So I've been doing a lot of yoga lately. I love it. It's calming and peaceful. It's a great stretch after a hard workout. It begins my Thursdays just right...I moved seminary back a half hour so I could go to the class at 5:15. When she tells us to clear our minds I pray. The woman who teaches the class is active in her own Christian church and her messages ones of gratitude, forgiveness, being non-judgemental especially of ourselves. I've received many answers to prayers during this time because I'm focusing my thoughts and spirit towards my Heavenly Father. Then my husband mentioned an article he stumbled across on the internet about how yoga and Christianity are incompatible because Hindus believe in "pantheism" blah...blah...blah. Here's the Link.
I have a problem with his premise. And, I don't think I'm just justifying. Instead of searching out reasons to judge and seeking differences I seek to meld others' truths to my own. I don't seek oneness with Bhramin, I seek guidence from the Spirit. I may not be seeking to "transcend" the physical to reach the spiritual...I'm seeking to master the physical. I believe that Heavenly Father gave us these bodies to use and master. Yoga helps me fulfill that purpose. To me, reaching "oneness" with Atman (as the Hindus would call it) is the same as conforming my will to that of the Father's. Since all I have to offer my Father in Heaven is my agency, I see yoga as a medium for doing that. I pray to show my gratitude for my body. I discover my inperfections and work to strengthen that which is weak. I seek to master this physical body as my Father in Heaven has. That is what makes me more divine. Unlike the Hindus, I only have one life to accomplish this task. ;P
I think Mr. Gleghorn needs a hobby to fill his time of seeking for differences in peoples spirtuality. Maybe he should take up yoga.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Random Thoughts
I've been doing aerobics for the past two weeks. Mondays and Wednesdays are water aerobics and Tuesdays and Thursday are Step aerobics. I like the classes a lot. They are challenging. It gets me out of bed in the morning and I'm motivated to do things for the rest of the day. But, I AM SO SORE! They are taught by the mother of my step-daughters. It's an interesting situation but a very pleasant one. Over the past seven years we have become friends and I really enjoy her classes. She works harder than anyone in the class (she uses 20lb dumb bells while I'm using a measly 6 pounder!) and it's just downright inspiring. And, she always knows when to yell, "KEEP GOING! ALMOST THERE!" I don't know if I get a look on my face when I'm about to quit, but she always knows when to yell at me. Here's the crux of the situation. I have to go back to work on Monday and I can't take her class anymore. I'm sad. There are other toning classes I can take at the gym; yoga, too. But it won't be the same. Ah well. Maybe in a year.
Saw my cousin, Sammi this week and we went to the beach. I really enjoy hanging out with her. She comes down about once a year. She reminds me how important family is. I've also been spending time with my cousin Angela who lives in Houston. She had a baby in January and last month was the first time I got up there to see her. So sad. I use the baby as an excuse, but I really love just talking with Angela. I'll have to keep visiting if she'll have me.
The show "My Name is Earl" makes me think of my aunt Lisa when she says, "What the hell?" Ah. Good times.
I am not ready for school to start again. My summers seem to be getting shorter and shorter. But, my new motto is, "I can do anything for a year!" I will keep to it. I'm excited about the new principal. She is motivated and works HARD! Makes me want to work hard for her. I think it may be a tough transition for many students, but it'll be what's best for everyone and I'm willing to dig in and play my part.
That is all for now.
Saw my cousin, Sammi this week and we went to the beach. I really enjoy hanging out with her. She comes down about once a year. She reminds me how important family is. I've also been spending time with my cousin Angela who lives in Houston. She had a baby in January and last month was the first time I got up there to see her. So sad. I use the baby as an excuse, but I really love just talking with Angela. I'll have to keep visiting if she'll have me.
The show "My Name is Earl" makes me think of my aunt Lisa when she says, "What the hell?" Ah. Good times.
I am not ready for school to start again. My summers seem to be getting shorter and shorter. But, my new motto is, "I can do anything for a year!" I will keep to it. I'm excited about the new principal. She is motivated and works HARD! Makes me want to work hard for her. I think it may be a tough transition for many students, but it'll be what's best for everyone and I'm willing to dig in and play my part.
