Yoga

Today I had my very first experience with yoga and let me tell you, it was amazing.

But first, let me back track...

I have a good friend who is a yoga teacher who I work with.  She is always telling me about yoga and how it changed her life.  So, at the beginning of 2014 I wanted to get a yoga membership but for whatever reason it just never happened.  Since then she has invited me to quite a few free yoga classes and it wasn't until today that I took her up on it.  I am so glad I did.

Traditional work outs have always been really hit or miss for me.  When I try running, I can't breathe.  When I try to do weights, I don't know what I'm doing or if I am doing it properly.  Not to mention I have always had joint problems that cause me a lot of pain.

But, yoga is none of those things.  I left class feeling relaxed and energized all at the same time.  Yoga is all about breath so I never felt like I couldn't breathe.  I got to stretch out my hips and focus on the tight spots in my body.  It was the most challenging and yet rewarding work out I have ever experienced!

I cannot wait to go back!

Pain

I just finished reading "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green.  My heart feels as if it has been torn from my chest.  It is such a beautiful book that depicts a relationship with cancer that I find tangible.

When someone is hurting, I have a hard time knowing what to say.  I don't want to tell them that it will be okay (even if I know it will) but what is the other alternative?  Do I say that "yes this sucks and it is totally unfair"?  Do I be heartless and tell them to get over it?  In moments like these I have resorted to just trying to listen.

However, when I read the quote attached to this blog post it all became clear to me what hurting people need.  It should have been clear to me all along because this is exactly what I crave when I am broken.

To quote the book The Fault in Our Stars--

“That's the thing about pain. It demands to be felt.”

This is SO true.  We cannot skip over the pain.  Maybe we can try to dismiss it for a while, but it will linger and fester until we feel it.  In other words, there is no way out of the dark forest except through it.  

I have quite a few friends that are hurting right now whether from broken relationships, sickness, or death and I finally know how to comfort them.  Thanks John Green.  

Money

I have learned a lot about life in my short 22 years on this earth.  It truly is a wonderful life that I am living despite obstacles that have come my way.  One of the many things that I am constantly learning to be true is that money is just that...it's money.  Money will always come and go.  Especially working as a waitress, there will be times when the money is great and there will be times when the money flow is just a trickle.

And no matter what there is some unwritten law somewhere that says "Hey, look! They are struggling for money, let's give 'em a flat tire or a hospital bill or an unexpected plane trip home!" Everyone can relate to that I'm sure!  

This learning process was even further solidified in my mind today when I had to take my car into the dealership.  The "service is due" light has been on for about 800 miles and it was frustrating me because service wasn't supposed to be due for another 4,000 miles!  But, when I took it in they told me that my 75,000 mile tune up could be done now just to get it taken care of and to have piece of mind.  That sounds great until the cost was shown to me... I did not wake up today thinking I was going to spend $1,000 dollars on my car.  When they told me that number I must admit that my heart had a mini panic attack!  BUT...and here is the greatest BUT I have learned this year....money is only money.  If I chose to wait for the tune up, I would have had to do it in 4,000 miles anyway.  And who knows what money will be like then?!

My husband and I are extremely blessed when it comes to money.  I will never say that we are poor.  I have seen truly poor people and I will never dare to compare my struggles to theirs.  But there are times when I have no idea where the money went.  And it used to stress me out to an extreme.  If I could I would hoard all my money!  And that is a problem.

I am learning to find a happy medium.  I want to experience life with these blessings we have been given.  But I also want to have the finances to take care of my loved ones if need be.

Money comes and goes...but the time I have with family and friends is just right now.  Tomorrow is not promised to me.

This is definitely a wonderful thing to learn.  Plus, I got a fancy loaner car out of it.  :P