“Treasure this day and treasure yourself. Truly, neither will ever happen again.” ~ Ray Bradbury  Lumière et amour
💡& ♥️ ~ m
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“What is love? Gratitude. What is hidden in our chests? Laughter. What else? Compassion.” ~ Rumi Hi friends!
Thank you. ♥️ SO many of you celebrated our three years together through this newsletter. I appreciate you being here. Always. Amidst an extra busy time (FULL of goodness!), I want to create some spaciousness so I can be both quiet and still. I’m learning that that’s what I let go of, quite quickly, when I have a lot going on. And guess what? When I skip over, or cast off, my self-care routines and rituals, things start to . . . what’s the word? 🤷🏻♀️ Actually, I’m not sure there is a single word that encompasses what starts to slide when I’m pushing a bit too much and letting go of my support systems? Let’s just say I notice the shifts happening in many places: my nutrition, my digestion, my sleep patterns, my reactivity . . . you get the idea. 😉 And here's the thing. I'm thankful for the tender warning signs that begin emerging. These little bells going off? They're letting me know it's time to tune in and pay closer attention to what's going in my body and my being. From there? It’s up to me. I can ignore the signs and signals. Pretend they are not happening or that they are no big deal. Continue on as if all is well. If I choose this path? I know the direction things are heading. My body is going to get louder in its protestations. Things will become more acute. Or, when I notice and hear those initial warning signs? I can tune into what’s happening within. Find a moment to pause. Rest into how I am feeling and what I need. I am deeply grateful for the robust toolkit I have for helping myself. And, I'm blown away by the beautiful support system of love and community that is around me. I’m curious.
These questions for ourselves emerge from a place of loving curiosity. With a soft, internal gaze. I know that my pace, my energy level, my desire for solitude, my amount of required stillness and rest? It’s what works for me. And it is most likely different than what works for my husband, my friends, my family. And guess what? That’s okay. We ALL deserve to live well. To have fulfillment. To be loved and to love ourselves. Here’s to being oh-so-compassionate with ourselves and all others. ♥️, ~ m P. S. NO YACHT CLUB YOGA on Saturday, November 2. 
“If we begin to get in touch with whatever we feel with some kind of kindness, our protective shells will melt, and we’ll find that more areas of our lives are workable.” ~ PEMA CHÖDRÖN Hello!
It’s interesting. For three years now, I have sat down every Tuesday to start my weekly newsletter. Sometimes? I know where my writing is going well before my fingers land on the keys. Other times? I have zero direction. 🤪 What then? It might be the selection of photos that inspires me. Or, the quotation that directs my thoughts. Oftentimes it’s a conversation, or a situation, or a feeling that I’ve recently experienced that finds its way to the foreground. Regardless of the creative spark? It always takes time. And stillness. Because, I strive to write from a place of truth. A truth that is distilled enough to (hopefully) be of some value to you. 🙏🏽 Last week’s message spurred on many wonderful conversations. I’m grateful for them all. Thank you for your courage, and your vulnerability, to share. Looking into our own issues isn’t easy. Sometimes, looking within can be unsettling and uncomfortable. And, I know being uncomfortable is something most of us hope to avoid. 😟 But here’s the thing. Some internal discomfort can be okay. I try and remind myself that what’s getting churned up is temporary, and it’s here to teach me something. Also, I don’t want my insecurities and defense mechanisms to take over, so I remind myself to use a soft internal gaze. No need to be staring myself down like my Mother used to when I hadn’t cleaned my room, or when I came in past curfew. 😉 🤣 If we’re into the concept of “always evolving,” then exploring our edges, looking into the corners, lifting up the darkness? These are wonderful ways of promoting growth. I’m a big believer that if we slow down. Find some moments to pause. Are willing to open ourselves up to an honest look within, we can continue making small shifts that make monumental differences. Here’s to thriving the best we can! Full moon blessings, ~ m P. S. Happy 3rd anniversary to US! When I started this endeavor three years ago, I promised myself I would try sending out a weekly email for one month. 4 newsletters seemed daunting, but doable. Some of you have been with me since that very first effort. Thank you ☺️ Three years later, we’ve grown larger, and we’ve come a long ways. Cheers to us all! 🎉 
“i will never have this version of me again let me slow down and be with her - always evolving” ~ Rupi Kaur Hello friends!
