 Happy Thursday all! I hope that this evening finds you well. I hope that this time between Thanksgiving and December holidays are giving you peace and calm rather than the franticness that usually permeates throughout. If anything, I see moments of this energy of just being with vs. trying to get everything done and keeping up, and it feels really sweet to me. That there is a turning energy in our society to return to rest and comfort in what brings us joy rather than an attempt at what may bring us joy.
Me on the other hand am fully enveloped in getting ready to leave for India, after a 4-year hiatus. All I can truly think about is clearing out my refrigerator so that I don't have to end up throwing away a bunch of food, but rather actually being able to use it all in meaningful ways. The challenge is always inspiring, and so far the fruits of my imagination have been lovely. I'm thinking of sharing a few of the products on my Instagram for some inspiration. I've also been cherishing these longer, darker nights, despite the moment of panic that sets in at 6pm each night when I think it is actually 10pm, only later realizing that it is in fact only 6pm. I find these what-seem-to-be drastic changes in light and time comforting to say the least--to be able to live in harmony and sync with Mother Nature and her ebbs and flows. It just feels so nourishing. To be able to wind down and cozy up with a book, or meditation, or some other sort of reflective practice in these dark nights feels special. The inherent internal shift to relax and become in tune with the simplicity of being with the Self and self feels long awaited after a long summer. Nonetheless, I'm finding peace and enjoying the very intentional slowing down rhythm that has been my life the past few days. I'm reminded of the polar nights in these times--where in the North Pole it is dark all day (and night), but then you get these glimmers of the Northern Lights that just permeate through skies--inspiring awe and wonder. In that same vain, the little glimmers of light that just pierce through the darkness of the winter feel so special and something to hold onto and lean into to guide me forward into something the Universe has in store with me. It all just feels so right. Anyways, here are my few random things that are currently in my brain that I'd like to share with you. Enjoy. :)
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Another book for me to share with you guys! I've been on this kick with books this year. My goal is to read a minimum of 7 in 2017. So, naturally, I have a lot of books to share. This one is The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. I'm sure many of you have heard of this one, but I just wanted to give you a quick rundown of what it did for me. The whole premise of this book is basically a way of parting with quite literally stuff that is excess in your home. Marie Kondo helps you create a relationship with all the items in your house to see whether or not they spark joy in you or not. It's pretty cool how she has set up the whole theory and process. You go category by category dumping all of your contents onto the floor, picking up each one, and seeing whether or not it has a value in your life. The way she goes about it is quite amazing. Although I haven't gone about the whole process of tidying and discarding all of my excess things, I think this has really put a lot of things into perspective. I've been dabbling with minimalism in learning more and more about it. Again, I am in no means a minimalist, and I am actually far from it. But, at the end of the day, the message is something that I hold near to my heart. One of the 8 limbs of Yoga talk about santosha or satisfaction. Am I truly satisfied with what I have in front of me at this current moment? Or am I constantly reaching out for more and more and more? It's a hard balance for me. I swing from one extreme to the other. One of my 2017 resolutions was to decrease my extra spending significantly. Have I been successful at it? Eh. Kind of. I won't lie and tell you that I didn't have a weekend of splurge here and there, but with that intention in the back of my mind, I've seen major improvements. The key thing for me is living as true to what the Yoga Sutras say. They are a great tool to help guide us through this very external sensory world, allowing us and helping us go deeper and deeper inside. With all of this said, it's a process! I am neither advocating for everyone to turn into minimalists, nor am I saying that everyone should go and buy everything their hearts desire. At the end of the day, we have to do what feels right. In order to understand what that really is though, is we have to take those extra steps to go internal and dig deep within us. I highly encourage you guys to read this book though! It was a great perspective on all of the stuff we have around us. Ask yourself--does it truly bring you joy? What I'm thinking...probably not every single thing like you thought. See for yourself! Happy Reading!  |
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