<![CDATA[ One Balanced Life - Blog]]>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:05:56 +0700Weebly<![CDATA[Your Shadow]]>Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:42:46 +0700http://www.onebalancedlife.com/1/post/2008/11/your-shadow.htmlThis week I laughed out loud at two remarkably similar stories. First, I heard a bit Bill Cosby did for one of the late night shows. He spoke of walking and how he felt strong and powerful as he strode down the street, arms pumping, and body erect...until he looked over and saw his shadow hunched over, slumping along, barely moving (the story was obviously much funnier when he told it). A day or two later my hair stylist filled me in on her running of the TC Marathon and how at the end she felt as if she was running like the wind...and then she saw the video footage in which she seemed to be barely jogging. I laughed at both the stories because I have felt the same way when I've passed my reflection and realized I'm not the Olympian I am in my mind. Inevitably, I don't feel as strong or fast after catching the glimpse. Makes me wonder how often we let outside perceptions affect how we move in the world. How often we tell ourselves I can't do that or I'd look stupid, slow, ugly, crazy, incompetent, silly, or whatever it may be. We all have those shadows that creep up and whisper negative things. I say do what Bill Cosby did....tell your shadow to go lie down on the bench and stride powerfully away. Believe in yourself and who you are in your mind. It is much more fun.

]]><![CDATA[Quiet Hours]]>Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:26:38 +0700http://www.onebalancedlife.com/1/post/2008/10/quiet-hours.htmlAfter a group tonight, where we talked about focusing our attention, I came home hoping to knock some items off my to-do list. Within seconds of sitting down to the computer the baby started to cry. Since the kids are in the same room now (YEAH), I swooped hoping to avoid a bigger calamity....that he would wake the toddler.  Enjoying the delicious feeling of snuggling with a sleepy still baby, my eyes kept wandering to the glow I could see from the kitchen....the computer. Reminded of my to-do list I thought how I can I get him back in there without a scene.....and then I paused...and thought what in the world am I doing!!!! I just spent an hour and half guiding other mothers on how to experience more peace and balance by being in the now. A little belatedly I stopped the madness and surrendered to moment. A moment I hope remains in memory for a long time. The weight on my chest, the soft breath.... Knowing that as he grows these moments of quiet cuddling will be few and far between,  I lingered and reluctantly put him down. I was reminded of a similar post I wrote when he was younger. Ahhh, learning to be in the moment does really take practice. And it can be so delightful to practice, especially in the quiet hours. I'm reminded of one of my favorite authors I've referenced here before who talks of how our internal agenda interferes with our ability to be in the moment with our children. We are often thinking of the future the past anything but what we are doing now. So stop, take a breath, and be where you are.

]]><![CDATA[Your are on a path....]]>Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:57:24 +0700http://www.onebalancedlife.com/1/post/2008/10/your-are-on-a-path.htmlLife is a sacred journey...
And it is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision or what is possibly, stretching your sould learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous risks, embracing challenges at every step of the way.
You are on a path.....
exactly as your are meant to be right now....
And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, beauty, wisdom, power, dignity, and love....Caroline Joy Adams

]]><![CDATA[Reconnecting]]>Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:20:45 +0700http://www.onebalancedlife.com/1/post/2008/09/reconnecting.htmlThe theme for a Personal Renewal Group I'm facilitating this month is reconnecting and I love it!

In the last few weeks I was able to reconnect with two things I used to love to do and haven't in soooooooooo long. A little over two decades (ouch) ago I loved designing outfits (I wanted to be a designer). I devoured fashion magazines and prowled the stores to come up with funky unique outfits. Basically I had a sense of style. But due to factors like: an overwhelming job, lack of funds (too many years post-secondary followed by a job in the mental health field), weight gain, babies, and a bunch of other stuff....I stopped and felt like I lost my sense of style. I've started to play with my wardrobe a little again and am having a ton of fun realizing I still have it....a little style that is. I also LOVE live music and so does my husband. We recently attended a great charity event, which happened to include a concert with a band I saw when I was 17. It was so fun for us to reconnect with each other and with our shared passion for music.

Becoming a mother forced me to see that I needed to reconnect with my mojo not only for myself but for my children as well. My (made up) definition of reconnecting is basically getting back in touch with your essence...whatever makes you you. One way to do this is to reconnect with activities that make you feel alive and joyful. Whether it is your job, children, age, or life....we often find ourselves fondly recalling the times we lost ourselves in activities....like climbing, cardmaking, cooking, skiing...I'm sure you have one. So make a committment to reconnect with a passion you used to lose yourself in. Do it today.

