As I return from one home to another, I take with me the pleasures and smiles I’ve shared. I leave behind any sense of time or space separating me from those I love. I am blessed from my experiences both here and there.
My thoughts turn to details of packing. My rituals anchor me in my devotion. I am always at home with my yoga practices.
What rituals do you observe? Can they reliably bring you home to your center? Ki to Happiness homes in with daily yoga practice.
As I drove downstate, the Gateway Arch welcomed me back to St. Louis. I reflected on the Cahokia Mounds and the many indigenous peoples who once lived here eons ago. This portal to the west drew them here as it still does in this modern era. 
Memories of being in my grandfather‘s arms at the capping of the arch blended with remembering living in the high-rise apartments underneath it years later as I drove onward. My girlfriend and host later drove me past some of my previous addresses, giving me a chance to review my early life in a flash. 
When is the last time you reviewed your early life? What portal or gateway frames your early days? Ki to Happiness passes through the gateway and honors all those who’ve come this way before me as well as those who’ll come after me.
My mom and I returned from church to find a deer standing by my yurt. I throw my apple core out for the creatures of the woods each day while I’m here. The deer munched away on her treat as she lifted her head to watch us park.
I got out of the car and quietly closed the door to not disturb her. Then I walked around to help mom out of the passenger side and closed her door without disruption. The deer continued to enjoy the apple snack and gave me tender eye contact letting me know she was not afraid of us.
What kind of wildlife is in your area? Can you live harmoniously with nature? Ki to Happiness lives gently in harmony with her environment.
Since my dad‘s death, my mom has found a new church. I celebrate her exploration of options as she seeks new friends and acquaintances. One mile up the road is a lovely Presbyterian Church where she is finding what she is looking for.
We will go again as we have every time I’ve been here alone. They have a new interim pastor I look forward to experiencing. That doesn’t stop me from having my own home church experience with my morning practices.
Do you go to church? Can you make your home a church? Ki ti Happiness goes from one church to another, whether temple or mosque or teepee.

I returned from my alma mater and lay on the floor at mom‘s feet as we visited. I sprawled out, did some yoga and my PT while we caught up on the happenings during my time away. Hours passed easily as we wound our way back and forth between her stories and mine.
Dad loved mom‘s feet. He’d often play footsie with her even until his exit. The nail she lost right before he passed away last year has regrown and is painted with a color he’d compliment if he were here, so I did.
Have you integrated self-care into your relationships?  Can you take care of yourself and stay present to others at the same time? Ki to Happiness has learned to do so at her Mom’s feet.
In reuniting with two of my mentors, each expressed a desire to connect with the other. It gave me great pleasure to share their contact information to facilitate the process. When I leave, a part of me stays behind in their getting to know one another better.
They represent different streams of evolving consciousness within me. One stream is my body mind spirit psychotherapeutic understanding and the other is my dancing writing yogic embodiment. Together these streams merge and flow onward to the Ocean of Oneness.
Who are your mentors? How well do they get along? Ki to Happiness embraces all who’ve contributed to my evolution as they harmoniously commingle.
I return to my alma mater yet again with different eyes. This quaint little University town blesses me with feedback regarding my own growth. The town itself has not changed much, which lets me know that I have changed.
As a young undergraduate student, I always wondered about the relationship between perception and projection. This trip validates my hypothesis that perception is based on projection. My growth and evolution has effected what I see since my last time here.
Have you ever wondered about the relationship between your perception and what you project?  What change is required in order for you to see things differently? Ki to Happiness sees things differently with eyes full of Shine.
I traveled with a lot of warm clothes. The high temperatures here have been in the 80s. The weather pattern shifted yesterday bringing tornadic conditions.
I layered sun dresses over knit pants. Mom said I was wearing tornado gear as we got together with our best friends here. During our deep visits, none of the outer mattered a bit as we delved into our inner worlds and shared the contents of our hearts.
How flexible can you be to adapt to your outer conditions? Can you be flexible adapting to your inner conditions? Ki to Happiness wears tornado gear on the outside and inside when necessary.
Today, I am giving my practices a hug. Dedicating my early awakening time to aligning myself with my truest intentions starts my day right. Taking a break midday for other practices and getting myself to bed early ensures that I stay on my path, refining and self correcting as I proceed through each day.
One of my students years ago said joyously in our teaching training program “I’m going to give my practices a hug”. She taught me this expression even as I taught her how to teach yoga. The benefits of these practices cannot be measured, many go unseen and beyond this realm.
Which of your practices would you like to hug? Are there additional practices you would like to add to sustain you on your path? Ki to Happiness is forever blessed to have found the gift of Hatha Yoga and hugs each practice.
In 2016 during a visit here to see my family, we all went out to see the movie In Through the Looking Glass. Afterword, we stopped at the nearby grocery store to pick up a few things and dropped some trash off behind the store. In doing so, we spotted a huge, beautiful intact mirror, framed in ornate gold plastic. 
I picked it up and put it in our trunk to bring to my yurt. Since then, it graced my yurt and reminded me of our good time together.  My brother and I recycled it yesterday, giving someone else a chance to use it since it no longer serves my purposes. 
 Can you detach from objects that have sentimental value? Are you able to keep the loving memory without the physical reminder? Ki to Happiness practices loving detachment.