The pain is a weapon if you know how to use it...

So I wasn't going to workout today but i knew that i needed to pushed through for Equinox. I dedicated my ten minutes to him. Then both of your 10 minutes kinda strayed to him as well considering i kept busting into tears. But I was listening to some inspiring Beckah Shae tunes, hence the lyric in my title. It was the last song of my 30 minutes. Called "hope". It was so perfect. Then after my time was up the song "Gold" came on. It was just a great reflection time "I'm going through the fire but I'm coming out gold". Okay well there you have it.

Bad Omen??

[INSERT PICTURE OF ADORABLE BLACK KITTEN HERE]

So yesterday I was the weak link in our little trio. I failed to do my 30 minutes. I didn't workout in the morning and when I got home from work I had raging cramps so I hit the bed with the heating pad.
So now for the title of today's blog title, Bad Omen?? Today my cat was attacked by a dog and died. I'm heart broken if there was ever an animal specifically for me it was my little Equinox. He was only 6 months (I had him less than 2 weeks) and he was the "purrfect" cat. He deserved a much longer life and I am praying that "all cats go to heaven".
When I got Equinox I told Joelle he was the "mascot" for my weight loss. So what does it mean that he died? Is it my fault for "failing" yesterday?

Getting the green lights and the good parking spaces...

Apparently lately I've been boosting my good "mojo" by simply using the affirmation "I love and approve of myself". The changes started two days ago. First someone complimented my earrings. Then another my shirt. Finally a boy (who I'm not positive was gay) compliment my nails. Then yesterday a girl complimented my hair. Keep in mind that this is my fifth week and I have been consistently styling my hair, usually curling it. That's how it was done yesterday. So this morning I was telling Joelle all about it. But the tip of the iceberg (or whatever analogy/cliche you like) was when I got to work today. Within 5 minutes of being there I got 2 compliments on my purple polka dotted hoodie. And within the hour I got a third. Now I've owned this top for at least 3 years and wear it A LOT!
One thing I've also noticed is i use to be the type that would take a compliment like it was a joke. I'm definitely not as bad as a lot of people but depending on who said it i could get every self-conscious. When i got the first mention of my hood i initially was thinking "are they kidding?" But I ignored that small voice until it faded away. Then I got confirmation a few minutes later!
Also one of Joyce Meyer's philosophies is "got a need, sow a seed". If you want something manifested in your life start doing it. I have been working on complimenting others appearances because I longed for those same compliments. Now look at me. woot woot!

Head for HIgher Ground

I got up this morning and headed off to the gym, but I got cut off at the pass. The area around the gym was flooded and the road closed. So I came home, put on my nike wristband for the first time in many months and hit the road. It was a great 35 minutes of morning job.... over two bridges. I really tried to focus on attention on being mindful... taking in the feel of the cool air,notice the slight changing of leaves, the feel of my feet hitting on pavement, which muscles I feel worked with the uphill or downhill strides. I tried to make my present senses override the bombarment of thoughts that seemed to think they needed to be resolved at that very moment. Mostly I felt grateful that today is a good day and I felt sorry for the girl who felt so driven to get where she was going that she drove her car into a flood. What was she thinking to drive right into a flooded out area? She was not being mindful. There she sat on the sidewalk, patiently waiting a rescue and appearing to resolve that today is a bad day. I resolved that today is a great day for the three of us. As I jogged across the bridges I was at treetop level, I was grateful to be at treetop level. I picture us clinging on to high branchs and resting safely high above the rushing water that was attempting to sweep away anything in its path. When there is a flood warning, head for higher ground. Selah.

Goodnight Moon

Another 'wonder-fall' day. I started it out listening to some funky beats and grooving to the music with yoga and stretching. I got into some vigorous housecleaning in the bathroom and kitchen. Didn't quite finish all that was on my list, but I'm getting there. I'm in the process of getting our hot tub up and running. It will be amazing to do my 30 minute workout in the morning and then sit in the hot tub,watch the sun come up over the mountains, sip tea. The air is getting chillier.

Tonight we snuck into the hotel hot tub down the road. I love poaching a soak! We had it all to ourselves too...it was wonderful. Jude even enjoyed sitting in the hot water.He continually amazes me. He just goes along, everywhere, enjoying the ride. He's so content and such a blessing to have around.

I'm ready to call it a night and snuggle up next to my lil man. I wish for dreams filled with messages of hope and encouragment and wonder for me and all my loved ones. May we all awake in the morning with excitement for the blessings of a brand new day, a new and exciting day. Thanks to all. And to all a goodnight.

