You have one. I know you do. The neighbor that doesn't keep their property up as good as you would like, or has loud parties, or parks cars in your way, or blows leaves into your yard or the street....or maybe you don't care for the color of the house, or the type of decorations they use......whatever it is.
I have a house on either side of me that could, if I let them, drive me absolutely to distraction. Twenty years ago, two little old ladies lived next door to me - one on each side. The houses were old, not updated (no central air for example), but the ladies managed to mow the yard and keep their homes reasonably repaired. Eventually.....both ladies died -and the homes passed to their daughters.
That's when it got bad, mostly in the spring, when grass grows quickly and needs to be treated for weeds. But also in the fall, when leaves need to be raked and composted. Nothing was done. Then...the honey locust tree died. Then the fence fell down. Then, the driveway cracked, and the guttering fell off.
One of the daughters still lives in her mother's house, the other house is abandoned. It was empty for nearly three years. Finally that daughter came back home to live, but she would say strange things (like her dog could fly), or just sit for hours staring into space. And she turned out to be a hoarder, a pack rat. She is gone again, probably living with family. And the homes continue to age, fall into disrepair, and the grass grows tall. Weeds, trash, limbs/branches, and last year's leaves are a nuisance.
I bring this all up to describe the circumstances, the "back story". But I bring it up to make a certain point too.......one that has to do with "living my yoga".
Last weekend, tired of looking at the front yard of the occupied home (I basically ignore the abandoned one, I'm helped by my wooden fence that blocks the view), I got my gloves, gathered all of the fallen branches and trash for the fire pit or the dumpster....hopped on my tractor and mowed her front yard. I set the blade on the second highest setting. She was not home when this took place. In years past, she sometimes would pull in the driveway when I was just finishing up, give me a look (or maybe say thank you) and go inside. I think she is a little socially inept, or maybe even a little bit impaired, or maybe ashamed?
I love my tractor. I work hard to afford to pay for my yard equipment and everything else I own. She has a mower (have helped her start it before) but doesn't seem inclined to use it very often. Mowing with a lawn tractor is easy work. Just ride awhile. I enjoy the ride. So....(and here is my point)...why did I finally feel resentment? Wasn't I just doing what I've always done? Helping out when I could no longer stand to look at the tall grass is my problem, though there are health concerns with unkempt properties (standing water, ticks, unsafe tree limbs, etc.)
I have to be able to perform a deed, without resenting it! If it's my choice to mow her yard, I can't be mad at her for NOT mowing it! I have the means (I own the equipment, I can buy the fuel), I am blessed with the physical ability, and I made the choice to act. That should be cause for gratitude not resentment. Just thinking about these things is a step toward living the yoga I say I practice.....
I will say that once I finished, I let go of the results. Maybe she noticed, maybe not. Maybe she will thank me, maybe she won't. She might think about mowing her own yard (I didn't touch the back yard), or it might not be on her mind......who knows. That is the part I can feel good about.
The next time I decide to mow her yard, I hope to do so in a spirit of service and unselfishness...then just continue on with my day and let it all go....thus "living my yoga".
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Serving a meal at The Lord's Diner....
.....from the Lord's Diner website: "The Lord’s Diner serves dinner nightly from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays. A small paid staff, assisted by more than 5,500 volunteers representing many faiths and denominations prepare and serve a hot, nutritious meal in a spirit of compassion, respect and loving service. The Lord’s Diner is currently serving an average of 400 meals nightly".
It was the first Tuesday of the month (assistance checks had arrived the dining room director told us), and so it was a fairly light night (by the diner's standards). At times, the Lord's Diner will serve over 500 people in just under two hours. Tonight, when the doors opened, there was a huge rush. At first we were so busy scooping and dishing, that we couldn't really look up or around. As the first wave passed, we were able to take a breath and notice our surroundings. Behind us stands a team of men who restock the serving trays - "more potatoes...more bread", we call out as we need refills.
Some guests are open and friendly, some are drunk or high, some are surly, quite a few just shuffle past with trays and drinks, not saying a word, not making eye contact. There are more families with small children than ever before.
