I am about to go on a bike ride. After I am done with that I will practice some yoga in my bedroom. I do not currently teach any classes so I am on my own. I like teaching to others but when I am on my own I feel more comfortable to flow with my practice and do the poses that I intuitively think my body needs and wants. At home and not at a chain gym I can light my incense and put on my Kirtan chanting music.
Today I was reminded that I need to be more patient.
It was at work I realized this. I had to deal with two particular children that are endless streams of questions. Each week I dread, and then feel guilty about dreading, having them come to their pottery hour.
I used to associate this type of behavior they exhibit with a three year old and the constant questions of whys. Now I have come to know that this is also a type of adolescent. The mind constantly going, seeing and worst of all wanting wanting, wanting even before they are finished with their previous want they are on to the next.
They walk around the pottery room digging though boxes of art supplies asking what they are used for, are they new, are they old, who made them, etc. They ask if they can have things they know they cannot have. Each week they return and ask the same questions and then some. They repeat the same questions over and over seemingly not aware of the response. The entire hour is filled with asking seemingly useless questions, the sort of things you keep to yourself and do not say out loud.
I suppose it helps me develop my patience by not blowing up and screaming, "No more questions!" and then throwing myself into the firing kiln.
It also helps me to become more aware of my wants and wandering mind. I'm not that bad but when you are given the example of an extreme it can scare you straight.
So some goals I can take with me for today are to continue to be kind and deal patiently with the questions. Next time when the questions have gone past a socially acceptable level I should take the child aside and explain how, "People sometimes keep some questions to themselves for the sake of others. It can be overwhelming to be asked so many questions. Maybe set a limit for yourself in a time period. But wow, I really appreciate your inquisitive mind."
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Old Notebook Entry
So I'll begin by saying I think I have acid reflux. Googled it and am pretty sure I need to lay off tomatoes for that reason. Also quinoa and beans for other reasons that make me less lady like.
So I felt like looking through an old notebook and found the below passage. It is from when I was attending Columbia College. Nestled in with notes from the Philosophy and Italian classes I failed there it was. Me, depressed? Ha! On a lighter note, right now, in this era I am very happy.
The End Of An Era
The end of an era. It is near impossible I've come to find that one can knowingly watch the beginning of an end. So often the new era is middle aged before the obit of the last is read by the cast. I try to pretend to have learned something, when really I want- have wanted to simply breakdown. But life and more importantly time keep going so I jog breathlessly behind.
So I felt like looking through an old notebook and found the below passage. It is from when I was attending Columbia College. Nestled in with notes from the Philosophy and Italian classes I failed there it was. Me, depressed? Ha! On a lighter note, right now, in this era I am very happy.
The End Of An Era
The end of an era. It is near impossible I've come to find that one can knowingly watch the beginning of an end. So often the new era is middle aged before the obit of the last is read by the cast. I try to pretend to have learned something, when really I want- have wanted to simply breakdown. But life and more importantly time keep going so I jog breathlessly behind.
Monday, July 13, 2009
My New Car
I found the energy to jog today. I only had to work around eight hours and had a hair appointment to look forward to. I jogged down Belle Street and onto the bike trail, crossing the road construction and narrowly missing being run over by some truck with chunks of old concrete in it.
I decided to cross the walking bridge over the river rather than taking my usual path along the river's south side and up the steep, grueling hill that comes out by the park next to the beautiful haunted mansion.
As I jogged, at first very slowly, over the bridge I was amazed by the beauty of the day. I felt like I could keep jogging forever. I was so enthused by the beauty around me that I did not even feel like I was apart of my body rather I felt like I was in a vehicle or a bubble and looking out. I was kinda reminded of that eye of London contraption and that I was looking out from a glass bubble onto a beautiful view.
I kept jogging faster and faster feeling completely at ease. The sky was a light calm blue, the shone but not too harshly and the sky was dotted with puffy white clouds. Down far below me was the slowly flowing brown river and all around me were the green trees, grasses and plants. In front of me where the bridge was to end and meet with a curve in the path thus creating a wall of greenery it appeared a spot light shone, guiding me there almost even though I knew it was just a simple play of light.
It was a perfect moment, and I felt completely relaxed. That is one of the reasons I enjoy my time walking, jogging or riding my bike on the trails, it allows me to completely relax, slow my mind and forget everything, just become a passenger with no needs.
I decided to cross the walking bridge over the river rather than taking my usual path along the river's south side and up the steep, grueling hill that comes out by the park next to the beautiful haunted mansion.
As I jogged, at first very slowly, over the bridge I was amazed by the beauty of the day. I felt like I could keep jogging forever. I was so enthused by the beauty around me that I did not even feel like I was apart of my body rather I felt like I was in a vehicle or a bubble and looking out. I was kinda reminded of that eye of London contraption and that I was looking out from a glass bubble onto a beautiful view.
I kept jogging faster and faster feeling completely at ease. The sky was a light calm blue, the shone but not too harshly and the sky was dotted with puffy white clouds. Down far below me was the slowly flowing brown river and all around me were the green trees, grasses and plants. In front of me where the bridge was to end and meet with a curve in the path thus creating a wall of greenery it appeared a spot light shone, guiding me there almost even though I knew it was just a simple play of light.
