Category: #annapurnalivingroom

By the Fire Day 3…Dear Winter, You are my favorite time of year. You inspire joy, not woe. You allow me to turn inward during the darker months. You provide a natural inclination to rest, contemplate, renew. I strive to learn to honor the earth's seasonal rhythms-and to indulge in all it's magical moments. By the fire, I take comfort in the coals. By the fire, I feel alive as I watch the fire dance with life. By the fire is where I want to be. Winter- with it's hot and cold, muggy and raining. I feel most alive this time of year. I have let the stress of the expectations grab hold of me and dampen my spirit year after year. This year, because of my surgery, l am free to not be part of the expectations. I've enjoyed that in the past–Christmas in the Iraqi desert; Christmas in Gatlinburg. No expectations. Just being, honoring and celebrating. #annapurnalivingroom

A photo posted by tina (@selfie_notes) on Dec 13, 2015 at 9:24am PST

Day 2 By the Fire…learning to say yes to myself is just as important as saying no to something that does not serve my current state of being. Nostalgia too often robs my living in the moment because there's much sorrow there. Stress and unhappiness defined those holidays. These days, stress and sorrow are present. But that all needs to change. This, too, is my favorite time of the year!!! The creative prompt resonated with me. The pic is from this past summer. The yoga studio I had been a part of for a couple of years, and had come to crave and love, closed and was sold. I held on to it, fiercely! But the day it closed, I had a private burning ceremony to help me let it go. It helped usher in closure and acceptance. And it was and is ok. Realizing my life is mine to create, including holidays. #annapurnalivingroom

A photo posted by tina (@selfie_notes) on Dec 12, 2015 at 8:01am PST