So, the inspiration from my yoga teacher yesterday is geared towards yoga! As a sporadic yogi I truly believe this inspiration is also really pertinent to everyday life. In fact, I went to a meditation workshop Thursday night and the teacher spoke about "staying on point" which can mean staying the moment, keeping your eye on the prize, having a goal and working towards it.
I think I will strive to stay on the point or the middle path whatever you want to call it!
Saturday's Inspiration - Day 26
"The Middle Path
“Yoga is not for the person who eats too much, or who starves him or herself. Yoga is not for the person who sleeps too much, or who doesn't sleep at all. The middle path is Yoga. The Yogi knows how much to eat, to sleep, to speak. That is the middle path. It is the Buddhas teaching also, the golden medium. You should go neither to that extreme, nor to this extreme. So, don't abruptly cut off your senses. Allow the senses to enjoy the world, but don't get carried away with them. If we know there is a limitation in everything, then life will be good to us. Everything will be golden."
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Open to Possibilities
Friday's Inspiration - Day 25
"Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities -- always see them, for they're always there."
-- Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
"One of the saddest lines in the world is, 'Oh come now - be realistic.' The best parts of this world were not fashioned by those who were realistic. They were fashioned by those who dared to look hard at their wishes and gave them horses to ride."
-- Richard Nelson Bolles
"The world would have you agree with its dismal dream of limitation. But the light would have you soar like the eagle of your sacred visions."
-- Alan Cohen"It's kind of fun to
"Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities -- always see them, for they're always there."
-- Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
"One of the saddest lines in the world is, 'Oh come now - be realistic.' The best parts of this world were not fashioned by those who were realistic. They were fashioned by those who dared to look hard at their wishes and gave them horses to ride."
-- Richard Nelson Bolles
"The world would have you agree with its dismal dream of limitation. But the light would have you soar like the eagle of your sacred visions."
-- Alan Cohen"It's kind of fun to
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Two posts in one day
Wow, two posts in one day! I am such a keener.
I got today's inspiration and thought I had better post it right away as it is about enjoying life! Sometimes things come to you just as you need them...and I am definitely in need!
Thursday's Inspiration - Day 24
"How to Enjoy Life"
"If everything is peaceful in life, there's no fun in it. There should be some problems also, some challenges.
You cannot watch a movie that is always loving, joyful, happy, happy, happy. No. Some conflict should be there also, a villain should be there. People like to see that kind of drama.
This world is also a drama. The saints tell us, 'The whole world is a stage,' and in a play, every kind of action is there.
So how can we enjoy this drama? By not getting involved in it. Just be a witness. We have to rise above all these things and know that ultimately it is all God's will.
When you accept God's will, you can retain your peace. Then only can you play your part in life, and play it well.
"God bless you. Om Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi."
I got today's inspiration and thought I had better post it right away as it is about enjoying life! Sometimes things come to you just as you need them...and I am definitely in need!
Thursday's Inspiration - Day 24
"How to Enjoy Life"
"If everything is peaceful in life, there's no fun in it. There should be some problems also, some challenges.
You cannot watch a movie that is always loving, joyful, happy, happy, happy. No. Some conflict should be there also, a villain should be there. People like to see that kind of drama.
This world is also a drama. The saints tell us, 'The whole world is a stage,' and in a play, every kind of action is there.
So how can we enjoy this drama? By not getting involved in it. Just be a witness. We have to rise above all these things and know that ultimately it is all God's will.
When you accept God's will, you can retain your peace. Then only can you play your part in life, and play it well.
"God bless you. Om Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi."
Mopey Martha
Yesterday I was one "Mopey Martha". I am pretty sure I brought everyone in the office down...I am not sure why this last update threw me for a loop so much! But it did! Anyways, I moped around all day.
Oh and I discovered 3 new planets yesterday - yup! Little ol' me discovered new planets...too bad they were on my face...I never get pimples...I am not trying to brag...I just am inherently lucky in that department and got my mother's good skin....I think the stress brought all the toxins directly to the surface of my face...blech!
Thankfully, I had a hair appointment booked for 5:00p.m. - I know it is super shallow but I tell ya - there is nothing to make a gal feel a wee bit better than getting your hair done. It was two hours of cut, color and hilights. I love my hairstylist - she is new to me - but she is fantastic!!! She is funny, kind and best of all really great at what she does....anyways when I sat down in her chair I was a puddle of mope and she really brightened me up...literally with hilights...she made me laugh, feel good and look good :) Can I just point out how good it feels to get your hair shampooed..it does...soooo good....I should just go for a shampoo when I am feeling low. I left feeling much better.
I think I will take Hazel and Julie's advice and look at the 8 month side of the wait time instead of the 15 month side! Thanks everyone who left me such a nice post the other day :) You gals rock!
Yesterday's Inspiration didn't arrive into my email box until late last night so I am posting it today.
I have to say that I really like this inspiration a lot!
Wednesday's Inspiration - Day 23
"If there is to be Peace in the world,
There must be Peace in the nations.
