I'm trying to get a photo here.  I made it!  Notice the color in the clouds.  I took this from the upper deck of our house at the beach,  Never seen anything like it before  - reminded me of a rainbow, but not in the expected shape.  Great weekend with three of my Pod Sisters - that photo should be labeled "LEGS!

Clutter Removal

Crazy world.  I've been clearing out the shed of stuff I haven't used and probably never will: a broken rice cooker, a humidifier I didn't even know I owned, a foot bath thing that's too much trouble (I just use a plastic dish pan - it's easier to wash), a collection of jigsaw puzzles already worked once, Christmas decor ations never put out, silverware over 50 years old with most of the finish worn off (NOT silver, of course), and much more.  Thank goodness the church is having its annual yard sale on Saturday.  Otherwise, I'd not have gotten around to it till next year!  I've realized in my wisdom years that we keep as much stuff as we have storage space for.  Therefore, the answer is to eliminate storage space.  I did manage last year to rid myself of one plastic hanging closet, but still have one left storing off-season clothes.  Which is crazy.  My 8-foot closet is jam packed full!  I'll be willing to bet I won't wear half of what's hanging in there even once this year!  Oh well, at least I got rid of some stuff.  Unfortunately this yard sale isn't taking clothes.  ....... This is a quiet day for me.  No classes till 6:00 this evening.  Had a nice long meditation session first thing - as expected, it gets better every time I get back into the routine.  Next on the agenda is resuming my long walks along the road.  Every time I do it, I find myself smiling before I even get to the mailbox.  Why is it I deny myself that pleasure many days?  Not today!

Free Publicity Pays Off

Here it is Tuesday already!  My, but I manage to stay busy.  Today I'm free this morning so I'll pack up stuff to take to the church for the annual yard sale.  Great incentive to spring clean!  And, to "let go" of being attached to stuff.  So, I'm eager to get to that as soon as the temperature rises just a bit more.  .....Just checked the weather and found it will be in the 80s while I'm at Folly Beach this weekend!  Hooray!  There's something about walking the beach among the gulls, sandpipers, ghost crabs, and shells that restores my soul.  I seem to be spending a lot of time restoring my soul these days.  Is there a better use of my time?  ......Greenwood Magazine came out last week.  Yesterday as I was walking into Wal-Mart a woman stopped me and said "You're the yoga teacher, aren't you? I saw your picture in Greenwood Magazine."  What a kick!  And, this translated into a new student enrolled for our chair class at the church - which is my mission, of course!  Each time I get a chance to introduce someone to yoga, I am fulfilling my purpose - and that's uplifting, for me for sure.  Hopefully for the new yoga student as well. 

Play

Many years ago, about the time I retired from the university, I decided I would call everything I do "play" and began doing so.  That move changed my life.  Now, I read (in Satchidananda's comments on Sutra 16 ) "If you know how to put your heart in God, you can rest there always and still play in the world......Nothing can bind you; you can enjoy everything as play.  You can be an expert player."    The trick, I'm learning, is non-attachment.  Perhaps the most complex goal I've ever attempted.  I have no hope of ever becoming completely non-attached, but I am finding life happier as I loosen my holds.There is a tremendous feeling of freedom that arises when I let go.  Clinging may be the highest form of sin (error is my definition of sin).  Still, as I play, I am learning how to let go a tiny bit at a time and tasting the freedom of doing so.

It's not easy being.

Well, the laptop went back to the shop for a half day and now, finally, I think we're ready to roll.  First off, a reminder:  4th Sunday at 4:00 silent retreat THIS SUNDAY  at the Yogatorium.  Free.  Everyone is welcome.  Now, thanks to all for a very special 79th birthday yesterday.  I felt sooooo loved!  And still do.  Beginning to work back through some of my yoga philosophy books and enjoying the process.  The learning is something I can never quite get enough of and it always makes me happy to be reminded of principles I know but forget to enact.  Today, it's non-attachment.  It is true.  Being attached to outcomes is anxiety producing.  So, of course, those of us with good sense don't become attached to outcomes - but even those of us who know better still DO!  As my fridge magnet says "It's not easy being."

It's working!  Just got my laptop out of the shop where they got rid of numerous viruses!  Hallelujah!  Looks like things might work now!

Still trying with no luck.

I'm back!

OK.  So they have a new setup which I'm not used to yet, but I'll learn as I go.  Things are really busy now.  I'm getting ready to do a workshop at Lutheridge on meditation/lectio divina and enjoying getting mateials and ideas to come together.  Will leave Thursday morning early to stop by and see Dr. Biddle on my way.  For now, that's what's on my mind.  Oh, by the way, just had a mammogram - all clear.  Thanks be to God!

OK.  I'm trying a new setup.  LEt's see if this will publish.