The sensory experience is hard to describe -steam in our faces from the storage carts that hold the hot food, the strong smell of cigarette smoke and unwashed humans as the diners pass by, the foot or leg ache from standing so long in one spot, how hard it is to maintain mountain pose during breather times (still that tendency to "sit" on one hip). The rubber mat that I was standing on ended at my right foot, so my left foot was an inch lower at my station. And...why is there always an itch on your face, just when you have clean hands and clean gloves on them? Ha!
The t-shirts worn by the diners with slogans like: "Carpe Diem", "I'm Excited To Be Here", "Power to the People" "River Run", etc. seemed to mock the plight of the person receiving this hot, free meal.
And, this being my home town for nearly half a century.......I did see someone I once knew. Someone who, 20+ years ago had a job, and an apartment, and friends to hang out with. Someone who looked right past me and did not see me. Someone once very much like me. Someone I was once very much like.
2010 will be my 5th year as a Lord's Diner volunteer.
It was the first Tuesday of the month (assistance checks had arrived the dining room director told us), and so it was a fairly light night (by the diner's standards). At times, the Lord's Diner will serve over 500 people in just under two hours. Tonight, when the doors opened, there was a huge rush. At first we were so busy scooping and dishing, that we couldn't really look up or around. As the first wave passed, we were able to take a breath and notice our surroundings. Behind us stands a team of men who restock the serving trays - "more potatoes...more bread", we call out as we need refills.
Some guests are open and friendly, some are drunk or high, some are surly, quite a few just shuffle past with trays and drinks, not saying a word, not making eye contact. There are more families with small children than ever before.
The sensory experience is hard to describe -steam in our faces from the storage carts that hold the hot food, the strong smell of cigarette smoke and unwashed humans as the diners pass by, the foot or leg ache from standing so long in one spot, how hard it is to maintain mountain pose during breather times (still that tendency to "sit" on one hip). The rubber mat that I was standing on ended at my right foot, so my left foot was an inch lower at my station. And...why is there always an itch on your face, just when you have clean hands and clean gloves on them? Ha!
The t-shirts worn by the diners with slogans like: "Carpe Diem", "I'm Excited To Be Here", "Power to the People" "River Run", etc. seemed to mock the plight of the person receiving this hot, free meal.
And, this being my home town for nearly half a century.......I did see someone I once knew. Someone who, 20+ years ago had a job, and an apartment, and friends to hang out with. Someone who looked right past me and did not see me. Someone once very much like me. Someone I was once very much like.
2010 will be my 5th year as a Lord's Diner volunteer.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Maya Tulum
I had an opportunity to visit the Yucatan Peninsula in March for a yoga retreat. Most of the participants came from the Bay area (where the teacher, Barbara Voinar lives), but she draws students from all over the United States. I met her in Wichita at a yoga workshop three years ago.
Maya Tulum is a resort and wellness center, offering mud treatments, vegetarian food, at least 8 different types of massage, a sweat lodge, beach activities, and yoga. Visiting yoga teachers reserve group trainings and retreats, like ours. We had a two hour class each morning and a two hour class each evening (doing the math: 24 hours of yoga in 6 days).
The food was good, with fish on the menu two nights (wahoo and grouper), plenty of fresh fruit, beautiful salads, traditional Mexican rice, tortillas and tamales - just without meat. The hosts arranged for a salsa dance class on Friday from two professional dancers (video on my facebook page), and there were a variety of eco-tours in the area. A group of us rented bikes (the old-fashioned kind – pedal forward to go, and backward to stop!) and toured the Mayan ruins up the coast a few kilometers. That day, El Presidente (Felipe Calderon) was there giving a speech, and the military presence was awe-inspiring. There were Mexican navy ships off-shore and certain areas were off-limits to tourists. Later in the week, some of the students went on a float trip, others went snorkeling.
