Adapt, pivot, change

Today I am still in New Mexico.  By choice.

Tom mentioned that he would be able to join me on any activity.  We could walk to Museum Hill (which I was interested in), explore Meow Wolf, road trip north or south, chill at his house or perform any activity by 3 pm.  I had a prearranged yoga class.

The road trip was out.  I had an 8-8:45 class.  The window of opportunity was closing.  He showered and decided that Meow Wolf was the way to go.  My first experience with this interactive museum.  Arriving at 10 allowed us to decrease the petri dish effect until about 11:15. I can't help myself.  I do become a little claustrophobic.

The museum was interesting.  Many nooks, crannies and opportunities to be interactive.  We explored the upstairs area before discovering the washing machine, refrigerator, other random doors.  I am thankful for checking the museum out and grateful that we left before noon.

We chose a local spot for a quick lunch.  In the past, I have enjoyed beers and a sandwich at this spot.  Today, was not that spectacular.  Instead of sharing a sandwich (which is the way to go) we shared a few smaller meals.  Red chile fries (Tom's choice) and a Mediterranean spread.  The dip was unfulfilling.  Granted they aren't charging that much for it which I didn't even notice.  But the quantity and quality of the dip was subpar.

The red chile fries could have been thicker, crispier and more done.  I opted to add a cobb salad to the meal in an attempt to improve the experience.  It didn't work.  The entire experience was subpar at best.  

 A quick wine stop and then being responsible.  I had a class at 3 pm.  I told Tom that I would need to be responsible.  About five minutes to three, my client texts me to update me on their situation.  Their refrigerator was out.  They were with her landlord and the contractor trying to problem solve the issue.  I offered to wait fifteen minutes.  Then, she responded that she needed more time.

I get it.  I do.  There are some things you cannot plan for.  Yet had I considered this was the way the day would unfold, I would have insisted that Tom and I embark on a road trip.  He loves discovering chicken fried steaks.  And it is rare for him to not work a Tuesday.

Life is grand.  Make it the best day!

Saturday morning vibes

I have the best clients.

Seriously.  They are on time, attentive and bring gifts.  Bear claws, bubbles and sometimes, the random Sonicare toothbrush.  I think about relocating and then I remember how fortunate I am.  My clients are amazing!

Today, we tried out a new flow and active sequence.  Instead of doing chatarangas, we did pushups in the sun salutation A.  It was a nice change up.  Why not throw in a little bit of strength?  

My intention was to finish this on Saturday.  Instead, I got sidetracked by packing and work.  The restaurant was busy, and I was there until 12:15 which is not normal.  I was in bed by 1 am and woke up at 5:45 to drive to Santa Fe.  Initially, I had hoped to leave by 6 instead of 7 am.  I was co-hosting book club with Tom and wanted to be able to help him prep.  The drive south was smooth, and I arrived at 11:52.  Making great time.  I was incredibly thankful for the timing.  

Book club was fun.  We had oysters, Bolognese, charcuterie--cheese, prosciutto, sausage, and a seven-layer Greek dip.  That was my contribution.  Surprisingly, it was well received.  An afternoon of lively conversation, music and wine.  Tom's friends met a few of mine and it was great.  His friends have attended book club before, and I think the addition of my friends was a nice change up.  

I will be in Santa Fe till Wednesday.  I have an in-person session at my apartment on Wednesday evening.  I am leading a winter solstice session with light appetizers to follow.  The seven-layer dip will make an appearance.  It is the perfect rehydrating snack.  Salty, savory and somewhat healthy.  I could minimize the feta and make it more health driven.  I believe four students will be in attendance.  Any more than that and I will be teaching from my bedroom.  

It is time to embrace the solstice and the importance of it.  Reflect, release and set intentions for the new season.  Perfect timing for beginning 2023.  Isn't it time to try something new in your life?  Tom has a project in his home that he has spoken about for the last eight months.  I am ready to YouTube how to tile a home.  I am tired of talking about it.  I want to have it done to help make his home feel more settled.  And I am prepared to learn how to do it instead of continuing to talk about it. 

