yoga

Yoga is my word of the year.  In that way that many folk like to choose a word for the year.  Something to muse on and be inspired by.  I chose it because it reflected, in an obvious way, that I am undertaking yoga teacher training this year.  But also because of its other meanings; integration, union, joining together etc.  I wanted for this year to bring together aspects of myself.  To find a path that incorporates all of me. 

I do feel that I had been thrown off track (mainly by evens beyond my control) but, hey.  I am not a big fan of excuses.  SO.

YOGA

Its time to get back on the mat again. 

I was also about to muse on the idea of 'bringing it all together' but honestly I couldnt actually think of anything to say.  Other than lisitng all the disparate things that I do.  I guess I am the link between them.  Motherhood, art, yoga, productivity, experiments with life and earning money.

Mainly I need to challenge myself with the Yoga thing.  I have not been practicing enough.  Actually here is a union thing.  Parenting and yoga.  Bub has been doing star charts of late in order for us to establish a him going to bed on his own routine (again!).  And so I was thinking, that I could do with one of those myself.  Like everyday, if I do my yoga practice I get myself a sticker and progress up the ladder towards my 10 stickers and a prize.

Yesterday Bub got a rather splendid 10 star prize.  Despite the fact that it was a really minging pissing down cold kind of day, I took him to London Zoo.  Which was the prize he chose for himself.  It was fab actually.  Despite the vile weather.  There was a surprising amount of things to see inside.  And plus what can possibly be better than watching a 4 year old in absolutely joy and wonder.  There were so many moments of 'OH WOW!' from him, it was just as much a prize for me as it was for him.  He LOVES his animals. 'WOW! Look a BLACK MAMBA!"  etc all through the day.  Until it was time to leave and the exhaustion hit, as did the horror of walking in the rain. 'I DON"T LIKE THIS" he wailed and cried.  No, it wasn't that great.  Damn weather.  But we stopped off at a Pizza Express and refueled before the journey home.  Double decker buses, Underground trains, over ground trains, taxi cabs.  All very good and thrilling for a 4 year old.  Great day.

So I am going to have to choose me a prize.  And make myself a star chart.  And I did actually buy some rather lovely butterfly sitckers (the butterfly house was a highlight of yesterday actually, perhaps partly because it was so warm)  Which are going to be used to populate the next phase of star chart dom.   In fact we are going to be doing them as a family.  Mine for my Yoga practice. Hub for his sticking to his diet and exercise regime and Bub for getting dressed on his own and going to bed with no fussing. 

Get us. 

um er

hmm.  blogger has changed.  I am sure I will be used to it in no time.  I am in bed, having just done some accounts, and not sure what to say at all.  Things are good, though I am a bit hungover having drunk a bit too much wine round at a friends house last night.  And as a consequence the whole health kick diet stuff went way out of the window as I drank copious amounts of coca cola and ate cheesy pizza in order to recover.  but hey.  sometimes its good to drink a bit too much wine and gas on with friends.  I had a good time!

Here in the shop

Its another day in the shop. My 4th this week. Good for income. But not good for Hub who is now feeling sick and wants to go to bed instead of being in charge of a 4 yr old.

I have been working a lot this week. It's been very good to get back in the saddle again. And we need the cash too. Dear me, it will be good when Hub finally gets paid all that he is owed. We are right up against all the overdrafts we can muster.

The great news is, I am ready to deliver AP for People Who Do and even better is that they have got some work that is truly extremely exciting. It's about mixing it up at a big company to re engage the workforce. Using properly random and interesting techniques. Like Keri Smiths book, 'How to be an Explorer of the World' is a working reference book for it. And Tim Smit type ideas are getting implemented. Very cool stuff. Works in progress! So excited by that.

Yoga is what is really trailing behind. My asana practice has been, for health reasons, non existent for several months. I feel terribly behind physically. I have been doing meditation and study instead, but even so. I really want to be doing that again, and for a while too. And still am not quite right, physically. But I need to start, gently, with that. And catch up with my homeworks.

With regard to HSHB. I am starting again and going through it for the next couple of months with specific regard to my portrait business, and improving how that functions. I have an accountability partner in Ruthie Collins and I am really looking forward to working with her to keep us both on track.

Lastly I want okay how fabulous the HSHB community has been for me over the last few weeks especially. A totally soulful, supportive, kind and generous bunch. It's been emotional!!

Things I need to do

For my creative business.

Get a new website with a blog on it, on Wordpress. Make it clear that i do portraits.
Spend some time going through the HSHB course with regard to this particular business.
Experiment with styles and framing to find the best fit
Experiment with the idea of empowering self portraiture and the possibility of doing a workshop on this
Set some time aside for this each week

Goals, aims, end points, finish lines.

I am a qualified yoga teacher
I am paid to teach yoga
I have been to Ibiza, a festival, on art retreat and on a yoga holiday
We have a sociable kitchen
I paint and create
I am fully qualified at people who do and get regular work. Inc setting up work.
Ted is learning; French, swimming, cooking, oh and to read and write

That will do for now.

Yoga, PWD, holidays, art. Yes.

You gotta make your own fun........

A cardboard arcade. Awesome. I love this kid. I may have mentioned it before, but there is quote from a film, I think it was by David Mamet, anyway, the quote is "you've gotta make your own fun, otherwise it's just entertainment" or maybe I am paraphrasing. Whatever. The sentiment resonates deeply with me. There is a difference between what you make your self and what you can buy, or consume, or watch or hear. Doing it yourself makes it more fun. And this kid has it in spades. To me it's not the heartwarming flash mob aspect of this wee film. It's just the sheer awesomeness of his amazing cardboard arcade. X enjoy x and then go make something your self.

the postive outlook on it

things to be glad about

my beautiful healthy son
a roof over our head with the right amount of rooms for our family
my time which I will have more of
my creativitiy which can start from nothing and bound off into limitless things
i have a studio full of paint
the nhs
living in brighton  - its such a cool place to be
my parents who are such go getters and set me such a great example of living well
my brother is happy again
i am essentially healthy
i can choose how I get to be
i have great friends who are really lovely, beautiful and supportive
i have a great online community which is likewise beautiful and supportive
I am going to Call of the Wild Soul art retreat in September with flora bowley and lisa
I can travel
As bub goes to school in September I will have even more time to create a living and art
invited to Ibiza to stay with good friends
i have a great job (plural actually)
i am loved
i love
i know how to cook great food

Needed this today...

Live with intention.
Walk to the edge.
Listen hard.
Practice wellness.
Play with abandon.
Laugh.
Choose with no regret.
Appreciate your friends.
Continue to learn.
Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.

--Mary Anne Radmacher--

In particular the bit that says 'choose with no regret' x  

Who the hell is Mary Anne Radmacher?  I don't know, but it seems like a pretty damn good advice.