The accommodations were modest, mostly thatched-roof huts and cabanas, but they were comfortable, well-furnished, and clean. I highly recommend it!
http://www.rrresorts.com/f.html#/maya_tulum/
Maya Tulum is a resort and wellness center, offering mud treatments, vegetarian food, at least 8 different types of massage, a sweat lodge, beach activities, and yoga. Visiting yoga teachers reserve group trainings and retreats, like ours. We had a two hour class each morning and a two hour class each evening (doing the math: 24 hours of yoga in 6 days).
The food was good, with fish on the menu two nights (wahoo and grouper), plenty of fresh fruit, beautiful salads, traditional Mexican rice, tortillas and tamales - just without meat. The hosts arranged for a salsa dance class on Friday from two professional dancers (video on my facebook page), and there were a variety of eco-tours in the area. A group of us rented bikes (the old-fashioned kind – pedal forward to go, and backward to stop!) and toured the Mayan ruins up the coast a few kilometers. That day, El Presidente (Felipe Calderon) was there giving a speech, and the military presence was awe-inspiring. There were Mexican navy ships off-shore and certain areas were off-limits to tourists. Later in the week, some of the students went on a float trip, others went snorkeling.
The accommodations were modest, mostly thatched-roof huts and cabanas, but they were comfortable, well-furnished, and clean. I highly recommend it!
http://www.rrresorts.com/f.html#/maya_tulum/
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Company newsletter submissions.....Yoga for the Office Worker
Time Out!
Try to allow yourself time each day, or weekly (!) to be without external stimuli–traffic, music, crowds, television, or engaged in a task like driving, doing laundry, or talking/texting. It may be difficult to find a place in our chaotic urban or home environment, but it is well worth the effort to do so. As you sit quietly with yourself, you may find your thoughts spinning like a Kansas spring storm, and that will be okay at first…..with a little practice, this “empty” time will start to have a positive effect on your well-being.
In our stimulation-based lives, we are constantly seeking fulfillment through activity, which leaves no time for the quietness of simply being present with you. If this is true, then how does our “turned-up-high” nervous system know when it’s appropriate to shift to a lower gear? Not only do we not know when to turn down the dial, we don’t even know how! What would happen to a machine that runs full-speed all the time? Wouldn’t you agree that the same thing could happen to people?
Give this quiet time a chance to work by finding a peaceful spot, sitting comfortably in a chair or on the floor, and turning your attention to your breathing. Is your breathing shallow? rough? smooth? short? tight or tense? Can you slow it down and make it more regular just by thinking about it? Does your cell phone or watch have a timer? Set your timer, close your eyes and relax your shoulders.
Give yourself just 5 minutes of this exercise. See if you feel a little calmer, a little less pressured, a little more restored to “yourself”. And if 5 minutes seems like an eternity….and it just isn’t working at all…..and all you can think about is what to fix for dinner, or how much work you have to do tomorrow…..then simply open your eyes…..pat yourself on the back for trying…..and try again tomorrow!
Cindy
Next time in 5-Minutes of yoga: Stretches for repetitive stress on your wrists and elbows……
Try to allow yourself time each day, or weekly (!) to be without external stimuli–traffic, music, crowds, television, or engaged in a task like driving, doing laundry, or talking/texting. It may be difficult to find a place in our chaotic urban or home environment, but it is well worth the effort to do so. As you sit quietly with yourself, you may find your thoughts spinning like a Kansas spring storm, and that will be okay at first…..with a little practice, this “empty” time will start to have a positive effect on your well-being.
In our stimulation-based lives, we are constantly seeking fulfillment through activity, which leaves no time for the quietness of simply being present with you. If this is true, then how does our “turned-up-high” nervous system know when it’s appropriate to shift to a lower gear? Not only do we not know when to turn down the dial, we don’t even know how! What would happen to a machine that runs full-speed all the time? Wouldn’t you agree that the same thing could happen to people?
Give this quiet time a chance to work by finding a peaceful spot, sitting comfortably in a chair or on the floor, and turning your attention to your breathing. Is your breathing shallow? rough? smooth? short? tight or tense? Can you slow it down and make it more regular just by thinking about it? Does your cell phone or watch have a timer? Set your timer, close your eyes and relax your shoulders.
