My Epiphany through Crow Pose

So, you know what Crow Pose is?
If not, this (images, crow pose yoga) should help you out.

Well, a year or so ago, I *had* it!
I could do Crow Pose like I can do Mountain (basically just standing erect).

...but then...

Then I lost it.

Somewhere along the way, I realized I couldn't get into Crow anymore.

I decided I thought I was gonna face-plant... or something.

I just... sort of... had a little freak-out-moment and decided I was now scared to do Crow.

So for about a year, I've attempted Crow pose when my instructors offered it, but decided I didn't want to fall, so I didn't "fully" try doing it.

Well!
Last week, I had a REVELATION!
An Epiphany, if you will.

The instructor, Tammy, was being very gentle with us in her attempt to get us to try Crow.  She was teaching to the beginners in the room, and saying, "Maybe just *try* it.  If you don't get it, that's alright.  If you only get one big toe off the floor, then you can congratulate yourself!"  
So I went into it with an open mind.  
Then I began thinking about how and why I'd been having "trouble" with Crow for the past year or so...

Just as I was attempting to "attempt Crow" (yet again), I began to realize that I wasn't really scared of doing a face-plant...

And suddenly I drew in a gasp of breath because I realized
"I'm not scared!  I've just been comparing myself to others!"

About a year ago, I started looking at pictures of others in Crow pose, and realized that the majority of them kept their butts down a lot more than I did...
So I started trying to do Crow with my butt down more...
And this is about the time I "lost" my Crow!

I realized the other day with Tammy that I'd been comparing my Crow to others' Crow, and decided that my Crow was "inferior" or "wrong".

But I had been doing Crow!
How can MY pose be "inferior" to someone else's pose?!?!
My knees were on my upper arms, and my feet were off the floor.  Isn't THAT what Crow is supposed to be about?!?!  Balancing on your hands IS Crow!

So now, with this revelation, I have found a new Peace.
A Peace where I STOP comparing my pose to the poses on the covers of magazines.
A Peace where I stay out of my head and fully in my body.
A Peace where I stop worrying about what I look like, and continue to realize how I feel.

...
I didn't get Crow pose last week, but I did get it for a fraction of a second.  
So that's progress!  =-)

I'll continue to try it, 
and I'll continue to be soft with myself, 
and I'll continue to remember to FEEL how Crow pose feels in MY body as I attempt "flying" in it.  
Because as Tammy said, "Just because you can get into Crow, doesn't make you a better person."

So I'd better go get my yoga clothes on and head to class.   =-)

I hope you're having a Beautiful day, and remember:
Stop comparing yourself to others!  
Because there is no one like you!!!
=-)

<>< <>< <><   ><> ><> ><>

You Realize...

...so...
I've been sitting here, selfishly, all morning.
I first ate my eggs and drank my coffee.
Then i got on the computer, "Just to check my e-mail, quickly."

Ha.
Famous last words...

And as i sat here, reading blogs, my lovely assistant sat patiently.

Waiting.
Waiting for *her* Breakfast.

Until...

The whining began:

 "You *do* realize, don't you, that it's waaay  past 9:00, right."

And then, the impatient huffing and deep sighs:

"I thought you were just gonna be 'a minute'!"

So now i'll set this infernal contraption down and get my Monday morning going!

I hope you have a Productive day!

(And, lest you feel too sorry for her, i honestly fed her at 10am today.

I just found myself unable to put the computer down again until i actually posted this!)

=-)

February 16th

It snowed here on February 16th, 2013.  I went out and took pictures with my phone, and it took me until a couple of days ago to *finally* figure out *how* to get them onto my computer!!!
Lame, i know.
But whatever.  I finally figured it out!   =-)  (And all by myself, too!)  (Go me!)

So when i drove out of my garage this morning and had tiny pieces of SLEET(!) pelting my windshield, i: 
1) freaked out! and
2) remembered that i *still* haven't posted about the "late snow" we had.

I'm over here rolling my eyes, people!  

February 16th = late snow {as to} 
April 4th sleet = wtf?????!!!

I can't even begin to bring up words to tell you how surprised i was when those tiny pieces of ice were falling from the sky this morning!

So...
I'm just gonna post the pics of the "late snow" while i contemplate words like  "snow" and "ice" and "seasons"...

I love how it  "highlighted" the stones.

The poor daffodils were already blooming!

(That's why i thought it was a "late snow".)

It snowed pretty hard (for here) for a short while, 

but didn't really stick on the roads, thankfully.

I love how this tree was gently covered in snow. 

The poor daffodil! 

"Oh, the weight of it all!"

I wish i had a couple of pictures from today...

The Bradford Pear trees are blooming and getting dainty green leaves, and yet!  Yet, we had sleet this morning.

I *do* have a picture of my "Jane Magnolia", though.  

We call it a Tulip Tree here in North Carolina.

Whatever you call it, 

I Love It!!!

My "new" Tulip Tree,

and my new front porch too!

(Yes, i still need to make a post about my front yard,

but the guy isn't *technically* finished yet!)

Close-up of a flower on the

Jane Magnolia:

(It's really not the best picture...  Sorry.)

