There is no manual

Why do we pretend that there is an actual manual on how to live life?  The ten commandments are a great guideline to life and covers the main human basics...things people should know and sometimes they forget.  But really, for those of us who aren't murderers, cheaters or atheists....why do we torture ourselves in living a 'certain' way? What a waste of a life!

I have an amazing man in my life and I know I should spend the rest of my life with him.  I know this now because I've never known this before.  I know now is the time.  and yes, I've known him for 1 month.  So society says I should wait YEARS before getting engaged, or heaven forbid married.  And I should be ok with that??? Well I'm not.  Society is in a pretty screwed up place right now, I have very little respect for my elders (I guess that's breaking a commandment isn't it) and I'm not sure it's my opportunity to learn from their mistakes....they should learn from their mistakes.

Progress Report

So, last blog was 1/1/11 and I gave myself a clean slate. 

I'm very proud of myself!  I've kept away from processed foods and have substituted tea for coffee.  My body feels great and my mind isn't as stressed. 

My finances are much better.  I feel like I can afford to move out of my parents house and get an apartment of my own.  But I've realized it's time to consolidate my student loans.  I've also begun paying for my health and car insurance goodbye $200/mth.  I'm not sure how I feel about having health and car insurance.  I know it's a gamble if you don't, but the price is so high, $2,400 a year in case I get into a serious car accident - which I've never been in before *knock on wood* but I'll be living 5 minutes from my work can't there be a discount for proximity to work?

Who knew?

Who knew this would be the time?  Who knew this would be the path?  Who knew it would be this easy?  Who knew it would feel so right? 

All I know is that what is going on in my life right now is amazing.

On the first day....

This was the beginning of a recent blog draft:
"So I am going to write. Maybe here, maybe there, maybe everywhere. For now, all I know is that my brain needs space, and this is the only way I know how to give it what it needs..."

That was 2010 me, overwhelmed and stressed; looking for an outlet in friends, family, the blogesphere....thinking writing was the only way I could vent.

And then came January 1, 2011.  The first day of the new year.  The first day of my new outlook on life.  The first day of the new decisions I will make everyday.  My decisions to not eat processed food.  My decisions to take part in stretching and cardio everyday.  Whether it be hot yoga and a dog walk or yoga in my bedroom and a 3 mile run.  My decision to calculate my finances daily.  The decision to live a healthy lifestyle and prevent reasons to vent.

1/1/11 was my day one.  It was my decision starter.  When's yours?

Living life to the fullest by living a full life

Savoring Every Moment

For a Christmas present my mother subscribed me to a magazine about a meaningful and balanced life.  This magazine provides monthly yoga poses, vegetarian recipes, inspirational stories and an insight into the variety of spiritual lifestyles.  For example I took a quiz on Modern Ayurveda and my Dosha.  I was a little bit of everything.   I take on Vata's "Big-Thinker" traits and Pitta's "conquer the world" mentality.  So which am I?  A Big thinker who can't conquer the world or a little thinker who's only going to conquer a miniature version of the world??  And while I feel a connection to the earth mother Kapha with my love of hiking, walking, running, and climbing in the outdoors, Kapha is also a compassionate lovebug which has never been a term used to describe me.

Because I'm not ready for an Ayurveda definition on my life right now, I decided to try another method in this magazine.  I've heard this next "fulfilled life" method before but I never had the guts or patience to try it.  So I headed out to lunch today, chose a local deli, ordered the salad bar, filled my plate and sat down.  I picked up my fork, looked at a piece of broccoli and thought to myself

"broccoli.....green, ..... raw, ......fuzzy....... broccoli"

I put the broccoli in my mouth and continued to think about that piece broccoli as I chewed.  I was being fully present in this one piece of broccoli full of nutrients, vitamins, and God's good green earth in my mouth. 

Swallow. 
Repeat.

"Garbanzo bean .....round, .....creamy, .....nutty, ........ small ...garbanzo bean"
etc, etc, throughout my entire meal, repeating even when a repeat vegetable was found on my fork.
The concept is to treasure and savor every piece of food in your mouth.  Actually use your taste buds for what they are made for and not as a scorched landing strip for food with a final destination to your stomach.  This new concept allows all the senses in your body to be engaged and appreciate what you're putting in your body by seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting, and - wait for it......satisfying your body (and soul).

While I'm trying to find satisfaction in this moment at the restaurant, my evil twin is rolling her eyes and telling me that I am really very hungry and I should just chomp down on a fork full and get it over with.  She's telling me that I'll do this for the first plate, but I'm going back to the salad bar for seconds and I'm going to get that pasta salad with all the processed foods I shouldn't eat.  However, in the end, I finish my plate, I drink my tea and I walk away surprisingly satisfied. 

Satisfied with my meal, my self control and my commitment to an open lifestyle. 

-Rachel
Living Life to the Fullest and Savoring Every Moment!

Rise Up

"Surround yourself with people who fill your gaps. Let them do the stuff they’re better at so you can do the stuff you’re better at."

I read this quote in a blog and it reminded me of my life goal to "keep company with those you admire"

After moving to Dallas, being near my family and my dear friends I still feel like something is missing.  And it's not a boyfriend.  There's a piece of my life that should be full and it's not (again, it's not my "love tank" lol).  I have a job, a dog, a healthy lifestyle but --- it's on the tip of my tongue and I can not figure out what it is!!! 
Option a) volunteering. In college I was in a community service fraternity and a religious group that had service as a core element.  It was a part of my everyday life.  I'm ashamed to say, now it's just a part of my past
Option b) dancing.  I haven't been out dancing in FOREVER and I keep finding myself tapping my foot and swaying my shoulders when a good tune is in the air.  I love the teamwork that goes into a dance number!  Not to mention the adrenaline and endorphines that keep you wanting more!
Or Option c)  my independence.  In the past 6 mths I went from living in a 1 bedroom home with me and my dog to living in a 4 bedroom home with me, my dog, 4 family members, and 2 cats.  In a household that eats together, plays together and stays together, it's difficult to find time for myself.
So while I try to gain back my independence and pursue a passion of volunteering while dancing to my heart's content.....I will keep company with those who are happily independent, driven to volunteer and those who make GREAT dancing partners!  And (getting back to the quote) if I find that I'm no good at either of those things, I'll be sure to surround myself with people who are!

Any takers?

-Rachel
Living life to the fullest, surround by people I admire

In every way I can think of, succeeding is less about being the absolute best of the bunch, and more about being the one that absolutely doesn’t give up