Give yourself just 5 minutes of this exercise. See if you feel a little calmer, a little less pressured, a little more restored to “yourself”. And if 5 minutes seems like an eternity….and it just isn’t working at all…..and all you can think about is what to fix for dinner, or how much work you have to do tomorrow…..then simply open your eyes…..pat yourself on the back for trying…..and try again tomorrow!
Cindy
Next time in 5-Minutes of yoga: Stretches for repetitive stress on your wrists and elbows……
Friday, March 5, 2010
Home remodel
Its a wonder what you find in your own home, especially if you didn't build it, or remodel it the FIRST time around!
I've lived in my house for 20 years. What was once upon a time an attached single car garage (probably not even big enough for today's monster SUV's or full size trucks), was turned into a fourth bedroom. Most of the homes in my neighborhood have similar remodels, using what was the original garage for living space: a room with a fireplace, another entrance, an extra bedroom or an office.
There was some damage below the window that was repaired with new Sheetrock, but it was not insulated. 20 years of heating and cooling only to find out that just a few dollars of insulation inside the wall would have made all the difference.
Pictures to follow.
This room is going to be a yoga room/art studio. It is turning out better than expectations and I am very happy with the progress so far.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
2009 Holiday Letter
What a year! Just after camping season began, Beth’s mom, Margaret, suffered a “mini-stroke” – the doctor called it a transient ischemic attack . Thankfully, there were no long-term effects….but time to let Margaret “retire” -at age 88. She had been maintaining her household almost single-handedly since her husband fell and broke his hip late last year, and the stress was affecting her health.
The Wimber’s moved into a retirement home in July. They are still independent -living in a small apartment in a nicely landscaped area– with covered walkways and easy access to the dining hall. It took the efforts of all the daughters: Shelley to sort, donate, and pack, Beth and I to move, have a sale and clean, and Jan, here from California, to decorate and make them comfortable. At Lakepoint, meals are provided, as is laundry and light housekeeping. The staff is very nice. There are opportunities for bridge, bingo, fitness activities, and the occasional organized party (a luau, car show and a great Veteran’s Day celebration for example). Someone will check on them if they don’t come to meals. Best of all the food is good (for the Wimber’s it was a major concern, trust me)!
As for the house they were living in –Beth and I had owned it for eight years. We had finished a recent remodel of the basement after a flood (a huge, expensive, uninsured project –our agent called it a “maintenance issue”), and then additional construction to accommodate her dad’s reduced mobility after hip surgery (the “porch project”). With nothing but bad news in the real estate sector, we placed the single-family home on the market, hoping for the best, and preparing for the worst. As it turned out, we sold the house in EIGHT days! Not only did it sell quickly, closing took place in the same month. And….that….is what we did…on our summer vacation.
In late March, I graduated from the teacher training program of the Shambhava School of Yoga (it’s based in Colorado, but my training was here in Wichita). It took eight months and I am now a registered yoga teacher (RYT200). I continue to teach weekly classes at a local recreation center.
My best friend’s wedding was in May. For the occasion, I had been growing my hair…well at least that’s how it all got started. J Then it became a challenge to grow my hair to at least 10 inches (the minimum length) for “Locks of Love” -they make wigs for cancer patients. It was a happy day when I cut off that ponytail and mailed it to the charity!
I embraced “social networking” wholeheartedly! It was the summer of my high school’s 30th class reunion. Helped by sites like Facebook and Classmates.com, I was able to re-connect with a number of people, even if they could not attend the reunion. Facebook also helped me find cousins in Maine, California, and New York, college friends, and people from grade school!
Not as much camping as we would have liked, but we made it to Arkansas (Beaver Lake) in September. The group this year included my brother Derek. I was lucky to spend not only a week at the lake with him, but when he was temporarily laid off; he came to Wichita for a week. We built a cedar privacy fence, replaced trim on the outbuildings, and got other little things done. I enjoyed his mellow company.
Even though cut-backs continue at my job with CGF Industries, and with the recreation center where I teach yoga, and with the post office, we look forward to each precious day.
