YogaUOnline Has A New Writer! Me!

If you haven't checked out YogaUOnline yet go do so now!

This isn't some fluffy yoga site. YogaU is full of great yoga news, education and information.

And, they just happen to have a new fabulous writer working for them!

Some of my older yoga posts from my blog here will be reprinted there as well as new original content. They've already accepted my first original piece and I'll be sure to let everyone know when it is up on the site.

For now, they've reprinted one of my more popular posts:

Yoga For Headaches - Head Wraps and Restorative Poses

Please click over and read my post as well as all the other great yoga information they have! Of course, if you like what I've written, please leave a comment on the YogaUOnline website under my post.

A Place For Poets & Lovers

The last time I felt completely relaxed was...

September 18, 2014 sitting at the top of a waterfall in Portland, Oregon.

It was quiet and peaceful.

I remember saying this was a place for poets and lovers.

I remember thinking I could be happy here.













My legs were muddy from the hike up the mountain. I had taken off
my shoes to soak my feet in the cold water.


I was completely stress free and content.







This post is part of #AprilMoon15, a series of daily writing prompts found at Kat McNally Words to Soothe The Weary Soul

Giving Birth To A New Life

Giving birth doesn't have to be literal. So far in my life I have birthed...

Giving birth to six kids wasn't the hard part. 

The agony I experienced, the crying, the screaming, the bearing down and pushing through the pain I never could have imagined, was all to birth a safe, happy home for my kids.

I'm embarrassed and saddened to admit my home wasn't always happy. And it wasn't always safe. I had to fight to create a life where my kids could invite friends over for late night gaming marathons without fear of a parent embarrassing them.  I worked hard to create a home where the neighbors heard laughter not anger from our open windows on summer nights. I endured a lot of pain before my home became a place we wanted to run to, not run away from.

Yes, I gave birth to six kids. More importantly I birthed a happy, safe, loving environment for them to grow in.

This post is part of #AprilMoon15, a series of daily writing prompts found at Kat McNally Words To Soothe The Weary Soul.

Just Do It. Now.

Knowing what I know now, I would tell my ten-years-ago self:

Just freaking do it!

You want to change your life? Change it!
You want to say no? Then stand up and say no!
You want to write a book? So write a book!
You really want to make ... your career? Don't worry if it's enough money or not just go for it.

And stop waiting!

Don't wait until you have all the details figured out because you never will
Don't wait until the kids are older because you'll regret the time wasted.
Don't wait until there's enough money because there will never be enough.
Don't wait until the time is right because new issues will come along making it never the perfect time.

Most of all, I would tell my younger self --

You will only be happy,

You will only be successful,

You will only be content,

When you are living your life the way you want to live it.

This post is part of #AprilMoon15, a series of daily writing prompts found at Kat McNally Words To Soothe The Weary Soul.

The Muse vs. The Master

Last night I was reminded I was a teacher.

I didn't exactly forget this little tidbit. I still taught three classes a week but I was kind of on autopilot. I felt like my passion was missing.

I desperately want to attend a yoga training to reignite my fire. I need to attend a training. I always return refreshed and inspired. But financially that's just not possible right now.

Then last night as I was teaching to a new student I had one of those moments where I swear I heard the Universe say "This! This right here is what you are supposed to be doing." I've actually had moments like this before. Apparently I need reminded of it regularly.

Also this week I was reminded I was a writer.

Again, I didn't exactly forget this fact. I've written sporadically but not nearly as often as I want to or as I used to. I haven't had the creative energy to write for about a year now. I've just been zapped by life.

Then I got an email offering me a writing opportunity. A writing opportunity that paid money! Hey, get paid for something I enjoy doing? Well OK then! And the timing was perfect considering I'm currently unemployed and looking for a new full time job.

When I told my kids about the email Kid 2 said "well you better sit your butt down and start pumping out some words!"

And pump out some words I did. So far it has been received really well and I'm waiting to hear back to see if we can turn this into a regular paying gig.