If there is to be Peace in the nations,
There must be Peace in the cities.
If there is to be Peace in the cities,
There must be Peace between neighbors.
If there is to be Peace between neighbors,
There must be Peace in the home.
If there is to be Peace in the home,
There must be Peace in the Heart.
—Lao Tzu
Today...I wish you great Peace."
Oh and I discovered 3 new planets yesterday - yup! Little ol' me discovered new planets...too bad they were on my face...I never get pimples...I am not trying to brag...I just am inherently lucky in that department and got my mother's good skin....I think the stress brought all the toxins directly to the surface of my face...blech!
Thankfully, I had a hair appointment booked for 5:00p.m. - I know it is super shallow but I tell ya - there is nothing to make a gal feel a wee bit better than getting your hair done. It was two hours of cut, color and hilights. I love my hairstylist - she is new to me - but she is fantastic!!! She is funny, kind and best of all really great at what she does....anyways when I sat down in her chair I was a puddle of mope and she really brightened me up...literally with hilights...she made me laugh, feel good and look good :) Can I just point out how good it feels to get your hair shampooed..it does...soooo good....I should just go for a shampoo when I am feeling low. I left feeling much better.
I think I will take Hazel and Julie's advice and look at the 8 month side of the wait time instead of the 15 month side! Thanks everyone who left me such a nice post the other day :) You gals rock!
Yesterday's Inspiration didn't arrive into my email box until late last night so I am posting it today.
I have to say that I really like this inspiration a lot!
Wednesday's Inspiration - Day 23
"If there is to be Peace in the world,
There must be Peace in the nations.
If there is to be Peace in the nations,
There must be Peace in the cities.
If there is to be Peace in the cities,
There must be Peace between neighbors.
If there is to be Peace between neighbors,
There must be Peace in the home.
If there is to be Peace in the home,
There must be Peace in the Heart.
—Lao Tzu
Today...I wish you great Peace."
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Update from Agency
Yesterday we got an update from our agency on our file which told us the following:
1. Signed up with agency May 31, 2007
2. Dossier went to Ethiopia November 2007
3. Requesting infant under 12 months either gender
So, as you can see they didn't really tell us anything that we didn't already know.
Well, that is not exactly true...they did tell us that wait times have increased since the last update in January (umm...well...ok. March) which had times for infants under 24 months at 9-12 months...they are now saying the wait time for this age range is 8-15 months....aaaarrrrggggh! Just when we had reached what we thought was the half-way mark....
I know that the agency isn't to blame for this....the program in Ethiopia has grown substantially in the last year...there are now almost 60 adoption agencies operating in Ethiopia. This is in part because people are turning away from the China program because the wait times have almost tripled there and switching over to Ethiopia. They are now saying something like referrals for China will come in 2016 for those signing up now. CRAAAAAZZZZZY!
So, last night I was one unhappy camper and ranted and raved about this fact with some friends of ours who dropped over for a visit - I mean no one wants to hear that wait times have increased...but as I tell everyone else - "a couple more months waiting is better than never!" Time I take my own advice!!!
We also learned that the agency has found a new home for the kidlets to live in and this one has a nice big back yard...the house seemed quite large too and looked very new which is fantastic!
I guess I better "hitch up my boot straps" or whatever the expression is and hunker down for a longer wait than anticipated and keep myself busy.
What better way to keep oneself busy than to sign for a Half Marathon training clinic!!! Yup! I am one crazy chickadee but now I can leave all my frustration, anger and sadness out on the running paths! Watch out Queen City Marathon - This will be one ferocious "Momma-in-waiting" come September - I am going to remember to pee before the race and will rip up the course - ha ha ha!
I didn't get an inspiration yesterday so I am going to leave you with one of my favourite motto's:
Monday's Inspiration - Day 21 (courtesy of Moi)
Life's regrets are not the things we did but the things we didn't do!
Tuesday's Inspiration - Day 22
I arise today...
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of Sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
-Saint Patrick, 5th century patron saint of Ireland
Much love from the crazy running gal!
1. Signed up with agency May 31, 2007
2. Dossier went to Ethiopia November 2007
3. Requesting infant under 12 months either gender
So, as you can see they didn't really tell us anything that we didn't already know.
Well, that is not exactly true...they did tell us that wait times have increased since the last update in January (umm...well...ok. March) which had times for infants under 24 months at 9-12 months...they are now saying the wait time for this age range is 8-15 months....aaaarrrrggggh! Just when we had reached what we thought was the half-way mark....
I know that the agency isn't to blame for this....the program in Ethiopia has grown substantially in the last year...there are now almost 60 adoption agencies operating in Ethiopia. This is in part because people are turning away from the China program because the wait times have almost tripled there and switching over to Ethiopia. They are now saying something like referrals for China will come in 2016 for those signing up now. CRAAAAAZZZZZY!
So, last night I was one unhappy camper and ranted and raved about this fact with some friends of ours who dropped over for a visit - I mean no one wants to hear that wait times have increased...but as I tell everyone else - "a couple more months waiting is better than never!" Time I take my own advice!!!