I hope to reflect on other areas that I can grow and learn.  I feel a pull to Santa Fe and believe I will relocate in the next six to eight months.  How to make yoga work in Santa Fe and retain clients?  Some prefer in-person sessions.  Others are fine with virtual.  I am a fan of both.  There is convenience in the zoom classes.  In-person classes are more energetic.  As noted, I never know what to expect.  Bear claws offered, watching KU basketball or contemplating monkey pox?  I never know what to expect and it is fantastic.  

Happy Monday!  Make it a beautiful week.

Friday thoughts

Happy Friday!  Another beautiful day in Denver.  At least it appears that way.  It could be deceptive as it has been in the past week.  Sun is shining.  In about an hour and a half, I will discover the temperature outside.  I am determined to walk City Park today.  Yesterday, I got jammed up with tasks regarding my car tags.  The new car has been a different experience for me.  The first vehicle I have ever financed.  In hindsight, I wish I would have paid for it outright.  I wouldn't be paying extra for car insurance or a percentage for the financing.

Although had I paid for it outright, I would have struggled to deal with the expenses that have happened unexpectedly.  I believed the title would arrive within a few weeks of purchase.  My temporary tags were about to expire and so I approached the DMV to find out my options.  The kid told me that there were many people waiting on titles and that I could extend the temporary tags for $7.03.  Better yet, he said, return to where you bought the car, and they can grant you another temporary tag for no additional cost.  I texted the dealer who I think was not looking forward to seeing me in person.  I am sure that the mechanic updated him on my unhappiness with the car.  When I first called him, he hung up on me.  Then when I called back, it went straight to voice mail.  Affirmation that these men have sold cars to people, knowing, that the vehicles are not sound to some degree.  I had read a few reviews noting that.  I chose to believe the mechanic who turned me on the car and being seduced by the mileage instead of truly trusting my gut.

At any rate, I secured the temporary tag yesterday.  The guy had everything ready for me and when I returned home, I checked my mail and saw that the title notice had arrived.  Ironic.  I am waiting to handle the title and taxes until next year since I will be out of town and do not want to hang out more at the DMV.  

We are celebrating Tom's birthday on Sunday.  He didn't want a celebration so instead we labeled it as book club.  Book club where he cooks, and we listen to music.  He is insistent on Bolognese.  One of his friends always brings oysters.  I want to contribute a seven layered Greek dip.  And Zoe offered to bring charcuterie and bacon wrapped dates.  

A night of decadence.   Lots of wine.  I picked up mezcal to sip since that was a cornerstone of Tom and I meeting.  The first night he took me to dinner we ended the night at Del Charro, sipping mezcal.  I think that will continue to be important to us to celebrate and remember.

Focusing on the positive and navigating life.  My sleep continues to be off and on.  Guided meditation is helping.  It, at least, distracts my subconscious mind from running wild.  Maybe I will try the turn off devices a few hours before bed to see if that helps sleep.  I do have books to read.  Any other suggestions for improving sleep quality?

Make it a great day!

feeling like a brand new penny

I love self-care.  I endorse it.  I try to incorporate it, monthly.  Pedicure.  Massage.  Facial.  Body scrub.  I have never been a fan of manicures.  I think it is due to the fact that I have worked in too many restaurants.  The chip factor never goes away.  

I have been blessed to take care of myself in this fashion monthly.  Sometimes, I skip the facial or massage.  I seem to be consistent with the thai massage and body scrub.

This month, I am faltering.  I chose to schedule the body scrub which is the most decadent/amazing experience.  Havana Spa has been offering a discount for the last four months.  Ten dollars off their additional services.  I think, it was to retain clientele.  Recently, it was sold to a new company.  They seem nice.

They increased the prices of services and made a few improvements.  Soap is readily available.  The other couple would hand you a towel and make like--be on your way.  If you asked for bar soap, they would provide it.  Yet, it wasn't standard to make it available.

The older lady knew who I was.  Anytime, I called to schedule an appointment, she would say---ohhhhh, Harmony.   Yessss....body scrub.  Okay.  1 o'clock?

