yogathought for the day

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." --Denis Waitley

Namaste'
Leslie

yummy yoga

I am feeling completely and totally yoga yummy right now. I took a class this afternoon, and it was fabulous. The instructor blended the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga beautifully! I am so very excited to find someone in town who I can begin practicing with regularly!!! Just had to share my excitement. It feels so good to find an instructor who I feel I will really connect with and who will challenge me physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Hope you've had some yummy yoga practice recently, too!

Namaste'
Leslie

rainy day and random thoughts

While I most definitely consider myself a sunshine girl, I am actually somewhat enjoying the rainy weather today. Somehow the rain makes me feel like I have permission to really just relax and slow down. So, I'm listening to some Nick Drake and just chilling with my feet up while surfing on the internet. I also spent some time earlier today at B & N reading the book, Women, Food, & God. I just read the first 3 chapters and found it quite interesting. It has now been added to my "wanna read" list.

On another note, I often listen to a Tara Brach's (LOVE her) podcast, and she read something recently on the podcast titled "Thinkers Anonymous." This really resonated with me, as I know that I, myself, am somewhat addicted to thinking. I spend WAY too much time in my head. I think it's good that I at least recognize this, and I know one of the reasons I love yoga so much is because it gets me out of my head and more grounded in my body and therefore, the present moment. As an educator, I really believe that there needs to be a shift in education where we are not only teaching our kids to be thinkers but to also be present and mindful because constantly thinking one's way through life is really no way to live.

Just breathe.

Namaste'
Leslie

favorite things right now

*homemade pizza night (love me some pizza w/ pineapple on it!)
*20 minute afternoon naps
*walks
*researching tile for a glass backsplash
*birds chirping
*scent of orange blossom

What's on your favorite things list right now?

Namaste'
Leslie

good news

After over 8 months of being on the market, our home is finally under contract! This is a HUGE relief! These past 8 months have definitely been a challenge, to say the least. We had quite a few couples come back to look at our home a second time and then choose other houses. We had an agent say she was writing up a contract, and then that couple actually chose another home. We have also watched 2 homes we were very interested in purchasing sell. This entire process has been somewhat of a roller-coaster, and I will be the first to admit, I have not been very successful at staying present and keeping my head clear.

Now we are in the process of negotiations on a house we would like to purchase. We have a bottom line (or top price we can pay), and I'm just hoping the seller will meet us at that point...

Please send more good vibes our way. I'd really appreciate it!

Namaste'
Leslie

the "M" word

As a child, my family didn't have a lot of money. Don't get me wrong: we had a small, but nice home, and clothing, and there was always food on the table, but there wasn't a lot of money left after the bills were paid. My father was an educator and my mother had a few different jobs including working in a flower shop & secretarial/clerical work. They both had a strong work ethic and worked incredibly hard. I know they did their best to provide for me and my younger brother. However, I remember more than one time as a child feeling sick and dreading telling my parents because I knew we didn't have money for doctor bills and medication. I also remember visiting my aunts and uncles, who lived out of town, and seeing them with their Honda and Toyota cars, and thinking how it would be so nice if one day my dad drove a car like that rather than his old, beat up Omni. I am now starting to realize how much of my outlook on money today goes back to my childhood experiences, & how many of my beliefs about money are completely false.

This afternoon, I started reading a new book, Harmonic Wealth by James Author Ray, and I had a very big "ah ha" moment: Probably the most detrimental & faulty fundamental belief I realize I carry about money is the idea that one cannot be financially wealthy and a spiritual person. Money was bad, and I wanted to be good, so I shouldn't desire it. These ideas were somehow ingrained in me growing up. My parents didn't say this to me, but this is most definitely the message I received. I'm sure Bible verses such as "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24) did not help. I decided at a very young age that spirituality was much more important to me than financial wealth, and I didn't realize that perhaps you could have both.

I am not exaclty sure how I will be able to build financial wealth (especially because my husband and I are both educators); however, I do know I am going to start working very hard at getting the idea that money is bad and truly spiritual and good people can't have it out of my head--otherwise I am destined to never have an abundance of money. Even as I write this, I feel a bit bad that I would want an abundance of money--once again going back to that belief that desiring money is an "unspiritual" endeavor.

So, this will be my new mantra: I can be financially wealthy and spiritually connected. I can be financially wealthy and spritually connected. I can be financially wealthy and spiritually connected. (I'm going to have to repeat this one a lot, as I know I have many years of wrong thinking deeply ingrained!)

Wish me luck on this endeavor & any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

Namaste'
Leslie

morning ritual

Part of the 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse includes a morning ritual, so for the past two days I've gotten up 30 minutes early (5:10 a.m.), lit some candles, said a prayer for the day, answered the morning ritual questions, done some light yoga (I typically don't practice in the morning and could not believe how tight and stiff I am when I first wake up), and then read the daily focus in the book. I've also avoided getting on the computer before heading off for work (which has been a challenge, but overall, it makes me feel like I have much more time and space in the mornings.) As part of this cleanse, I have also been focused on eating clean and minimizing extra noise in my life including the television. In only 2 days, I feel a little lighter and energized.

I really like having a sacred and relaxing morning ritual. It sets such a positive tone for the day. The extra 30 minutes comes early, especially because I have to be at work by 7:15 a.m., but overall, it's worth it. I just had to commit to it and do it.

Do you have a morning ritual? If so, I'd love for you to share!

Namaste'
Leslie

21 day consciousness cleanse

I've been reading the introduction to this book throughout this week (and highlighting almost every sentence as it is so greatly resonating with me). I will be officially starting the 21 day consciousness cleanse on Monday, April 5, and I am very excited to begin! In addition to the consciousness cleanse, I am also going to add my own physical and financial cleanse by practicing yoga daily, eating at least 75% clean, and not spending $ except for necessities for the 21 days. I highly, highly recommend you check this book out. And, when you do, if you feel called to join me on this journey, I'd love to have you along!

Namaste'

Leslie

girls' day

Tuesday I took a day trip to St. Louis with my good friend Hayley to visit and spend the day with another good friend of ours who lives there. It was a wonderful day! I highly recommend planning a girls day (or guys day) of your own. Nothing is as replenishing as connecting with friends!

Namaste'
Leslie