I should go take some pictures of it today, 'cause "she's" blooming even more now!  But i really really need to get some housework done.  

Besides, the sun is *not* out.  It's raining/sleeting *still*!  (Off and on.)

Maybe tomorrow...

And maybe i'll update you on "her" next week!   =-)

I hope you have an AWESOME week!!!

=-)

p.s.  My sister's coming to visit!!!

I can hardly wait!

I haven't seen her in a *while*,

and it's been *for*ever* since she's been to my house!

I'm gonna *try* to get her to a gentle Yoga class... or TWO!   =-)

She really needs it...

.

Well... Finally!

I thought, since it's a New Year... a "new beginning"... that today would be a good day to finally post about my Beaded Cuff.

I've been working on it, off and on, for a *while* now.  =-)

Don't ask me how long it took to bead it...  I really don't know. 

I don't keep up with that kind of thing when i'm on a project.

My husband would be good at that type of thing, though.

...but i didn't ask him at the beginning of this project, to do that for me, so...

Sorry.  Just suffice to say that it took 

"a while".  =-)

Part of the reason for that is that there were plenty of times where the cuff simply *sat* on my desk... waiting...  

Waiting for me to pick it up again.

Then, there were those times when i worked on it for *hours* at a time:

boring days,

and most especially on those 4-hour rides to Beaufort, SC to see my Mom.

*Lots* of productive time then!

Before i let you see it (assuming you haven't already scrolled down of your own accord!) please allow me to babble a bit.  =-)

I don't remember how i got the idea for this thing, but once i did, i just *had* to make it.  =-)

I have some crushed velvet in my stash that i've had for a looong time.  

I don't even remember where it came from, or how long i've had it.  I *think* i got it when i used to make purses/bags.  

Anyway.

I got the idea to use up some of these beads i have lying around in my cabinet.  

(I've had them a long time too.  I've always wanted to do something with them, but never knew *what*...) 

Anyway.

I decided i wanted to make me a beaded cuff on that velvet.

(I guess i must tell you that it's not *really* velvet... but i don't know what it is, so... it's "velvet", okay?)

I originally thought i'd use a Coke can as the "underbelly"... the "base"... the "stabilizer" for the cuff,but as i went on with the project, i found out i didn't really wanna do it that way.

Okay.

Pause.

Rewind.

Rethink.

Pause some more.

Talk to friends about "what to do", "what to do".

My friend Pat (from the Y) suggested what i should use to "stiffen" up the "innards" like i was thinking i should.  I forget what the stuff is called, but it was BRIGHT yellow.  I mean brighter than Highlighter Yellow!  And it was kinda canvas-like, and kinda hole-y.  I dunno what it was, but it was some Embroidery or Crewel material that's a bit stiff.

Bingo!

Thanks Pat!  =-)

And, Yes.

I individually hand-sewed *each* and *every* bead onto the "velvet".

Yes. It took a long time.

It took a very long time.

BUT!

I enjoyed it.

For some people, it would drive them batty.

But for me, i truly enjoyed it.  

It's a time to slow down.

A time to think about other things.

A time to relax into a soothing rhythm of string bead, poke needle, pull thread, tie knot, poke needle, pull thread.  Repeat.

Soothing.

For someone like me, anyway.  =-)

And once i finally completed the beading, it was so wonderful!

Satisfying that i accomplished such a "daunting" task; a project i've never really tried before.   

And this is something that's "All Me"!

I didn't have any type of "pattern".

No Tutorial or Instructions from anyone else.

No Pattern whatsoever!

This one is "All Me", Baby!  =-)

So, please enjoy!   =-)

Wendy's Beaded Cuff in the late afternoon Sun

But... See that little "string" up there?

On the upper Left?

...Yeah.

That's where a bead has already been broken off!

Can you believe it?!  I've only worn it like 3 or 4 times, and

i've already *broken* it!

I think i can fix it, though.

And i'm STILL wearing it!

ONE little broke-off bead is NOT gonna make me STOP wearing it!

I love it too much.

=-)

Yep.  There's that little "string"...

Taunting me again

"Nah-nah, nah-nah, nah!" and sticking its tongue out at me.

Well, i'm STILL wearing it, so

THERE!

Hmph!

 Why, yes, it *does* close with Snaps!    (I  originally thought about Velcro, but changed my mind)

 See?!  Those *are* Snaps.  =-)

 And the Inside shot...

 The Centerfold Shot  =-)

(Does this count as "Porn"?)

I've "busted" a bead off of it already!
I'll have to see if i can fix that before any more come off!

But i  love it anyway!  =-)

So, i hope you've enjoyed this post!
I'm pretty proud of my Beaded Cuff (if you couldn't already tell).  =-)
And it goes with pretty much *everything*
which is always a Bonus.  =-)


And the truly flattering part?
My little sister, Z?
The *really* *picky* sister?
She LOVES it and wants me to make one for her!!!  (Just not quite so wide...)


(And i take that as *quite* the Compliment!)


I hope you're having a Super Fantastic Wonderful Day!!!


And
by the way


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!


=-)

Patience

Photo by Boyfriend

Long Key

How poor they are that have not patience!

What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

- William Shakespeare