Colorful Challenges Ahead in Everyday Ramblings

It is warm and dry. Both unusual for the 4th of July holiday here in Portland.

It was lovely early and that is even more rare. I enjoyed my time out on the track. It will be hazy for the biggest fireworks display of the year. And this year our waterfront Blues Festival is huge! Attracting well-known musicians and therefore more folks. I’ll be walking through there is a few hours to wend my way to the yoga studio for the next to the last weekend of classes there.

Actually it is probably my last weekend of classes because my private student is going out of town next weekend. So I’ll go over, am planning on riding my bike over and back, but I don’t expect any students. But you never know…

St. Joe clocked in from Southern Oregon yesterday morning and really wanted to be useful so with encouragement from both him and my manager I logged off at noon and took a long nap. Slowly but surely my energy levels are returning but it takes time and I think I mentioned that the surgery Wednesday was intense.

I am taking it pretty easy today. No long hikes or bike rides or inversions or… The icing seems to have worked and although I looked like I had a stroke on Wednesday there is practically no swelling today.

Very carefully I had a little festive picnic with Brie and fresh multi-grain baguette and cantaloupe and fresh cherries this afternoon…. Ah.

It is the 100th anniversary of my mother’s birth today. My genes are that old. :) Wow.

I put something about that up on Facebook and now am worried about dating myself. Only from a hiring perspective, in case my position gets eliminated in the next reorg and for yoga teacher positions (my retirement career is what they call it) and with umm, guys. Oh well.

It is silly to worry about stuff like this. I know that. Clearly I haven’t reached enlightenment yet.

But I am indulging in Svadhyaya today. Which is part of the bigger yoga package. Contemplation and study of the scriptures. One definition I like is …refinement of the intellect through introspection and the acquisition of knowledge.

My coordinator, the child life specialist on the cancer unit I am volunteering on called to talk to me yesterday a little about my approach to the families on the unit. We are having trouble getting some of the caregivers to actually come to class. (Which, of course brings out all my insecurities) I am low key about the whole thing… if you can come great, if you can’t…

But for her it is something the families need. That is why they offer it. So she wants me to spend more time with them. This is very scary for the introvert in me. I need to get that this is a skill and I can learn it. I do feel strongly that the caregivers will benefit from quiet time with me. I am trained for that.

This is not about me and my fears and insecurities. This is about the child with cancer and the family that supports the child. I need to ask my nurse friends to help with my approach. I need to nudge and empower and cajole and support and get them into the room.

I can do this. I lost 40 pounds I didn’t think I could lose and I stick a big old needle in Sammy every darn day to give him fluids. If I can do that, I can do this. Yes.

Hope those of you here in The States are enjoying your holiday.