{Getting my "Ohm" back}

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

- Emily Dickinson

---

Isn't that a beautiful thought!

I better get started because there is SO much to catch you up on since I haven't blogged for over a month!!!

I enjoyed my hiatus but I'm ready to share a little with you about what's been happening in my world:)

I started back to school and I'm really loving it! It's nice being a student and feeling way more dedicated and interested in what I'm learning compared with my undergraduate experience. Maybe it's maturity or the fact that I'm paying for it with my own money (lol!) but it seems that I'm putting much more in and getting much more out of it, too:)

Since I'm getting my MAT in Education at good ole' Anderson University, it's super convenient (about five miles from my house:) and I feel at home there. They have made so many upgrades since I graduated almost (gasp!) 6 years ago! hehe! My first teacher has been incredible and that's made the experience even that much better. I'm also in class with a past AU roomate and current BFF so I just couldn't ask for a better experience so far. I feel BLESSED!

Along with school, I've also started to practice Mindfulness Meditation and Yoga. “Mindfulness practice is simple and completely feasible. Just by sitting and doing nothing, we are doing a tremendous amount.” (Tried to find the source for this but couldn't find the original author.) For someone like myself, who has struggled with anxiety, distracted and racing thoughts, and an inability to just "be"---it has been a livesaver! Though most meditation techniques haves roots in ancient Buddhist philosophy, I don't think there is anything wrong with practicing meditation as a Christian believer. I tend to focus on my body, as a perfect gift from God, who designed his creation with a capacity to heal itself, along with our minds.I often focus and Jesus and his sacrifice for me during my medication times. It's just about being STILL and clearning you mind, allowing negative energy to flow out and allowing positive energy and thoughts to come in. If you've suffered with any mental health issues, I highly suggest you atleast give it a try because it can really be healing!

You can practice Mindfulness Meditation on your own. All you need is yourself, a calm room, peaceful melodic music (optional:) and you are ready to go. My teacher has encouraged me to sit on my bed or couch, feet touching the floor to facilitate good posture and blood flow, and to then begin taking deep breaths in through my nose and blowing them out through my mouth. Before exhaling each time, alternate saying each word out loud---Relax, Quiet, Blank. As you say "Relax" you are reminding your muscles to relax and the tention in your body to lessen. As you say "Quiet" you are quieting your mind, and as you say "Blank" you are erasing thoughts. Though you can practice this on your own, you can choose to find a psychotherapist or counselor to guide you in the beginning. Click HERE for some more information:)

The Yoga, on the other hand, hasn't come so easy for me! :) My body is a tight ball of tension and I can FEEL it big time in my poses. But I've already seen good results! I have had shoulder pain for over a month---bad enough that I thought about going to the Dr. several times but never did. It was a feeling that I can't really describe other then it just needed to "pop" or something and I never could get it to give any. All that said,  a couple hours after my very FIRST yoga session, I streched my arms in class and my shoulder "popped" releasing so much discomfort and tension. I'm definately sticking with it!

I would love to hear other opinions on the practice of Mindfulness Meditation and Yoga----please share your thoughts!

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
~Isaiah 26:3~

Love,
Laura