When I was married...I tried to hard to carve out a bit of something for myself in my daily life. I would go to bed early, get up early. I did yoga twice a day...Took a 5:30 am spinning class. I scrap booked, cooked, read...just to name a few. Not only did I not get any validation from my husband...I don't think I really gave myself any validation either.
It's easy to think, once I'm on my own, with no one there to criticize me, that I will honor myself even more. Well, let me tell you, that is NOT what I have done. Actually, I kind of went in the opposite direction. Not doing anything that used to give me joy and center me.
I stay up way to late...sleep in as long as possible, giving me no time to do my morning yoga routine. I haven't been able to clear my mind enough to read anything more than a few paragraphs (I keep most of my reading to FB and a few favorite blogs). Haven't scrap booked a single picture since 2009. Ugh. So I can't really 'blame' my ex on holding me back can I. Nope! And the truth is, I know it was not him holding me back before the divorce...but I know without a shadow of a doubt, I am the only one holding myself back now.
One thing I did do for myself was take a PT class at the club. Getting my body in better shape, learning what I need to do to be healthier and stronger. After 8 months I still have some work to do...and some of my self sabotaging attitude has snuck in now and again. I'm not perfect, but I am definitely ok with acknowledging my faults and working to improve them. Class ends in a few weeks, and then I'm on my own...I don't want to fall behind on all the work I've done in the last 8 months, so I need to get my head in the game.
Getting up early is something I always knew was a powerful practice. That quiet time in the morning before the whole day gets into full swing is pivotal to getting a good hold and right frame of mind. One of the blogs I read stressed the point of a establishing 'fundamentals'. Those building blocks to a better life. Getting up early, doing my yoga, getting my shower and being dressed before the kids get up is a fundamental I know is what I need. My original goal was to cannon ball into getting up at 5 am and doing it all...I lasted 3 days.
This time around I'm working on it 10 mins at a time. First it was to get up at 5:50 and be out of the shower and in my clothes by 6am. First week was a success. Second was getting up at 5:40 and adding in 10 mins of meditation after I'm dressed. Again, Success!! Next is 5:30, not enough time to add in the yoga, but maybe getting my makeup done by 6am as well. I found working in baby steps was easier than just jumping in all at once.
Anyway...I'm sure I'm not the first person to completely fail themselves after a divorce, or any other major life experience. However, I plan on keeping on a path of growth. I want to reach that goal of 5am...and fill my mornings with peace. I also want to start hula hooping for 15 mins a day, do 100 crunches and floss EVERY night. I have plans...and I will get there...one step at a time.
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About Me
- Dawn@Embracing the Ordinary Life
- I am a strong confident woman. Soon I will be a single parent raising my two beautiful children. I am embarking on a new life that I plan to take head on with hope, faith and love.
I implemented yoga into MY morning routine with only five minutes a day.
ReplyDeleteI got out my mat, and did just some basic stretches to warm and wake my body and lungs, and then sat down to do a few minutes of meditation.
If you like yoga and enjoy the way stretching your body feels, don't short yourself. Just a little taste of it might be the motivation you need to get up a little earlier...
<3
You are right...A little cat/cow and downdog would do wonders!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Hi Dawn
ReplyDeleteI took a similar approach recently with Meditating. My kids are on Easter holiday and I want to meditate for an hour every day and walk for 40 minutes too. Sometimes it's difficult to fit it all in. I've read about people who get up at 5am in the morning and do it all before going to work, and I really didn't want to do this.
However, I started a 30 day challenge 14 days ago, and I wanted to work on meditating in the morning before everyone else woke up. Day 1 I set my alarm for 7am, got up straight away and did my hour with holosync. A few days later, I moved my wake up time 15 minutes earlier. I've been doing this for 14 days now and tomorrow will be the first morning of getting up at 5.45am, so that I can complete my meditation before I start waking up my children to get them to school. I know that if I had tried to wake up so early from the beginning, I would have failed. Those babysteps work every time :-)
I do Yoga stretches when I'm stuck at the airport for 3 hours...many other cabbies do too, keeps the juice of our life flowing the way it was meant too...hasn't helped me wake up on time ;)
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