Nice Butt

That's what people are going to be saying about us all around town! Yesterday after I blogged I got right back on the band wagon. I put on some funky upbeat music and danced and hula hooped in honor of the three goddesses, R, J, S. It was nice to get it done early in the morning, no periodic questioning throughout the day wondering whether or not anything is going to stand in the way of me and my workout.

No roadblocks are standing in my way! Not with the power of 3!

I've been thinking a lot lately about what my yoga teacher saying about fitness and how it is something that is practiced daily without effort. And I love how you guys (mom and Shanna) have incorporated our new routine in with your daily activities like washing tables at work and doing some deep house cleaning! The 3 wise queens with nice butts!

Going Through the Motions

So I got in my full work out at work! Tomorrow I really need to do some more intense cardio. Like Joelle said in one of her posts about how she hasn't been really pushing. Ive been thinking about that a lot today. Ive just been going through the motions. And that's great bc its more then what i was doing before. and it will be fine when I'm just "maintaining" but right now I'm not in maintaining mode I'm in "goal reaching mode"!

So any-who for my first 10 minutes I focused on my butt for Mom. Lol

My next 10 minutes were for Joelle. I went for a walk around campus on my break.

And the last 10 minutes were for myself. I focused on my abs!
All in all it was a mediocre day. But I'm ready for kick it up a notch.

Mindful Thoughtlessness

Though I have been Facebook obsessed, I see it as a motivation to write. Which I love to do. I just needed a muse. I found one in Doug and this muse has kept me amused. Last night I did take time out from my facebook memoir to exercise. Yesterday turned out to be a day that I stayed in the apartment all day and I didn't get dressed. It's one of those rare relaxing days that we all need once in awhile.
Just when I thought I would break out from hybernating and head out to the gym, a torrential downpour started. So I lite up candles, turned on ambiant radio and dedicated 10 minutes each to peaceful exercising. Dancing and stretching. I wanted to be mindful of each of you and be as 'thoughtless' as possible. My understanding is that meditation is thoughtless. A time to stop thinking. I made every effort to just picture each of your faces during your 10 minutes. When I pictured Joelle's face, I started to cry. I don't know why. I sensed I was feeling some of her pain about something.
My mind won't shut up about this Doug saga and I had to force myself to concentrate on each of you and not on my own issues. I had to keep redirecting my thoughts. I think that was the most difficult exercise of all.
This morning I got up and went to the gym before work. I had a pair of headphones in my hand but decided to leave them behind because I believed I had a pair in the car. I got inside the gym and realized I didn't bring in the headphones. I walked back to the car and frantically searched for headphones that I couldn't find. I was so certain that I left them in the dash. I thought, 'how am I going to work out without them?' and considered driving back home. But then I realized that I was to practice another mindful workout. So I started with upper body strength and dedicated it to Shanna to help her feel strong. Then Joelle, and I focused on the midsection. Then for myself was lower body. With each exercise I focused on the moment and the muscle I felt worked with each move. I closed my eyes to concentrate on it. And now that I think of it, not having music went unnoticed. I still had issues with my mind drifting and I had to bring in back to my intended focus. At one point I started to cry right there on the machine because I felt like I just couldn't get my mind to stop thinking about the Doug saga and it's frustrating me. My mind keeps investigating and rehashing every detail and I really don't want to. I feel so self-absorbed and I'm not liking it.
I want more thoughtlessness in my life. The definition means to "not think enough, careless". Yeah, I want to not think enough so as to be become less and less self-absorbed which will allow more room for peace. I want to care less about about things that don't really matter.
I have come to realize part of my journey is to practice being thoughtless, yet mindful. Thoughts are the thinking, problem solving, stratgizing, constant questioning that we drive ourselves and others crazy with. Being mindful is staying focused on the moment. Hanh says "Mindfulness is the ability to recognize what is happening in the present moment. It is simple recognition without judgment or citicism, without suppression or attachment." It is living in the moment and fully experiencing it. Perhaps I will prevent making problems that need to be solved. If I had not of been bombarded with self absorbed thoughts this morning, I would have remembered my bra and underwear for the gym. So I had to decide if I had time to run back home for them. Let's just say it was a commando day at work.
Oh, and by the way Joelle, Lakshmi has been hanging out with me. I was searching for where I safely tucked away my birthday gift. I couldn't find it, but figured when the time is right, then I will find it. However, in my search I found Lakshmi. Taped her back together and propped her up on my counter. And she keeps saying "Stop worrying. Everything is going to be fine."