At one point, she called me a "good" Korean.  I think since I regularly attended to my skin.  The body scrubs are legendary.  My skin feels amazing afterwards.  I am so thankful to have found this spot.

The new owners are nice but seem corporate.  I have been, at least, five times, and still, they seem confused when I call.  There is something to be said about consistency and recognition.  Today, when I went there were about three people enjoying the amenities.  I showered and entered the dry sauna.  Two minutes later, someone joined me.  Then, another woman entered.  She opened the door, closed it and reopened it.  She was releasing the hot air to my frustration.  I tried to avoid being confrontational.  Until another walked in and sat on the bench beneath me and started a conversation with the air releasing chick.

That was it.  I had had it!  I moved to the steam sauna.  To silence.  Heat.  Detoxing.

I went to the crystal sauna and meditated.  I thought I would have time to soak before my appointment.  Time went by quickly.  The scrub was fantastic.  Consistent.  Even and I feel amazing.

I think I will decrease my pedicures in 2023.  Possibly the massage, too. I refuse to decrease the body scrub.  The benefits outweigh the costs.  Circulation, nourishment, someone washing my hair.  It all is amazing.

Do something, for you, that makes you feel like a brand new penny.  If I can make a suggestion, let me know.  It is essential to take care of you and your body.  Cheers!

Good vibes only

Continuing with consistency and building habits.  As such, this requires good vibes only.  Good vibes to propel through any discomfort or unknown.  

I woke up around 3 a.m.  I put on another guided meditation to distract overthinking.  It seemed to work.  I managed to wake up at 6:30. Refreshed and ready to greet the day.  My morning routine involves making coffee, juicing and setting intentions.  

Everything was going well until the juicing got a little out of control.  I love Juno and she travels with me.  Yet, she is getting a little older and some of her attachments are wonky.  This morning, I spilled a fair amount of celery juice after it tried to explode.  The juice was ok.  I know that I have made others that I like better.  I needed more spice.  The apple, pineapple, celery, carrot, ginger, serrano and lemon were a little too tame.  Tomorrow, I will do something different.

Intention setting is new to my routine.  In the past, I have tried gratitude water.  Basically, you write down three to five affirmations and tape it to your water bottle.  It is a reminder of what you are thankful for as you hydrate.  Afterwards, I fold up the affirmations, place them in a glass jar and leave them there until January 1st of the new year.  I incorporated this gratitude jar into my life about three years ago.  I try to increase the number each year.  I feel that I was doing really well until June.  Then, I fell off that habit.  I am uncertain as to why.  I do know that the jar is lacking compared to other years.  And it isn't about not being thankful.  This year has been lovely with ample opportunities to be thankful.  Travel returned to my life.  Mostly to New Mexico but I love road tripping and treating myself to green chile.  I met a man who wanted to be my partner.  He chose me.  It has been wonderful getting to know him and figure out how to make this work.  

Business continues to evolve and change.  I have to be patient.  Life happens.  People experience injury, sickness, pregnancy, loss.  I cannot plan for those life changing events.  I can only offer my services when people are ready to do them.  

It is similar with my decision to work out with my trainer or not.  When I began training with Courtney, I was attending sessions three times a month.  I hit my goal and then tapered off.  Twice a month.  Once a month.  I even took a leave of absence for about three months to reflect on the why I wanted to have a trainer.  I know this is typical and acknowledge it is the same with yoga.  Things fluctuate.  Interests change.  Covid did help establish an online presence.   

Then, things reopened.  People could travel (thankfully).  Go to the gym or choose to take their workouts outside.  I understand it since my interests have changed, too.  I hope to promote good vibes and retain some of my clients.  I hope to expand my circle as well.  I believe my purpose is to share my love of yoga with others.  

Good vibes only.  Smile through it and choose to live in a positive fashion.

Happy Monday!