The Wimber’s moved into a retirement home in July. They are still independent -living in a small apartment in a nicely landscaped area– with covered walkways and easy access to the dining hall. It took the efforts of all the daughters: Shelley to sort, donate, and pack, Beth and I to move, have a sale and clean, and Jan, here from California, to decorate and make them comfortable. At Lakepoint, meals are provided, as is laundry and light housekeeping. The staff is very nice. There are opportunities for bridge, bingo, fitness activities, and the occasional organized party (a luau, car show and a great Veteran’s Day celebration for example). Someone will check on them if they don’t come to meals. Best of all the food is good (for the Wimber’s it was a major concern, trust me)!
As for the house they were living in –Beth and I had owned it for eight years. We had finished a recent remodel of the basement after a flood (a huge, expensive, uninsured project –our agent called it a “maintenance issue”), and then additional construction to accommodate her dad’s reduced mobility after hip surgery (the “porch project”). With nothing but bad news in the real estate sector, we placed the single-family home on the market, hoping for the best, and preparing for the worst. As it turned out, we sold the house in EIGHT days! Not only did it sell quickly, closing took place in the same month. And….that….is what we did…on our summer vacation.
In late March, I graduated from the teacher training program of the Shambhava School of Yoga (it’s based in Colorado, but my training was here in Wichita). It took eight months and I am now a registered yoga teacher (RYT200). I continue to teach weekly classes at a local recreation center.
My best friend’s wedding was in May. For the occasion, I had been growing my hair…well at least that’s how it all got started. J Then it became a challenge to grow my hair to at least 10 inches (the minimum length) for “Locks of Love” -they make wigs for cancer patients. It was a happy day when I cut off that ponytail and mailed it to the charity!
I embraced “social networking” wholeheartedly! It was the summer of my high school’s 30th class reunion. Helped by sites like Facebook and Classmates.com, I was able to re-connect with a number of people, even if they could not attend the reunion. Facebook also helped me find cousins in Maine, California, and New York, college friends, and people from grade school!
Not as much camping as we would have liked, but we made it to Arkansas (Beaver Lake) in September. The group this year included my brother Derek. I was lucky to spend not only a week at the lake with him, but when he was temporarily laid off; he came to Wichita for a week. We built a cedar privacy fence, replaced trim on the outbuildings, and got other little things done. I enjoyed his mellow company.
Even though cut-backs continue at my job with CGF Industries, and with the recreation center where I teach yoga, and with the post office, we look forward to each precious day.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Update on Toyota acceleration........
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toyota-recall26-2009nov26,0,3295310.story
Toyota Motor Corp. said today it would reconfigure or replace the gas pedals in 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to prevent the episodes of runaway acceleration that prompted the largest vehicle recall in the company's history.
The announcement dramatically expands the scope and likely expense of the recall, which was announced on Sept. 29. Toyota had initially focused on the possibility that improperly installed floor mats might be causing the unintended acceleration problems, and urged owners of affected vehicles to remove the mats until they could be replaced.Now, beginning in January, Toyota dealers will start reconfiguring the gas pedal "to address the risk of floor mat entrapment."The recall affects the 2007-2010 Toyota Camry, the 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, the 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, the 2005-2010 Tacoma, the 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, the 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350 and the 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 and IS 350.
Toyota Motor Corp. said today it would reconfigure or replace the gas pedals in 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to prevent the episodes of runaway acceleration that prompted the largest vehicle recall in the company's history.
The announcement dramatically expands the scope and likely expense of the recall, which was announced on Sept. 29. Toyota had initially focused on the possibility that improperly installed floor mats might be causing the unintended acceleration problems, and urged owners of affected vehicles to remove the mats until they could be replaced.Now, beginning in January, Toyota dealers will start reconfiguring the gas pedal "to address the risk of floor mat entrapment."The recall affects the 2007-2010 Toyota Camry, the 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, the 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, the 2005-2010 Tacoma, the 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, the 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350 and the 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 and IS 350.
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