My brain is like a hamster well and an energizer bunny
put together-it’s spinning 24 hrs a day always.
Quite simply it never stops.
I think that is what companies like about me and hire and
promote me: it’s a guarantee I am thinking about them all the time. They are
getting their money’s worth that is for certain. Over the last two years I have tried to slow down my
brain a bit and stop it racing all the time. For a year now I take a very very
mild medication for hormonal balance than that helps a ton. I also have a lot of
rules around technology and that helps a
lot too to be more relaxed and not as connected.
However now I am ready for the grand finale of this and
so is my husband. So we signed up for a really expensive Mindfulness course
that is aimed at people with chronic stress or pain or both in lives. It’s costing
is 1200 dollars and 8 Wednesdays without or family nights and family dinners. Also
one whole Sunday off the lake and into a yoga studio.
It better be worth it.
(The jury is still out on that one).
But I am convinced we needed this so I pretty much forced
my husband to do itJ
It’s one of the short term pain for long terms gain
things. In time..in money..in energy. We took more than 100 hrs of parenting
classes together over the years too..and it has paid off. Of probably anyone I
know we are aligned as parents, still married and agree on almost all parenting
methodologies etc..Clearly I think it was worth it. I know it made a HUGE difference
in our lives, our children’s lives and our overall well-being as a couple and
family. But it was hard at that time paying for it..getting a sitter for 3 hrs
every Tuesdays. missing time out with our kids.
This course will be the same in the end. More than the content
of it it is the alignment I am looking for. I want to speak the same language
as my husband. My mom is in it too so all the better as all three of us raise
our kids together. We all need to understand the method.
I think if you asked me what is the single most important
advice I have for anyone parent in this world it would be to be both a short
term and long terms thinker together at the same time. Master both. Be GREAT at
both.Trust me if you aren’t life will catch up to you and be so much harder. Every
decision you make has to encompass there here and now and 5, 10 and 15 and 20
yrs later . It’s the best gift you can give yourself and your kids.
Back to mindfulness course. It is a stress coping strategy
well beyond yoga and meditation that are big component. But it is the philosophy
of mindfulness that interests me.
Stuff like:
Everyone feels pain but suffering is a choice.
Understand that not deciding something is not a decision.
And it definately won’t be peace you will get . Decide, accept and move on
Most people give up on meditation bc they say that can’t
clear their mind. This course says each time it races, bring it back and that
is just as good Like insomnia –if you can’ t sleep resting is much better than
being up and about.
Stress less about the past and worry less into the
future. Be in the present so much more often
Anyways lots of stuff I already know and need to be reminded
so and put into practice and lots of stuff that I don’t know. This will be
good. My husband is not convinced yet but that is fine. I know for both of us.
And what we need is a family coping strategy for now and forever.
We will teach this to our kids-because really when the going gets tough the present
is all you have. The smell of the soap-the feel of heat of the shower, the birds
singing in nature, the snow on your feet, the embrace of your child, the little
look across the table, your breathing . It’s all these moments together that
make life worth living.
And this time? I intend to master mindfulness. And have
my hubby master it too . It won’t just be a fluff thing for me…I am going for
it.