New week.  New opportunities to make a change.  It is true.  We attract what we focus on.  I have been pondering another job to supplement my yoga business and now I am inundated with opportunities.  Free lancing, blogging, retail, catering.... all good things.  I believe it is good to challenge and continue to grow.  Energetically, we all outgrow where we currently are.  Or we should strive to do that.  Being stagnant is not ideal.  Do you want to be in the exact same place you were a year ago?  Six months ago?  Even five years ago?

I know that I do not.  I believe in learning and evolving.  I think about everything I have added to my life by embarking on entrepreneurship.  Yes, there are still many things I need to master and learn.  I am open to it.  I am no longer willing to just wait and see what happens.  I am confident in creating graphics and content.  I tend to gravitate to that or writing.  The admin and technical stuff elude me.  Or I procrastinate until I am forced to confront it.  I know I need a better system in place.  I cannot avoid doing the administrative tasks.  They will not magically disappear.

Brie and I are meeting for a walk in a few hours.  She always inspires me to consider what else I can be doing.  The restaurant industry has been an amazing tool to have.  I have met multiple lifelong friends while working at a pub in Denver.  Of course, I never saw that happening.  

Restaurants are a natural first job in high school or college.  Networking, learning more about the world/food/people while developing soft skills.  I have friends in the health industry who all swear by how effective techs, nurses, aides are if they first worked in a restaurant.  They know how to identify importance and have urgency to get the job done.  Multi-tasking is quickly developed.  

Each time I have tried to leave the restaurants, somehow, I get pulled back in.  I enjoy many aspects of it too much.  The social interaction, meeting people and access to food.  There are downsides to it, too.  Eating (inhaling food to refuel), long hours, physical demands which can take a toll on a body.  It can be challenging to find that balance of sweetness and resistance.  The flexibility has always been the most attractive aspect for me.  You can hustle for a few months and then take time to travel or focus on something else in your life.  

Today will be a beautiful day and start to the week.  I finally ordered a few items for xmas.  I am not in a funk like some people I know.  I dislike the idea of going to a store to shop for items.  I am too minimalistic, or experience driven to participate fully.  I wanted stocking stuffers for Tom and a few other mandatory items.  I see a Jayhawk shirt in his future.  

Take time to make it a great day.  Contemplate and reflect on what 2023 will bring for you. This year has flown by.  Time to think about how to improve your reality for next year.

Saturday thoughts

Happy Saturday!  It is a beautiful day in Denver.  First Saturday of yoga at the St. Paul.  Last year, we moved inside in November.  This year, we were able to continue to practice outdoors with the kindness of one of my clients.  He has a backyard fireplace and heater.  Truly, it made yoga approachable and welcoming without practicing on grass.  We were fine until last weekend when it was 20 degrees outside.  We all bundled up--hoodies, socks, ear coverings.  We built heat, eventually, but my feet refused to stay warm.

I think it will be a great day.  Or I will smile through it.  No more complacency or waiting for things to happen.  Today, is the day to start.  Money will always be there, but time cannot be replaced.  We cling to this idea that we have to remain in situations that no longer serve us.  Be it, friendships, jobs, location.  Why?  How do we benefit from this idea?  Wouldn't it be preferable to try something different?  Challenge ourselves to do something greater than we think we are capable of doing.  

Put yourself out there.  Consider what your life purpose is.  Not what school or your parents told you.  Instead, truly reflect within and see what speaks to you.  I am working on trying to be more visible on social media.  I have attempted to create content and yoga clients by posting relative posts without illustrating why I want to share yoga.  Finally, I posted a video, and it is getting some traction.  I didn't have any bites on taking me up on the zoom offer, but it is a start.  Something I intend to build upon.  I wonder why it took me so long to discover that option?  Why I was so unwilling to utilize that platform with videos of me?  

I do not need to talk in the video.  It is mostly an opportunity to show a sample sequence and my style.  It was as if a light bulb went off, finally. I should be making the most of resources that are available.  I have been fortunate.  Word of mouth has been a fantastic tool to attract clients.   I am thankful for that.  Yet, I know that I could be doing more.  My service is to share yoga with others and continue to learn myself.  Forever a student on this journey.

