true

i wish that when i was in my twenties i wasn’t always so worried about how i looked, how i measured up compared to other women my age, whether my clothes were good enough, etc. as soon as i got the courage to really go my own way — and it did take a while — the happier i became.

lynn yaeger

what is fun for me lately?

I took a class tonight about having fun. Sounds kind of cheesy but i actually provided some good questions for reflection. I'm too good and putting off what's fun for what needs to get done and so I appreciate being asked to answer the question, What is Fun for you lately? Not a lot of surprises here, these are the things that usually work my way into my long neglected simple pleasure lists - a good reminder of what to work towards intentionally building into my life on a more regular basis...

1) taking cool pictures
 2) adventure car-ing and stopping for whatever piques my interest
3) Drinking chai tea
4) going to Funky coffee shops
5) yoga
6) blogging
7) trying new, cool things
8) learning new, cool things
9) exploring new cities
10) exploring old places and finding something new
11) finding the perfect gift for someone
12) reading up on yoga teacher training programs
13) watching parenthood
14) reading up on Masters in Public Health programs
15) listening to Dave Brubeck
16) coming across an inspiring quote or passage in a book
17) hearing someone's inspirational life story and then feeling like I could do the same thing
18) getting a facial
19) going for a leisurely walk in our neighborhood
20) mentally pinning cool home decoration ideas
21) organizing stuff
22) making lists
23) lifting weights
24) reading about Buddhism

unapologetic honesty, gracefully

It's the first year in a long while that I didn't carve out time for a New Year's resolution blogging/journaling sesh. I just wasn't feeling it this year - it's not that I don't have a million and one thoughts swirling around between my ears, it's just that I've been working them out in my head a bit more and then trying to take direct action on these thoughts instead of writing about them. It wasn't until this weekend that I had the urge to get something out in writing, but even then I don't really have any strong desire to get into the nitty-gritty, I'm more excited about getting my New Year's thoughts out quickly and concisely this year. I do have a couple of concrete NY resolutions... 1) To be a little less high-maintenance when it comes to getting ready in the morning - that translates into less time applying make-up and wrestling with the hair dryer and straightener to manage my frizzy hair and to just embrace it :). 2) Complete a 30 day yoga challenge - yep, 30 consecutive days of yoga - as a way of determining whether I truly want to get certified to teach yoga and of course, for FUN - you all know how much I heart yoga :). But most of all, this year, I want to work on being unapologetically honest, in a graceful way. Interpret that as you'd like, for me it means being less afraid of being more authentically me - not in an obnoxious, in your face way but in a humbly yet confident way that helps me to share myself and my life more genuinely with others.