Non-stealing

Still painting Christmas cards.  It is a process.  Layers of paint,  base coat, then details one at a time.
They look so simple, but I promise they are not.

Classes today were based on the third yama, Asteya ( non-stealing).  All religions speak of the morals of not stealing but often we steal without even knowing.  Are you always late, people are always waiting for you?  Then you are stealing their time.  We all know takers, those who take and never give.  Well that is stealing too.  And what about those who drain your energy, you know the ones I am talking about.  Once you leave their presence, you are completely drained.  They stole your energy.

There are many ways to steal, to rob.  We rob ourselves of joy, by constantly striving for perfection.
We rob those we love by not returning their kindness. 

Today is the last day of November.  Tomorrow start December with kindness, spread joy to those around you and remember to be grateful.  One last month in 2017, make it as kind as you can. 

Tomorrow

Hump day...early morning class, hair cut, painting Christmas cards.  It has been a busy day.  When darkness settled in tonight, the moon was magical.  Thankfully the clouds are moving in and rain is on the way. I know, I know, I do love the moon so very much but we have hit a bit of a dry spell and with all the fallen leaves around, we need rain.

November is saying his farewells, December will rush in and she too will  be gone in the blink of an eye.
This 2017 has been an interesting year, at times unending and then whoosh, almost gone.

Tomorrow on the last day of November 2017, do something remarkable.  Be kind to strangers, spread joy to all those you meet, shine your light of love so brightly that the darkness that threatens hides in the corner in shame. 

Yamas

We began classes on the yamas  ( morals) yesterday.  The first one, ahimsa, do no harm.   The second one today, satya, truthfulness.  I teach these classes as a way to help the recovery process.  For the first one, we focused on not harming one's self.  The obvious ways are with drugs and alcohol, but then we venture into more complicated ways of doing harm, especially to one's self.   We can harm ourselves with negative thoughts, anger, self-criticism, hate, jealousy.

With satya or truthfulness we  recognize how we create veils of self-deception or lying to ourselves.  With drugs and alcohol there is the thought in the user's mind that what they are doing is not harming anyone but themselves.  There's that veil of self-deception.    Often we lie to ourselves because of ego- issues.
We think we are not strong or that there is no way anyone can help us.

The students seem to really enjoy the classes, especially when they can understand the connection with yoga and how it can help them live a sober life.

My commute for the past couple of days has been difficult.  I travel on narrow winding country roads.
Last night there was a horrible accident just a few miles before home.  Three ambulances and rescue teams worked in the darkness.  Today on my way in to work, another horrible accident.  This time a truck flipped, more ambulances and rescue teams.  So unsettling, I hope all who were involved are ok, but things did not look good in either instance.

Ready for my cup of hot tea.  Tomorrow is my early class.  I love to see the sunrise.

Goodnight, Sweet dreams

One Thing Remains

I used this quote on my board today.  I can't say anything tonight that's better.  Remember be kind.


"Now that we have learned to fly in the air like birds, and dive in the sea like fish, only one thing remains...
to learn to live on earth like humans."   - George Bernard Shaw

Busy Time

We drove over to a nearby Christmas tree farm today and got our living tree.  Usually we don't get our tree until mid-December but it seems our calendar is filling up fast.  So the tree we got today will sit in the front yard  for at least a couple of weeks.  Next weekend Saturday and Sunday are already on the calendar.  On Saturday we spend the afternoon with friends in Birmingham and on Saturday my siblings celebrate Christmas.  The next weekend Jordan has a swim meet in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama.  Wow, things are already spinning.

It has been a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  Thanksgiving Day was all that we could ask for, family, friends and food.  Friday and Saturday and today have been productive yet rather restful days.

I brought home yoga blankets and mats from work.  They have all been washed and cleaned, ready for classes tomorrow. 

My cup of hot tea is waiting, tonight I am having red zinger.  No matter how busy and hectic your Monday is, don't forget to be kind.

Early Traditions

Before I decorate our house, before we put up a tree, I do arrangements for our parents graves.
My folks did not decorate extensively, but they loved Christmas...the tree was their biggie, that and sending out Christmas cards.  They were old school.  The tree never went up until a couple of weeks before Christmas, it went down on New Year's Day.  Rick's mom loved the decorations, on Thanksgiving afternoon her kids and grandkids would meet up at her house and by dark, her yard was a Christmas fantasy and her tree was decorated.

Since our parents are gone, I figure the least I can do is put a little Christmas cheer on their graves.  I guess for some it might seem silly, but in some weird way I feel that they know and love that I do it.
Today, I place silk holly and poinsettias and plaid ribbon arrangements on their graves.  I always cry.  Holidays are tough without them, no matter how many years they have been gone.

While Rick watched the Alabama/Auburn game ( our team lost) I began painting Christmas cards.
It is a slow go, painting each and everyone by hand, I have to start early. It's a tradition that I will do as long as I possibly can. 

Enjoy your Sunday.  May we all know peace, kindness and joy.

Daily Transformation

This morning we slept in...until 6:30.   I made a big Irish breakfast, we walked the dogs and as Rick loves to say, we laid low.  Our nephew Haven and his wife and son came by and Rick shot their family Christmas pictures and then we took a short nap.

This afternoon we made a run to the craft store and I bought paints.  While Rick watches the Auburn/Alabama game tomorrow I will paint Christmas cards. Can you believe November is almost gone?

Today was a transformation day.  A day of rest, of looking at our day planners for the next few weeks and reflecting on this past year.  All over coffee this morning.  The past few weeks our schedules had been on overload.  My body was screaming slow down.  There were moments we stopped for a few hours, but not many.  After this weekend, the madness will start again, but hopefully the bodies will be rested and spirits restored.

We all need transformation days.  The days when nothing big is taking place, calendars can be cleared, and silence can be experienced.  The most unexpected event today, hundreds of crows flying across our property this afternoon.  The sound was eerie, and the sight was straight out of the movie, The Birds.  Maybe this was their day of transformation as well.

Driving around this afternoon, many had already taken their fall decorations down and yards were transformed into Christmas fantasies.  I struggle with this whole Christmas before December thing.
If you are on the road this weekend, safe travels.  But, no matter where you go or what you do, remember to be kind.  Kindness is our daily transformation.