Slackin

So the past two days I have to admit I've been slacking. I'm sure I've been getting my thirty minutes in between hauling Jude all around town and my random bursts of dancing and stretching. But dedication and discipline are the key. I was hoping I could set aside 30 minutes to devote solely to my exercise and meditation, but that's okay because I'm sticking to it...that's the important thing. I was getting on myself yesterday for not blogging and being consistent with my exercise. I thought that two days had gone by, but then I remembered that Dan, Jude and I went for a walk in the park yesterday. So I've been active. I'm allowing myself to not be perfect :) So today I'm going to get a solid 30 minutes of good sweaty exercise in. The sun's coming up and the sky is full of pretty pink clouds. Dan started taking Jude to work with him sometimes in the mornings. So I suppose now would be an excellent time for my work out since I don't have anyone to answer to at the moment. Sorry Shanna and Mom for my slacking. I'm not going to be the weakest link anymore! This cord aint breakin!

I'm willing to believe amazing things are still happen'...

Okay I did it! I remembered to dedicated 10 minutes Mom, Joelle, and 10 for me! So I started my day by doing the first 10 minutes for Mom. I danced around, did some belly dance moves, punches, it was really just a random mix. I followed it with 5 minutes for myself. I did so stretches for that bit. Then at work i washed tables for 10 minutes for Joelle. I wouldn't have counted it but i was parched and getting sweaty so I figure it was a workout- lol. It was dedicated to Joelle who is a AWESOME homemaker, mother, and "wife". Then for my last 5 minutes i walked from work until i met my ride along the way. I spent this 5 minutes saying "i can do anything i put my mind to. Christ gives me strength" I don't know where or how exactly i ended up "chanting" this but it was great.
P.s. my title for this blog is a lyric from a Beckah Shae song. She's like my new hero I love every single one of her songs. Mom you might dig her style you should look her up.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Selah. Good evening Sweet Ladies. God gives us each our own special gifts and Shanna yours has always been to organize and decorate, and you are doing it so beautifully with this blog. I love to turn to here because it is beautiful and encouraging. It's our happy little place away from the chaos of the world. The quotes are awesome and I want to transfer them to my Facebook.
Speaking of chaos, I have been obcessing with my facebook. I didn't mean to, but I started something that is drawing attention and now its a project. I felt so bad because the time I had set aside to post here last night, I used on facebook. I couldn't pull myself away from the drama of pouring my heart out about a cheating boyfriend. People are following it like an Us magazine. I'm having friends pop up that I forget existed. And friends are telling friends to tune in.
But I did pull myself away tonight. Though my facebook alert pops up notifying me of a new post. I shall ignore it. It means more to me to spend time with the girls who I love most dearly. Let me bring yo up to date on my life. Yesterday morning I woke up at 5:10 am. I have been just asking God to wake me up when I should. I remember once I talk to a man who never uses an alarm clock. I thought he was nuts. But now I rarely ever need one either. Perhaps that comes with age. Or perhaps, I like to think that I am being more one with the universe and my place and time in the cycle of it. I headed right out to the gym but before I left I felt I really need to stop and meditate on some Louise Hay material. I searched my apartment frantically in a rush and could find neither of her books that I have. When my eyes scanned the bookshelf looking for Louise, I came across this bright yellow book tucked in the back but screaming to be noticed. Thich Nhat Hanh's book entitled "you are here". I checked the contents to see which chapter was calling my name. It was "Healing our Wounds and Pain." I have been very sad that Doug was a womanizer and I was decieved into loving him. Though I choose to forgive, let it go and move on...my mind won't drop it. Hanh's book is all about mindfulness... and in a sense the absences of minding. hah... I think I have a new motto, "I don't mind a bit." Yet again, the book teaches a paradox to be hypersensitive to minding what is around you, what you are doing, tasting, smelling, touching, to bring your senses in in every way. He explains to live life happy you must be mindful of details at the moment. That brings us greater appreciation for the here and now. Therefore, we do not dwell on the past, or worry about the future. Just enjoy now. Literally now, this very second. Stop and ponder what do you hear, feel, smell, taste, touch. He says if we do it we bring happiness now.
As far as the workout, I took the book with me and walked on the treadmill, dedicating ten minutes each to us. No heavy revelations. But the reading material was good and I felt the need to reread it today.
Let me share some more of what I learned from Hanh about healing our wounds. First of all, commit this poem to memory.
In, Out
Deep, Slow
Calm, Ease
Smile, Release
When I first practice it yesterday morning, I couldn't really smile. My face felt like heavy clay. I"ve never really been one to struggle with smiling but I really did. Something definitely needs repaired in my life.
I started practing what the poem says...breath in, breath out.
do it deep and slow. Feel the cam and ease (I like to say peace instead- it still rythms.) smile and release all tension. This is something that can be practiced over and over again as needed. Better yet, do it before you need it.
I have tons more to say, but my eyes are getting heavy. Tomorrow I will continue on this path. Selah. PS I was thinking it would be good to have our opening word because if we have visitors they won't know which of us is talking. Even now I have to start reading before I know which one of you wrote the blog.
Sweet dreams.

