Author: Ki McGraw

As we continue safely starting, I saw the big blue truck, yesterday. Goodwill industries shares our building, occupying half of the first floor.They have been closed since April 1. Seeing the truck, I checked. I learned that they will reopen on Friday.

Mostly, I look forward to donating. During this time of sequestration I have weeded out much and love recycling, keeping as much from the landfill as possible. I also look forward to seeing familiar staff members returning. Oh, yes, and shopping, rocking out to the tunes they play, dancing in the aisles a little. With a mask on, maintaining social distance, for less than 30 minutes.

What signs of progress are you seeing? What are you most looking forward to resuming if possible when the time is right in your area? Ki to Happiness will delight in finding a used thermos downstairs.

Today, I am celebrating my mother’s birthday. I share this with you here, as she is one of our readers. And my editor in chief. Truly, I would not be here if it were not for my mother. And I am delighted to be here. Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

One of my rituals daily, is in drying my body after I’ve bathed, I expressed gratitude for all my different parts. First, I acknowledge that my body has come from my mother’s body. And that my body, in fact, is made up from the cells in her body, together with my choices. Turning on and off different genes has been a learning curve for me. And for all of us, no doubt. This is my responsibility.

Is your mother still alive? Which of her genes are you happy to turn on? Ki to Happiness chooses to turn on my mom’s ebullience and zest for life!

Tomorrow is the birthday of my mother, who is healthy, and happy in her life as she turns 83. She was a 24-year-old smart and funny beauty when she gave me birth. It has been the most significant and primary relationship of my nearly 60 years in the flesh.

As a psychotherapist, I learned early on how about the deep bond between mother and child. The effects of such relationships have far reaching consequences in both directions. Coming to the delight in one another, the appreciation for our strengths, the willingness to disregard any failings is such a gift. I feel like it’s my birthday, too.

How is your relationship with your mother? What can be done to bring about peace and joy in this very significant relationship? Ki to Happiness encourages all such efforts, quoting Jan Faherty Obear “ that’s marvelous“.

I live and work in the university district of Seattle. Hatha Yoga Center is right on the Main Street in campus town, University Way, which locals call “The Ave”. It is generally a constant sea of diversity. During this period of safely restarting businesses, and resuming studies, it’s refreshing to have lots of masked, social distancing people populating the streets again.

I get up early for my practices so that I have the best possible chance to experience quietude. During pranayama, meditation, and prayer, relative silence and stillness allows the signal from my Higher Self to be primary. This connection goes with me through the day.

What goes with you into your days? How comfortable are you in stillness and silence? Ki to Happiness stays connected to the blessings of quiet.

In the night, the barometric pressure changed. And I awakened. I’m very sensitive to weather patterns. No doubt the legacy from living through repeated level five hurricanes, typhoons and tornadoes. My animal senses stir.

As an early riser, sleeping in the night is important. As I was tossing and turning, I prayed for help falling back to sleep. Soon I was released into that realm of dreams. In reawakening, the pavement is wet, the air is fresh.

What kind of storms have you weathered? What do you do when you cannot sleep? Ki to Happiness has prayed through many storms.

Continuing with our safe start this summer, students begin to return. The need to rearrange our space to accommodate those motivated me. Moving one object, resulted in moving another, and another. The result is delightful.

Yoga postulates that the outer reflects the inner. Rearranging my inner life allows me to re-organize my outer. Now the outer and inner are better mirrors of one another.

What needs to be rearranged in your life? The outer or the inner? Ki to Happiness polishes the mirror.

As we continue with our safe start, slowly a few more places open. I understand our local restaurants and cafés have a new component to their hiring process. If the applicant is associated with Greek row here, they are less likely to be hired. To avoid spreading the spike, discrimination and discernment is necessary.

Staying home and staying healthy continues to be my lifestyle. My connections with others is deepening with more phone calls, texting, social media and emails. Along the way, I discovered one intimate supports politics I don’t. My mom surmised it, and suggested that may be the case. I tightened my rose-colored glasses on and defended him. Mom is right, again.

What new discernment is required in your life? What color lenses are in your glasses? Ki to Happiness discerns best in natural light.

As we continue safely starting to reopen, I am witnessing this amazing opportunity. These challenging times have awakened many from the slumber of materialism. Voices are being heard, efforts are being made, and radical transformation is afoot.

In this inconvenience, economic contraction is occurring. So far, the reduction in consumption and travel has been a welcome relief for the environment. Perhaps soon we will start sharing resources, correcting the imbalances of distribution. Just in time!

What would you share if you knew that we are all one? How acceptable are you as you are now to yourself? Ki to Happiness completely accepts life on life’s terms.

As we continue safely starting to reopen, I am thrilled to be able to greet you today. With tremendous assistance from many people, all of my technological problems are solved. And my kitchen is clean.

I’ve grown tremendously in compassion for all the tech workers. Tending to basic needs while focusing on technology I now recognize is very challenging. The brain requires nutrition, regularly. Yoga brings me a keen sense of balance in my life. I have returned to Balance, and love sharing it with you.

Are you techie? A foodie? Ki to Happiness is learning from both.