A winter wonderland.

School was cancelled, the whole lot of us slept past 8, and it was one of those quiet, beautiful, restful snow days where I just caught myself staring out the window for large chunks of time. We headed out to the craft store as it seemed a perfect day to make valentines, and then headed to the gym. When school is closed the gym operates on a very limited schedule of classes, and there is only one yoga class, vinyasa flow, at 11. It was much better than usual today as there was hardly anyone there and my favorite teacher and friend was teaching it.

We came home for some soup and got to crafting. Jake went down for his nap and we all hunkered down for reading time in front of the fire. The snow was pounding down....and I considered getting outside with the snow blower....but with the wind chill in the single digits and strong gusting winds....well, the fire? It won. This picture is NOT from today as today it was just too cold to be out. Its still snowing now, somehow Nate is getting in tonight from Atlanta, though on a much delayed flight, his Boston trip tomorrow is cancelled, and I went and shoveled him a path from his car up to the back deck so he doesn't have to trudge through the snow. We have at least 12 inches.

As I started this post my email notification just popped up that school is closed again tomorrow. That means that my planned get together with my friend Jyoti to work on our practicums is off as we will both have kids home. That means that I will again have to go to the one hour vinyasa class at the gym. That means that I will probably have to cancel on the sitter I had coming tomorrow night so that I could go to Sue's level 3 class before heading to book club, as it appears Nate will be home, and depending on the roads book club may be cancelled (one of my favorite nights of the month with some of my very best friends). Hm. Changes in plans. My so not favorite thing! None of these are terrible changes. More time with the kids (though the cold will be hard). I wish I had the same degree of emotional flexibility as I do physical flexibility. I wish I wasn't so attached to the plan. In many ways its an attribute which has served me well ~ with three kids in 3 years being a planner is extremely helpful. Its the irrational frustration or disappointment which comes with changes to the plan that frustrates me about myself.

I think that I'm going to start my day with my own practice tomorrow morning. Turn on some good music, head down to the basement, and practice whatever my body is telling me that it needs. The kids can read or draw, Nate can snow blow, and I can remember that this is but a tiny blip in the week, a nothing. I can remember to be grateful for a warm home, for a snowblower, for the beauty of the snow (I do love snow), and for fun and easy kids who I adore. And if yoga is cancelled or book club is cancelled, the world will go on.

I've come to realize that there are some very simple elements to my overall well being and happiness:

1. Sleep. I am happiest when I am in bed by 8:30 and asleep by 9.

2. No television. Nate likes television, I don't. I think sometimes he feels left out when he's watching a show and I'm laying beside him but reading.... but it is what it is. The benefit to him traveling is that I can read all week long without any guilt :) Books make me happy.

3. Drinking water. I am not good at this. Days when I remember to take care of this simple yet important need I feel noticeably better.

4. Carving out quiet time in the afternoon. Whether it be 20 minutes or 2 hours, this recharges me and allows me to have great nights with the kids. I feel more patient, more aware, more present than on days where something like volunteering at the school or a Dr's appointment has me running around in the afternoon. Jakes nap time is a blessing for me and I use it.

5. Taking the time to make myself a healthy dinner. Its SO easy to fall into the trap of being too lazy to prepare myself quality dinners when Nate is away. For instance, tonight the kids ate leftover homemade meatballs and ravioli from Sunday. I couldn't eat that. I needed some vegetables and my stomach had been acting funny. I sauteed two chicken sausage with two bell peppers, a habanero and olive oil and threw the whole thing over arugula and tomatoes that has been drizzled with a lemon balsamic. It felt so good to take care of myself like that. I get lazy, and it is such an easy thing to fix.

6. Practicing yoga and incorporating some form of personal pranayama or meditation, even if it is but a few minutes.

Are there things that you NEED in a given day? Things that you are or aren't giving yourself right now?


Namaste, all.