Kentucky in the Summer

     I had several lofty thoughts prepared, but as usual, am side tracked by my body... I just love to eat.  Here is the reason to live in Kentucky in the summer.

All this bounty from the farmer's market for only $10 (there was more, but I ate some on the way home...).  All locally grown, from people I have known for years (and a few new friends).  I can't think of a better thing to socialize over.  Be Blessed!

Celebrate in Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana

     Celebration is not what one normally associates with sitting forward bends.  They are more in line with procrastination and outright avoidance.  I have been part of this movement (or lack of movement) for many years. However, things are beginning to change.
      When I thought about the Fourth of July, the word that comes to mind is celebration.  But how to find celebration in yoga?  Rather than a vigorous, crazy practice, I decided to focus on the feeling that arises after the pose.  After this forward bend, the energy rises through the body, leaving a feeling of effervescence, sometimes even fireworks.  Enjoy. (By the way, Joy the cat joined in again...)

When Good Really is Enough

        This morning I ran week 6, day 3 of the couch to 5K program again.  I love the app because it gives you directions out loud, but so far it has not fixed my confidence problem.  Though I have been working the program for about 9 weeks, but running 20 minutes straight (week 7, day 1) has not happened yet.  I'm pretty sure Wednesday will be my day (today was pretty good), but I was not happy with myself.

        I'm out running and this is what I see...  Wow.  I was beginning to see that the win was just getting out the door. Not 200 yards further, I was treated to a beautiful sycamore and her twin.

I love their beauty and strength.  Like an old married couple they are both shaped and strengthened by their partner.  Just being there was good enough.

Monday Delight

I had a wonderful talk with a neighbor this morning.  She said being happy 51% of the time was a great beginning.  Here is a similar thought to start your week...

Dedicate yourself to the good you deserve and desire for yourself. Give yourself peace of mind. You deserve to be happy. You deserve delight. ~ Mark Victor Hansen, the founder and co-creator of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series.

As I reread this quote, I am reminded of a wonderful trip a few years ago to Columbus.  We went to see a group of Dale Chihuly installations in both museum and garden settings.  I could not believe the variety of emotions he could draw out of me with pieces of glass.  This is a little excerpt from the Wikipedia article on Chihuly.  It describes how he found peace of mind while overcoming tremendous obstacles to his chosen career of glass blowing :

In 1976, while Chihuly was in England, he was involved in a head-on car accident during which he flew through the windshield.^[1][3] His face was severely cut by glass and he was blinded in his left eye. After recovering, he continued to blow glass until he dislocated his right shoulder in a 1979 bodysurfing accident.^[3] No longer able to hold the glass blowing pipe, he hired others to do the work; Chihuly explained the change in a 2006 interview, saying "Once I stepped back, I liked the view" and pointing out that it allowed him to see the work from more perspectives and enabled him to anticipate problems faster.

To continue to create in glass he would make a painting...

Supervise the creation.....

Then find the setting to compliment the work...

Now this is some fine lemonade made from life's lemons.  Not only did Chihuly find a way to give himself delight, but also all of those who see and own his works.