women in her life
She has a scorching sex life

She treats herself like the Goddess she is
She chooses to adore body, whatever her size, age or circumstance
She has work that is designed and driven by her juiciest desires

She works less, gets more and has fun doing both!
She uses her community of women to support her dreams
She has taken her rightful place as the owner and operator of her life

She is you...

Thanks K. xxxx

hippety, hoppety, Happy Easter

Today is a sunny Easter day here in Sydney, and as it is also a Sunday, I taught my open hatha yoga class his morning. It was splendid - I just can't tell you how much I love the studio I practice in, with the light streaming in, big big windows, a soft dance floor and a glorious mirror to reflect all the light. Love it.

And as it was Easter, of course I had to bring in a big bowl of little choccie eggs for everyone to share. Enjoy!

As I walked through the doors of my apartment building coming home after class, I still had a bowl brimming with eggs, so I placed an egg in front of every door in my apartment complex. I felt a bit stealthy - tiptoe-ing down the halls so as not to get sprung! And the best part, no one knows it was me. (Though there was a cute post-it note in the elevator when I got back in this afternoon, thanking the 'easter bunny') Isn't that the best? Doing things, knowing ppl will smile from it?

So all in all, I hope you are enjoying your easter weekend too.

* * * * * * * *

It's been a while since I've had a few days off - and I've taught a couple of yoga classes over these days, but still, having time off work is a blast. In my yoga classes lately I've been discussing the idea of us becoming "human doings" rather than "human doings" -> and I am one of the big offenders! A free day? Sure, I'll cover your yoga class. A free couple of hours? Sure, I'll do first aid/work back/work early/cook for you/insert busy doing thing here!

So this afternoon and tomorrow are just for me to BE. To sit at home, go for a walk, have some free time and just BE. Not be a teacher, a student, an employee or a daughter. I'm just going to BE.

I think that most of us in this day and age, we've forgotten how to be bored. Or we perhaps feel guilty if we're bored, and not filling up our moments with online chatting/radio listening/paper flicking/bathroom cleaning.

If we don't REST (ie. STOP!) when does our body and our mind have time to rejuvinate?

So the rest of this weekend for me, is about stopping, and just being with myself. Scary, but exciting.

Hope you are all finding some time for yourselves as well.

shiny xx

PS - are you all chocolate'd out? My bella sister and I decided to take each other out for a coffee instead of giving chocolate eggs. Fab idea. And if you have little ones - how about giving them a beautiful lil' bunny instead of one million chocolate eggs? The above bunny is hand-made by Hop Skip Jump, I want one!

Musings for You (yes, You!)

Of all the people in this world, there is only one YOU. Let your light shine!

Kiss someone you've always meant to OR plant some tulips.

Hump Day Rules!

Test perfumes until you find your favourite

OR

add essential oil to a water spritzer and spray your house or office!

Even the tiniest little step today...

will mean you are farther ahead than you were yesterday!