Author: Ki McGraw

I love this month as the seasons begin to shift. I am in tune with this fullness of summer’s bounty. I look forward to the harvest, even from my urban home and yoga studio.

Like the leaves at this time of year, at age 60 I am beginning to show my true colors. Less green, more honest, direct and golden! Many fruits await picking from this long growing season.

What’s your relationship to the seasons? Do you have a preference? Ki to Happiness prefers the cyclic nature as the seasons change like we do.

Years ago I danced in a post modern company. We used double strung trapezes on which we performed contact improvisational duets. We learned the hard way to let go of one trapeze before we reached for the next one.

I just finished my month-long 25 push-ups a day challenge for the leukemia and lymphoma society. Letting go of that trapeze I reached towards the pancreas cancer society. I will use the momentum of the last successful challenge to reach for the next one.

What challenge have you completed? Can you use that success to face your fears and move forward? Ki to Happiness delights between challenges.

August 1, I started doing 25 push-ups a day. My goal was to contribute 775 of them to the leukemia and lymphoma challenge. Thanks to Bob’s birthday encouraging me to do 25 backbend push-ups, I’ve already met my goal. A day early!

I am so uplifted by the community and the activity that I plan to continue. I use it as a chance to do Bastrika breathing. Cleansing my solar plexus and strengthening my open heart is a great way to start every day!

Have you set any goals lately? What is required to meet them? Ki to Happiness shares the joy of accomplishment.

Being able to learn from other people’s experience saves us from having to make the kind of mistakes that have already occurred. As society changes into something unfamiliar, there are those who are wanting to return to the land, to get away from it all, and live a life of humble sustainability.

Robin Wright’s movie, Land, shows us what that may be like, saving us the trouble. I appreciate her efforts. In gratitude, I land right where I am.

Do you allow yourself to learn from others? Or do you need to learn everything on your own? Ki to Happiness learns and learns.

I spoke with my old friend yesterday. We met in Hawaii nearly 30 years ago. I was fresh from the mainland then. I learned the expression “talk story” from the locals. Sharing the contents of our hearts heals each other from a sense of isolation.

In psychotherapeutic counseling, the professional is to refrain from sharing personal material. Discernment is imperative. Then, a story well lived and shared may be therapeutic.

With whom do you “talk story “? Is it time to reach out? Ki to Happiness looks forward to next time we talk story.

After a year of study, revision, and editing my memoir, my team and I took time for celebration. There were several things as well to commemorate with each of us going through much in the past 12 months.

So refreshing to have a change of scenery and a social occasion. For a couple of hours the encroaching pandemic of fear and control was replaced with deep sharing of life’s significant moments: marriages, divorces, wars, court cases, manuscripts.

Are you current with your celebrations? Can you find a safe way to acknowledge your progress? Ki to Happiness usually celebrates privately.

The plumbing problem in the building is resolved. Bob found the leak from the ceiling in the men’s room to start his birthday celebration. As the events of the day unfolded, I did private sessions and he taught class. Roofers, plumbers, contractors all appeared, turned off the water and worked on it from the roof through our 2nd story all the way to the basement.

Gifts, song, cake, family and friends all offered their cheers. We spent a little time in a nearby park. We laughed out loud when two trike riding lads came by us, ignoring the mature people lying on the grass in the sun. Their interest was in returning to the live hornets nest…

Are you living life to its fullest? Can you delight in the catastrophic duality? Ki to Happiness does so with 25 push-ups and 25 backbend push-ups.

Today is Bob Smith‘s 73rd birthday. Most years he celebrates in Bali while I tend to our Hatha Yoga Center here in Seattle. This year we celebrate together, thanks to the travel restrictions.

Staying home and staying healthy is our lifestyle. That will continue even as we celebrate with yoga practices, and plenty of time with our three cats. Later will have time in nature, and a some vegan cake with our son.

How do you celebrate? Can you adapt to the ever-changing restrictions? Ki to Happiness celebrates Bob Smith, as he chooses.

Nearly a month ago I started the push-up challenge. It seemed impossible at the time. I had minor shoulder surgery in June. When the results of the biopsy returned all clear, I wanted to celebrate by getting stronger.

I offered my efforts to those whose biopsies returned otherwise. At first, I pushed with grief in my heart over the passing of my dear friend. As the month has proceeded, now I push with 150,000 other people. All of them are my new friends.

What is pushing up from inside you? How can you use what you have to benefit others? Ki to Happiness feels love pushing up.

I’ve had many great Michaels in my life. Right now one of them is going through a big transition. Another one is dealing with bilateral brain cancer. And a third is going through a very deep cleansing. None are available to talk with me.

Then suddenly another one reached out today! My IT therapist and old friend sent me a text. He is available and able to talk! I feel the continuity of Archangel Michael coming through him in his timely reaching out to me.

Are you open to those who reach out to you? Or do you shut down when the one you reached out to is unavailable? Ki to Happiness opens up to those here now.