I am finetuning my goals, habits, desires.  Becoming clear with my intentions.  No longer listening to ideas but taking little to no action. They say that you manifest where you are now.  Where do you want to be in six months?  Ten months?  A year?  

I want to be relying on myself as an entrepreneur.  Spending time enhancing my practice and business.  Supplementing to a certain degree but only if it encourages focus on yoga.  

I should conclude this for now.  It is mostly about being consistent and disciplined.  I am off to share yoga!

Reflections and habits

Taking a few days off from the social aspect (day drinking with friends) inspires me to return to my roots.  Reflection, writing, being mindful.  My sleep quality increases, and I wake up, energized.  

I think I get this way during this time of year.  Looking back at things that worked, didn't work and how to improve.  I can wallow in the complacency of the familiar or continue to evolve.  I feel so much more reflective, this year.  Truer to how things are instead of creating situations that make me appear better.  Does that make sense?

I keep returning to the conversation with the mechanic.  I wanted to choke him out but knew it would not accomplish anything.  I wanted to reason with him and give him the opportunity to do right by his product, ultimately me.  I was prepared to work with him on future projects and knew that if I could take the emotion out of it, I would be ok.  

As he sat across from me with his arms tightly crossed, it was apparent that not only was he defensive (emotional) but unwilling to see the fault in his work.  He could not separate the emotions.  Instead of continuing to deal with him, I left.  I didn't flip out.  Cuss him out or kick anything.  In the past, I think I could have reacted in that manner.  Maybe not kicking anything but lowering myself into the attack realm.  I am known to drop the CS frequently.  If you know, you know.

I think I am mellowing with age.  And no longer caring what other people think.  Why does it take years to recognize that?  That the majority of people are not thinking about you.  Instead, they are thinking about their own situation and issues.  Do not take things personally.  Isn't that one of the four agreements?  I try to stay in that zone.  Recognize that people's reactions are about them.  It does not reflect on what they think of me or what I am doing.  

I keep seeing posts on IG about frequencies, astrology, energy.  I allowed myself to follow a link that resonated somewhat with me.  It mentioned a shadow energy and how I can get caught up on thinking I know what other people are thinking if they are not responding to me.  I must stop doing this.  Truly.  They are absorbed with their own reality.  They are unconcerned with how things are affecting me.  

Moving forward, I want to think about improving daily.  Even if it is .000001%.  Compounding that enables change and progress.  A resolution in the making.  If you need a little more motivation to do this, read Atomic Habits.  I think I may re-read it in the next few weeks.  It reinforces that habits are easier to build as opposed to pursuing goals.  I had never considered it that way.  I can strive to attain a goal.  I achieve it and then I am let down about what to focus on next.  Ultimately, I return to poor habits after I achieve a goal.

Building habits=a routine.  Waking up and drinking lemon water or juicing.  Allowing the natural detox to rid yourself of toxins.  Meditating or moving.  A man that I listened to on a podcast wakes up, daily at 4 am.  From here, he meditates for an hour (minimally), then does 111 burpees and completes his routine with sun salutations.  Eventually, he turns on his devices but not until he has centered himself.  I am not that disciplined.  Slowly, I am building and attempting a purer start to my day.  Less technology/distraction and more focus.  I am all for sun salutations.  I even attempted to teach a sunrise class this morning via zoom.  No bites, yet.  But it will happen.  Next Thursday, I will roll out another video and opportunity to flow.  Hopefully, I will gain confidence with putting myself out there.

I am heading to see my trainer and continue this positive energy.  Make it a great day!

Smling through it

I listened to a podcast earlier where the host said, even in times of stress or anger--smile through it.  For example, someone cuts you off.  Instead of cursing the person, smile.  Or you miss out on an opportunity or in more severe cases, your job.  Again, smile though it.  I guess, with hindsight, sure, smiling though it could work.  Yet, how often is that the default response?

I am a little road ragey--I can admit it.  Sometimes, I refrain from completely losing it on someone.  Mostly, as I do not know how they will react.  Yell, flip me off, follow me or the worst-case scenario, try to harm me.  

