I've been wanting to write again for a while now. In fact... I've been wanting to do several things for a while. I want to do yoga. I want to study deeply about my religion. I want to exercise and change my eating habits. I want to give up my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper.
Ever feel this way? How can I get back on track? How can I even find the bloody track?
My Jesus, as always, has been listening. There's another "want". I want to get into our deep conversations again. I'm still talking to Him - - but I haven't been making the time to listen. I haven't gone into that inner place in the soul where He sits, in His wooden chair, in a garden, drinking the coffee I've placed in front of Him.
As I was saying... He was listening to me. (I swear He has the patience of a saint. Pun intended.) And so He sent me Sonya Rae... a gift I didn't know I needed.
Let's set the stage three weeks ago. While on vacation my back started hurting again. It's a combination of super tight muscles, a few lovely spasms, bent over walking, out of alignment spine, and a general feeling of crapiness. I can't clean, I can't play, I can't relax. It's really quite lovely.
After a week of trying to "heal thyself", I went to the chiropractor a couple of times. That was ok. He did some good, but I was still in pain.
This week I'm out of town at a business meeting. Four and a half LOVELY days to rest, have someone make my bed, watch stupid tv, oh yea, and learn a few things. I decided to try and find a masseuse while in town. Something about her link on Google just jumped out at me and that's how I found my Yoda... Sonya Rae.
I spent a little over an hour with a 5'2", 120 pound, maybe 60 year old gal. I hate guessing at her age for fear of insulting her, but I'm used to masseuses that are in their 20s. Sonya Rae had a bit more experience. What I learned in that hour, what I felt, what she made me believe about myself, puts her age at around 150. W I S D O M is a wonderful thing.
Here are some of the gems I picked up. The words are as close as I can remember.
* We don't use the "d-i-e-t" word. We must first learn to truly love ourselves before we can start to change ourselves. I had to look in the mirror every day and tell myself that I was loved and truly valued. It wasn't until I believed it that I didn't want to put junk in my body anymore. And then it was so easy to do. Don't get me wrong... I still eat a 1/2 a box of ice cream every now and then. I'm human. But I don't have to. I'm worth more than that.
* Don't drink anything while you eat. And don't drink until 30 minutes after your meal. It messes up the enzymes. (Or something like that. I didn't have a notepad!)
* Don't eat fruit while you eat or until 30 minutes after.
* Your blood type affects what you should eat. I'm an "O". I should eat lean meat. No bread. No white potatoes - but sweet potatoes, yes! "O"s were the hunters. Type A are the gatherers. They should eat vegetables.
* When you get into your car, sit on your bottom first and swing your legs around. Then do the opposite when you get out. C'mon... let's go to your car and I'll show you. (And she did.)
* The best thing you can pass along to your girls is the ability to love yourself. You're giving them more than you realize.
* I didn't start following my passions until later in life. I was waiting on a son to get a degree and learn something. What I really wanted was for me to do that. And so I did!
* Don't get me started on diet pop.
* It's excellent that you have passions you want to pursue. What is stopping you?
* When you're doing downward-dog, make sure your head is between your arms. You're tall. You need to stretch out more.
* You need to make time for yourself. Every day. If someone knocks on the door, don't answer it. They'll come back. If someone calls, let them leave a message. If they don't, it wasn't that important. As women, we tend to care for our children first and ourselves last -- or never. When really, it should be the opposite! I learned that late in life. Understand that now.
* I walk a mile everyday. I don't plan for it. I do it. My husband walks around the streets. I like to go to Genesis and walk on the treadmill. I don't want to be far away when my mile is up.
* Water is so good for you. I used to think that if I drank too much water that I would weigh more. It's exactly the opposite. I see that you know that. If we know these things, why aren't we practicing them every day? Do I want to put processed foods in my body? I do not! I eat things my body needs. I drink things my body needs. I do things it needs. I take care of my body so that it will take care of me.
* I just got back from a trip to New York with a friend. I travel all of the time. But this friend made my traveling experience, well, difficult. I was scheduled to go on a cruise with her. When I got back, I decided to check myself. Was it best for me to go on that trip with her? No. It was not. So I cancelled it.
* In the words of Eckhart Tolle, 'if something difficult happens, I embrace it, I deal with it, I move on. There is no stress in my life.' This is a simple idea. I know there is a higher power that I know I can trust. I have to learn to trust myself.
:)
Was there more that she said? Oh sure. We talked extensively about yoga and she told me about her training. She taught me about reflexology. I taught her about the brain's reaction to changing behaviors. Seriously - - I looked at the clock when I left. I arrived at 5:10 and left at 6:15 with two hugs, a demonstration of the appropriate techniques for downward-dog and mountain, and a personal tutorial of how to get in and out of my van; not to mention a reflexology treatment on my feet and a back massage. Did all of this really happen in such a short time?
I feel ... well, loved. Loved by my new friend. But also, as always, loved so very deeply by my Savior and ultimate yogi, Jesus. He knew I needed to experience Sonya Rae. And experience... I did. I soaked up every moment and hope to never forget how I feel this night; wrapped in love and light. I feel like I can embrace her messages and move forward. As I still smell the lavender oil on my hands, I know this gift was given to me and I am so grateful.
It's time to follow Sonya Rae's advice, friends. It's time to look in the mirror and start to love ourselves just an inkling as much as our Lord does. What if? Just for a moment, what power would we have for good if we loved ourselves? Would we be able to see problems as Eckhart Tolle does? Would we gather the strength needed to love God's children? Would wisdom come to us so we might be brave enough to share with others?
That's a gift worth opening.
