September 14 2020
Mindful Monday
The Buddha said follow the middle way -- i.e. moderation is where it's at.
I know this well. I teach it. I live it . . . for the most part. Nevertheless, my Spirit seems to want me to learn this lesson again and again.
All good, and amusing to me.
In many places in my life I've learned about moderation, often by doing the opposite first.
All good, and amusing to me.
I ate only raw vegan food for 7 years (along with my family) to learn that eating any foods I want in moderation is how I feel best, most free and happiest.
All good, and amusing to me.
I played tennis several hours a day for years, lived with Nick Bollettieri for a year at age 12 to train to turn pro, earned a scholarship to Brown based on tennis, grades and need combined, quit the game disillusioned by various things that went down, and never wanted to play again. After a 30 year sabbatical I hit the courts to play with my Chickens -- playing for fun, and, in moderation. Never thought I'd play again.
All good, and amusing to me.
About 12 years ago I taught myself to swim by swimming 100 laps a day. I kept up the 100 laps a day all the way through my pregnancy with my twin sons. Now I can swim 2 laps and feel just as good, or, eh, better. For me it's just about getting in the water and moving the energy. The water is magical for me.
All good, and amusing to me.
When we opened Prana Power Yoga™ Philippe and I taught all of the classes. After a year we trained teachers to help us teach. We trained 100 teachers a year and chose from an abundance of amazing teachers who really wanted to teach at PPY and be a part of the Prana family. Best ever! Still I insisted on teaching A LOT (at times 22 times a week, including my daily 4:30 am class and teacher trainings) for a long time. With time I got over this and found the middle way.
All good, and amusing to me.
Philippe and I are super hands on parents. It's just us. No nannies or day care and a lot of family time is how we like it. For two years we homeschooled, and learned by doing so that we and our kids are happiest and most balanced when they go to school and we supplement their learning with travel, outings, sports and some at home learning as well. (Now with Covid we’re back to homeschooling... who knew. )
All good, and amusing to me.
For me the key is that it's all good, and amusing to me. It's about noticing, laughing (at myself -- one of my favorite things to do), and then being aware. It's about being light and gentle with myself about my propensity to take things to the extreme before finding the middle way. It's about never taking it, myself - or anything - too seriously.
Now when I coach my amazing 🌟Best. 🌟 Team. 🌟. Ever. 🌟 Clean-crafted™ Wine team (now at 68 peeps nationwide) and I notice they are getting a bit too intense about whatever, I say to them, “It’s wine!“🍷🥂 And we all have a good laugh and begin again. Being light and easy and focusing on celebrating everything and teaching others to do the same.
What can you be lighter and more gentle with yourself about? What can you take a little less seriously?
Have the BEST DAY EVER! ✨🌟💫
Blessings🙏🏻Love❤️Joy😊Gratitude💫Happiness🌈and Infinite Inner Peace☮️