Month: May 2024

I heard from one of my best girlfriends today that she has resumed her artwork. I’m thrilled for her to activate that part of her brain again. She spent a long time using all the other parts.

It’s so important that we creatively express ourselves as well as navigate our world rationally.  As we utilize both hemispheres of the brain, we thicken the connection between the two in the corpus callosum. Hatha Yoga practice also helps with practices of body mind spirit integration.

How rational are you? Do you allow yourself time to be creative? Ki to Happiness strengthens the internal connections between both faculties through Hatha Yoga.

I begin this new week uplifted from our weekend. Having a little time off gave me a chance to prepare for the week even though we had a date to see Vocal Point. The performance demonstrated the growth and development attained by the artists’ hard work.

We returned to a full pot of vegan pho for dinner. I put away my concert attire in my freshly weeded and organized closet. We got to bed early enough to start this day before dawn in gratitude for our many blessings.

What invigorates and inspires you? Can you use that upliftment to infuse your life? Ki to Happiness is ready for another Monday, still humming from the concert.

Today we will accompany one of our community members to his son’s final concert with Vocal Point. I’ve known this young man since before he was born. I celebrate witnessing his growth and development as he prepares to graduate from high school.

I do so championing my own voice. I’ll use it to cheer him on, to sing with the audience when we are to participate and to congratulate him when it’s over.  College may insist he use his voice for other purposes during the next four years.

How do you use your voice? Can you use it to encourage someone else to use theirs? Ki to Happiness uses her voice to encourage others to use theirs.

As we get closer to Junuary, the cool rains return. I awakened hearing its gentle patter on our deck. I’m glad our flowers are getting a drink without needing me to water so the junco’s nest is undisturbed.

The cats and I get in our positions during morning yoga practice as we enjoy the fresh air with windows open. We listen to the sounds of the morning as they frame the still silence. Soon my solo chanting will be joined by the students arriving as we set our intentions.

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How does the cool rain serve your practice? What remains consistent in your life as the weather and many other things change? Ki to Happiness practices daily in all kinds of weather with the constancy of changing circumstances.

I’m aware of many circumstances that quiet my voice. Other people’s opinions of what I say, how I write, or speak can threaten my expression. With practice, I allow myself to share my voice anyway.

The ink in my pen continues to flow, if for myself alone. Sometimes I sing to my cats. I blog as a way to let the world know that I am here, continuing to offer my essence to the world, anyway.

What quiets your voice? What keeps you from being silenced? Ki to Happiness sings, writes and speaks in a quiet voice rather than be silenced.

In the springtime warmth, insects are flying around with the birds on our deck. Inspired, I attempted the insect posture for this first time since my wrist injury. To my delight, I found my own wings and took flight. 

That encouraged me to pick up my guitar to find greater strength and agility than my effort last week. My body is healing itself with all the right support, reconnecting broken and fractured parts. Mending torn and strained tissues, soon I’ll be better than ever having grown through the process.

What support do you need to support your healing? Can you take the time to witness the miracle of slow steady mending? Ki to Happiness shares the joy of reconnecting body, mind, and spirit.

As Bob went golfing with Jai yesterday, I had some free time to myself. In between doing private sessions and teaching classes, I snuck in some time with my girlfriends. I took a nice walk with one as we caught up, and spoke on the phone to two others.

One has been in my life since my teenage years, as another got me started teaching yoga regularly.  The third is a new friend with whom we shared immediate connection.  New or old, silver or gold, these friends represent the flowers in the garden of life.

Who are your friends? How do they enhance the garden of your life? Ki to Happiness showers friendships with attention and watches them grow with affection.

As a creative person, I have long embraced the old joke about how to get to Carnegie Hall. The punchline to that question of how one gets there is “practice, practice, practice ”. I apply that sentiment to everything I do.

For instance, I practice yoga, I practice teaching, I practice writing, just like I practice singing, dancing, playing guitar. In all these practices, I am becoming myself. I please myself without an audience, without applause and enjoy my expression, free from outcome.

What do you practice? How free are you from the outcome? Ki to Happiness detaches with love from every outcome.

For Mother’s Day, after two classes and serving the community, Bob suggested we take a bike ride. It was my first this Spring, having waited for my wrist to heal enough that I would be safe. Joyous freedom rewarded my patience as we rode off to see Mt. Rainier and soak up a little sunshine.

We got off the bikes and laid on the Empress blanket when suddenly we got a phone call from Jai. Although delayed, he was ready to come visit so we returned home to meet him. He showed up with Mother’s Day flowers, big hugs, and stories of his busy and successful life.

How was your Mother’s Day this year?  Is there a need for you to redo any part of it for yourself? Ki to Happiness reparents herself and keeps expectations of others at a minimum.

Today we celebrate Mother’s Day. A beautiful day is dawning, cool and fresh. The heat and dramatic northern lights have subsided. The good mother Earth continues to offer her beauty and bountiful blessings.

We wish all who mother a day of being seen and appreciated for all you do. I wish to express gratitude for the marathon of patience, nurturance, discipline and continuity each mother efforts toward providing.  Perhaps a day of rest and acknowledgment is in order.

Who mothers you? Who do you mother? Ki to Happiness thanks the Divine Mother in all who mother.