June 11, 2008

Ten Things

1. I haven't come around to say words about my lovely yoga retreat at Fully Belly Farm over Memorial Day weekend. It was really wonderful. I left with a renewed interest in practicing outside more, having hugged a baby goat, drank milk straight from the cow, and nourished with fresh, fresh farm produce. I've since given up the soymilk, and am working raw milk into my diet. I also joined the Full Belly Farm CSA and now get a weekly produce box. Sweet!

2. I paid a visit to an Ayurvedic/Jyotisha (Indian "astrology") practitioner. I learned many interesting and dead-on details from my "road map" of life. That's a whole 'nother post itself. I should record the details so I don't forget.

3. Splat the Cat was put in my life to learn about love. He offers it unconditionally and with Hippo The Scaredy as the yang to Splat's yin, it's quite something to be offered life lessons from one's cats.

4. My honey and I have been pulling off morning hikes in Redwood before work, usually 3 days a week. It's amazing how fresh air and nature lift my spirits.

5. This past weekend was the third weekend of six of my yoga Immersion program. It is incredible to be in company of people who have the same interest in community, learning, growing, practicing yoga. I am still uplifted from this past weekend.

6. There's someone I've been getting closer to and it's fun.

7. I'm bailing out on a meditation retreat over the Fourth of July weekend because I scored a campsite at Pinnacles National Monument. I've never been there, but have heard great things about Pinnacles. Big climbing spot, amazing rock. Looking forward to a mellow weekend of camping goodness.

8. My summer has suddenly gotten shorter. I've been quiet on the subject, but I'm having knee surgery (on both knees!) on July 18th. This surgery will determine if I'm a candidate for cartilage replacement surgery (ACI procedure, where they harvest cartilage from my knee to grow more in a New England petri dish). If I am suited for the procedure, I'm looking at two more surgeries, quite extensive with long recovery times.

9. The ramifications of said surgery has been occupying too much brain space. I'm not good at being slow, immobile, helpless, reliant on others, patient, quiet, listening to my body, etc. Perhaps because of this, I'm being handed the opportunity to learn. I feel like the car accident two years ago was a way to learn to listen to my body, and that I have yet to fully understand how. I am looking at the upcoming surgery/surgeries as a way to know my body better, to use my body as a laboratory of health and healing, and to use my yoga practice heavily in rehab. This next year could be quite challenging, just as much for my mind as for my body.

10. Mt. Whitney is officially off. My 39th birthday will not be spent hiking to the highest point of the lower 48. It will be spent hobbling. I've got to find something kickass to do, regardless.