]]><![CDATA[Be Done With It]]>Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:04:03 +0700http://www.onebalancedlife.com/1/post/2008/09/done-with-it.html"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it as serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." Ralph Waldo Emerson

]]><![CDATA[Childbirth Choices - Cesarean and Beyond]]>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:14:31 +0700http://www.onebalancedlife.com/1/post/2008/09/childbirth-choicescesarean-and-beyond.htmlCheck out this wonderful free workshop I'm co-facilitating at Blooma Sunday the 14th. A great opportunity to explore cesarean birth and VBAC.

]]><![CDATA[Back to Basics]]>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:07:28 +0700http://www.onebalancedlife.com/1/post/2008/09/back-to-basics.html

Fall, I love everything about it! The crisp morning air, the smell and color of the leaves, the return of socks and sweatshirts. It has always been a time of transition for me. A time of endings, beginnings, births, and losses. Also a time of renewal and reinvention. After a chaotic summer made crazy with remodeling projects, my husband’s (almost) three week absence, and my mother’s diagnosis of breast cancer (thankfully she is doing wonderfully) I’ve found myself needing to get back to the basics. That means taking time to regularly connect with myself (not using free time for laundry, painting trim, or working), “being” with my family vs. doing things with my family, and simplifying (do I need to keep the maternity bridesmaid dress that made me look like a giant raspberry?).

What does getting back to the basics mean for you?

]]><![CDATA[Giving Up, Giving In]]>Wed, 28 May 2008 19:29:15 +0700http://www.onebalancedlife.com/1/post/2008/05/giving-up-giving-in.html About a month ago I made the choice to run in the annual rite of spring 10k race, the temperature hovered around freezing with some bizarre mixture of rain/sleet/hail/snow falling, and the winds were gusting to 20 miles an hour. Needless to say my running partner and I spoke little during the run so I had plenty of time to think and my thoughts went something like this:

“Who does this? Why am I doing this? Is that hail? Is that person seriously wearing shorts?”

After a few (very little) hills that seemed like the same (very big) ones I ran in SF, my thoughts continued along these lines….

“Did I really choose to this? What are my options here? Can I give up? What would I do? Can I sit down hang out on this incredibly breezy bridge with this crap pelting me?”

I finally caught my breath and realized how I was holding myself back. I found myself thinking…

“Wait I can to this! I’ve made it through worse! Instead of fighting it, just give in…let go!”

I was able to relax into my stride and although I almost tackled the well-meaning spectator who was shouting “half mile left” (which sounded like you have 20 miles left), I happily survived. I walked away from the whole wet experience reflecting on other times in my life where I sometimes feel like giving up. Giving up on relationships, house renovations, parenting, my professional life. Instead of fighting with myself I need to remember to get out of my own way. Inevitably when I give in and let go life works out as it should. The best reinforcement of this was when I looked up the race results and found I’d run at my fastest pace ever!

So where can you give in...instead of giving up? Where can you let go?

]]><![CDATA[Celebrate!]]>Sun, 11 May 2008 16:49:30 +0700http://www.onebalancedlife.com/1/post/2008/05/celebrate.htmlHope you were able to celebrate all the amazing mothers in your life today.

P.S. It was my intention when I started this blog to post more often however I have made the choice to let life become wildly out of balance in order to finish some major house renovations. I'll be back soon and if not send someone to look for me in the abyss.

]]><![CDATA[Speaking of....]]>Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:37:02 +0700http://www.onebalancedlife.com/1/post/2008/04/speaking-of.htmlSpeaking of watching what we say to ourselves - as the big brother helped put silverware away he shared this wonderful insight, "These are wasting time."  Meanwhile, as little brother fussed in the crib he commented, "The baby is going to put you right over the edge right into the basement." Where would he have gotten all that...Dad perhaps? Nothing like a child to encourage one to examine the words one chooses.

How could this guy ever put me over the edge?

P.S. I can't take credit for this one, which was taken by my amazing friend, who beautifully captures the moments. Contact me if you want her info. She is truly talented and I love her work. Actually I can't take credit for any of the pictures on this website, they are my father's, an economist, who after a lifetime in academia, found his creativity and I love it!

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