Self-Care Day

Hè!

I decided to spoil myself with a sunrise surprise show, medicine wheel meditation, a long walk, peaceful yoga practice, and I hung out with my cool, spiritual friends all afternoon laughing and healing. Today was much needed and I feel so full of love. I was able to tend to my garden and pull weeds. I will honor myself every Sunday, all day. A new ritual to add as a “non-negotiable”, meaning I will do this every Sunday.

A huge part of my Sundays is preparing for the week ahead. I plan on starting a fast-mimicking diet. From what I have read from my Ayurveda group I will be consuming 500 – 700 calories a day. This will ensure optimal cleaning of my body as my cells will be entering autophagy. I got the ok from my Dr, so I made my grocery list to get my healing munchies for the week.

I enjoy moving my body and getting outside to enjoy the sweet melodies of the migrated birds. There are birds that sound like dripping water, and I hear some that sound like a kitten meowing. I love witnessing nature with my senses. I found myself soaking up the songs from the trees this morning before the sun rose. I forget how healing it is to be present outside. Fully aware without anyone but me and outside. It’s very grounding and gets me in the right headspace to start my day.

Yoga is my soul’s heartbeat. I miss it after long pauses. I go through seasons making excuses and not making time for it. I never ever regretted a yoga session. I connect my body, mind, and soul. This is so real to me and if I spend a tiny 5 minutes being intentional with my breathing and movements I am revived! The puppet and the puppet master become one mind. I am aware where my body is today, at this moment along with my mind. It’s like a daily checkup for me.

My garden is my joy. I get back what I put in. I tend to the plants, weed, water, prune, de-bug so I can one day harvest and nourish my body. According to Ayurveda, digestion begins when the seed is planted. I planted beets, spinach, kale, sugar snap peas, radishes, lettuce, and onions. I get excited each day to see how much my babies grew.

I love that I have such a community of strong women. I will always treasure my friendships. That’s a huge part of me getting involved in group activities. I never know who I am going to meet and how they will impact my future. So far, I have been on a roll being at the right place, at the right time, with the right people. Women having each other’s back is the hugest tidal wave of energy so be aware of some crazy exciting movement. Nothing will be the same.

Namaste!

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.

Accepting What Is

Hè, friend!

I have been enjoying taking care of myself and nurturing my soul. I take so much pride in how far I have come in my life. It is surreal to think three years ago I was drowning my sorrows in big schooners of IPAs. Now, I’m grounded and able to face any problem head-on without a second thought. Plus, I have the best circle of people who build me up. I am sharing space with people like me. I am not hanging on to old friends or old memories and feeling stuck in my old ways of coping. I have moved on. I want to keep progressing, and the only way is to stop looking back. My acceptance of my future and how I want my future to look like is my key to my happiness. The rearview mirror isn’t distracting me anymore. My future is in plainview, and it’s mesmerizing!

This garden parsley and fennel face 😂

Spread Love Where Love Is Sparse

Who you were yesterday doesn’t have to define you today unless you want it to. Say that twice. I’m sure depending on who you’re talking to, there will be many opinions of me. Some good, some bad. If I cared about the world’s opinion, I wouldn’t have time to focus on me being my best self. I bring forth my best smiles to frowns. I give hugs for free! I listen intently to anyone willing to give me a friendly conversation. I give, give, give. I don’t expect anything back. I just want anyone I encounter to feel good being them. I want to bring love and care back into the picture. If for one moment strangers become friends and enemies agree to disagree, then the day was pretty great.

Bee nice😍

8 Hugs A Day

I told my Ayurveda teacher how cold I’ve been lately, like, “to the bone chill.” She suggested many scenarios, but lack of loving attention from others struck me deep. I do demand hugs from my family, but I haven’t been present with them. I’ve been soldiering through the muck of life with only me. It was apparent that I needed more community and more time with those I love. That’s my secret recipe to refuel. I was giving, giving, giving, and no one filled me up. I neglected me in a sense. So, my teacher said we need 8 hugs a day. How many hugs do you get a day? Now, that I’m mindful, I aim for 8. Get in those hugs! Lol!

