monday moment of zen

"there is a life-force within your soul, seek that life.
there is a gem in the mountain of your body, seek that mine.
o traveler, if you are in search of that
don't look outside, look inside yourself and seek that."
~ rumi

i enjoyed a restorative yoga workshop yesterday and the teacher (love her!) shared this poem with us. it completely resonated with me. too often we seek things outside of ourselves rather than inside. we look to others for acceptance, approval and validation. while recognition from others is great we really need to look within ourselves for this. look deep within yourself and tell me what you see.

namaste

photo credit ici

welcome november

october has been like a dream. things are going so wonderfully for me and i am incredibly happy. i only had a few goals for october mainly because i knew i would be so busy focusing on massage therapy school and becoming a yoga teacher. a recap of my october goals:

• my first and foremost is to stay focused on massage therapy school (i can't even begin to tell you how much i love it!) - YES! i am still loving every second of it. i worked on my first clients october 31st and had a fantastic time.
  
• keep focused on my yoga certification training as well - YES! i only have a few more things to finish up the training that i started. i am teaching my fellow classmates for my practicum and i am absolutely loving it!
  
• take advantage of the local festivals and workshops - i am doing the best that i can here. unfortunately due to my packed schedule and uncooperative weather i missed the hot air balloon festival this year.
  
• eating lots of pumpkin everything - oh yeah! i love pumpkin foods & drinks and i'm looking forward to more!
  
• enjoy each day and live it like it was my last - yes!
  

for november i am looking forward to:

• eating lots more pumpkin foods

• celebrating thanksgiving with ryan's family where we get to eat at 3 different thanksgiving dinners including my favorite the peruvian one!!

• keeping up steam in massage school as i am doing quite well

• teaching yoga!

• knocking out as many of my required massages as possible. i have to give 100 massages - 40 paid ones (the money goes to the beauty school not me) and 60 free ones. if you are local be sure to check out my massage schedule and if you pay for a massage i'll make sure you get a free one - two massages for $37 is unbeatable!! my slots are getting filled up pretty fast so be sure to schedule soon!!

i hope that you have a fabulous november as well.

photo credit ici & ici

treats

i've been fortunate to have tons of treats in my life recently. i feel as though the last month has been one giant treat.

here's a sneak peak at some of my most recent treats:

~ the indian summer we've been having

~ a birthday jubilee teavana present

~ teaching yoga to people who have never taken a yoga class before and seeing their faces light up with delight and hearing them say how much better they feel afterwords

~ cherishing solo time this weekend while ryan is in philadelphia

~ connecting with tons of fabulous readers - you all make my day - everyday!!

~ halloween - my favorite holiday

~ my first day of massaging clients tomorrow - i'm SO excited!!

check out what other treats by visiting jamie ridler's the next chapter.

photo credit ici

monday moment of zen

"A man's life is what his thoughts make of it. Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking." Marcus Aurelius

i couldn't agree with this more. the power of our thought can change everything. our thoughts are energy . try to incorporate this idea today. whenever you feel a negative thought coming on try to turn it around and think something positive and just observe the effect it can have on your entire day.

namaste

image credit ici

risk

life is full of risks. whether we realize it or not, we take risks everyday.

martha beck said "what's safe about not being who you were meant to be?" that completely resonated with me.

i wish i would have read this book a year ago. reading it now makes me realize that when i took the risk of switching gears from accounting to massage therapy and yoga was exactly what i needed.

sometimes the risk we most need to take is pushing ourselves and i am so grateful that i did.

follow along with other risk takers by visiting jamie ridler's the next chapter.

image credit ici

belated birthday gratitude

my birthday has come and gone but gratitude and joy still remains in my heart. i'm still in what i call my "birthday jubilee." what is a birthday jubilee you ask? well, that is the week or so after your birthday when you are still receiving birthday cards and presents in the mail.

i am so happy for:

~ all of the lovely birthday wishes on facebook, twitter & e-mail

~ all of the lovely birthday cards in the mail

~ all of the birthday presents

~ ryan paid for me to have a massage for my birthday

~ a gift certificate to tranquilit from a friend

~ money from the parents

~ the friendship over the blogosphere

~ each and every one of you my lovely readers

image credit ici

monday moment of zen

image credit ici

"peace comes from within. do not seek it without." ~buddha