Own Who You Are!!!

I have heard this reading and have read this reading before many Yoga classes and it is my favorite by far. I have always connected to water, ( Im a cancer sign) the ocean, even a storm This is who I am and it is a true reminder. Sometimes I think my chaos and passion is too much. I give and give and feel I unappreciated. It really sucks! ...I am not alone connecting to this poem so I hope many of you resonate with the message and stand tall with who you are.

You were born to be a rainstorm,

To send your voice throughout the night,

To sing your song with falling raindrops,

To break the darkness with your light,

You were born to show raw beauty,

To wash the dirt out from their eyes,

But the whole world ran for cover,

When you opened up your skies,

So you made your thunder silent,

And learned to bite your rainy tongue,

You gave them what they thought they wanted,

You gave them endless sun,

But as they watched their lives grow weaker,

Watched as their leaves turned brown and dry,

They wished they didn't take for granted,

Your booming presence in the sky,

You were born to be a rainstorm,

To be chaotic and be bold,

To show there's beauty in the knowledge,

That you cannot be controlled,

Because you might think you are not needed

Life without you is the same,

But nothing beautiful would ever grow,

if it wasn't washed with rain.

e.h.

e.h. @thepoeticunderground you are beyond inspiring!!!

No Expectations for 2023

As we all reflect back on our 2022 year, it is often a blur. What I do know however is that traveling to Costa Rica this fall, stepping outside of my every day world helped me to realize that the only person I need to find a balanced happy life is actually, me. It is one of the hardest lessons to learn in life. Many of us look to friends, parents, siblings, spouses our children, even our pets to feel needed and supported. Looking inward is not comfortable or easy. The more time you actually spend turning inward, the more you can just be. That being said, when you can settle into yourself and let a little of that self doubt go, relationships with others become so much easier. Taking chances and not having expectations opens the possibility to pleasantly surprised and self fulfillment..

It's like being young again. Everything is a new experience. But let's all be honest, the older we get the more set in our ways we become. It just happens. We do not like to take a chance even on an everyday decision. We are comfortable in our routine. I think back to when I was a teenager . I loved the unexpected thrill of roller coasters, The butterflies of not knowing what to expect. Now, I find myself looking at a menu before trying a new restaurant to see if there is anything I would want to eat. It is absurd if you think about it! We can always find something we like if we are forced to try something new. I am not sure about you but if I don't see something familiar, I find another place. Diverting from our norm gives us a chance to discover new opportunities yet sometimes it's so hard to change paths.

Take a chance in 2023 and try not to set unrealistic goals from the get go. The truth is,

as long as we can exhale we have the chance to always begin again. So maybe in 2023 begin to just notice your breath, and you may learn something incredible about yourself because you decided to just be.

Realizing the stories are often untrue...

It amazes me that with all of the time I spend reading and learning about being mindful, I often fall into my own minds trap. If I have learned anything about life, it's that everyone, has moments of self doubt. How any times have you tried really hard only to end up disappointed?

When I think about what triggers me its being in a larger group setting and feeling like an outsider. I either try too hard or fade into the back. Either way I always find myself feeling awkward and not knowing where I should fit in, And that's where the story begins.... My mind starts racing and I tell myself I do not belong or I come off too strong if I try. I should recognize the behavior after reading many Brene Brown books but sometimes I let my emotions get the best of me. Controlling our emotions is often very difficult. That's where the work comes in. The practice of learning to shut off the heavy cycle in our washing machine of a head. To let go of these thoughts we bring in that are hurtful and often untrue.

The truth is most people are just doing their best. Often times we misinterpret little exchanges and have no idea what the circumstances are that preceded the exchange. As we move into December and we enter into holiday season, keep an open mind and remember the 24 hour rule (sometimes it only needs to be a few hours :-). Do not be afraid to put yourself out there. Trust the gift that is yourself. You never know who you may meet that can change your life or how you may change theirs...