That is all for now.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Temple Dream
So, I have a really hard time staying awake in the temple. I'm comfortably dressed, the seats are cushy, temperature is good, and then it goes dark. Those are all cues for my eyes to close, my breathing to deepen and allow unconsciousness to take over; and it doesn't help that I'm wearing slippers. It's been a goal of mine for over a year to stay awake during a whole session and I've only managed once. I've tried all sorts of things: I sucked on jolly ranchers 'till my tongue was sore, pinching myself, deep breaths, etc. But this is not the purpose of this entry. The purpose of then entry is to tell you about a dream I had when I fell asleep in the temple in Rexburg, ID.
I was doing dishes, I remember and I saw a little boy with blonde, curly hair playing with a soccer ball in the kitchen. "Come on, Mom. Come play with me!" I remember feeling irritation with the little boy. My mind thought: Can't you see how much I have to do? I'm doing all this for you! The irritation was so real and the sense that my work would never be done. I felt fatigue and maybe a little despair. Then I felt, because there were no words, "You waited for this. You prayed for this. Go play soccer with your boy."
It wasn't a "vision". I don't KNOW that I'm having a little boy, but I do feel like I was to learn a lesson from this dream. This came after a situation at a friend's house. We were meeting to discuss Girls' Camp and do some necessary planning and her daughter kept interrupting us. I felt very irritated and even expressed it a little to the girl. After this dream I realized that I can't do that...not with other peoples' kids and not with my own. It showed me I must have patience and show love. I am a selfish being. I'm an only child and not used to sharing my time or my stuff. I've got less than a year to get over that. I apologized to my friend for behaving so poorly.
I didn't feel guilty about falling asleep that day. Though I will have to continue with my goal to stay awake during sessions because I have too much to learn and I don't think I'll be blessed with a dream every time.
I was doing dishes, I remember and I saw a little boy with blonde, curly hair playing with a soccer ball in the kitchen. "Come on, Mom. Come play with me!" I remember feeling irritation with the little boy. My mind thought: Can't you see how much I have to do? I'm doing all this for you! The irritation was so real and the sense that my work would never be done. I felt fatigue and maybe a little despair. Then I felt, because there were no words, "You waited for this. You prayed for this. Go play soccer with your boy."
It wasn't a "vision". I don't KNOW that I'm having a little boy, but I do feel like I was to learn a lesson from this dream. This came after a situation at a friend's house. We were meeting to discuss Girls' Camp and do some necessary planning and her daughter kept interrupting us. I felt very irritated and even expressed it a little to the girl. After this dream I realized that I can't do that...not with other peoples' kids and not with my own. It showed me I must have patience and show love. I am a selfish being. I'm an only child and not used to sharing my time or my stuff. I've got less than a year to get over that. I apologized to my friend for behaving so poorly.
I didn't feel guilty about falling asleep that day. Though I will have to continue with my goal to stay awake during sessions because I have too much to learn and I don't think I'll be blessed with a dream every time.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Movie Musings...
So I popped in the BBC version of the Jane Austen classic Sense and Sensibility. While I love, Love, LOVE the Emma Thompson version the BBC version is more true to the book and the casting of the Steele sisters was genius. So, I tortured my husband (who's under the influence of heavy pain killers today) and hopefully entertained the eldest while we watched the classic.
My musing: Marianne says as she's reconciling her feelings towards the cad for whom she fancied herself in love, "It isn't what we say or feel that makes us who we are, it is what we DO...or don't do." This is the crux of what I want to do over the next year. When I served my mission my only regret is that I faded out...I didn't work with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I don't want to fade out this last year. Like I posted previously I want to be the best I can be (without going into the army. Remember the old slogan...yeah? It's funny; trust me.).
I also need to be more like Elinor and suffer more in private. I often use the analogy that strength can not be produced without resistance. To build muscle you have to lift until failure and be sore for a few days. I am literally going through this right now. I've been taking aerobics this past week and I can barely move. Not only that, but everybody knows it. I groan when I move; I exhale loudly (my abs hurt like the dickens!); I moan when I have to get up. So, I am going to have to take my analogy and suffer through it literally.
