This week marked all the tell-tale signs of spring. Mud which sucked kids' boots magically off their feet, a low-lying cloud bank which created havoc on the roads, and a few peeks of the sun transforming us from seasonal depression to euphoria. As I removed our outdoor Christmas lights today (in short-sleeves) I was struck by the similarity between my front porch and my mind. For a couple of weeks my front porch has harbored an old summer door mat which beckons "Welcome;" a Southern Living door hanger filled with fake, holiday, red poinsettias; and a crafty, spring plaque with a bunny saying "Happy Easter." It felt good to finally create consistency on the front porch. No lights, no poinsettias and instead bright pink peonies compliment my Happy Easter plaque. Now to find that consistency in my own mind.
I don't think I am alone when I share that I sometimes suffer from a chronic condition which appears during weeks filled with unexpected stressors. Some of these stressors are good, additional clients and work responsibilities, others of these stressors are bad, kids with pneumonia. Whether good or bad, these stressors serve as an underlying source of tension which make me feel rather harried, (harried, not hairy!) I call this state of being, "Monkey Mind." You probably won't find this diagnosis in a physician's desk reference. Monkey Mind can affect both men and women but probably a higher percentage of women since we tend to be the "multi-taskers." It does not discriminate on geography, work status, creed or color. It can affect the high-school student or the mature adult. When you have the "M.M." your mind jumps from thought to thought and chore to chore much like a monkey at the zoo jumping branch to branch. Often, like the monkey, we barely pause to even consider where we are or why we are there. It's not necessarily a bad thing, in some ways it means you appreciate and value many different things. Over-time however this condition can leave you feeling exhausted which happened to me Saturday night. I was asleep at 7:15pm and did not awaken until Sunday at 8am. A deep, restorative sleep does wonders to cure the "Monkey Mind. "
I awoke with much greater focus and purpose--which explains the improvement of the front porch decor. Even though it felt like a week of frenzied activity I know it was nothing out of the ordinary. It was the same responsibilities we all adjust to, accept, and tackle each week...it is life. I also know I am lucky, and I hope you are too, that your commitments and activities exist because of the abundance in your lives. I am grateful for my abundance even thought my reactions to my kids and husband may not always reflect it. Speaking of abundance, my week was punctuated by the most unexpected kindness, a home-made pot of chicken-noodle soup carefully prepared by a friend who felt such compassion for my daughter being sick. It's amazing how such a thoughtful gesture cures all that ails us---from pneumonia to the much more benign monkey mind.
In addition to caring friendships, one thing that helped me to re-focus this weekend were two great treadmill runs--only an hour each--but an hour that reduced my perceived stress tremendously. In addition, I did a little client work tonight creating a checklist of reformer exercises. Just typing out the exercises, considering the progression and breath patterns of each exercise actually had a calming effect for me. The beauty of teaching Pilates and fitness classes, is even when I feel pulled in multiple directions in "normal" life my work life gives me strategies to focus and center just as it assists my clients. I need to learn to employ these strategies before I relapse into M.M. again. Many of us feel at ease when participating in hobbies we enjoy be it fishing, Pilates, tennis, walking, or maybe just playing bejewled blitz. Whatever the activity, use it to help maintain a healthy focus for whatever abundance comes your way this week. These methods are gifts to help us focus and re-center.
I don't think I am alone when I share that I sometimes suffer from a chronic condition which appears during weeks filled with unexpected stressors. Some of these stressors are good, additional clients and work responsibilities, others of these stressors are bad, kids with pneumonia. Whether good or bad, these stressors serve as an underlying source of tension which make me feel rather harried, (harried, not hairy!) I call this state of being, "Monkey Mind." You probably won't find this diagnosis in a physician's desk reference. Monkey Mind can affect both men and women but probably a higher percentage of women since we tend to be the "multi-taskers." It does not discriminate on geography, work status, creed or color. It can affect the high-school student or the mature adult. When you have the "M.M." your mind jumps from thought to thought and chore to chore much like a monkey at the zoo jumping branch to branch. Often, like the monkey, we barely pause to even consider where we are or why we are there. It's not necessarily a bad thing, in some ways it means you appreciate and value many different things. Over-time however this condition can leave you feeling exhausted which happened to me Saturday night. I was asleep at 7:15pm and did not awaken until Sunday at 8am. A deep, restorative sleep does wonders to cure the "Monkey Mind. "
I awoke with much greater focus and purpose--which explains the improvement of the front porch decor. Even though it felt like a week of frenzied activity I know it was nothing out of the ordinary. It was the same responsibilities we all adjust to, accept, and tackle each week...it is life. I also know I am lucky, and I hope you are too, that your commitments and activities exist because of the abundance in your lives. I am grateful for my abundance even thought my reactions to my kids and husband may not always reflect it. Speaking of abundance, my week was punctuated by the most unexpected kindness, a home-made pot of chicken-noodle soup carefully prepared by a friend who felt such compassion for my daughter being sick. It's amazing how such a thoughtful gesture cures all that ails us---from pneumonia to the much more benign monkey mind.
In addition to caring friendships, one thing that helped me to re-focus this weekend were two great treadmill runs--only an hour each--but an hour that reduced my perceived stress tremendously. In addition, I did a little client work tonight creating a checklist of reformer exercises. Just typing out the exercises, considering the progression and breath patterns of each exercise actually had a calming effect for me. The beauty of teaching Pilates and fitness classes, is even when I feel pulled in multiple directions in "normal" life my work life gives me strategies to focus and center just as it assists my clients. I need to learn to employ these strategies before I relapse into M.M. again. Many of us feel at ease when participating in hobbies we enjoy be it fishing, Pilates, tennis, walking, or maybe just playing bejewled blitz. Whatever the activity, use it to help maintain a healthy focus for whatever abundance comes your way this week. These methods are gifts to help us focus and re-center.
ABUNDANCE!
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