Well, I won't be needing THAT book!

I didn't go to Argentina.

I'm sitting at home enjoying my morning coffee as I write this. I'm unclear on exactly what happened, but a clusterfuck of politics and lack of communication and ego collided over last weekend, and my going was up in the air. I was scheduled to leave at 11am Monday. I learned at 2pm Sunday that I wasn't going.

I was initially livid. Then, after I roped in my boss and his boss, intelligent conversations were able to happen and I was able to let it go. The end result is that our job titles have changed to better reflect what our position truly does, and a few other things that could improve future situations.

It's been a slow week at work, since I'd cleared the deck to not be there. Tuesday morning Splat the Cat woke me up ridiculously early and I used the opportunity to go to Kirkwood for the day. P and I had an awesome day of riding. So, so, so, so glad we went! I had a high speed crash from which I'm whiplashed and sore, but ultimately fine; I'd been cautious of just such a crash at speed, so in a sense, it was a relief to finally experience what I'd feared. Funny how that goes, isn't it? Fearing something. Avoidance. the Reality never being quite what it's made out to be in one's head. There's some kind of life metaphor in there, but I've not had enough coffee yet to really suss it out.

My yoga practice has been a lot more solid this year, and I'm really seeing the results in my snowboarding. These past few trips, there's been a shift in how it feels to my body. More core strength means, among other things, the ability to very often save one's self from wiping out, or carving through the trees with more ease.

Anyway, I'm still going to read the Non Violent Communications book. It looks to be useful. There's a large and subtle internal shift taking place, that something like this can only contribute positively. I feel like I'm being fed slowly, able to chew on bits as the brain feels relevant.

And as for external changes, in a few days I'm cutting my hair off and donating it to Locks of Love.

Required Reading

A while back, at the suggestion of Becky The Amazing, I purchased the book "Nonviolent Communication".

Last night, I pulled the book out and set it with my passport. The book has now been elevated to Plane Reading status, not because it's the perfect read on an upcoming 10 hour flight, it's because I am struggling to keep my zen on when it comes to one particularly challenging person at work, one whom is traveling to Argentina with me. My calm, my attempts at mindfulness fly out the window when required to exchange more than two sentences with this individual.

I have a feeling that being thousands of miles away from the office might be the opportunity to let this person know how they treat others is not okay. I want to be able to hold back and not rip him a new one, so perhaps this book will guide me into telling him he behaves like a manipulative two-faced napoleon in a graceful manner.

All Agency Email

Dear Fridge Thief,

While I can appreciate it being a new year and you might have resolutions of eating healthier, how about doing it on your own dime? Sure, it sucks to eat a salad when you forgot dressing. It sucks even more when you buy a bottle of salad dressing and it "evaporates" faster than the salads I eat for lunch. Today, my salad enjoys no "goddess" dressing.

Yes, everyone knows Trader Joe's "Goddess" dressing rocks. Apparently, you do, too. Here's a tip, though: for two bucks you can go get your own bottle at TJ's.

But lucky for you, I've been spitting in the bottle as a way to top it off....hope you don't mind sharing, in the truest sense of the word.

In health,
Jen

a priveliged life

honestly, sometimes one needs little reminder of having a priveliged life.

friday, i had a unbelievable day at kirkwood. blue skies, warm, and possibly the best day of riding i've ever had. a couple guinness at lunch, brought from home. nice to be able to steal a day from work and give it to fun.

i have been accepted to the yoga immersion program at yoga kula. in april, i will begin deepening my studies and understandings of yoga, in the anusara style. i feel blessed for finding this program and being able to afford it.

a week from today, i leave for argentina for a photo shoot. it's not really been something i've been getting excited about, because it's for work. now i'm getting a bit excited, because it's still travel. even though it will be the polar opposite of my travels last year. traveling for work means the luxury of business class and the four seasons hotel in buenos aires. i will admit that i'm not entirely comfortable with the level of excess, but i am grateful for the chance to travel more. i am hoping to take a yoga class in spanish!

a week after getting back from argentina, i leave for a yoga retreat in tulum, mexico. it will be the perfect antidote to a long production, a busy few months of work.

all of that is extravagant when compared to simple things like hot showers and drinkable water. i've been having dreams of nepal again. each day, i look at the beautiful thangka painting from pokhara, and it serves as a daily reminder of the amazing trip.

exhausted.

i can't recall being this exhausted in a long time. i am waking up tired. work is all-consuming right now and it's taking it's toll.