I’m back in Charlotte but only for a few days before I take off on my next adventure. Details to come on that later this week but I should have lots of good stuff to share with you from my upcoming travels.
The past few weeks have been really crazy and stressful on both personally and professionally. I feel like I’ve been thrown so many curveballs and it’s challenging to stay calm and collected. Every time I think, “Okay, this has to be it,” it just keeps on coming. I’m really happy to have a little bit of breathing room right now to take a step back and do some traveling and work a little less. I’m seeing less PT clients, trying not to get to work early and stay late every day and just allowing myself to take care of what I need for me to feel okay.
I took a yoga class today when I got home from Asheville (after spending all weekend talking about yoga, I wanted to actually practice yoga!) and my teacher talked about sustainability. She linked this idea to our yoga practice and to life. In yoga sustainability means working your way into a posture in a way that you can be open and breathe. Basically, not jamming your way into things or taking postures so far that there’s no way you can stay in them. Being at ease and not in stress.
In life we must have things that sustain us like love, family, art, yoga, running, volunteer work…whatever it is that allows you to feel gratitude, love and kindness towards the world and happy with the way you feel on the inside. The world is full of things that do not sustain us. She gave the example of being in situations like a job that is so high-pressure that you constantly feel on edge or a relationships that require too much work and suck the life out of you.
So sometimes you just have to stop pushing and stop trying so hard so that you can focus on the people, things and experiences that sustain you. I always tell my yoga classes that they have to fill up their own cups first so that they can go out and be a light to others and be the person they want to be. It’s hard when you are of the mentality of give, give, give and go, go, go but no one can function in that threshold and stay sane for extended amounts of time. We do it when we have to and we rest when we can.
Okay, back to Asheville. I had dinner at Zambra last night but didn’t take too many photos because the lighting in the photos was coming out really yellow/redish. We started with this delicious cheese plate and then shared some other tapas.
This is not a pretty picture but was it ever delicious. I ate a Pop Tart for breakfast this morning before going to the last workshop session. I can’t even remember the last time I had a Pop Tart but I can tell you it’s been too long!
Skipping around a little, I wore this necklace to dinner last night. It came in my June Luxe Box from Erin McDermott Jewelry with a note from Erin that elephants with their trunks turned up are supposed to bring good luck.
My favorite thing about the Luxe Box is that Erin always includes some amazing quote. I am going to hang this one somewhere that I will see it every day. It’s perfect.
What sustains you?
Glad you are taking a step back to take care of you! Love that you ate a Pop Tart…HA I seriously think the last time that I had one was in elementary school and I fully believe that it was awesome! I’ve seen that elephant necklace and I think it’s so adorable. Elephants are happy animals!
Love that necklace!
Love pop tarts….what a throwback. Hope it was a s’mores or brown sugar! (Best kinds)
That is so true about the “go go go” mentality. I definitely have to work on that. I feel like most people who make exercise a huge priority in their lives also have a tendency to be those “go go go” people…it’s a tough balancing act to figure out!
I needed to read this today. I’ve been pushing myself to be go go go too often.
I can completely relate to the sentiment of this post. I have a tendency to push myself in ways that are not sustainable and I think this post was a great reminder to take a step back and put things into perspective. Thank you!
Great post! I especially love the quote.
Beautiful post! Breathe and ease your way into the week if you can. I love the idea of sustainability!! I took a super hard hot class on Saturday with tons of arm balances and inversions and I decided I needed to pace myself. Life can be the same way. I LOVE the necklace too!!! xoxo
Love that necklace!
I honestly feel that staying active sustains me. When I feel stressed or overwhelmed all I want to do it go out and run. I do it for me, and me only. It clears my head and helps me sort out what’s important and what just isn’t. I can notice an increase is my stress and frustration when I’m working out less so I know I need to prioritize exercise.
Sorry it’s been a rough week for you. Even when you are low, you give us so much. I look forward to every single post from you. Thank you. I hope things start looking up. If not, cuddle Sully, dogs make everything better.
Thanks for the post….what you said about sustainability right now really resonated with me. I’ve been feeling stuck, frustrated and searching for contentment and acceptance. Both personally and professionally. I’ve finally made some decisions which I know will take care of me first. Hopefully all the rest will follow.
I love your post about sustainability. I think it is so so so important to have your own cup full, because I have acted out due to not dealing with my own stress and emotions first. I think this is a life lesson everyone needs to learn– in order to treat everyone else how they should be treated. Also the lucky elephant is something I fell in LOVE with– I love love love elephants and turquoise and I can’t wait to purchase this necklace. Thanks for the post.
LOVE the necklace!