Take back the pride in your stack!

I was talking to one of my dear friends about social media and as usual my friend had a great deal wisdom to bring. Here's a little story (based on true events):

Ziggy's father went out and chopped some wood. When he had done so he was proud of himself and his accomplishments. Later on he saw an image in social media of a greater stack of chopped wood and the proud owner of the stack, yet his feeling for his accomplishments remained the same. Why was that? He told Ziggy that although that pile is much much greater than his and they both exist in this same world, the other one is not a part of HIS world. He did not make it and it has no impact on his life. It's not real to him, only an image from someone else's life.

Now me and many of you may not have much experience with chopping wood, but haven't we all seen accomplishments that we have valued as "greater" than our own? Haven't many of us felt pride over something just to suddenly have it overwritten by someone else's display of greatness?
This can be applied in all aspects of life. In work, self-expression, creativity, appearance, physical and spiritual state of being. I'm not saying deny all that is not directly linked to you. Be inspired, but take caution so it doesn't backfire into the crippling state of jealousy or feeling like "I could never do that". Social media can be a bit one sided sometimes as many use it to enhance their best sides and show the results more often than the road there, flaws and mistakes.

I think this is a great reminder for us to remain proud of what we do. To take caution in comparison, because let's face it there may be someone who's greater than you in some way. But here's the great news: Your greatness can exist at the same time! It does not cancel each other out. It's not a competition. Your journey, your progress, your time and effort should always remain more valuable to you.

Take pride in your stack, whatever it may be.
You have made this.
You've come a long way my friend and I am proud of you.
KEEP DOING YOUR THING!

"Life is school..."

Today's conclusion:

People aren't that bad.

People are that bad.

Flaw gave opportunity for positive feedback. Nothing's ever just one thing. 

Short shift ahead of me then two days off. 

Found a lot of reasons to laugh today, despite the hard work.

Finally signed up for yoga class with work which will be Tuesday, wednesday and Thursday. Lookin' forward to it. Managed only 15 minutes of yoga in the morning, because the body really said no. Have to respect it.

Made it home before the rain came.

Food on the table. Watermelon after. Shower. Nap. Just a few asanas and some meditation. 

Yoga. Work. Eat. Sleep. Yoga. Sleep. Yoga. Eat. Work....

That's what it is right now. So simple.

"Life is school 

and the tests 

will continue 

until you graduate."

Oh snap! What was that?

Reading up on unintentionally cracking joints. It's been happening quite a lot lately.

What I know so far is that it's debated wether it is good for you or bad for you to crack joints, and it hasn't got too much proof on either side. What I hear a lot of yogis saying is that it's natural, and it's no harm in unintentionally doing so. If you experience pain or swelling then that's of course no good.

Two hours of yoga today! Got up at 2:45 to have time before work. Then came home and had chillout yoga and meditation in the garden. Progress on the cow face (connecting hands behind back like mentioned in post "The good, the bad and the patience.") and overall keeping in touch with the body and present moment. Discipline is better than ever, although I want to cut down on my blog writing time. I told myself I'd be finished... 45 minutes ago.

Going to bed soon because tomorrow will be sort of the same procedure of yoga, work yoga, but harder more stressful work since the guests are leaving the hotel. Best be prepared.

Celebrate everyday through balanced living. No hangovers, no emotional rollercoasters... all the time you make the mostest. Haha, can you tell I'm tired? AAAAAND I'M GONE.

The good, the bad and the patience.

It's easy to be harsh toward one's self. I can be really tough and impatient sometimes.

Thankfully yoga helps notice when that's happening and quiet down the harsh ruler who wants perfection now, without working for it. There's no instant change. You can't get SUDDENLY SUPER FLEXIBLE. The body doesn't work that way. You have to build it. With the slow progress comes the more sustainable result.

It's quite common to be more flexible on one side than the other. For me left has always been the "good side" while right just needs more time. More practise. More patience. More understanding.

I used to press the right side until it hurt. This is the greatest difference between regular exercise and yoga. The awareness. You have to listen to your body. No means no, maybe means ok go until no. Never go past no.