One of my goals is to be the best triathlete I can be. I chose this goal for a number of reasons. Firstly, I've never been athletic. I've been over weight my whole life and with the help of some good friends I've completed two triathlons. But, as before...I just completed them. I didn't do the best I could do. I didn't do it with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I need to put more effort into my training and competing. Not only will just make me a better person and more physically fit; it will make pregnancy and delivery so much easier. I have to DO more. I have to try harder. I don't want to just do triathlons. I want to be a triathlete.
I could explain how this applies to all my goals, but I think you get the point. I need to be more like Elinor or more like Anne from Persuasion...more discreet, more gentle, more determined, and I need to DO. I can. I will. I've put my all in aerobics this week. I'm going to not grunt and groan next week. And, I'm going to continue to ride my bike to work...and darn it! I'm going to go running; not just jogging.
My musing: Marianne says as she's reconciling her feelings towards the cad for whom she fancied herself in love, "It isn't what we say or feel that makes us who we are, it is what we DO...or don't do." This is the crux of what I want to do over the next year. When I served my mission my only regret is that I faded out...I didn't work with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I don't want to fade out this last year. Like I posted previously I want to be the best I can be (without going into the army. Remember the old slogan...yeah? It's funny; trust me.).
I also need to be more like Elinor and suffer more in private. I often use the analogy that strength can not be produced without resistance. To build muscle you have to lift until failure and be sore for a few days. I am literally going through this right now. I've been taking aerobics this past week and I can barely move. Not only that, but everybody knows it. I groan when I move; I exhale loudly (my abs hurt like the dickens!); I moan when I have to get up. So, I am going to have to take my analogy and suffer through it literally.
One of my goals is to be the best triathlete I can be. I chose this goal for a number of reasons. Firstly, I've never been athletic. I've been over weight my whole life and with the help of some good friends I've completed two triathlons. But, as before...I just completed them. I didn't do the best I could do. I didn't do it with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I need to put more effort into my training and competing. Not only will just make me a better person and more physically fit; it will make pregnancy and delivery so much easier. I have to DO more. I have to try harder. I don't want to just do triathlons. I want to be a triathlete.
I could explain how this applies to all my goals, but I think you get the point. I need to be more like Elinor or more like Anne from Persuasion...more discreet, more gentle, more determined, and I need to DO. I can. I will. I've put my all in aerobics this week. I'm going to not grunt and groan next week. And, I'm going to continue to ride my bike to work...and darn it! I'm going to go running; not just jogging.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Beginings and Endings...and Maintaining
So I was reading my friend's blog and I decided I want to start one. Why shouldn't my thoughts float around the universe? I read several blogs on a regular basis and why are my thoughts any less substantial. Plus, isn't just a form of journaling?
So, here I begin. I plan on making a major life change soon and I've made some decisions before those changes are made. I'm going to start a family of my own. I'm fortunate enough to be blended into a great family as I have two step-daughters and my wonderful husband. But in less than a year I plan on having children of my own. I'm been watching a lot of people during my wait and raising children is a major undertaking. I've been pondering whether or not I'm ready for it. So, I've decided that I have to make some changes and do some things well. I've set some goals and it's basically to be the best I can be at what I'm doing right now: seminary teacher, school teacher, wife, step-mom, visiting teacher/friend, tri-athlete. I hope this blog will chart my progress by allowing me to vent my frustrations, rejoice in my triumphs, and garner some support and cheering along the way.
I want to fill this blog with musings (thank you Peggy Hill), observations, revelations, and experiences. Please comment and contribute. Having an audience may help direct my thoughts and actions.
So, here I begin. I plan on making a major life change soon and I've made some decisions before those changes are made. I'm going to start a family of my own. I'm fortunate enough to be blended into a great family as I have two step-daughters and my wonderful husband. But in less than a year I plan on having children of my own. I'm been watching a lot of people during my wait and raising children is a major undertaking. I've been pondering whether or not I'm ready for it. So, I've decided that I have to make some changes and do some things well. I've set some goals and it's basically to be the best I can be at what I'm doing right now: seminary teacher, school teacher, wife, step-mom, visiting teacher/friend, tri-athlete. I hope this blog will chart my progress by allowing me to vent my frustrations, rejoice in my triumphs, and garner some support and cheering along the way.
I want to fill this blog with musings (thank you Peggy Hill), observations, revelations, and experiences. Please comment and contribute. Having an audience may help direct my thoughts and actions.
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