Walk This Way

So today i didn't do an intense workout but from all the walking i did on campus running around trying to figure out my tuition waver to walking around the mall. to walking about a half mile for Joelle to pick me up I say i completed my 30 minutes. Argg... again with the dedication tho. Geez... I promise tomorrow I will. (fingers crossed)

K so i obviously enjoy looking up cute quotes and photos online so here is one for you mom...

Apple Custard Pie

Day 3-hula hooping and yoga. During yoga I envisioned the dusk cloud you talked about mom and I imagined it sweeping me away along with the million little love particles. It was very intense. I was happy to hear that this new soul journey was leading you into some interesting places mama.

The apple trees in our backyard gave us a couple buckets of apples. I made an apple custard pie. It was my first attempt at making pie. Not a total succes, but not a failure either. I'm thinking about making some apple butter with the remaining apples. I would like to make a treat and give it to the neighbor Syd. I was originally thinking apple pie but since it wasn't a knock out pie maybe I'll see how my hand is at apple butter. I'm getting used to the fact that summer is officially gone and now here is fall. It's not that I dislike fall, it's that other season that comes after fall. My goal is to enjoy the outdoors-even in the winter!

Toss your burdens aside

Girls, I love what you have done with blog!! It looks great and I feel encouraged and inspired. At a time like this its good to know I've got backup batteries...the two of you.
Yesterdays workout was cleaning house so I could take care of two things at once. I jumped around and danced in my underwear in true liberated housecleaning style. Bob Marley was played for Joelle and sho nuff on came "No Woman, No Pride."...okay, I don't need correcting...just let me enjoy the song in my version. Me and Avril got down to some serious toilet scrubbing for Shanna. ha ha...just joking about the toilet. Just know I would clean up an sh@tty mess of yours, if needed. Saturday night I went out dancing for more serious cardio and indeed worked up a sweat.
Today....well, it is after midnight so that makes it yesterday. Today, I put on running shoes and used the workout time to walking briskly through Celtic Festival. That was a nice change of scenery for a workout...checking out men in all kinds of plaid skirts. There was also a pole tossing contest. Basically it was a telephone pole. The guys had to pick it up, run with it and toss it in the air with hopes of it flipping to make more distance. I was inspired by the strength and determination of these men in skirts. Girls, there is no weight too heavy, no burden to tall for us to toss it clear out of our way.

Comments, Quotes, & Yoga

So i was trying to figure out how to comment on you guys posts and i couldn't figure it out...yet. So I'll just say it here. Mom i loved your first post. You are definitely a writer, you too Joelle. P.s. Victorious is a show on Nickelodeon and I'm not gonna lie they have some catchy songs. lol.
Haha as writing this that Miley Cyrus song came on. Must be a sign.
So I just finished reading all of the posts. I'm caught up and I've been failing miserably. When i work out i haven't been dedicating 10 minutes to each of you. I will try to be more mindful of that.
So for today's activities i went to yoga with Joelle for the first time. It was awesome! An hour and a half of pure relaxation. I am loving this challenge. After just three days i already feel so much healthier. But i have also been using Louise's Affirmation "I love and approve of myself"! Woo Hoo Lets do this!

The Missing Post

So i forgot to post yesterday obviously. When i woke up i went for a 20 minute walk. It was fantastic. I love morning air being all chilly waking me up. Then when i got home i finished off my last 10 minutes by listening to music and doing some ab, butt, thigh work. Pretty great day.
Also since out challenge started...two days ago...i haven't been as naughty at work with the food! Go Me!

Bear Scat

I started out the day, probably around 4:30 am or so. It wasn't entirely my own choice-a chubby little cherub baby had a role in that. It was a little extraordinary since he usually wakes up at 7:30am. But today was a different day. He wanted to wake up earlier, so we went with it. After I changed his diaper, he smiled,stretched and was ready to play!

