As human beings we are constantly experiencing change, as the old adage springs to mind, “nothing is forever”, and that once easy stretch anywhere, slender toned body of mine which was once a gift is now one that needs some energy and restoration. Therefore my focus turns to motivating my mind, muscles and emotions to live their best life. We only get one vehicle to travel on our lifes journey and our body is that car. So vintage she is but knackered she is not, just in need of some attention.
February on the beautiful Isle of Kerrera has been cold and wet with feisty winds so there has been plenty of time to exercise mindfulness, my way of exploring my thoughts and feelings, helping me live in the present rather than dwelling on the past or catupulting myself into the future as I usually do.
As many of you will know I am curious to truly understand myself and constantly in search of the right compass to guide me in achieving a rich and meaningful life. Living in the present is one that often challenges me and so in abide to address this I took up Yoga and meditation this month. My solution to curb and combat my constant desire to either reflect or set future goals. Neither of which are poor traits to practice its just the present is all we really have and I often miss it. Boat yoga is a challenge with such limited space but with a wee bit of improvisation it is perfectly achievable and I even think I may have grown an inch in height with all this stretching! Ok ......I know, I should be so lucky!
The Yoga activity has also spurred me on to improve my strength and stamina so I am building the habit to return to resistance band training and HIIT sessions. I am 28 days in and loving it, although if I was honest I should say that I sometimes still have to get myself by the collar and haul my sorry arse into gear. It is however a priority, this body is worth the effort, it has alot of miles yet to cover, I hope so any way!
The views on the Island is inspiration for anyone to exercise be it work or play. Wouldn't you agree?
My muscles were put to the test just the other day when I helped my friend gather, scan and worm 300 sheep. Island life as an apprentice shepherdess is one of those living in the moment achievements I totally adore. In the open air and in touch with nature is a great feeling and one filled with health benefits. Walking on a dirt trail surrounded by hills, trees and bracken is another way I stay balanced in mind and body it reminds me of the simplicity of life, and brings me back to the essential nature of who I am as a human being.
Finally I share one thing living in the present has revealed to me, it is a bit of a flaw in my daily practice. My mind is so easily distracted, I constantly catch myself starting one thing and then being distracted and starting another before I know it I have several things on the go at once. It drives my hubby mad, but I am starting to appreciate that multi-tasking is not the awesome skill I thought it was. In fact it sometimes slows me down, my focus is constantly being reapplied each time I flick from one task to another and so how is that more effecient or effective I wonder? The multi-tasking I refer to here goes a bit like this, start washing dishes, which leads to empting the bilges, emptying the bin but not yet replacing the bin bag and then mid way start making lunch all the while the dishes are not finished. Not my finest application of efficiency I know! On further analysis I think I do this terrible messy application of multi-tasking to demostrate to my husband there are a thousand jobs to be done, in the hope he will do just one of them. Take my advice it doesn't work, nor does asking him to do any of them! He is a lone wolf operating in a world so removed from my trivia, Gary marches to the beat of his own drum. That I know and now I catch myself and stop the chaos of multi-tasking and enjoy one task at a time. After all, what is the rush little Miss Tanya Michelle?
Until the next time my friends, take care, be happy and move a way from the pavement and walk with nature. Xxx
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