So I'm a little unsure where I should be putting my focus right now. Obviously I'm sending out resumes daily for a full time job to pay the bills. But my creative side is also fighting to re-emerge.

My heart says "Go! Follow your bliss! Write. Teach yoga. Walk the beach and drink wine!"

My responsible logical brains says "Girl, be for real."

I can't help but wonder if this is the Universe's way of telling me that I am a creative soul and my soul needs nourished. And encouraging me to find a way to pay the bills with writing and yoga.

Or it's just wishful thinking and I'm grateful for this time I have now. The responsible thing for me to do is to follow the path to a full time job that pays the bills but runs the risk of withering my soul.

But maybe, just maybe, if I stay open enough to possibility, a different path will present itself that allows me to flourish both creatively and financially.

This post is part of #AprilMoon15 a series of daily writing prompts found at Kat McNally Words To Soothe The Weary Soul.

Little Ms. Fix It

One of the things  I didn't anticipate after getting divorced was my new-found handyman handywoman skills.

At first I was paralyzed when it came time for fix-it repairs around the house. I wouldn't even attempt to fix something I would just pick up the phone and call a friend. Thankfully, I have many good friends who rushed over to help.

Then I became angry at having to call friends to help me. I was married for 23 years and the person who used to do the repairs left and I am so mad at him well I will just show him and I will fix this myself! I became quite good at fixing just about anything with a screwdriver and duct tape. One night while sitting on the kitchen floor I even took a picture of myself fixing the refrigerator door. I posted it with the caption "F*** you refrigerator!"

Eventually, and thankfully, the anger began to leave and instead some confidence slowly crept in. The kitchen faucet can no longer be fixed with duct tape? Hmmm, how hard could a new one be to put in? The salesperson at Lowes assured me all faucets were universal and it was no big deal to install a new one.

He lied.

But instead of sitting on the floor crying and saying "F*** you sink!", I googled 'how to replace a faucet'. I did end up having to call a friend that night.  But it turns out I wasn't installing it wrong. I just have an old house with weird plumbing and we had to be a little creative in how we ran the hoses.

When I had no hot water for a week, an old friend came over to fix it. I told him "No I want to do it myself you just tell me how." So for a couple hours on a Friday night we sat there with him giving directions and me actually doing the work. I am grateful for his patience. I counted only three times that he said "Are you sure you turned the power off" and only twice did he say "Just let me do it."

Tonight I asked Kid 2 where the saw was so I could fix Kid 5's bed. He just looked at me and said "Umm, in the garage. Why? Wait I'll help you."

Well I didn't want to wait. So I grabbed some boards and started cutting. Kid 2 heard the noise and came out and did end up finishing the job. But I had most of it done already!

I think my friends are also more confident in my fix-it abilities. A couple weeks ago I needed to replace the ceiling fan in the girls bedroom. So I pulled up a YouTube video that showed this woman taking out an old ceiling fan and putting in a new one all by herself. She said it's very simple to do and doesn't require any assistance.

She lied.

There is no way I could hold the new ceiling fan up with one hand and run the wires with the other hand. So I did require some assistance but only because I only have two hands.

When my work was finished I took a picture and sent it to the friend who helped me with the hot water heater last year.

He didn't ask if I had turned the power off.
He didn't ask if I knew the wiring was green to green and white to white.
He didn't ask why I didn't call him.

He simply said Good Job!

When I was searching for an image for this post I found this book for sale on Amazon. I've already ordered it and look forward to my next fix-it project!

Hope

Two months since I've written a post.

A long stressful winter.

Gray and dreary skies.

Heartache and a scary uncertain future.

But today, the rain stopped and the sun shone.

Daffodils began to pop up and open through the muddy ground.

Frogs were croaking in the waterlogged ditches.

I turned my face to the sun and breathed deeply.

In that moment I was happy.

I was confident.

I was calm.

For the first time in a long time I had hope.