Resourcefulness

December 9 – Listo (Resourcefulness)

How resourceful were you in 2011? What new ways could you incorporate resourcefulness into 2012?

“What you seek, exists within you. Every resource you need is available to you.” ~Marcia Wieder

For us, resourceful meant using what we already had around the house or in our community as well as trying to create an environment that used less resources...We...

Made cheese

Roasted our own coffee

Milked an almond

Baked homemade crackers

Used the public library

Created a compost pile

Watered with a rain barrel

Lived with one car (and five bikes)

Built a veggie garden...

We pooled food resources with friends and had potluck dinners, we pooled brain resources with friends and developed workshops...

In 2012 we'll be moving to a new city and while resources may seem scarce when relocating, having friends and colleagues offer up their resources means a collaborative effort to help us settle in a new space.

Wander

December 8 – Dharma (The Path)

Wandering can be good for the over-focused creative. How did you wander well this year?

We have to do our best and at the same time give up all hope of fruition. -Pema Chödrön

To wander is to discover and wandering well is being open to those discoveries. Wandering wants you to be open to taking a left when you though you’d be taking a right...and being OK with that. Wandering wants you to be open to new experiences as they present themselves. 

Have you ever really listened to the small still voice in side your head, the one channeling the Nike ad, that says “do it, just do it.” and then your voice of reason pipes up, with fear making it quaver all jello mold like, and says “I don’t know, it doesn’t make sense to do this, it’s too much money, time, effort (fill in the blank).”

But then something magical happens, you do listen and you set out on that path, the one that makes a  left instead of right. Lo and behold, you’re wandering....

2010 was my year of thinking, standing still and contemplating. 2011 was my year of wandering, sometimes so far off the path and so far away from what I thought I should be doing that I had to sit a spell, hyperventilate, and then get back to my journey. But I’ve kept wandering, right into teaching and facilitating change through yoga and creative written expression, teaching yoga, building a business and helping people engage their creative spirit. 

Where have your journeys taken you this year? 

Calm

December 7 – Tranquilo (Calm)

Sometimes the most beautiful, memorable moments are also the quietest. What quiet, beautiful moment do you recall?

Live simply and take life more easily. Happiness lies in giving yourself time to think and to introspect. Be alone once in a while, and remain more in silence. ~Yogananda

Aug 7 2011 6:05 AM Sky Lake Retreat Center Rosendale, New York

Part of my Project 52::Sundays this was taken towards the end of my Yoga As Muse facilitator training, the day before my workshop presentation Writing to the Address Within: Exploring The Body Through Self-Compassion.


Where did you find calm this year?

Health

December 6 – Salud (Health)

What did you do for your body's benefit this year?

“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.” ~Buddha

The most powerful aspect of health I added into my life was breathing....funny how we forget to breath when we're stressed, worried, angry, scared or any other negative emotion you could insert here.....Yoga has helped with creating a structured time, but also, just stopping during my day and breathing, fully and deeply so the ribs expand, the chest is quiet and you can feel the racing mind start to slow to a nice cruising speed.

if you get a chance, sit for a spell today and really breath. Just focus on the in and out, let your belly rise and your chest stay quiet. Let the thoughts drift in, and out. Just breathe....

Teacher and Dream

:: Out of town this weekend - will be posting some responses on FB and here, hope to see yours as well!

December 4 - Guru (Teacher)

What was the most important lesson you learned about yourself in 2011? Was it a sudden epiphany or a gradual realization? "

At the centre of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want." - Lao Tsu

December 5 – Sueño (Dream)
What was your dream come true in 2011? What is your wildest dream for 2012?

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. ~Walt Disney

Impermanence

December 3 – Anicca (Impermanence)


What did you let go of this year? Whom did you let go? 


When the heart truly understands, it lets go of everything. ~ Ajahn Chah

Community

December 2 - Sangha (Community)

Where have you discovered community in 2011? What are the essential qualities of this community?

Simply being with other people who are also seekers and who are involved in the same quest you are is very meaningful. ~Dan Wakefield

Just this morning Gwen Bell posed an interesting thought, community can't be built but rather gathered. And I have to say I like this concept. I've discovered community in gatherings with my fellow yogis at Yoga as Muse, my fellow journal facilitators at the Therapeutic Writing institute, my partner in all things mind/body, Beth at Relax Be Well.

And as a reluctant Facebook and internet interfacer, I have joyfully found a gathering of community and connection with family and friends across the world - we've created a tether to each other, an invisible joining that pulls, tugs, and reminds us that we're all integral parts of another's community. That we have the power to build up, collaborate, support, and bolster each of our community members hopes and dreams. I have sought out those that embrace life with the qualities of abundance; there is enough for all of us and no need for the scarcity mentality in my community, hope you'll join me!

Word

December 1 - Palabra (Word)
Encapsulate your 2011 in one word. Why that word? What would you like your word to be for 2012? Why?

Thanks to Michelle of Yoga Freedom for this lovely start and for pulling the Yoga as Muse tribe together for some quality reflection....

reverb '11

reverb 2011 starts today, a chance to reflect on the last year and embrace the coming year. Started by the lovely Gwen Bell in 2009, participation rose to 6,000 last year. While Gwen has stepped away, the project has gone free range and my wondrous Yoga as Muse partners and I have collected a month of reflective prompts.

There are no rules....

Seriously....

You can write as little or as much as you want...keep it private in your journal, post it in the comments section or let the whole world know on Facebook...no rules....

Those of you in the Boston area, we'll be cumulating the project on Jan 7, 2012 with an Intention Board workshop...more details to come...

Join us!