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When I was younger, I had the most jam packed weeks.  Each day consisted of a some tangled combination of school, extra curricular activites, church, church, and more church, choir, bible study, piano lessons, karate, swimming lessons, trips, recitals, etc…and church again…lol.  I never had a day off…hahaha…but, I was cool!  So…why is it that now, as an adult, I feel like I can't make it unless I have a day off???  I'm always looking forward to Fridays…yes…I can sleep in tomorrow.  I can stay in my pajamas all day if I want.  I can eat in my bed, in my pajamas, with my mac book and my cell phone, order Chinese, and never get up…PERFECTION!  I absolutely LOVE my bed, being in my bed, with sunlight coming through the windows…and just….ahhhhh, no responsibilities!  Everything's all good…

…Until…I find out that I'm going to be out of town THREE WEEKENDS IN A ROW!  Yes, it's exciting cause I'm going to have fun and be with people I love.  But, what about my time to do absolutely…NOTHING???  I feel myself getting cranky just thinking about it.  BUT, I realize that this is great practice for my future.  In my future, I'll have kids…I'll be a singer, writer, environmentalist, and a spiritual life coach.  Not many days off there!  So…how will I deal?

I'm trying something new. 

1.  Find something you like to do, and do it regularly.  I'm starting to practice yoga on a regular basis (just started Wednesday).  Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga…its very challenging, yet stills my mind, releases my stress, and brings me a sense of peace.  An hour and a half of pure sweaty bliss! 

2.  Treat your bedroom as your sanctuary.  I've read that people sleep better when they only use their bed for sleeping and sex…lol.  I think there may be something to that…cause I do EVERYTHING in my bed, working, talking on the phone,reading, journaling, blogging, websurfing, etc.  But lately, it's been hard for me to unwind and go to sleep when I'm done.  It's also suggested that we keep the number of electronics in the room to a minimum.  I'm kinda attached to my mac book…so, we'll see about that one…;-)

3.  Find time to pray or meditate each day.  It's so beneficial to find time, even if it's just 5 minutes, to steal away from the world and all it's worries and just breathe.  This is the ultimate vacation, just focusing on God/Source and who we are separate from our egos and labels.  Simply breathing and being still.  I've tried to do this in the mornings before work…haven't been so successful cause I'm so sleepy!  But, perhaps after I instill suggestions 1 & 2…this will become easier to do.

I'm hoping that these three changes will help.  I'll keep you guys posted.  I'm learning as I'm teaching on this one!  But, hopefully I won't need a whole Saturday to "recover" from my week anymore.  Hopefully I'll learn to practice mindfulness, living in the present moment and being grateful for each moment.  Hopefully I'll learn how to bring joy into my daily life so that each day feels like a lazy Saturday, even with a jam packed crazy schedule! 

How do you deal with YOUR daily stresses?  I'd love to hear your suggestions!

"Every single person on the planet and every single Consciousness in the Universe has the same experience of being here and having a desire to be there.  In other words, it is the promise of this eternal Universe… You're always, always, always going to be on your way to something more—ALWAYS.  And when you RELAX and accept that, and stop beating up on yourself for not being someplace that you're not, and instead, start embracing where you are while you keep your eye on where you're going— now life becomes really, really, really FUN! "

-Abraham-Hicks

As we evolve and grow in our lives, we may find that not everyone evolves or grows with us.  This doesn't mean that anything or anyone is wrong…it simply means you're growing apart.  It can be hard to deal with if we don't recognize what is happening.  It's important that we honor this process and honor the time that was shared, the lessons that were learned, and the love that should never be forgotten.  This person helped to mold you into the beautiful person you are today.  Saying goodbye, or simply letting go, should be done with sensitivity and with care…always giving the other person the utmost respect they deserve. 

Juicy like a sweet organic orange
I smile as your citrus kisses send tingles to my ears
rejuvenating my senses
Your scent is like fresh air
 
better than sugar
you send me on a natural high
my body rejoices as it welcomes you
your healing touches make my soul cry
 
eagerly i undress you
i yearn for your yummy goodness
layer by layer…
slice by slice
 
once revealed i see now
parts of you only for me to enjoy
i could share, but i dare not
for i'm like a spoiled child with my favorite toy

I wanted to be mad at you, I wanted to cuss you out…I wanted to stop talking to you.  Anything to make you stop with the criticism and the judgments.  It's as if you ALWAYS have something to say.  It's really annoying, like a mosquito that keeps buzzing in my ear.  I try and try to shoo it away…but it keeps coming back…BUZZ-BUZZ-BUZZZZZZZ!!!  Then, when I just try to be calm and ignore it, the darned thing has the nerve to BITE me…ughhhh!!  Now I'm all itchy, and my skin is blotchy…gee thanks!  I'm damned if I do, and I'm damned if I don't.

But, wait….you remind me.  Like Mary J. Blige says, you remind me of a love that I once knew.  Is it me or is this Deja Vu?  Yeah, sure, there have been others who were critical or judgmental.  But, you…remind me of someone a little more familiar…someone closer to home.  Could it be…you remind me of ME?!?  Oh shit…you remind me of how I can be sometimes with others.  Even worse, you remind me of how I am with myself!  The constant criticizing thoughts and judgmental beliefs.  The constant putting myself down.  It seems my mind ALWAYS has something to say!

Well, lookyhere!  The Universe has brought me someone…a physical representation of my inner thoughts.  My, you look beautiful, but darling the annoyance factor is not very becoming!  Hmmm…perhaps if I learn how to be in harmony with you…I'll also learn how to be in harmony with my thoughts.  Aha!  Perhaps I'll slather on and smooth my skin with some yummy smelling Skin-So-Soft…that way we can co-exist without you biting and I don't have to squish you! 

I think a lot of times we want to fix things…we want to rescue people…we want to be able to stamp our name on it/them and say "I did that".  We want to wear our capes and puff out our chests.  We want to hold our trophies high so everyone can see them and congratulate us on our victory.  We want to win this person over, or change that situation to be in our favor.  All in the name of being "supportive", a "friend", "nice"…etc.  But, I don't think this behavior is any of these.  I call it being manipulative, I call it stroking our ego.

If we are really being supportive, really being a friend, really being nice, we won't be mad or frustrated when the outcome isn't in our favor.  We won't stop talking to our friend because they won't take our advice.  We won't judge someone because WE perceive they're making a big mistake.  We won't cringe when situations don't change in our favor.  Instead, we will be okay…because we realize that we are not God and cannot possibly see the whole picture.

We cannot judge other people and their situations.  How can we say what is best for someone else?  Even if someone is doing something we think is a huge mistake, guess what?  The universe is helping them to learn a lesson, in their own time, in their own way.  So relax.  Next time you find yourself angry or frustrated because "I'm trying to be supportive and how DARE they not see I'm wearing my cape!", ask yourself…are you wearing that cape for them…or is it really just all about you???