Persistence
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A few months ago, my life was in complete chaos, and I felt it spinning out of control. My marriage was in shambles, the house was a disaster area, my weight had ballooned to its highest point ever, and the steady flow of my massage business had slowed to a trickle. I was in trouble. I felt adrift; I knew I could be close to losing everything, but I wasn't sure how to proceed.
Then, the universe, in its divine love and wisdom, seemed to grant me another chance. A winter storm dumped twenty inches of snow onto northwest Iowa. Joel, my husband, then had no choice but to spend the holidays with me and my family in Ohio. With no projects to tackle, articles to write, bikes to fix, or friends to go out drinking with, we were forced to coexist 24 hours a day for a week. The quarantine was just what we needed. After a few days, we actually started liking each other again, and by the end of the week, we both had a sense of renewed hope.
In recent years, it has become the fashion in New Age circles to eschew New Year's resolutions in favor of setting a specific intention that will hopefully determine the tone of the next year. While I definitely had some resolutions in mind, I decided to also opt for the latter, and to choose "persistence" as my key word for the next twelve months.
Why persistence? Call me an indigo child, a dabbler, jack of all trades (master of none), or whatever you want; I have a short attention span. Going back to childhood, I've had a range of hobbies and interests that include rock collecting, stamp collecting, sewing, jewelry making, batik, drawing, quilting, learning languages, snowshoeing, embroidery, painting, astronomy, astrology, swimming, geocaching, hula hooping, the ukulele... the list goes on. I have been blessed with a lot of natural abilities, but I've never stuck with anything long enough or given it enough attention to be really good at it.
I've taken my new intention to heart the last few weeks. Since the New Year, I've made a point to try to keep the house cleaner, and to make a healthy dinner every night and help Joel with the dishes afterwards. But in order to test my mettle, I decided that I needed to commit to something in which I am starting out at a true disadvantage: yoga.
I suck at yoga. Even though I have always been very interested in it, I have steered clear of it because of my general lack of grace and physical ineptitude. My hamstrings are so tight you could bounce quarters off of them. In order to take back control of my life, though, I know that I have to start paying better attention to my body and doing nice things for it. However, even though yoga in America is often practiced simply as a physical exercise, there are also mental and spiritual components. Thus begins The Yoga Experiment. I have decided to see what would happen if I spend at least an hour a day doing yoga at a minimum of five days a week. I will be attending classes at the Living Yoga Center in Urbana for the next full year, and in the meantime, reading books and learning about yoga and other "natural" and "alternative health" therapies around Champaign-Urbana.
All experiments have hypotheses. In one year, I hope to be a few pounds lighter, a lot more flexible, and to feel more clear-headed and connected with the world around me in a deeper way. What will happen? I'll check in here once a week to report my progress.
Namaste.
8 comments
This sounds wonderful! A friend and I are doing something similar, but it’s in the form of a “game” that you play in 4-week intervals. A whole year commitment is inspiring—can’t wait to read more!
“My hamstrings are so tight you could bounce quarters off of them.“
I feel your pain. I’ve now had two different physical therapists tell me I have the tightest hamstrings they have ever felt. That’s not something I’m proud of and part of the reason my back has now gone all out of whack.
I feel ya, Gillian. My heart squeezed as I read.
My problem with trying yoga in the past has been that I can’t stand not doing two (or three, or ten) things at once. I’ll pop in a dvd, try it, and then after ten minutes my mind is practically begging me to sew something, read a book, check my email, organize my socks… Oh yeah, and that whole being flexible thing. Not happening.
Best of luck, my dear!!
I know yoga (and health) can be super personal or great in groups, but if you’re feeling like the latter, count me in! I’ve got a couple of yoga DVDs I do at home (and I’m not particularly good at any of them.), and I have been wanting to go to classes again since I moved here. I’ve also been shaping up my health since I got in town and if you ever want a biking, walking, running (slow… slow running.), or gym workout partner, I’m your girl!
Debbie
I love you :)
I’m impressed enough by the hope to keep the house cleaner, and the dishes done, and home cooking, so even if yoga doesn’t work out, you have plenty of ambitions!
Rhonda
If you practice yoga an hour a day for 5 days a week, I can guarantee you that your life will change :-) (and so will your hamstrings!)
thanks everyone, for your support! :)
Cristy
You are an amazing woman.I’m thrilled for your new journey, and rootin’ for you all the way!
Love you!
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If the democrats didn’t have Kucinich, and the republicans didn’t have Ron Paul, where would both these parties really stand? These men actually mean what they say.