Where is Your Heart?

This week has been equal parts wonderful and difficult.  We started out the week surrounded by family and friends for Owen's baby blessing (a tradition in the Mormon Church) and it was so great to celebrate this baby boy who is growing and thriving and who we love so much.  It was also wonderful to be with family.  Isn't it fun to bask in the attention of Grandma's and Grandpa's?  My monkeys relish in it, and so do I.  We were sad to see everyone leave after only a few days together.

The rest of the week has been unexpectedly humbling.  I needed to withdraw and think and just be.  Nurture myself and my family.  Love and be loved in return.  In the process I made peace with myself and with being enough simply as I am.  I think I can move forward now - albeit, a little slower and with more reserve then before.

It's no secret that I love Kristin Armstrong's blog - I've linked to her several times before.  This morning I read her most recent post titled, "Good Intentions" and it was the perfect way to start my day, especially after this week.  You really should read the whole post, but I love this paragraph in particular, where she talks about the last 10 minutes of her weekly yoga class:

"But for those ten minutes my mind goes on hiatus and I transcend myself.  When Leigh's voice beckons me back to consciousness by asking me to slowly wiggle my fingers and toes, I resent the disturbance but I comply.   I curl up on my side and stay there too long, before I slowly join the rest of class in a cross-legged, hands pressed together 'namaste' position.  I breathe and try to bottle the pocket of zen in my mind for later.   She often asks us to check back in with our intention we set at the beginning of class.  I like that part, it means something to me.  I have begun to incorporate this into other areas of my life.  I try to set an intention before I run, workout, write, meet up with a friend, make a speech, eat a meal, discipline my children, state my opinion, say yes or no to a request.  The more I set intentions, the more I realize how many opportunities I have to do so in the span of a week, a day, or even an hour.  I realize how often in the past I have not checked in with my intention, or even made one to begin with  How easy is it to waste time, get off track, or miss the moment when I forget where my heart is?"

Where is your heart?  What are your intentions?  How do you stay focused when life throws you a curve ball?  Oh, and anyone want to come babysit baby monkey so I can go to weekly yoga?  ;)

xoxo,

R.

p.s.  I love this shot of my Mom having an air hockey tournament with Michael. 

Comments

[Dena]

nothing to say yet, just soaking it in. Thanks for the reminders.