Today, I want to talk about this idea of “always evolving.” (If you missed the Rupi Kaur quotation just above, give it another go.) I recently had the joy of sharing time with friends we don’t get to see very often. This particular connection goes WAY back (to the mid 1970’s) in my husband’s family. And, because our friends live in Germany, in person time together is infrequent and always special. First, I want to honor, and celebrate, the longevity of this friendship. This has taken some effort, and I am thankful for the depth of connection fostered over the decades. I always learn something new when the reminiscing takes place. All that history? It adds depth and richness that cannot be replaced. ♥️ Beyond that? We currently have fun together. We enjoy sharing time outdoors, good food, intellectual conversation, a glass of wine . . . personally? I laugh a lot when we’re together. 😀 I also want to acknowledge that this relationship presents me with some challenges. This particular visit got me very curious about the “why” behind my reactivity that exists in this friendship. Turns out, the dynamics that challenge me? Those are the ones that mirror aspects of MYSELF I don’t enjoy. Does that make sense? Have you had this moment of awareness as well? The behavior from someone else that irks you, or frustrates you, or bunches you up is recognizable because it is something you see in yourself? Maybe it's particularly evident because you have done a lot of work around your own behaviors in a real effort to evolve? Without delving into the minutia, I’ll summarize by saying I have an increased understanding about my edge around the need to “be right.” I used to think of this as a form of stubbornness. Now, I understand it differently. Needing to be right seems to stem from insecurities and/or fears. Not being able to hear a difference of opinion, let alone a factual statement, that another is offering into the conversation? An unwillingness to accept a different idea or come to a new understanding? This puts me on edge. So, I come away with an increased understanding about the person I want to be. Especially in this time. 🙏🏽 Here’s to slowing down. Knowing ourselves. Loving ourselves. And always evolving. Love and light, ~ m 
“There's a song that wants to sing itself through us. We’ve just got to be available.” ~ Joanna Macy Hello, my friends!
Thanks for being here; I truly love this weekly connection. On Sunday, my family gathered in celebration for my Dad’s 83rd birthday. We shared food, stories, and laughs. Since my Dad’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis at the end of 2019, I am especially thankful for any and all time I get to spend with him. While the disease is taking its toll, my Dad remains alert, physically active, and oh-so-sweet. Honestly? His diagnosis was a genuine shock to me. His side of the family has traditionally lived well into their 90s, and beyond (his Mom died when she was 101), with very few health complications. We always joked that my Dad would live to be 108. In truth? Up until very recently he could still out work almost any of us, and he remains in great physical shape. So, when I read this quotation from a new study about yoga and brain health, I definitely tuned in: “Before I started doing these studies, the usual perception of yoga was that it’s good for stress reduction. Nobody thought of yoga as being a brain-fitness exercise that could lead to better plasticity,” ~ Dr. Helen Lavretsky. I couldn’t wait to read more, and the opening sentence had me hooked: “Women at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease can boost their brainpower, enhance brain neuroplasticity and improve their sense of memory function by practicing yoga and meditation, according to a new study by researchers at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior” As I continued reading, I was SO excited to learn that the study was done using a specific meditation, called Kirtan Kriya, that I already know and have practiced a lot! Even better? It’s simple. Anyone can do it. And it only takes about 12 minutes a day! If this particular meditation is not your thing, no worries! Dr. Lavertsky outlines a variety of mind-body practices that can be beneficial. Yep, this is one of the MANY reasons I love being a student of yoga in modern times. The data and the science that’s furthering our understanding of the power of these practices? Incredible! Here’s to continuing to live well, the best we can, for as long as we can. Peace and love, m P.S. Yacht Club Yogis, it’s the magic moment you’ve been waiting for! 🎉🎉🎉THIS WEEK SATURDAY we switch to 9:00 class 🎉🎉🎉 That means you can sleep in a little longer, navigate the construction, and STILL make it on time! 😉 Join me. ♥️ |
AuthorMichelle Shaw: Archives
December 2024
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