Author: Ki McGraw

Removing the Halloween decorations and the spent annuals, I cleaned up our deck. While browsing our nearby TJMax, I heard the first carols of the year. I noticed they didn’t bother me as I’m in synch with the seasonal shift.

Inspired, I purchased several pine boughs from QFC. Hanging them in the dark between the ferns, some neighbors commented how much they appreciate our efforts to beautify the building. Little by little we will add lights and more decorations as we look forward to the community gatherings in this dark and chilly time, with plenty healthy treats, too.

Are you in sync with the seasonal shift? What do you look forward to during this part of the year? Ki to Happiness syncs with what Is.

In anticipation of the challenges in returning to Seattle, I elected to ship one object so I didn’t have to check it through. It was supposed to arrive on Thursday. I was growing anxious about it until its special delivery on Saturday.

Opening the large box, I removed all the packing material. I retained the box for the cats to play with as I recycled the bubble wrap and pitched the Styrofoam. Never mind the object itself, the box has already brought great joy.

 Can you experience joy at simply receiving what you want? Does its wrapping also bring joy? Ki to Happiness appreciates forethought that avoided stress and replaced it with anticipation and play.

Recovering from from my trip, I’m grounded in my practices and my home. My clients benefit as I am more available to facilitate their process when I have all my supplies at hand and have taken care of myself. Private miracles occurred in sessions yesterday that linger with me today.

I count each miracle as a gift for me, while clients receive it as it’s intended for them. A Course in Miracles states that “no one is healed alone.” I experience that as truth as I consciously serve others which also serves me.

Who do you serve? How does it serve you? Ki to Happiness serves the One in All.

Perhaps the news of the government reopening will bring relief to some of the stress in our country. As I traveled, I experienced the negative fact regarding my flights, but otherwise out here in the deep blue of Seattle, I had not been directly affected. That experience did bring me more compassion for those who elsewhere have been furloughed or worse.

My internal government never shut down. I continued to govern myself as I plan to for the perceivable future. In the sovereign nation of Ki McGraw, all is well.

How did the shutdown affect you? What will you do differently now that the government has reopened? Ki to Happiness self governs through every administration.

After the stresses of travel, I allowed myself the day off. It afforded me a chance to get unpacked and rest. Today I am ready to resume my responsibilities.

Listening to guidance by taking the time to tend to myself gives me a chance to practice what I preach. With my energy restored, I’ll be a more effective facilitator for my students and clients. Overall, the process reminds me of the need for deep rest to encourage others.

When Guidance leads you to rest, do you resist? Instead of pushing through with caffeine or sugar, can you honor the signals? Ki to Happiness is rested and ready.

My travel day began at 5 AM yesterday and didn’t conclude until my cats greeted me at 3 AM. Yoga practices sustained me through the ordeal, My friends and I made the most of the delays and cancelled flights while we could.

I return satisfied with the successful completion of the long awaited journey. It’ll be five months before I see my mother again and potentially five years before my friends and I celebrate another significant birthday. As I rest today, I will look through my many cherished photographs from the trip as part of my yoga practice.

Have you attempted to fly during this government shutdown? How do you make the best of delays and cancellations? Ki to Happiness remembers Mercury is retrograde which further depersonalizes the travel stress.

I’m about to return to Seattle. I’m envisioning a day free from drama. I’ve said my prayers and let go of fear.

It’s Veteran’s Day. I’m grateful for all who’ve served. I will respect their privileges flying today and thank them individually as my service.

Are you a travel veteran? Can you shift from travel anxiety into service? Ki to Happiness wishes all who’ve served a Happy Veteran’s Day.

As my brother and I prepared to leave mom‘s, snow flurries descended and delayed us. We thought we’d wait to get on the road until it subsided for safety so we took off in a sun break. By the time we hit the highway, the snow resumed.

The roads were clear as the snow kept coming down for about an hour and a half as we made our way south and west. When we got ahead of it, we pulled over and took a break. The first snow of the year made for a more memorable ending to our trip.

Do you love snow? what makes your journeys memorable? Ki to Happiness lives the first snow and making memories.

Just as my brother and I prepare to take leave of our mother, the winds of change have kicked up. The temperature dropped as the rain began. This morning the deck around my yurt is carpeted in leaves.

We are all aligned with this change. Without resisting it or pushing it, we simply continue in the agreed upon path forward. By doing so, the joy and completion of this time together leads us into our futures.

When changes upon you, do you resist it or try to push it? Can you align with it instead and let it help you move forward? Ki to Happiness follows the winds of change, joyously completing this part of life’s path and moving on as indicated.

Today, my family of origin and I have another chance to function in healthy harmony. This is our one full day together. We have no plans.

When dad was still with us, I remember one day all four of us helped one another, doing our parts separately and simultaneously. Since his passing, we’ve had to grieve, adjust and adapt. Perhaps we will frame and hang the certificate from A Living Tribute, memorializing him with planting 100 trees.

If you had one day together with your family of origin, how would you spend it? How grateful can you be for each of you doing your part to function in healthy harmony? Ki to Happiness does her part, peacefully offering grateful presence one day at a time.