My 30 minutes of physical exercise was split into 3 segments today. In the morning I turned on the music and hula-hooped for 10 minutes in honor of my lil sis-Shananigan! I followed that up with 10 minutes of my own concoction of yoga/stretching/dancing with mindfulness of my mama in the afternoon. And then at night I did my final 10 minutes of hooping for myself.

Plus I threw in a few extra songs/shout outs to the family and friends I felt could use some energy, since I was really enjoying the hooping. Thanks ma for giving me that hula hoop. It's been great fun to hoop to da music.

Well I better at least mention the bear scat since that is the name of today's blog afterall. I've kind of had this thing for bears lately. Not exactly sure when it started, but it was probably around this time last year. I was going for a walk at dusk and saw this bear crossing the road. At first I was super excited, since it's not an everyday occurance to see a bear crossing the road. And then I got fearful because I thought that it was a baby and my next thought were, "If that's the baby, where's the mom.? So I turned around and walked back home, only to drag Dan out to have a look. The bear had moved on to foraging through trash cans in the alley. After Dan got a good look at the bear, he informed me that it was a full-grown blackbear, not a baby. It was a really neat experience. Then that following Spring, I looked out the window one morning and saw a bear across the road near the hills. Since then I've had bears on my mind frequently.

So today the neighor Syd came over. Syd is a friendly and active old man that lives alone in the house next door. He had come to tell us about the 'visitor we had received the night before.' Our trash can was in Syd's backyard, with the contents dumped on the ground, not too far from a pile of scat. The pile was black and full of choke cherries. Interestingly enough, the day before, we had went to Fairy Lake and saw some bear scat on the road. Dan told me how to distinguish bear scat. It was definitely a blackbear preparing for winter.

The bear seems to be my totem animal right now. A bear knows about survival. It knows about saving and conserving energy and resources to prepare for the future. A bear is in tune with nature and the rythyms of the Earth. A bear is a fierce protector and caretaker for their young.

I feel connected to the bear and I'm grateful for the wisdom that they have to share. I pray that we can learn to live harmoniously with all of nature. May we learn the rythyms and cycles of life and get into tune with them, the way that the bear does. Thanks for visiting us Blackbear. Sorry we didn't have any treats to share-but judging by your droppings, I think the choke cherries were treating you well. Good luck stocking up for winter and happy hibernation. How awesome would it be to just sleep for 3 months during the winter? Well it's way past my bedtime. If the cherub wakes up again at 4 am, that leaves me with 3 more hours to sleep.Goodnight Bear.

Overtaking, Lifting Off and Falling Behind

So girls, I'm a day late with posting our kick off post. But I have been a full participant. I even started the 30 minute workout a day early. I was stirred in my spirit to wake up at 4am. No alarm clock. I just felt refreshed. Took some time for feeding my soul some Louise Hay and out the door to the gym. I thought I would end summer with a good kick-start into fall. On Thursday I danced on the treadmill for 10 minutes in honor of Shanna feelin' liberated and having fun with excerise. Then I put on some Bob Marley and got on the eliptical for 10 minutes...cause you know "No Bob Marley in da streets!" I discovered Raggae is the perfect rythym for the eliptical machine. I left the gym with the counter-girl asking, "Are we going to make it two in a row?" I said "Yes". She says that means I will see you tomorrow.
Friday morning I awoke at 5:10. Sat down with Louise Hay for some soul searching time. Weighed in at 212.8 pds. Shrugged my shoulders cause "it is what it is". Wavered about hitting the gym and running outside instead, but know I couldn't miss the morning work out since I promised the counter girl that I would show up.
I started on the treadmill ....I tuned my android to Pandora radio and trusted that whatever was playing would inspire my workout. It was Raggae...thus that 10 minutes went out to JJ. "Holla" The song playing was "Gotta keep on Moving" I was singing and hearing "Love, I got to keep on moving. Love, I got to get on down." I was inspired. Joelle, I saw a big white Angel coming up behind you, it wings spread wide and I mean vast spread....yet it looked like a dust storm over taking you and all the particles of dust particles were particles of love. Well, that's what my heart saw. And now today I looked up the lyrics of "Gotta keep on moving" and its words are "Lord, I gotta keep on moving. Lord, where I can't be found. Lord, there coming after me." The song is actually about him being accused of murder. Well, gee.... that was not what I was hearing. Then again, I am still convinced the words to Bob Marley's song....and I continue to hear and sing, "No woman, no pride." Nonetheless, Joelle, I saw a beautiful vision that love is overtaking you like a dust storm til you can't breath in anything else.
As for you Shanna, My Dear. I switched the station to Mylie Cyrus. The song was "Butterfly fly away" by Hanna Montana. This goes out to you Shanna, in Montana.