It was a perfect moment, and I felt completely relaxed. That is one of the reasons I enjoy my time walking, jogging or riding my bike on the trails, it allows me to completely relax, slow my mind and forget everything, just become a passenger with no needs.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Good and the Bad Today
Today was a long day at work but I am happy I had enough energy to come home and jog for what my pedometer says was 4.4 miles but I guess was more like 2.5. I don't think I can figure out how to set it for my stride length, oh well.
Work today was fun at times and disappointing at others.
I created a fit club for the summer program for the at risk youth at my work. I meet with groups of kids once a week for an hour and teach them a different fitness lesson and then we practice the lesson. At the beginning of the summer I helped them set goals and find ways to help them reach their goals.
This week was the second month of fit club so I re-checked their BMIs and body fat percentages. It was little surprise that no one had improved. Sometimes it really gets me down when I seem to be accomplishing nothing with them. I have had about half drop out of fit club and the few that remain mostly do not even seem to want to exercise. There is really only one kid that seems to really want to improve his wellness.
I guess that if my co-worker and I (she deserves some credit too) can make the difference in one life it is worth it. Cheesy, cliche, blah, blah blah- the people at my work would puke to hear that but true. Like she said at lunch the other day that we may not see it now but maybe that kid will in the future remember something we taught them in fit club and will then have the confidence to go to a gym or a on a run then our work won't be in vain. We are planting the seeds, and when the kids are ready only then can they grow.
Now to end positively, during the time I work teaching and creating pottery. One of the naughtier kids is very good at drawing and has taken a liking to my sketches of people doing yoga. This kids asks for everything so it was not a surprise when he asked for my drawings but I gave them to him so he could as he said "finish them." Even if the kid wants and asks for everything I'm still happy that my drawings could make someone happy if just for one moment.
Work today was fun at times and disappointing at others.
I created a fit club for the summer program for the at risk youth at my work. I meet with groups of kids once a week for an hour and teach them a different fitness lesson and then we practice the lesson. At the beginning of the summer I helped them set goals and find ways to help them reach their goals.
This week was the second month of fit club so I re-checked their BMIs and body fat percentages. It was little surprise that no one had improved. Sometimes it really gets me down when I seem to be accomplishing nothing with them. I have had about half drop out of fit club and the few that remain mostly do not even seem to want to exercise. There is really only one kid that seems to really want to improve his wellness.
I guess that if my co-worker and I (she deserves some credit too) can make the difference in one life it is worth it. Cheesy, cliche, blah, blah blah- the people at my work would puke to hear that but true. Like she said at lunch the other day that we may not see it now but maybe that kid will in the future remember something we taught them in fit club and will then have the confidence to go to a gym or a on a run then our work won't be in vain. We are planting the seeds, and when the kids are ready only then can they grow.
Now to end positively, during the time I work teaching and creating pottery. One of the naughtier kids is very good at drawing and has taken a liking to my sketches of people doing yoga. This kids asks for everything so it was not a surprise when he asked for my drawings but I gave them to him so he could as he said "finish them." Even if the kid wants and asks for everything I'm still happy that my drawings could make someone happy if just for one moment.
Monday, July 6, 2009
New Love
I am in the process of starting what might actually be my own small business. I'm naming it Golden Beet Yoga and it will basically be me offering private yoga lessons. I am putting up a website, having an artist create a logo from my description, I'm even going to have t-shirts made and give them to friends. Well, the odd thing is whenever I think of Golden Beet I get that infatuated feeling. I keep thinking about Golden Beet like I used to think about a guy I had a crush on or thought I was falling in love with. This is new, who knew I would enjoy this? So I'm in love and this time my crush is good for me. I have trouble falling asleep because I'm so excited and keep coming up with ideas.
www.goldenbeetyoga.com
www.goldenbeetyoga.com
Monday and Eggplant
I had a long day. I woke up at five am and drove from Iowa City straight to work in Waverly. Tonight is the first Monday since December that I am not teaching my Gentle Yoga class at Gold's gym. Gyms slow down in the summer, people go outside and currently I am not teaching a yoga class anywhere regularly. I am going to enjoy the new free time but I will miss my regular group of ladies from Gold's.
My mom made eggplant parmigiana for dinner. One of the perks of being 25 and living at home, free food and home made meals. I have been living at home now for a year and a half. I was hired for a job with AmeriCorps and moved back to Iowa from Chicago in three days notice. If you would have told the teenage me that was dying to get out of Iowa this was what the future held I would have grimaced. I'm happy here but I'll admit I am starting to have fantasies about moving back to the big city, being a young professional and going out for trendy drinks at the trendy after work spots I no longer know.
I know I must be patient though. I have goals, and plans for my future written out in my Hello Kitty notebook- some things never change. I start school again this fall. While I look forward to that I am also scared. Have I forgotten how to write a proper paper? Will I be in classes with high schoolers? Will I be the old lady the young kids laugh at?
My mom made eggplant parmigiana for dinner. One of the perks of being 25 and living at home, free food and home made meals. I have been living at home now for a year and a half. I was hired for a job with AmeriCorps and moved back to Iowa from Chicago in three days notice. If you would have told the teenage me that was dying to get out of Iowa this was what the future held I would have grimaced. I'm happy here but I'll admit I am starting to have fantasies about moving back to the big city, being a young professional and going out for trendy drinks at the trendy after work spots I no longer know.
I know I must be patient though. I have goals, and plans for my future written out in my Hello Kitty notebook- some things never change. I start school again this fall. While I look forward to that I am also scared. Have I forgotten how to write a proper paper? Will I be in classes with high schoolers? Will I be the old lady the young kids laugh at?
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