He did have a few valid points still.  Instead of dwelling in that negative frequency, smiling, would promote moving forward quicker.  You might avoid depression, anxiety, problems with sleep by focusing on the positive as opposed to lingering in the negative, ultimately, being a victim.  That was my takeaway.  How can I improve my situation and not be overridden with fear, doubt, anxiety?  

I was in a hurry to return to Denver from Santa Fe.  I had to work at the restaurant and didn't want to get stuck along 1-25.  I suppose that thought lingered in my mind that my car was not safe and that I was uncertain to return in a timely manner.  Driving at night and getting stuck somewhere did not seem appealing.  

Since I rushed back, I lost sight of some of the positivity.  Allowed my emotions to lurk in the victim mode.  The mechanic wasn't honest about the car he refurbished (I still know this.  He was not honest about the condition of the car and made no attempt to correct the situation.  His karma, not mine.), it was unfortunate that I got trapped in New Mexico (which was ridiculous, as I was safe and had shelter.  Even encouraged to stay longer), and what would I do if I didn't make it back to work at the restaurant?  Would they understand my situation or be irritated?

The desires to return to work and my routine overwhelmed me.  I can work anywhere in the world. I have my phone and am able to teach with that device.  Of course, having my laptop would secure the likelihood of my working from wherever, whenever I choose. I forced myself to hurry back only to find out that they didn't need me.  I created this story.  No one else participated in it.  It was all very woe is me, negative and stagnant.  Perhaps, had I smiled through it, I would have rebounded quicker.

My car did pass emissions.  I am back in Denver--safe, healthy and teaching.  I have ideas for 2023 and opportunities today.  Maybe smiling through it is more productive.  I hope to try this as situations out of my control develop.  It truly is about mindset and how you choose to react.  

Productivity and positivity

Happy Monday!  It is a gorgeous day in Denver.  For some reason, I woke up feeling productive and have managed to continue this trend throughout the day.  Clean house, handle some business (unsuccessfully due to the other person's character, but I did try to do the right thing), finish graphics for newsletter, email newsletter, teach an a.m. class and afternoon session, walk city Park, print fliers and now blogging.  It has been a minute since I have felt so capable and inspired.

I did listen to a few podcasts, too. about focusing on the positive.  Perhaps that is why I have been productive.  I didn't allow the shitty energy of the earlier interaction to linger or suck me in further.  Yes, I am disappointed in the results.  Yet, I reiterate that it speaks more about the person's integrity than mine.  

One of the podcasts pointed out mindset, energy and focus.   Instead of dwelling in lower radiating frequencies--fear, anger, doubt, shame--flip your perspective and be positive.  I think the podcast truly helped me avoid a yelling match.  Don't get me wrong, I would enjoy punching this person in the throat.  But that is more of a fantasy and highly unlikely to happen.  I knew that walking into the establishment.  I wanted to be able to keep emotion out of it and reason with the person.   Unfortunately, some people are unreasonable.

Enough of that.  I plan on improving my situation by being positive and open to the universe.  And, I have a pretty good life.  I am supported as was obvious when my car broke down in Springer, NM.  It happened at a truck stop.  I contacted my mechanic in Santa Fe on a Sunday, and he called me.  The tow was arranged and taken care of by roadside assistance.  Tom picked me up and drove me back to Santa Fe.  The car was fixed or so I thought.  When I picked it up and headed north to Denver, I received a message on my dashboard about emergency service.

Again, I managed to make it back to Santa Fe without breaking down or being stranded.  Thankfully.  The car needed an alternator and a few other parts to make it drivable.  I could stay with Tom.  Supported, again.  We watched soccer, KU basketball, beer and many meals.  He made me feel very comfortable and not draining his life.

I did make it back, eventually.  I have shelter, clean water, my health....many, many things to be thankful for.  So, sometimes, I face obstacles and depending on my mindset create more challenges or difficulties.  I am finally understanding that.  I choose to be positive and focused on abundance.

Make it a great day and final month of 2022.  Choose your mindset, wisely.