My husband still holds my hand. He takes me on drives so I can see the sunset. That’s love💗

Community

I never know who I am going to meet outside my house. I love volunteering and meeting all the world has to offer. I find people so enchanting, and their stories capture me every time! I do get filled up with love when I see a group of people serving the community. I work hard, planting seeds and growing myself to the woman I see myself as. She’s wise, loving, accountable, trusting, strong. I build these gifts from the people I meet, so thank you🥹

My cuddle buddies 💙❤️

Yogi Outro

We all have gifts. The funnest part of life is finding who you are. My discovery process has been fulfilling and keeps me accountable. I strive each day to take yesterday’s learnings into today’s garden. I don’t have to plant them all. Some seeds are not to grow on but keep to give to someone else. I’m always thinking of others. I’m a nurturer, but not everyone needs me. I learned to back off. Those are my lessons learned. I also make sure I’m getting not only self- love but also accept love from others. Especially those hugs!

Namastè!

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.

Making Space

My friend!

I have been busy making space in my life. I actually organized my stuff in my drawers in my bedroom and got rid of a lot of jewelry and other accessories I’ve been holding onto for so long! It feels good to share items that, at one time in my life, gave me joy. Now, it can bring joy to someone else. It feels good to make this much needed space in my life. I am getting rid of lots of things I couldn’t bear to part with last month. I have unleashed a beast and it’s a beautiful manifestation of my dreams. I wanted something done so I did it. Easier said than done…right?

So much space.

When I list my Dreams they change form

If I can write it down in a list, I find it easier to prioritize my direction. Its Springtime and that means it’s planting season. Not only plants, but my ideas and dreams. What are goals to work on right now? Where is my focus? How can I make my dream a reality? I am pretty pleased with my list of goals and off to a pretty good start thus far. I need to stay focused but balanced. What is work without breaks? I know to be kind to myself and check in with myself during my meditations and mindful walks. Shoot, even mindful eating! LOL!

No matter what I’m eating, I eat in silence, paying attention to the food I’m ingesting. This is an amazing mindful practice.

My spaces have magic

Me and my family have been working hard on weekends getting rocks from my daughter’s house to mine. Rocks are heavy. My body thrives on the work though. I find community with my family, and we are building together. I love spending my time investing in my future. I know the firepit area we are building up is going to be enjoyed for years to come. All the laughs and energy will create the best memories and I smile now in anticipation. I want every space I own to be a sanctuary. A place to be enjoyed and feel safe. That is so important to me!

Our old firepit area is getting a makeover!

Plant babies need space too

I don’t know about you, but I have been needing to split a bunch of my plants and repot them, and put my cacti outside, etc. I got it done! I just doted on myself to myself for the past week! I have been wanting this done forever! I split just one plant into 8! I probably got 22 new plant babies potted and some in water to root. I was going to spend an obscene amount of money on plants (cause it brings me joy) and now I don’t have to! I am waiting to see how they do. I enjoyed spending time one-on-one with each of my plants. I feel we are all connected, and felt a great reminder that humans are not superior to everything. We are intertwined and since I am going to practice more mindfulness with my plants, I hope they will benefit me with their magic of cleaning stale house air. Please bless me, wanìshi (thank you – Lenape).

People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Clear my weekend calendar

Burnout is a thing of the past. I do not aspire to be at every event and own a busy, crazy, insane calendar agenda. I plan on the “no plan” plan. Sounds fun to me! I love not having something pressing that I have to be at on weekends. I can do whatever I want. It usually is the same thing as a weekday, but I can spend a longer time walking in nature. Or I can stop by my daughter’s house and walk with her too. I am counting down to the warmer days so I can paddleboard every weekend and not have a care in the world. Just me and nature, besties forever.

Even nothing is something.

Analyze where space is needed

Have you ever had the biggest brain malfunction of your life and thought that organizing your house would solve it? Well, I can attest that my brain is well and functioning and my house is getting organized. I know what I am facing on Memorial Day weekend going forward until Labor Day weekend. I have to spend time making it flawless. That entails a lot of planning ahead or enjoying the consequences of laziness. I have to create a new space and plan to make sure I stay on top of my game. Failing is learning! I will take the bad but learn. I have to find out failures for myself to fully learn and plan. I can do hard things! Analyze my issues and plan, plan, plan!

Fail to plan, plan to fail.

Yogi Outro

Life is a trip. I never knew easy, everything was hard and unreachable, I felt. I just was existing, blowing in the wind. I had no recollection of a dream. All those dreams I had young. I spent so much time surviving that I forgot the dreams. I forgot a lot. I remember now and I get to walk free sharing love with anyone who needs someone to listen. I refuse to let life make me bitter. I have too much anger surrounding me in everyday life, I want to be a breath of fresh air for myself and others. I want to forget how to blow in the wind and grow my roots in my space. I want to help others build their roots and learn their truths. There’s so much to learn and I cannot wait to share!

Namastè! Wanìshi!

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.