I Love My Chest Hair

"I Love My Chest Hair." -Danny Osterweil, also known as "Raptor Boy"

I Love My Forearm Balance

"I Love My Forearm Balance." - Linda Horton, Yogi, Steph's mum.

I Love My Fluffy & Delicious Body

"I Love My Fluffy & Delicious Body" - Mike Rigazio

You're all invited to a Guiltless Meet-up!
Join us on Saturday, March 5th at The Beehive in Boston for a Guiltless night of fun. Hope to see you all there! Click HERE for more info!

Cleaning out the Closet

When you open your eyes to the world
You are on your own for the first time.
No one is even interested in saving you now.

and the world steps in
to test the calm fluidity of your body
from moment to moment

as if it believed you could join
its vibrant dance
of fire and calmness and final stillness.

- David Whyte, "Revelation Must Be Terrible" via
Stephen Cope's Yoga and the Quest for the True Self

I love this poem, because it reflects the uncertainty of life as well as the inevitable in just a few simple lines. In life, it is certain that we will be faced with a first day and a final day, but the time in between is unpredictable each and every day. This is the challenge of our minds, hearts, and bodies. "The world steps in to test the calm fluidity of your body from moment to moment," and your body has options: to welcome or reject, to sleep or run, to fight or embrace, to love or to isolate, to wonder and to hope...

Somewhere within this "vibrant dance" we encounter stress in many different forms, but the outcome is usually the same: movement away from the true self and into a mental oblivion of "I should" or "I wish I had" or "I need to," etc. It is at these points when we are challenged most to stay centered.

It's time we asked ourselves, "What have I done for me lately?"

Treat these times like a messy closet, and approach it with the idea that you have endless time to organize and dust and store until the truly desired contents are left. Some items can be folded neatly and put away until the right time. Others can be hung in clear sight so they shine out from the closet like brilliant ideas through your eyes. Some items are simply ready to be discarded, and others are ready to be mended. Before you know it, the well-deserved attention you've given to your "closet" will pave the way for smoother days.

And now when you ask yourself the loaded question, "What have I done for me lately?" you can simply answer, "I cleaned out my closet."

Be well, and enjoy the days.

Staying Present by Seeing Food as a Gift.

A sentence from the book “Discover Mindful eating” by Megrette Fletcherand Frederick Burrgraf stuck with me long after the final page was turned. “Food is a gift that we deserve to respect.”

Far too often I take food for granted. I am blessed with adequate means to provide myself with nutritious, delicious, food every day. But remembering the gift that presents itself at every meal is a good way to bring wonder, respect and gratitude back to the kitchen table. Look deeply to see the effort, work, energy, and sacrifice in any food. Who brought this to your table? What was the food supply chain like? How far did this food travel? Do you know who grew it?

Madonna Mindfully eating

Mindfulness is being aware through the act of observing sensory experiences. It includes mental activity, physical sensation and your surrounds. You focus on the inner and outer existence of the current moment. Mindfulness enables us to see opportunities of generosity, kindness, compassion and understanding while freeing the mind of craving, hatred and confusion. Mindfulness promotes and preserves both physical and mental health. It enhances peach well being and joy in you body.

This week I’m going to focus on remembering the gift of food. Bringing this additional layer of mindfulness to my meals will hopefully. Celebrate each day and the gifts that it bears!

Suggested reading:

From “Discover Mindful Eating” by Megrette Fletcherand Frederick Burrgraf

And check out The Center for Mindful Eating online

I love my Legs

I love my Legs

by Sarah Kenney

My Compliments To You

Before I get into the subject of today’s post, I’d like to start off with a side note. I heard a quote on NPR during the drive to work earlier this week that really stuck with me. “If your compassion doesn’t include yourself, it’s incomplete.” I’ve always been a compassionate person, but rarely did that compassion include me. In fact, I would often sacrifice my own happiness without flinching if I believed it would bring happiness to others. Does this sound familiar? The goal is to stay compassionate for others while remaining thoughtful of ourselves. I hope this quote sticks with you as much as it did with me. It’s thoughts like these that keep us learning and progressing.

And now on to today’s post:

The Art of Accepting a Compliment

AB: You look great.

CD: (bashfully) I’m really tired and my hair is a mess.

EF: You’re body is beautiful.

GH: (hesitant) Thanks. I was in much better shape over the summer.

HI: Wow, you ran that whole race? I’m impressed.

JK: (disappointed) I didn’t run fast enough.

LM: You have such a nice home.

NO: (embarrassed) It’s a total mess in here!

PQ: You have great hair.

RS: (surprised) I really need to schedule a cut.

TU: That is impressive work. Well done.

VW: (frustrated) If only I had one more day to work on it, it could have been better.

XY: I love your smile.

Z: (stops smiling)

Familiar?

There are many reasons why accepting a compliment may be difficult for a person. Maybe he/she feels that accepting a compliment makes him/her vain or conceited. Or perhaps, the receiver of the compliment doesn’t believe it. Maybe it’s even just an old habit! Whatever the cause, when given a compliment, it feels so much better to just smile and say “thank you!”

Accepting a compliment is often viewed as a social grace or a form of etiquette. However, it is also reflective of our confidence. A thoughtful smile and a sincere “thank you” are not only ways to be polite to those giving you the compliment; they are also the ways to be polite to yourself.

Let’s practice a little.

Once per day for a week or two, look at yourself in the mirror and pay yourself one compliment. After you do so, smile and thank yourself. Yes, I know this sounds a little silly. You don’t even have to do this out loud if you don’t want to! But if you do this for one week, the next time you receive a compliment, you might be surprised about how that compliment will affect you! Maybe instead of feeling uncomfortable or awkward, you’ll internalize it, and for the rest of the day, you’ll know that someone out there thinks highly of you or something you did.

My compliment of the day goes out to Katy Perry for writing the most motivational song of the year! "Ignite the light and let it shine..." Gives me chills every time...

Be well and enjoy the day!

Do you recall a time when you felt awkward about accepting a compliment?