Claude Lorraine |
My
literary muses have taken a lengthy holiday this year, which has left me
stymied and unable to write. I’ve had no flashes of inspiration, creative
insights or whispered revelations. Instead I’ve felt a bit lost by constant
upheaval at work and concerns about my mother’s health. Fortunately, I continue to practice yoga
regularly and this practice helps me to find peace, serenity and spirituality
in the midst of chaos.
Between
January 1, 2016 and July 1, 2016 I’ve held three different jobs and reported to
three different managers at my restructured, acquired, merged company. While
each change moved me in the right direction so that I’ve now achieved the
authority and a role for which I am eminently suited, the constant redirection
has been stressful and discombobulating.
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times….to quote from my
favorite Dickens’ book, A Tale of Two Cities.
This
year my 85 year old mother, who is a force of nature and the strongest women
I’ve known, has experienced several health issues that remind me too much of
the frailty of life. I know that I am blessed, at age 57, to have both of my
parents living, of sound mind, and able to live independently. In the spring
after experiencing excruciating pain she was diagnosed with osteoporosis
related pelvic fractures and two sacral fractures that required surgery
followed by in-patient rehabilitation and both physical and occupational
therapy to build strength to ambulate independently. Just as she achieved
success in her therapy, she was diagnosed for the second time with breast
cancer that has affected surrounding lymph nodes. This means she will have to undergo a third
major surgery this year followed by radiation.
Life just isn’t fair. She followed the rules, ate healthy foods,
exercised regularly, stayed active and still the Fates intervened.
My
mental distraction subsequently resulted in my locking the keys to my car in
the trunk on my birthday while I was on a business trip in New Jersey last week
to meet my new management team. Because I drive a soft top and German
engineering is all about safety, breaking into the vehicle still did not allow
me to gain access to the trunk via the release button. Nope, the car had to be towed to a BMW
dealership and opened through a super secret squirrel manner that also disabled
the automatic system that retracts the soft top. No doubt there will be more
dollars wasted as a result of this folly.
So
it was with great relief that I returned to my yoga practice this evening at
Jala in Winchester, Virginia. Despite my high level of stress, I found a
calmness, peace, serenity and renewed sense of positivity by the end of my
practice. Yoga helps reset my psyche and
find my inner strength and acceptance of life. Through my yoga practice I am
able to meditate, focus on my breath, find the peace within me, and heal my
mind and body. Yoga does not change the fact that my job is stressful, that my
mother is ill, or that my escapade with the car created unnecessary angst;
however, I’ve learned that throughout my journey through life I can take an
hour for myself to promote my physical and mental health, build strength and
flexibility, and promote self love and self compassion, which is critical for
living a well-balanced life. Many thanks to the yogis and yoginis who have
shared their spiritual path with me and made it possible for me to heal.