BIRTHDAYS ARE A BIG DEAL!

Birthdays are a big deal, or maybe I'm reverting to my childhood, when every birthday was an exciting and long-awaited event.  I'm the only one I know to announce my own birthday at church--and to announce my age.  This year I celebrated my 76th birthday, grateful to be here to celebrate, and very grateful to be healthy and happy and able to celebrate it.  As I said, it's a big deal.

This year my birthday landed on the day I go to my yoga class (Tuesdays at 9:30 am at Yoga North with Sara Duke as the teacher).  I always like to celebrate my birthday at yoga by sharing some little treat at the end of class.  This year it was dark chocolate with dried cherries--very yummy.  Sara was on vacation and Molly subbed for her, which was nice.  I was filled with gratefulness for the class and for all that yoga has done for my body, mind and spirit.  I would not be able to enjoy and participate so fully in my life if yoga weren't such an integral part of my life.  My body would definitely be more stiff and sore and inflexible.  Although I have fairly severe arthritis and degeneration and torn this and that, yoga helps me to physically enter into my life.

My pranayama (breath) and meditation practices seep into my daily life and even out the rough places while giving me tools to use in these rough places.  I am grateful.

Each year brings loss and change in my body.  Each year I face reality with more ease.  Each year brings more acceptance and surrender.  Each year brings the possibility of more and more joy.

BIRTHDAYS ARE A BIG DEAL!