Staying Spiritually, Mentally & Physically Fit

I absolutely LOVE my slow quiet mornings.

I protect them now. After I wale – my lovely ritual consists of lighting a candle, putting on music that’s relaxing & soothing, rolling out my yoga mat, giving my kitty snuggles for many minutes. She loves the sound of my mat being rolled out for snuggle time. Then I start my movement meditation practice. It’s my own yoga routine what really nourishes and feels good in my body on that day. Then I sit in meditation & then prayer. Then I enjoy a delicious nourishing breakfast, usually fruit and a warm yummy beverage as I journal. I’ve gotten in the habit of writing out 10 things I’m grateful for. I try to not write the same things, this is a powerful transformative practice.

I think these practices have been transformative in my life. Especially the slow part. I absolutely love not only a slow morning but, a slower life. But, even when life requires me to do lots of things or I have a season of a lot work, which I’m always grateful for. I’ve learned and still learn how to not rush, how to set myself up properly to prevent burn out, anxiety, taxing my nervous system, having stress etc So regardless, it still feels slow. It’s a practice, and one I still do. I’ve learned to pace myself, Just like when I trained in hiking a 14er or other longer-hard hikes, backpacking, as well as when I used to race doing century rides and triathlons. So I guess one.can say I’ve been training – pacing my body, my energy levels and physical stamina as well as to not injure myself on any level all my life.

This is definitely something that didn’t change overnight. A slow evolution, because I did everything fast, and honestly for a very long time. And I liked it! I loved and “had to” drive fast, stop signs – what? What are those? lol Yes after a season of all of the speeding and rolling through stop signs I accrued lots of tickets. I worked on driving slower and stopping. Still frustrated me, because I was like – let’s get there!!!! I walked fast, talked fast, ate fast, hiked fast, it was always a race up the mountain and wanted to beat my last time up every time. I absolutely would get soooooo and I mean sooooooo frustrated with boyfriends or my best friend who were slow in the mornings when we were getting up and had plans to go somewhere. I was so excited and I was like let’s get up, get ready, take coffee to go and eat on the way and get there. Come on!!!!

As I write this I can see this in my head playing back at me. It’s pretty funny. Gosh how I must have frustrated them!!!! I was always like that even as a kid. Get up, let’s go!!! I can still do it but, it’s slower, looking like – I’m moving slower, still enjoying the quiet morning, maybe skipping my journaling and sometimes a beverage to go but, It’s slow. Though, I never skip cuddle time with my kitty, or my movement & meditation practice . Might just be shortened. But, I prefer my morning long and slow – practice. I now drive slow and love it. Yes, love it. It just continues from my morning.

My adopted grandfather would get upset with people who were driving on his tail but, I would laugh and tell him. Well, you are going 35 in a 50 mph zone. I would laugh.!! It would drive me crazy how slow we’d go. So I’d offer to drive a lot as it would seriously take double the time. I look back now and think, who cares if it took double the time. Now I’m that person. And I love it! People sometimes honk at me, people are flying by me. It’s hilarious to me. And I don’t have a care in the world. I’m peaceful and chilling. lol

So I absolutely love my mornings, the practices keeping my mind, body, and spirit fit – non negotiable now. And I love the ritual. There’s something about rituals. I still look forward to getting up. And now I just extend my yummy mornings into the day.

Until next time, keep smiling.