Caterpillar in the tree
How you wonder who you'll be
Can't go far but you can always dream

Wish you may and wish you might
Don't you worry, hold on tight
I promise you there will come a day
Butterfly fly away

Butterfly fly away, butterfly fly away
Flap your wings now you can't stay
Take those dreams and make them all come true

Butterfly fly away, butterfly fly away
We've been waiting for this day
All along and knowing just what to do
Butterfly, butterfly, butterfly, butterfly fly away

Butterfly fly away
Butterfly fly away

Shanna, a butterfly being a caterpiller first must hold tight to surfaces in order to not fall.
Every move that caterpillar makes, it clings tightly to the surface for survival. It's 'sticking' to surfaces with each move an effort out of NEED.
I have been chewing on the difference between desire and need. Chew on this like a caterpillar has a need to chew on a leaf.
My recent meditation from "The Secret" is
"To desire something is in proper accordance with the law. You attract what you desire. To need something is misuse of the law. You cannot attract what you need if you feel you need it urgently or desperately, beacuse that emotion contains fear. That kind of "needing" keeps things away. Bottom line: DESIRE EVERYTHING. NEED NOTHING."
I get anxious about bills, so I tell myself, I don't need to pay that bill. But I desire to pay that bill. That way fear is not ruling over that bill.
Shanna, you don't NEED a car, but you desire a car.
Let's keep fear out of our lives and stop needing. It's all about what we desire.
With that said,
Shanna, I saw you as the most big beautiful butterfly. A loverly wingspan full of so many beautiful colors...pinks and purples, white and black. You are flying free.
A caterpillar must cling to surfaces and travel out of need.
You are as a butterfly, flying free and traveling and landing where ever you desire. No needs, just whatever you are in the mood for.
Be Free.
You are no longer a caterpillar. Beautiful Butterfly Shanna.
Another thing,
years ago a friend had a vision and said that she saw a butterfly struggling to get out of it's cacoon. The Lord said, "it's the struggle that makes you beautiful". It's a struggle that no one can help with. If someone were to try to cut open a cacoon and help a butterfly be released it would die. It has to work its wings for itself to be strong for flight.
Work it Girl!

As for my ten minute workout, I felt the urge to pedal backwards on the eliptical.
Victorious Cast was the name of the band whose song came on for me. I don't even recall the song, but the name of the group was my inspiration. Never heard of them before, but the name was so fitting.
I pedaled backwards and said "Good Bye" to some painful relationships that needed a curtain pulled. I saw each relationship as if it were on a performance stage and the curtain being pulled. For some it was the "last curtain". But for others the curtain may open for another act. I also said good bye to some of my old ways.
It just felt right to back pedal from bad choices that I have made. I lifted a few weights to symbolized that I was strong enough to lift emotional weight off my shoulders. And God knows I needed it more than ever this week.
All is well in my workout world. I'm blessed that my girls are a part of it.

Happy Fall Equinox!

It's been said that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step," well here's my first step. I'm not taking a journey of a thousand miles, but I am taking a journey. A journey that requires daily devotion, and that's what's important. I watched a silly movie and it inspired me to "do something." It's not so much what you do, but how you do it. And so, here I am, making an attempt to bring out many changes and blessings into my life through the practice of daily devotion.

The adventure began today: 365 days of daily practice, 30 minutes of physical exercise, while simlutaneously praying, a moving prayer if you will. 10 minutes will be spent sending good energy to my mom, 10 to my sister, and 10 to myself. So here we are, the first day, which also happens to be the day where daylight and nighttime are equals. Fall Equinox. The last harvest.

I started out the day doing 108 sun salutations with a few other gals on the top of a hill. It was quite a magical way to celebrate the Fall Equinox. I'm excited to see what blessings the Equinox will bring about.

Day One

So i don't have a beginning weight or any of that mumbo jumbo, I'm only concerned with the end result. Today i did Julian Micheal's 30 day shred. It was awesome. My butt is already starting to hurt. i also walked to and from work for a total of about 15 minutes. I'm really excited this is going to be so great!

-Shanna