With Awareness Comes Choice

As I sit here sipping coffee, I contemplate the nature of just how powerful a change of scenery is for me in my healing and growth process--my spiritual journey and otherwise.  It should not come as a big surprise to me as Kripalu provided a similar experience last year, albeit very different in many ways. And when I say scenery, I'm realizing that I actually mean people, places and things.   Within hours, and maybe even minutes of arriving on Whidbey Island, my body and mind began to go through a series of visceral changes; heart rate and respiration rate slowed down, racing thoughts decreased and clarity of mind increased and my zygomaticus muscles (my cheeks) began to rise and the smiles and joy have only continued. Imagine my delight over the next few days when I find the perfect bench for meditation, attend a local yoga class with just four people, attend a Kirtan (sacred call and response chanting from India) in that same studio last night with 25 people and am remi...

Apparently, quite a lot.  First of all, for those of you that knew I was heading out to the Seattle area for vacation, I am actually not on Bainbridge Island but Whidbey Island.  Quite a difference.  I found out this information at the exact same time that I found out that the bus that I was on, the one I thought was driving me directly to Bainbridge instead of using the ferry, was actually getting ON the ferry and headed to Whidbey! Thank you to the nice lady who helped me come to this realization.  The good news is that I'm not going to be around kids for the next year to share the obvious intellect that is bubbling out of my brain right now, and it was actually the island I was supposed to be going to. Luckily I am now sitting here in the most beautiful spot, with three of the most beaUtiful people and four lovely creatures (one shih-tzu!), sipping french pressed coffee and being immensely grateful. Prior to this part of the adventure, I was on the plane and cons...

I was so excited to realize I had an outlet, somewhere between Facebook and attempting to write a book, that would allow me to process, share and experience something new at the same time. Thus, the Blog.  Now to be clear, in case the fine young man who first asked me to blog for my school finds himself reading this site, most of the credit does go to him.  It was an exciting thought but too much other stuff; work, coaching, life, just got in the way.  The next bit of credit goes to a good friend who recognized that while I am not really drawn to writing in a journal, I do like to share bits of life with people and was actually doing it on facebook.  She recommended Blogging.  And it just happens to be that the time was right. I have taken a leave of absence from teaching (Dean of Students) in order to lose myself for a year.  Yoga, traveling, reading, learning, loving and laughing.  I am thrilled and blessed for this opportunity and in knowing that if...