Month: October 2024

My mother and I spent the whole day together without any scheduled events. We enjoyed each other‘s company as we had a late lunch out and ran errands. Returning home, she checked the mail, only to have the mailbox fall apart.

When we are presented with a problem, both of us get right into gear working towards a solution. I reached out to my network for ideas about repair, as did she. Comparing our information, we decided upon getting a new one entirely, and scheduling its installation by one of my associates.

How do you approach problems? Do you hesitate, procrastinate, or get to work finding a solution? Ki to Happiness solves the problems or gets help when needed.

A couple of days ago, my mom invited me to participate in her Grief Group pot luck gathering. I didn’t come prepared with the right attire, so I picked up a little secondhand dress and wore it with my old ballet flats. But first in my overalls and tennis shoes, I cleaned and swept, cooked and did the dishes, set the tables with centerpieces, and straightened up my yurt.

I knew the guests would like to look at my unusual shelter. One by one they toured, then we ate, and everyone left well fed. For some this was the first time for a sit down meal since their dear one passed away.

How willing are you to serve in whatever capacity is asked of you?  What do you require for your preparation? Ki to Happiness prepares for whatever is required by practicing yoga, meditation and prayer, and sometimes a new dress.

On that date, my yurt arrived on my parent’s property. It’s been 14 years of it sheltering me through life’s changes. It has more than fulfilled its purpose, and continues to do so.

Primarily, it has given me a space in which I can continue my early morning practice of yoga, meditation, chanting, and pranayama during my visits. I am able to contain my sounds and scents without infringing upon others. We are able to harmoniously share longer visits with more peaceful interactions due to its affording a healthy boundary.

How do you maintain your practices when you visit family? What might assist you in creating a healthy boundary? Ki to Happiness takes responsibility for the need continue spiritual practices with a healthy boundary.

Seeing my 89-year-old psychotherapeutic mentor yesterday, she took me back to her computer to show me a recent email. It was an invitation to participate in an upcoming conference about making friends with mortality. She said she’s been facing a long list of issues lately that are related to the topic.

I asked her to start at the top of the list. She began with the loss of her drivers license, since she failed to pass the test four times in a row. After hearing the story, I asked her what waselse was on the list only to learn that there was nothing else: all vitals are fine, not on any meds, able to care for herself in her family home of several decades and taking a new interest in the birds in her yard.

How friendly are you with your mortality? How long is your list of issues related to the topic? Ki to Happiness makes friends with mortality daily through the Hatha Yoga practice of Savasana and Shahabadene’s Sufi meditations.

Amidst our plans of walks in nature around my scheduled private sessions, my hostess got a phone call. Her sister’s hearing aid was ready for pick up. We shifted to accommodate by driving to get it, deliver it and have the head nurse at the nursing home find the other one, and charge them both.

I drove us back the 30 mile route I once drove daily to my therapy office. My muscle memory remembered the way as I reflected on my good fortune that my family does not require such attention. My hostess and good friend is an angel of Mercy, tending to her disabled elder sister, as well as her elderly mother on her days off. 

Who is your angel of mercy? To whom are you an angel of mercy? Ki to Happiness thanks the many Angels of Mercy who appear as regular folks.

Driving between my yurt and my friends’ house at my alma mater, I followed the directions on my cell phone to take the back roads. I once lived in this area and felt the memories, as if coming up from the pavement. Corn and soybean fields flanked the road as the horizon stretched out flat forever.

I used to ride my bike 20 miles a day from my little house out in the country to my first job as a psychotherapist. Crossing my old path, I reflected on the ease of my bike rides in Seattle as contrasted with those many miles so long ago. I put those memories away with all the others stirred up from my high school reunion as I made some new memories with my old friends.

What environments stimulate your memories? Can you linger there to reclaim parts of your soul you may have left behind? Ki to Happiness drives the back roads and reclaims the fortitude and persistence it once required here to practice yoga, psychotherapy and ride on.

The final day of the reunion included my yoga class. Those who participated enjoyed my approach, even in the 85° weather with very strong gusty winds. Several more classmates have signed up for our live streaming group page afterward.

At the dinner, I was called upon to offer the blessing since the other two reverends in our class who were going to didn’t show up after all. I sat at the table with the organizers of the event and had meaningful interactions with those near. Music and dancing afterwards reunited my body mind and spirit in joy.

What helps you unite past, present and future?  Does that also help you unite body, mind and spirit? Ki to Happiness sings the old lyrics “Reunited, and it feels so good!”.

Our Homecoming reunion weekend festivities continued with hay rack rides on decorated floats in the parade. Our class lined up 2nd, behind the 50th reunion float. I stood on the moving float, waving our class sign and eyeing familiar faces in the crowd.

My twin friends came for dinner with mom before returning for the pregame show. They had positions of honor leading the marching band as I joined the others in the stands watching and recording the highlights. I exited and contacted two others who weren’t present to include them as well.

Would you be able to stand on a moving float and waive a sign overhead in 85°?  Could you just as easily sit down and applaud others in their positions of honor? Ki to Happiness feels the benefits of yoga’s balancing practices and extends them to others

I attended the first event of my high school reunion with my two first friends in junior high school. They are twins who spent time with me in my family home years ago. As they entered, we remembered slumber parties, Halloween costumes and special times with our moms. 

Together we sat through the program kicking off the Homecoming Reunion weekend. The organizer checked in with me about details for my yoga offering for our class.  I rested with a smile on my face and awakened to a clearing rainstorm, washing away the past and revealing a beautiful and subdued present.

What do you learn about yourself when you reunite with parts of your past? How does that affect and inform your present? Ki to Happiness reunites with the best parts of the past and releases the rest with blessings for all the lessons.

Traveling yesterday, after changing seat assignments, I made friends with my seat mates. They’ve been friends since junior high, and they relished my journey to reunite with my graduating class, including friends from junior high. We chatted about locations they may enjoy in my hometown and shared the shuttle to the rental car agency.

Making new friends who are old friends made me appreciate my upcoming reunion with my old friends. Whatever occurs during this reunion, it’s been a long time coming. I already appreciate the growth and the greater gratitude for all of my friends, companioning me through this journey of life.

Do your old friends know how much you value them? Are you open to making new ones as your life journey continues? Ki to Happiness practices the yoga of friendship, seeking the union of our Higher Selves to the One who arranges seat mates.