Lessons Learned from 2016
Here we are, already one-third of the way through 2016. It's been an interesting year for me so far. Parts of it have brought emotional and physical pain. Other parts have brought healing and hope. It's been a full ride so far. As I sit at my kitchen table with tea, knitting, and watching the birds at the feeder outside, I'm reflecting on what I've learned this year.
1. What's worked to heal in the past doesn't always work. My darn knees have been giving me problems ever since I was a teenager. It seems that I am pigeon-toed just enough to throw things off. What worked in the past? Cortisone shots. Physical therapy. Anti-inflammatory medicines. Well, guess what? I don't have time for physical therapy. Or, let's just say that I'm not willing to spend all that time on PT anymore. Last cortisone shot in February? Didn't work a lick. This was the first time ever that's happened. And the medicine? Kills my gut. SO! I decided to try something new. I did get a shot, but it's not cortisone. It's gel. It builds up the cushion around my knee cap and lubricates. I'm chugging the apple cider vinager and swallowing raw honey to help with joint health and limiting inflammation. The tartness is always a little shock to my system each morning, but there are sooooo many health benefits to this little habit, that I'll keep it going. Finally, acupuncture. In addition to healing my knee, I feel like it's helped me in so many other ways.
2. Let people help. I always did things all by myself. No asking for help. Muscling through, putting my head down, toughing it out......these were my mottos. When my mom ended up in the hospital on January 1 and died almost three weeks later, I decided to let people help. People WANT to help. I feel gratitude for having people in my life who want to help me and my family. My husband and I get along better with me trusting him to help.....by me letting go of feeling like I have to do everything in order to have it done right. My YBC Forum friends helped too. Feeling nurtured is such a healing experience. And it's not weak to let people help.
3. Taking care of myself is not a luxury. So, ok. I could take this too far if I wanted and abuse the lines of "taking care of myself" to making it "doing whatever I want and using self-care as an excuse." But I won't do that! I will try to not do that! Easing up on myself is something that has been difficult to do, and I'm still struggling with it, but I'm working on it and seeing the benefits. I feel calmer lately, and I feel more present in each moment. It's been an epiphany, really. And this lesson has led me to take a portion of my small inheritance from my mom and spend it on me. Enter, Costa Rica for Candace's retreat.
4. Life is damn precious. This one, I already knew. It's just always worth reminding myself. This is the reason why I'm plowing forward with my plans for a new career, come what may. I've been tiptoeing nervously around the idea of making yoga a part of my life that extends to career. That's why I'm doing the teacher training. I'm going to give workshops at schools to teach teachers to use yoga in the classroom to help kids learn better and to feel better about themselves. That's my main goal. My website is up and running and waiting for my credentials and insurance to allow me to market myself more and approaching schools. Good things are happening. I have gotten some interest from two organizations to have me teach yoga classes and give workshops too. I'm scared and excited and ready to jump in with both feel. After all, yoga saved my life.........
5. Yoga Rocks. Numbers 1-4 above had so much to do with yoga that I felt it deserved the finale. Yoga has healed my body and my soul. It's taught me that I'm stronger than I thought I was (and that I don't have to train for a fourth Tough Mudder to prove it 
). It has helped me with relationships...strengthening some and letting go of others. Yoga has steadied my mind so that I could think. It helped me make decisions for my mom and to allow me to let others in to help. I'm grateful for the presence of yoga in my life. It has brought and continues to bring me joy in practice and in the wonderful people I meet through its communities.
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