mmm...mmm....garden.

What's on your nightstand?

Its Raise -a-Reader Day!

This is my nightstand right now (although I tidied it up and took away the magazines.) And this is 'just' the nightstand which doesn't include the overflowing bookcases or the stacks of books everywhere that won't fit in the bookcases.

I ♥ books and always have! And some magazines too. Never been a fan of fiction, but I love learning, reading and holding, and flipping through the pages of a book. Love the computer too of course, but I certainly hope that books (and libraries) never go out of style. They sure won't at this house.

Support the Raise-a-Reader Campaign today to help increase awareness and raise money to fund children and family literacy programs in BC!

Click HERE to find out all about Raise a Reader!

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life." -Socrates

I'm sick of the word busy. "How are you ? Busy...so very busy.." "You? Oh the same...just extremely busy".

I am just so sick of being busy. I find that thats all I hear, and say anymore. I am really bored of hearing myself say it.

I came to the realization last week when I was super stressed and unable to keep up with deadlines and such (and I found myself so stressed that even my decades long yogic tools weren't cuttin' it) that I have simply said yes to too many things. Since then I have been watching my use of the word. Yesterday I spent the most delightful day at my community garden plot and was so happy to see my garden friends. All we could speak about was how busy we are/have been. It's an epidemic. I am really convinced the whole world is busier than ever. I remember Seane Corn once telling me to "pick my battles wisely" when I asked her how she manages her time. As difficult as it can be to set limits, I am slowing things down. I am taking my own advice and practicing what I preach as far as the self care goes. I will certainly not be clearing my schedule (not by a long shot)! I'm just setting some limits. I love what I do so much. Both the teaching and the volunteer activities. I just plan on carving out more time for me. More nature and less busyness. More time at the garden, and less busyness. More road trips to the Island, less busyness, less computer time (my facebook friends will all tell ya, thats a HUGE one for me haha), and MORE downtime, doing more of what is depicted in the photograph above! Not sure where it all went wrong, and I know its easier said then done but I'm going to try. I'll let you know how it goes! Good luck to you as well. I know I am in good company. Summers almost here and its short in these here parts. Remember you & your self care.

Truly, nobody can do it for ya.

See you on the mat. Namaste xx

Like roadtrips?

My partner Silas and I went on a wonderful "too beautiful for words" adventure last weekend called The Spring Thaw. 60 cars. All different people from different walks of life coming together for an amazing adventure. If you like roadtrips, wind in your hair, good people from all over, super scenery and twistie roads...this trip is something that is so fun and exciting that none of us ever want it to end. This year we went from Squamish to 108 Mile House to Sunpeaks to Hope. Can't wait til next year!

Dusk. nightfall. walking in our city.

Photography as mindfulness. Photography is mindfulness.

I have literally thousands of photos on this computer. I am not especially skilled at taking photos, and the camera I use is nothing special. Taking pictures is another way I practice mindfulness, and other than yoga I find nothing more relaxing and peaceful. To take a picture you have to be in the moment. Owning a camera is really wonderful for stress reduction. It takes you right out of your head (and off your butt haha). And the world is just so beautiful that you don't even have to go anywhere special to take pictures. My hobby used to be quite expensive before digital cameras came along with the cost of film and developing and such. Not anymore! There is still something to be said for a paper photograph though.

If you were thinking about taking up a hobby in the new year I can not recommend it enough. Especially if you live out here as the scenery doesn't get any more spectacular. Namaste.

Elderly Couple of 62 Years plays piano

I LOVE the elderly and hope to be elderly myself one day!

They say there are two kinds of people.

"The elderly, and those who WILL be the elderly" -*if one is lucky.

Such wisdom... and on top of that, they sure know how to rock!

Alone much?

Most people who know me find me to be extremely extroverted and outgoing (which is true), yet the folks closest to me know just how much time I spend alone. It's quite a bit.

I am somebody who needs lots of alone time every single day. I am an early riser and that early morning quiet time alone I cherish soooo much.

Call me strange but I don't sleep in even on my days off, as my alone time/me time takes priority over sleeping-in any day of the week. I find it literally necessary for my well being. Like time spent on my mat, time alone restores me.

For me time spent alone gives me so much more to give others 'out there' in the world ;)

I can't recommend enough hangin' with yourself. Pencilling yourself in. Whether its time spent on your yoga mat, your meditation cushion, listening to tunes, taking a walk through a forest, a nice hot bath (those are just some of my favourite alone type things to do)

If you have children get a baby sitter or call a friend to take them off your hands for an hour.

Just do it.

I really like the girl in this video, Tanya Davis. Like Tanya says...time alone?

Embrace it♥

One little gadget has helped me in unforseeable ways.

Yeah, it's a cheap-o dollar store kitchen timer.

I have just been truly amazed at how much more I have been getting done and how much lower my stress level has been the past couple of months since I put my little timer to work.

At first I thought it may add to my stress (knowing it is ticking away somewhere in the background timing me while I do some of my favourite time-wasting/enjoyable things I like to do). But the truth is I have found the opposite to be true!

I started off using it for laundry and cooking, then naps, then facebook and surfing the web. (The facebook part really scared me as I am someone who who would happily pay for facebook I love it so much!)

I could (and have) easily spent WAY too much time on that thing. But I love it!

I haven't removed any fun & enjoyable things from my life (and have no interest in that). I just wanted to free up more time to enjoy as many other of my interests as I could each day. And I have!

And it cost me a buck. The best investment I have ever made.

If you are like me and could use a little help better distributing your time you might just enjoy having a timer as much as I do.

More time=way more fun♥

Just thought I'd share