Namaste: 11 February 2012

Anjali Mudra: Namaste

I’m inspired by Amanda at Let’s Take the Metro‘s weekly gratitude post. So, I’m going to cultivate a little more gratitude in my life by joining her on a quest to be thankful until we absolutely exude gratitude. I hope you’ll also join Amanda in sharing just five things you are thankful for this week. Thank you to Amanda for helping bring back genuine gratitude.

This week I am grateful for:

My body. I have trouble writing that I am grateful for my body. But, I am. My body allows me to practice Yoga, the most effective way I’ve found for staying present and breaking down my boundaries. My body has taken me places I never thought I’d go. It has the strength to grow and birth my amazing children. And it has the softness to temper that power with love and affection.

Meditation. I rarely get in a formal, seated meditation more often than once or twice a week. But, I meditate several times during the day, and overnight when I wake up. I fit meditation in the inbetweens. It’s these moments of quiet that allow me to work toward being the person and parent I long to be. When I don’t take the time to meditate, I notice a difference in how patient and kind I am to myself and others.

Learning. I just can’t get enough. I’m voracious about learning new things. When I meet someone who has an interest I know nothing about, I’m intrigued to ask about them. I enjoy discussing things with people who think differently than I do as much as those who think similarly.

Letting Go. Following my children’s leads. Listening, instead of talking, has been a big lesson for me. I have to let go of my ego repeatedly. Every time I do, I’m impressed with what they have come up with. It’s far better than my own. I try this in interactions with adults, too, and get the feeling they are moving into the space in gratitude, and it’s not overextending my own feelings.

Unschooling. I wish I could explain to other parents how rewarding it is to homeschool. It is worth confronting all the educational fears we have as parents. Seeing my children approach a concept, work it through, and grasp it, has been as profound as giving birth at times. It’s easier than I thought it would be because I’m relaxing into the role of supporting them as they take the lead. I listen to friends who volunteer and contribute at their children’s formal schools (not to mention homework) and I see them investing as much time and effort as I do. I enjoy seeing how we are all deeply involved in our children’s educations in ways that align with our education principles. And I love that I let go of my fears about the whole big ball of wax that is homeschooling (Is that the proper term to encompass it??)

I feel as though I just stood under a clear waterfall. Thank you, Amanda, for reminding me to give my gratitude a voice (oops! Does that make 6?