Intention...

When I first began yoga about four years ago, our instructor spoke about intention:  Why do we take yoga?  What do we want to accomplish?  and more personally, On what aspect of my life do I want to focus?  Intention is not about perfection.  It's about where I put my energy.  Some might look at intention as a sort of prayer.

For a year or so, my intention involved Jen and her battle with cancer.  Then, slowly, I realized that in order to be there for her, I wanted physical, emotional and spiritual health.  My intention took that direction.

As I contemplated this new year and yoga, I decided on a more core issue--self-love and acceptance.   In years past, I've spent time in therapy and read lots of books trying to understand this concept since much of my background taught that self-love means selfishness.

Yesterday a good friend gave me a quotation by Dawn Neader.  After reading it, I saw that by first-person-ing it, I had a beautiful definition of self-love and acceptance--which, of course, omits the self-criticism and negativity that can so easily accompany my thoughts. 

My heart remains full.

My soul is free to play and dance in the wind.

Peace is living in my heart.

Energy is my best friend.

Good health is my companion.

Adventure fills my days.

My eyes sparkle with joy.

My tears well up with gratitude.

I am held in the arms of loved ones.

I feel the joy of giving love.

Creativity is a given.

Every day of my life.

Major embarrassment

If I were completely honest, it would take several pair of hands and feet to count the embarrassing moments in my life--several more if you add in the other occasions on my daughters' lists.  We all have them--and for the most part, after years gone by, our chagrin turns to laughter.

In junior high--now called middle school--I was a majorette in a small town in Ohio.  O how I loved being a majorette--and I was good...well, for a majorette in a small town in Ohio.  Our band director was a man we all adored.  He could be tough, but his sense of humor poked and prodded us to greatness--OK, perhaps goodness.  

At one school program, the band played in front of the stage while the majorettes were featured on stage.   We performed our routine in unison, and then each, one-at-a-time, stepped front and center to execute our own specialty--in my case, twirling the baton on one finger and throwing it high in the air and catching it on return.   I rarely ever missed catching it. 

That night--auditorium filled with parents and townspeople--I walked to the center of the stage for my featured single.  The baton moved through my legs and around my neck with great speed and accuracy.  Then came the earmark of my performance.  I twirled expertly in the necessary rhythm.  The baton went into the air and at just the right second returned to my index finger.  Beautifully executed!  Perfectly completed!  Applause reigned--as did the broken glass from the six stage lights my baton had taken out above me.  With all my precision of movement--I had not anticipated the somewhat lower ceiling on the stage.

I finished with the other majorettes, then went running down to the locker room crying my eyes out.  I sat on the bench with friends trying to console me.  I'd have nothing to do with it.  I'd done the most embarrassing thing in the world in front of thousands--OK, well maybe a couple of hundred!  Then I felt an arm around me and a soft voice in my ear.  It was the principle's daughter--a gorgeous and smart senior whom I thought was absolutely perfect!  She said little but her arm allowed my heart to return to its normal cadence.

Yep--I lived through that and many more!

The embarrassment of a situation can,

once you are over it,

be the funniest time in your life.

                                         --- Miranda Hart

Little Reminders Come in Handy...

I have in my study what I call a meditation table--which is probably a misnomer since I rarely sit before it and contemplate.  In fact, I just recently downsized to a smaller area.  It holds the icons that represent the values I choose to live by.  During the day as I move in and out of that room, I often glance over at the symbols.  The visual calls me to accountability:

A candle holder represents Community--a reminder of its importance.
A tiny Buddha calls me to Wisdom and not arrogance.
A Goddess of Compassion--to draw me to empathy for others.
My wish to live life with Passion is spelled out on a rock.
Namaste--a symbol to honor the spirit in all.
Om written on another rock--a beautiful affirmation.
A shell my mother gave me when I was a child.  She told me to hold it to my ear and I could hear the ocean.  I do hear a sound--I don't know if it's the ocean--but it does remind me to be willing to Listen.
A pewter mold that illustrates my Continuous Journey in life.
A yin yang icon advises me to stay in Balance.

We tend to think of meditation in only one way.

But life itself is a meditation.

                 --- Raul Julia

New Year = New Energy!

I love the first few weeks after the new year begins!  It's my time of organizing, reorganizing, getting-rid-of and giving my world a fresh look.  I have a pile of donations--already taken away one load!  My clothes closet has fewer items--but without those pieces that receive little or no attention.  My craft supplies are relocated to more convenient places--and boxes labelled due to memory issues that won't be discussed at this time... 

Finding new authors is an exciting adventure.  I've already made several trips to the library--celebrating that I can now choose most any day of the week to go there!! Even my Book Club is making some major changes which are refreshing!

I've also made an invitation list--friends to have over for soup--the perfect food for this time of year. 

No, I'm not a Pollyanna--I just want to keep my mind away from the gray slug of most winter mornings in southern Oregon. 

Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. 

Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. 

Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, 

and your picture begins to lighten up.  

                                            --- Allen Klein

January 1--New Beginnings...

Happy New Year!!

The first day of this new year, I awoke to see two of the most beautifully expressive brown eyes looking lovingly into mine.  His nose was within an inch of my face--yeah, I know...morning breath, etc.  Then, as I smiled and spoke softly--wishing him a Good Morning--Gilly's tail began to wag an excited beat.  Not a bad way to begin the first day of 2015--those words will be understood ONLY by my animal-loving friends...

Today I'm beginning a 14-day challenge suggested by a friend.  Using the Inquiry Method, I'll write about my life--my present life--seeking to make discoveries about what I enjoy and want to keep; what I don't and want to get rid of; and what I choose to change.  The goal, of course, is greater empowerment!  It is accomplished on such a positive note--because I take responsibility for my life and choices.  I like that!   No blaming--just new choices!  

It is very cold this morning--but I'm looking forward to walking my brown-eyed friend in this gorgeous sunshine.  

Have a lovely day, and challenge yourself to something new!

And now we welcome the new year,

full of things that have never been. 

                                                     ― Rainer Maria Rilke

My 2014 Memoir

As I mature--a nice word for this stage of life--I take on projects, events, volunteer work, and fun that keep my mind working and my heart pumping.  Here's what works for me:

1.  A friend and I organized a Book Club in January.  The only requirement is that the books must contain beautiful sentences.  So far our selections have met that goal:  The Paris Wife by Paula McLain; Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda; River of Doubt by Candice Millard; The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot; and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.  I'd recommend all of these!

2.  A trip to Palm Springs in March--the priorities being sunglasses, sunscreen and loads of laughter with friends.  Again in September, I joined this same group for our annual trip to Lake Pend Oreille.

3.  More time away in June--this time to Colorado Springs--to attend the Open House of Kathy's new studio for Sip and Splatter--Social Artworking with a Heart.  That and a bit of retail therapy kept mother and daughter quite happy indeed!

4.  My Portland family now has TWO teenagers--a really busy time for this group!

5.  Jen started a business--DearGirlJewelry--Jewelry with Intention.   Her beautiful creations can be found on Etsy!

6.  I still volunteer for the Citizen's Review Board.  I feel privileged to work in a community that has many excellent resources for families who need help, and I hope it's a way of giving back.

7.  Plays and musicals are a big part of my entertainment--Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Cabaret--amazing productions!

8.  My love for English/Scottish Dance continues.  Great exercise and a fun way of making friends!

9.  Yoga is still an important part of my weekly routine--the movements invite every part of my body toward pain free-ness.

10.  As I write, Gilly lays at my side--actually ON my side.  Our daily walks about the neighborhood keep my joints oiled and his territory marked.

11.  My grandchildren continue to bring me loads of fun--and hugs and intelligence and perfection...yeah, yeah, I know you stopped reading after hugs...

12.  I've finished one year as a blogger.  An excellent outlet for likes, dislikes, memories, gratitude, etc.:  maryjsaltmarsh.blogspot.com

My year has been good.  My intention:  To be physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy--a good way to keep the mind working and the heart pumping.

Dance.  Smile.  Giggle.  Marvel.

TRUST. HOPE. LOVE. WISH. BELIEVE.

Most of all, enjoy every moment of the journey,

and appreciate where you are at this moment

instead of always focusing on how far you have to go.

              ---Mandy Hale

May you all have a lovely Holiday Season!

 

Christmases Past...

We all have memories of Christmases past--childhood, teenage, young-poverty-stricken adults...  Perhaps I'm more aware of childhood recollections now that Mother is gone.  She was raised in an orphanage where few gifts were received by children.  I think Mother vicariously celebrated her losses from childhood through her efforts into birthday and Christmas celebrations for my brother and me.  When layaway plans at department stores were popular--do they even exist now?--Mother would begin her Christmas shopping in July.  Layaway not only provided for easier payment, but a storage place where nosy kids could not enter.

Yet with all Mother's pretense at secrecy, her "hints" when we asked her what are you getting me? were SUCH give-aways!!  We almost always knew the contents before unwrapping each package.  However, because she wanted to make these occasions so special, the gifts were almost always just what we'd asked for. 

One year I got a Mary Maher doll--so named after my favorite aunt.  I loved and played with that doll for several years until my brother--four years my junior--broke her fragile body into several unfix-able pieces.  On my age-14 Christmas I received six pieces of fabric--soon made into six new school outfits!  

The Christmas I was 10, my grandparents gave me a ring.  Last spring, going through my old jewelry box--which my grandparents also gave me--I found the ring--the stone no longer in its place--and took it to a jeweler.  Now, polished and with stone replaced, I wear it and think of lovely childhood memories. 

Don't you wish you could take a single childhood memory 

and blow it up into a bubble and live inside it forever?

                                     ―  Sarah Addison Allen