There's an asana where you connect your hands behind back with one elbow reaching up and one down. I tried a few times but just couldn't reach. Then a few nights ago while I was brushing my teeth I had one hand behind my back. Then I started wondering... how far can it go? The pose came into my head and I let go of the toothbrush to reach the left hand with my right. WOW!

So how do I practice the right side for this?

Grab a scarf. Hold one end with your left hand. Breathe in and lift the scarf up above your head and as you breathe out fold the arm above your head behind your back. You don't have to reach far. Take the right hand behind your back and reach up, grabbing the other end of the scarf. Very gently pull the scarf, bringing your right hand just a little further up your back every time that you breathe in. Just a little bit more. Just as far as feels comfortable. Stay. Breathe 5 more deep breaths through the nose. Exhale as you slowly let go. Then use your right hand to gently pull down the left. 5 breaths. Let go and exhale. Remember to do the exercise on both sides to maintain balance. Eventually when the time is right. You won't need the scarf anymore!

The great thing is that it gets easier each time. I still can't reach the other way, but there's great comfort in knowing that it's possible. Yesterday the fingertips touched and that's enough progress to keep me going. 

3/3 into wild divine

I'm inspired, too tired.
I WANT TO TELL YOU A SECRET but for now I will keep it.
11 hours of work the third day in a row and I believe my best performance yet.
Now time for liquid sunligt (my new favorite tea) and meditation before I crash like a PC.

This kind of sums EVERYTHING up:

("Journey into the wild divine" at Norrköpings art gallery)

That's it for now.

Peace be with you.

Up with the sun-day! 2/3

Not as astonishing as yesterday morning, but still... the beauty. This is what really motivates me in the morning. Makes me thankful for this little journey to work in the early hours. Tomorrow I start at 4:30. Two of three early days in a row done. Not as tired as I thought I would be but probably more tired than I feel. Did I high five a tree today? Eh... yes.

Food for thought and next post:
If you somehow met your fifteen year old self, what advice would you give to yourself?

Monkey mind - mindfulness refill, please!

Worn out. Got up early and did a few yoga moves. Then tried to invent a bicycle meditation on the way to work. The attitude was there, the physical energy too, but the mind adrift as it tends to do when one is mentally exhausted. If there's a parallell universe I was surely there today. In this universe everything was going right and in the real one where everyone else seemed to be... not so much. Some days are like that, especially for us dreamers with the imagination intense enough to be confused with reality. This makes it easier to fall back into old patterns like the clumsy, monkey minded girl whose thoughts are "jumping from tree to tree with no destination"... It's like this too with unwanted thoughts while meditating. They're usually only distractions without any deeper meaning. Echoes of another time. Sometimes we fall back into old ways of thinking, one doesn't simply change habits over a night.
It takes practise. Stay calm.
Forgive yourself. You are still learning.

You need focus for meditation. The mind goes elswhere? Take note, but don't take it in. Let go. Bring yourself back to the moment. Welcome yourself and be happy that you noticed and returned back into your body. Be patient. Determined. Repeat it as long as it takes. After a while the mind will learn its place is here with you. The present moment. I imagine it's something like breaking in a wild horse. There are different ways of doing it. I prefer a gentle way.

To avoid monkey mind you need set up goals and work to reach them. If it's to perform on a occasion then it's important to be as prepared as possible and always see the best outcome. Really imagine it with all senses. See yourself where you want to be. Then when the moment comes. Be there.

Tomorrow is my first 5 o clock (YES IN THE MORNING!) shift of three in a row. Bingo?
Determined to do it and do it well!
How to prepare?
- Pack the day before
- Sleep well
- Cleansing lemon water and morning yoga
- Cold shower, bring breakfast to work (no biking while digesting)
- Bicycle meditation
- Be on time. Do your best. Always.
DO WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU DO IT

Already set up goals for work... and the yoga? Next time, Inspector Yogi... Next time.

Hello from Malta!

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So, for those of you who've not heard 

I'm currently in Malta doing my EVS-volunteership 

for half a year with The Scout Association of Malta! 

You can read about my travels, this island country & the project on: 

            tumblr > LOVINSPIRE >>           

and on the blog of my sending organisation SIP > BLOG >>

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There will be alot of pictures, 

but if you're curious 

what's going on inbetween posts 

then check out my instagram

          instagram > LOVINSPIRE >>         

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