What a week of walks down Memory Lane I have had. A week of revisitations. I am not complaining, I have loved every moment. And at the end of it all, I am feeling ready for Next. Level. Sh*t.
My bestie came to town. We had more chatty walkie time than in recent visits, so, many discussions and aha moments. Topped off with a full moon fire pit letting go burn sesh, which included roasting (and eating) mini marshmallows. Nothing much better than face time with the Real Ones, and we mined every inch of those walkie/talkies for treasure. Family birthday gathering. My youngest nephew became a man(keep it out of the gutter people). That's right, he has now twirled around Solaris 18 times. No babies left in the house. Many giggles, side eyes, and the famous chocolate glazed yellow/butter birthday cake. Mo sugar, mo smiles, and birthday candle wishes to boot. Surf Church. Maybe you don't know I am a closet Jesus Freak, because I mind my business and stay in my lane. But it has been a minute since I have been to a church service. I have my reasons, but there are no hard feelings or bridges burned. I can't say I will go back, but I did wake up and get out in time to see the sun rise over the Atlantic ocean, and I saw some familiar faces, gave and was given a Word. Also, my one day off seemed especially long because it started so early. Soul quenched. UNCW women's soccer game. I haven't been to a soccer game since the spring of 2019, which is saying A LOT since I spent more days than not either in a car traveling to/from a game, or butt on bleacher for most of 2012-2019. The weather was perfect, the girls won, and again, I saw some familiar faces and exchanged some sweet words. Soccer mom hat layed to rest? I am feeling some feels. More will be revealed. It might not sound like much, but I feel I have been around the world and back again. Like a record playing both forward and back, and both directions producing sweet music. Maybe it's the whole end of that Mercury in Gatorade ish, or maybe it is just Life doing what Life does when we really become ready to make a BIG LEAP forward. It checks and checks again. "You ready? YOU READY?" I am ready. Bring. It. On. Click the link to join asana practice with me on Monday. xo Nicole
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Fall fell last night here in southeastern NC. The high temps yesterday were in the 80's, and then today, we only reached 71 degrees! Many of us are thankful to get a break from the hot hot heat. Others move to the region so that they can avoid pulling the puffy coat out of the closet until January. Either way, if I have heard one person tell me autumn is their favorite season, I have heard a hundred. Why do we love it so?
Here are things I love about this season: 1)Pumpkin Spice (just this weekend I sampled not one but TWO pumpkiny treats!) 2)Lower Humidity(I have naturally curly hair, lower humidity=less frizzzzzles) 3)Harvest Decor(traditionally picking pumpkins with my offspring is a time of great joy) 4)THE HOLIDAYS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!!(not everyone loves them, and I have some bizarre and horrible holiday memories, but in general, the Season is filled with time spent with my beloveds, and I can't wait!) Where do you stand? Yay or nay on the punky spice? Holiday pro or con? No matter how you feel about the items on my list, it is always a good time to commit to your meditation practice, and hop on the yoga asana train to help manage a season that is bound to be filled with a little happy chaos. xo Nicole .October is upon us. I don't know what you are experiencing, but it seems to me that the speed with which time is passing is fluctuating so much it could give a person whiplash! August was slooooow, but September flashed by. Now October is here, and the holidays are not far behind, so we will have plenty to keep us occupied in the coming months. I like to use this time of year to take stock of what has come to fruition, based on my plans/goals set way back in January. A little Q4 inventory, if you will.
2021, much like 2020, has been filled with proverbial curve balls and X factors. There is no easy or casual way to ascertain the toll that disruption and loss has taken on so many people. I am humbled to note that, through the wildness of the days, my personal experience has been quite calm and without much disruption. Different yes, but still steady as she goes. Not so much for some. One of my daughters graduated high school in 2020 and lost so many of the traditional milestones of a senior year. Her freshman year of college was completely derailed by the challenge of illness and changing campus policies, so 2021 has meant moving into her own apartment and working 2 jobs until her vision for the future calls her to a different path. We are two sides of a shared Life coin. I have heard so many stories, some of deep loss, some where circumstances have actually improved. While the landscape of our lives has been so different, maybe even scary due to the X or "novel" factors, we are still here. We have adapted. In some ways the challenges have even catalyzed clarity about how we want to spend the precious moments of our lives here on the earth, and with whom. Just today, two of my most long time friends have used the term "life is short" in our phone and text conversations. Another commentary on the measure of time. Looking back over the bumps and curves of the first three quarters of 2021, I am mostly satisfied with the progress. I hope you are. As we rocket toward the end of the year, I hope you are caring for yourselves and feeling connected, within and to others. I invite you to join me for yoga this week, before I literally head for the hills of Blowing Rock, NC to share some of my gifts on retreat with the amazing Jennifer Smith-Kenny of JKS Yoga. Click the link below when the time is right. xo Nicole Happy Harvest Full Moon from Los Angeles, CA. I hope you are reaping the fullness of all you have planted in the juicy ripeness of the summer season. Time to enjoy the fruits of your efforts, my friends. But let us remember that it is time to begin to suss out the seeds we will plant in the coming season. I know I am looking within, going deep, and taking stock. I will share more next week when I am back in pocket. Until then, happy moon bathing!
xo Nicole |