We also learned that the agency has found a new home for the kidlets to live in and this one has a nice big back yard...the house seemed quite large too and looked very new which is fantastic!
I guess I better "hitch up my boot straps" or whatever the expression is and hunker down for a longer wait than anticipated and keep myself busy.
What better way to keep oneself busy than to sign for a Half Marathon training clinic!!! Yup! I am one crazy chickadee but now I can leave all my frustration, anger and sadness out on the running paths! Watch out Queen City Marathon - This will be one ferocious "Momma-in-waiting" come September - I am going to remember to pee before the race and will rip up the course - ha ha ha!
I didn't get an inspiration yesterday so I am going to leave you with one of my favourite motto's:
Monday's Inspiration - Day 21 (courtesy of Moi)
Life's regrets are not the things we did but the things we didn't do!
Tuesday's Inspiration - Day 22
I arise today...
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of Sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
-Saint Patrick, 5th century patron saint of Ireland
Much love from the crazy running gal!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Weekend Inspiration
Today, Sunday June 1, marks the 20th day in the "40 Days of Change". I have to say that the intentions I have set and then "let go" are definitely working...I feel a change, which in turn makes me feel pretty at ease with myself, my life and my world.
Sunday's Inspiration - Day 20
"You're off to great places.
You're off and away!
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest....
Except when you don't,
because, sometimes, you won't...
I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you."
- Dr. Suess
We all know by now that life is full of ups and downs, wins and losses, darkness and light. But if you're like me, my mind still prefers the ups to the downs, the light to the dark. Its a practice to leave preferences behind and find contentment in each moment - santosha. I love that word. I also love the following story, for it comes to mind whenever I notice my mind taking me down some "not so good street" about whatever happens to be presenting itself in my life....a situation hovering in mid-air before me... curiously waiting for my response.
I reach for this story and grab the words "ah so" and practice.....
"There was a monk who lived in the monastery up on the hill. The local girl down in the village got pregnant by the fisherman. She didn't want to cause problems for him in the village, so she said, "It was the monk up in the monastery. They knocked on the gate, and the monk opened the door; they said to the monk, "This is your baby - you raise it." And the monk said, "Ah, so." And he took the baby, and he closed the gate. I mean, the guy's whole life changed just like that, in that moment, and his only reaction is, "Ah, so."
Nine years later the girl was dying. She didn't want to die without admitting what had happened, so she said to the people, "Look, I lied. It really wasn't the monk, it was the fisherman."
The villagers were horrified! They went up to the monastery and they knocked on the door. The monk opened the gate, and there standing next to him was this nine-year-old child. The villagers said, "We've made a terrible mistake. This isn't your child after all. We'll take him back down to the village to raise him, and you're free to go back to your monastic life." And the monk said, "Ah, so." He was so much right here that whatever new change arose, "Ah, so." [as told by Ram Dass]
Saturday's Inspriation - Day 19
"Our whole business therefore in this life," wrote Saint Augustine, rather Yogically, "is to restore to health...the eye of the heart whereby God may be seen."
Sunday's Inspiration - Day 20
"You're off to great places.
You're off and away!
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest....
Except when you don't,
because, sometimes, you won't...
I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you."
- Dr. Suess
We all know by now that life is full of ups and downs, wins and losses, darkness and light. But if you're like me, my mind still prefers the ups to the downs, the light to the dark. Its a practice to leave preferences behind and find contentment in each moment - santosha. I love that word. I also love the following story, for it comes to mind whenever I notice my mind taking me down some "not so good street" about whatever happens to be presenting itself in my life....a situation hovering in mid-air before me... curiously waiting for my response.
I reach for this story and grab the words "ah so" and practice.....
"There was a monk who lived in the monastery up on the hill. The local girl down in the village got pregnant by the fisherman. She didn't want to cause problems for him in the village, so she said, "It was the monk up in the monastery. They knocked on the gate, and the monk opened the door; they said to the monk, "This is your baby - you raise it." And the monk said, "Ah, so." And he took the baby, and he closed the gate. I mean, the guy's whole life changed just like that, in that moment, and his only reaction is, "Ah, so."
Nine years later the girl was dying. She didn't want to die without admitting what had happened, so she said to the people, "Look, I lied. It really wasn't the monk, it was the fisherman."
The villagers were horrified! They went up to the monastery and they knocked on the door. The monk opened the gate, and there standing next to him was this nine-year-old child. The villagers said, "We've made a terrible mistake. This isn't your child after all. We'll take him back down to the village to raise him, and you're free to go back to your monastic life." And the monk said, "Ah, so." He was so much right here that whatever new change arose, "Ah, so." [as told by Ram Dass]
Saturday's Inspriation - Day 19
"Our whole business therefore in this life," wrote Saint Augustine, rather Yogically, "is to restore to health...the eye of the heart whereby God may be seen."
Hope everyone is having a great weekend :)
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