Happy New Year
Happy New Year everyone. Do you make resolutions? also how was 2013 for you? I am not sure why but almost everyone I know is so thankful that 2013 is over, and that includes me. I have had a tough year y'all, not gonna lie. NYE was really fun though, a bunch of friends/neighbors got together for Pajamas and Potluck. All I wanted this year was to be comfortable, not have to drive, to be with people who I genuinely like, and to be with O at midnight. I got all of that, I am a lucky gal.
I have one goal for this next year and it is: Robust Health. I have been saying it over and over again. I wanna be like a ruddy cheeked Alpine milk maid, lifting buckets of milk over my head like a beast. Thats really all that I care about and I think I have figured out the missing piece in my healthy transformation: Meditation.
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| This is my Sevilla book from Artifact Uprising but the point of the picture is the photo on the cover. Its a park right by where I used to live in Sevilla, and a beautiful place to meditate. When I lived there it was a nice place to get mugged, but now its peaceful and looking at this photo always reminds me of how nice it felt to lay there. |
Have you seen this movie? It was such a pleasure to watch and really left an impact on me that meditation is something I am finally ready to tackle...is that the right word? More like gently introduce into my life? Also learning about how meditation can actually change your brain is thrilling! I recently learned that people, like me, who have serious intestinal issues actually suffer much more from anxiety, depression and spiraling thoughts because half of your body's neurotransmitters are created in the gut. Fucking Bonkers. And, since meditation has been shown to be even more beneficial than meds in treating these issues, and I have recently had more anxiety than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs...its about time I just do it.
So naturally I am going to be meditating my my closet because its the only room where I am simply less likely to be bothered, and I can't hear anything and its dark, plus it has a cozy rug.
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| I am still keeping my gratitude journal and I feel grateful more often. One major time that I am overwhelmed by how lucky I am is when I go to the farmers market. I can buy fresh, organic, local food and its healthy and I can afford to buy as much of it as I want. It is a miracle when I think about it and I was feeling very thankful when I took this picture in the checkout line, then silly b/c I got yelled at by a security guard. Why? Not super sure. |
Do you meditate? Has it changed the way you feel or think? This is so fascinating to me.
I went to a meditation class and, yes, if you do it regularly, it is pretty amazing how it clams you down. You can get all the brain research you want somewhere else, but take it from this former panic attack/anxiety experiencer, meditation is helpful. So is exercise. They're both good; they work differently. I like both. Actually, my "practice" has lapsed so if you want to incorporate meditation reminders into your blog, I'd love that. Or if you want to share how your "practice" (that word always creeps me out) is going, I'd love to hear.
ReplyDeleteAlso, no photography in YDFM! ;-) There are so many times I'd like to take a pic for IG, but I'm a rule follower so I resist.
Oh they are very strict about it at YDFM! I am so happy to be able to shop there though. I love exercise! Its so calming, so together with meditation I think I am going to be floating around without a care in the world :O
DeleteYes, "practice" creeps me out. Also I hate it when people refer to my paintings as "my work" it sounds icky.
I bought this online meditation CD from Abraham Hicks and it's great. Your post reminded me that I need to do it as well more often. Meditation is like any other sport: the more you do it the better you feel. What I have learned as well is that even when I feel overwealmed I take a few deep breaths and feel better already. Good luck with this and wish you a healthy and creative year!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about it being like a sport, plus the more you do, the stronger you get! I have gotten pretty good at reminding myself to breath, somethings I check in with myself and I am like wow! I am only breathing enough not to faint! I gotta get on that! Thanks for your comment. Happy New Year.
Deletehappy new year, michelle! i feel this way too- i can't believe i am buying cage free eggs or whatever now. not that long ago, i was making peanut butter sandwiches last. :p
ReplyDeleteHilarious! Cage free eggs taste yummy :)
DeleteHNY! yes, i do meditate. when i do kundalini yoga. it's made to go hand in hand with meditation. it helps to relax your brain so that you are able to focus/not focus on anything but the 3rd eye.
ReplyDeletehow super weird that you got yelled at at YDFM. you got a shit ton of eggs and meat. is this because you only go shopping once a month? do you freeze all that meat?
i am an every 2 days kind of shopper so i am fascinated by your shopping cart.
Ha! I would be thinking the exact same, all the veggies are under b/c I shop for them first. Yeah, every other week I get a freezer load, and I made a bunch of tortillas espanolas, so I had to get a shit ton of eggs. I love that video you do, I have it too, I am going to shut myself in my closet and do it!
DeleteOoooh. Meditation is great. I don't do it nearly enough, though. Practicing pranayama (breathing techniques) helps, too. Greatly. Check out calm.com. I use their site when I need a quick escape. I love having music and a magical image to focus on.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could grocery shop with wild abandon. Haha. I don't even buy apples because they are ungodly, ridiculously expensive around here.
Its hard to fit it in sometimes isn't it. Thanks for mentioning calm.com, you are the second person to clue me in, and its great! I agree that the music is so soothing. I am sorry produce is so expensive around you, my parents live in the suburbs and they have the same problem.
DeleteHappy New Year! Have you read Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach? I just read a chapter on meditation and chronic illness and it reminded me of this post. Anyway, check it out. Maybe it will help. BTW I'm not a spammer at all--don't know this Tara Brach chick at all, other than she seems to be just the right balance between normal and hokey...Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reco! I will certainly look into it.
DeleteHappy New Year! I'm hoping to get into a good meditation groove this year too! I started doing lots of yoga this past year with meditation and I've noticed a huge change in my thinking and health- now I can't imagine my life without it. I developed psoriasis several years ago and I was researching every and anything that could help and I just wish I had noticed the importance of managing stress with yoga/meditation sooner!
ReplyDeleteI recently found a book that is pretty good on learning self care--The Way of the Happy Woman...
It suggest meditations, yoga poses, recipes that sync up with the 4 seasons of the year. I'm just learning now how it is okay to be lazy, eat alot, and rest during the winter. I've been so tired with this cold weather and it is great to know it is natural and this is the time of the year to rest and recharge- and not give myself a hard time about it!! Well, I hope 2014 is a healthy year for both of us!!
Good for you for doing the yoga for your health! As my husband always says, the solution was there all the time and you just didn't see it yet, funny how that happens. I am totally going to check out the way of the happy woman! I have been thinking of you these past few days as I recharge, and not give myself a hard time for not working and taking rest!
DeleteJust read this in the news last week by a CNN anchor and how she has dealt with her psoriasis:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2014/01/01/living/psoriasis-cnn-anchor-zain-verjee/index.html?iref=allsearch
it's amazing how the mind can help heal the body....
best wishes for the new year!
Tina, thank you for the link. I love learning about this!
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