Daily Quote

Summer/Life Goal-Do More Yoga

Don't you ever feel like things are going to fast?  This is my constant feeling: that there are a thousand things to do and not enough time to do them in.  I feel like I make tons of life sacrifices that I should really reevaluate for my sanity and happiness.  I give up a lot of family time and me time for things that are just really not that critical.  My worry is that I am not productive enough or working hard enough or getting done what I want to get done.

What is it really I want to get done?  Truthfully what I want is to be the best at all things when I constantly tell myself I am the worst.  I want to be the best person, daughter, wife, teacher, sister, athlete, etc.  This puts on tons of constant pressure, and I always feel this anxiety.  This year it was quite overwhelming, so I am looking forward to having some time to rethink my priorities for self and family and outlook.  I am hoping to take some more me time and try to feel less guilty when I do so.

One of the things I need to get back into that I think will help with that balance is a daily or at least more than once a month yoga practice.  Mom and I used to go weekly to the YMCA; our instructor was fabulous and it was an hour and a half where I didn't worry about whatever else was happening.  I just got to focus on stretching, breathing and feeling really good.  Our great instructor is no longer with the Franklin YMCA because that place is full of shenanigans, but she is out teaching at other areas and I may look into some of her summer classes that are not Franklin based.

I am also resolving to do more independent practice at home.  YouTube fitness channels have been my friend throughout the past fall, winter, spring seasons and I am trying out a 30-day yoga challenge.  The videos are not as long as a full class, but they will be sufficient for getting some quiet time and stretching and self-reflection.  I think this will be a good habit especially once my two classes kick into gear and I need a brain break from the wonders of online learning (blerg).  

My natural inclination is to constantly fill my time with tasks; I don't want to do that this summer.  I absolutely have to-dos and goals, but I don't want days so crammed that I race through my summer and regret not just being still and relaxed for some bits.  So we'll try this out and see what happens.

Something new-A Daily Quote (or semi daily quote depending on myforgetfulness)

Quote of the Day:

It is sometimes overwhelming to consider the possibilities out there and the opportunities I may be missing out on.  My goal this summer is to figure out some more of what I want out of this life and make a plan for how to get there.  

Start of Summer

Happy summer! Or at least pre summer warm up with the Memorial Day weekend upon us.

Yesterday marked the end of this whirlwind of a school year, and it was a doozy.  I knew it would be challenging when I made the grade change from first to fourth, however, I was bowled over by many factors that made this year tough.  I benefitted from working with a great co-teacher who helped offer some guidance and support as well as a super fourth grade team that was not just helpful to work with, but fun and colorful.  I am looking forward to taking a breather for the summer, thinking about how to make next year better and then getting back into it in August.

In jumping into a new season, I made the jump to a new hair color: caramel.  I have always been toying with color to one degree or another and am thankful that my skin/hair is fairly flexible and accepting of the abuses I heap upon it.  The picture only sort of captures the difference in shade; it is much more dramatic in the light and in person.  My hair is solidly in the bob phase where it has a great shape and I am able to have my hairdresser play around with it without desperately wanting to return to the days of the pixie.  I am hoping for ease and fluff to keep the hair off of my neck throughout what will no doubt be a warm and moist summer.

Summer always presents me with time to think about resetting goals and dedicating some brain power to things I am unable to do during this school year.  Reading is always on my to do list and I am currently reading both a fiction and a non-fiction (yay more fiction).  I am about halfway through this book: 

It is an excellent, comprehensive look at what is going on in public education and what parents can do and should expect from their child's schools.  

I am also reading through Girl on the Train and have not yet decided how I feel about it other than I am intrigued about the fascination authors have with presenting stories from multiple alternating perspectives.  

Along with getting some reading done, I am continuing my masters course work and am looking forward after taking a much needed brain break and taking a great PLS class in January and February.