holidays: quality vs. quantity

The holidays are truly a time of celebration and indulgences. Whether it is food, drink, parties, it all often results in guilt and resolutions. But, I find that often, the indulgences are a form of stress relief. For about a week each year (aka the "holiday season"), we give ourselves permission to let go of the daily grind and get a free ticket to "cut loose".  Consequences will often ensue.
So, conversely, this year, stress was non-existent in our new environment; relaxation and fun was to be in the forefront. Presents were wrapped, sent, hidden and the holiday season began to unfold. How indulgent it felt to not "give" to the point of exhaustion. Quality of time won over quantity of presents, food and drinks. I highly recommend it. This year, it saved us time, energy, calories, money and our sanity. I think my family kinda liked me better too.

Connecting the dots

As I look back at my former fitness routine, the goal was strength and endurance (muscularly and stress relief). In contrast, my current, pslower gentler lifestyle has slowed down the "power training" to strength and flexibility training with meditation in the forefront.
So..... Working out and stress counter-acted each other before. Now, calm and gentler paced exercise has kept my metabolism at the same rate as before, without burnout. Go figure? Common sense, right?

A quieter routine

As my life changes in my new surroundings, my focus on fitness has changed. My slower, gentler lifestyle now has taken on a new direction.

 I now get up at 5am, not because I "have to". 

I have this addiction to watching the starry skies change to daylight. So I sit outside and watch the stars, stare up at the Milky Way and wait for falling stars while listening to the waves in the background. As the sky changes in light, I catch the indigo lit sky transform. My meditation starts with my headphones, as I listen to 108 Tibetan mantras (maybe 3 times until my head is clear and an Abraham Hicks audio meditation). By the time I open my eyes, there are usually white cranes flying and a rainbow over the water emerging. 

A gentle yoga practice at sunrise awakens my body and stimulates my brain: slow and steady and deep. 

Two hours of bliss and quiet and my day begins...

mindfulness and balance....Caribbean Style

So, now I live in the Caribbean. My lifestyle has changed immensely since my last blog entry.
In one month, I have redefined "mindfulness" and "balance": Mindfulness, to me, now means to start and end my day with gratitude and whatever went on the day is to be whatever it was and get a fresh new start "mañana". "Balance", now means that maybe not being gluten-free today (replacing it with pan agua - water bread) can be made up by being gluten-free tomorrow. Balance, Caribbean style?

choices

My day starts with waking up to the sun, gratefully. Within minutes, the path begins to split into exponential directions, ideas, options... By the time my work day begins, it all comes down to "choices". But, I guess we all have choices the minute we wake up (e.g. sleep in?).
These days, I am on a mission to choose gluten free living; everything I put in my mouth becomes a choice.  Knowing how I feel after a choice (albeit good or bad), the choices become necessary for ultimate happiness (aka good health).  Basically, it's taking the path of least effort for me.

Success

Restarting my mindful fitness blog this year took me back to the "word" I chose for my new year: SUCCESS.  I thought that rather than choosing words that suggest, I would choose a word that just targets my goals. With that in mind, this word has become my mantra. When in doubt, I try to think of how I can "succeed". When in fear: "how can I successfully move through it".
Yes, it's a big word, and big goals to strive for, but it's a new year...