Mindfulness
It is a six letter word, made up of two vowels and four consonants. At first appearance this word is rather unassuming. It doesn’t cause any strong response, either positive or negative, it just is. However, for me, this word has had a very troubling habit of creeping into my vocabulary on a far too regular basis without me even being aware of it.
Wellness
Physical boundaries are easy to understand as many times we see them with some visual demarcation. Some of these are meant to be crossed like state lines or may be crossed if requirements have been met as when traveling to another country or being invited into someone’s house. There are many other boundaries, however, most of these unseen, that are not meant to be crossed but respected. Respected by ourselves as well as others.  It is these ‘invisible’ boundaries that I have had struggles with through the years, being able to ascertain other people’s boundaries readily but blind to establishing and maintaining mine. Read more “The Line in the Sand”
Mindfulness
Vacation or time away from home and the day to day routine is very healing and much needed in our overly scheduled lifestyles. It can can also be challenging just to carve the time out and make the preparations but then you can breathe…the holiday has begun! Or has it?  Read more “Reality Bites”
Wellness
Sandy beaches, elegant swaying palm trees, a cool light breeze and the sun playing peek-a-boo with wispy clouds is one of my imagination’s ideas of a perfect stress free get away. As I continue to daydream, other natural environments come to my mind including; hiking under foliage covered trails in the mountains, dancing amongst trees so tall I can barely glimpse the top branches as they touch the sky, and camping under stars so bright and visible, I share in their joy of not competing with light pollution. These are the places I enjoy escaping to for even a few hours to reset, decompress and reconnect with who I am. Just envisioning being out in nature, no electronics and time to just experience life, brings a peace to my soul. Read more “Vacation and Reset”
Mindfulness
It was rather a serendipitous happenstance that I found the gift of Yoga. I was aimlessly browsing through some ‘close-out’ items just after Christmas at a bookstore and a Yoga dvd with instructional book caught my attention. After a very brief consideration and on a whim (at least it seemed at the time) I purchased the item. I really had no knowledge of Yoga other that it was a mysterious exercise practice from a world far removed from mine. My best explanation for this purchase was that as a child I had taken traditional tap (my favorite!), ballet (because it was good for me) and jazz (just for fun!) dance classes and despite wanting to return to them as an adult had found my obligations to my family out weighed my obligations to myself. I rationalized to myself this purchase was my way of filling that desire.
Mindfulness
Something I have been challenged with in my relationships more often than not, are not responses of a nature I didn’t expect like anger, judgement or not understanding, but rather the lack of response. The silence. The non-acknowledgement. The lack of follow through on a commitment made and then no communication.Â
Reflections and Lessons
If you have children, especially of school age, summer is quickly coming to a close. Mornings of sleeping in, not worrying about having lunches packed or if school clothes are clean and homework is done are soon too be a distant memory of luxury. Though my children are grown I remember those times well and I recall hanging onto those last few mornings of peace. No rushing to the car, no tears or harsh words for not being ready as expected. Every year I would hope it would be different but, like groundhog day, the process would repeat itself to a great degree. Invariably the protocols I had put in place to help prevent the mad dash out the door on school mornings seemed to work only when they wanted. And, invariably, it was myself I would hold accountable. Other mothers seemed to have it much more together.
Mindfulness
To anyone that will listen, I have championed the practice of meditating daily after discovering for myself how healing and peaceful it can be. Mindfulness meditation, the type of meditation I had stumbled on, leads to living a more mindful life, experiencing the present moment for what it is thus leading to less anxiety and more understanding. However, the question came up recently from one of my friends and a recent convert to meditation, what is transcendental meditation? I knew there were different forms and while familiar with Yoga and Tai Chi (both moving forms of meditation) as well as the type of practice I so enjoyed, I wasn’t sure how to answer. So in true Robin fashion I told her would find out.Â
Mindfulness
Have you ever not joined a class because someone you don’t like or don’t wish to associate with is in it? Perhaps you have chosen not to go to an activity with friends because of one person or made a decision to not do something because the person that drives you crazy every time you see them loves that exact activity. I know I have and with conscious thought and awareness behind the decision. More recently, however, I became aware that I was making others without any conscious thought, almost a knee jerk reaction of sorts. This was brought into focus for me after experiencing an unique set of circumstances. Read more “Who is in the Driver’s Seat?”
Wellness
I recently had the experience of witnessing a young person standing up for her beliefs against a strong adult. While she initially felt good that she had defended herself, she later regretted having done so as she felt this had made the difference in her being able to achieve the position she was seeking. I witnessed her pain when the news was delivered, watched as she struggled to accept how the events had played out and listened as she spoke those words so many of us have uttered, ‘If only…’  Read more “If Only…”