i did it!

I taught my final graded yoga class for teacher training today! The room was full of teachers, teacher trainees, friends and some strangers. It was amazing energy. So glad to be finally done with this and to move onto actually teaching yoga.

I'm so stoked.

Seriously. Stoked.

dear universe.

dear universe. you are so dear.

i have no idea what the future holds. that makes me excited. i look forward to everything that falls into my lap, good or bad. just saying, i'm eager for whatever you throw my way.

love,

amanda

10 things.

10 things that make me happy right now:

1) being able to walk to work in about 5 seconds flat.

2) my collection of spring/summer dresses.

3) yoga teacher training almost over.

4) access to car when it's raining, bike when it's sunny.

5) playing with an awesome 2 year old, 3 mornings a week. he's a riot. today we danced for most of the morning.

6) spring showers, may flowers.

7) cutting my credit cards out of my life.

8) starting to live a more simple life.

9) looking forward to the month of may. (giving myself the gift of a monthly mysore class card)

10) being able to put my hair into a ponytail. haven't been able to do that in many many years.

the animals.

hey remember that time?

this is the pig. back in west philly. that was the tile of our bed room. it was pretty horrible. just remembering how bad it was makes me appreciate our how good i have it now.

sometimes it's hard to see what's good now. little reminders like this are good.

i was super down yesterday. nothing in the world could get me out of my funk, except for my bed...

i'm ok today. hey. remember that time?

the purpose of it all.

I keep having these mind blowing thoughts in my mind about life and why we are here on this earth.

Sometimes, I'm at peace knowing that we are born, we live, we die. We eat, sleep, drink, poop, talk, hang, read, work, play, etc. We love, we hate, we fight, we marry, we divorce, we reproduce.

Sometimes, I'm baffled by the whole experience of being a human being.

Sometimes, I just don't get why we are "here." What is the real purpose of our lives? Is it to be successful at our careers? Is it to get married and have children then grandchildren, etc? Is it to have fun? Is it to make a difference? Is it to change the world?

Today, I cried. I went upstairs to my room. Looked at all the "things" I have, (which i keep getting rid of slowly, a few books or clothes or whatever, at a time.) I see no purpose to all these "things." My things don't help the world, they barely help me.

I want to live simply. To simply live. To smile at people. To help people. To love people. To do good unto others. To make a difference. To not consume, consume, consume. To recycle. To be free.

I'm making major life changes. It's scary, but I like it.

10 things that make me happy right now.

My college friend, Val, has a blog called Ok in the Meantime. She writes about food and travels and life. (Very similar to This Philly Life, there are pictures and lists and stories, etc.) I recently came across some of her posts called 10 things that make me happy. So, I'm borrowing her idea..

10 things that make me happy right now:

1) My yoga practice. Even though it's most Vinyasa right now, due to teacher training, which is officially over on May 7th... I'm happy that I have yoga in my life. I have been going to Ashtanga Led Primary classes on Sunday... excited to get back to Mysore practice. Soon, soon.

2) My Hammock. I got it in the mail on Friday. It was a fabulous way to end the week. I practiced 5 days with Jill and then swayed in my new hammock. It's so easy to put up. Just have to find the right trees.

3) Waiting Tables Job. I'm soooo soooo soooo f-ing happy to be waiting tables instead of nannying. My life is infinity better. I have so much free time and I'm seriously loving life. I never knew how good life was. Nannying had been clouding my vision of reality for a very long time. I feel so free. It's been a solid month now and I know i made the best decision leaving the nanny biz.

4) My friends who send me postcards (Chelsea and Iris). I love love love getting hand written letters. We live in an age where most things are electronic. So when I get the postcards from my friends, I'm so happy. I have many saved up. I might make a book of them one day. (Ps, I need to get some stamps! just reminding myself..)

5) My bike. I love having an alternative way of getting around the city. I no longer rely on public transit or my car. I do use the car for groceries and stuff like that, but I love hopping on the bike and getting around town in the most efficient manner.

6) Coffee Addiction. I love my coffee. Right now, it's a force in my life. I'm glad it exists.

7) My pups and ferret. Not much to say, except that I love kissing them and cuddling them. They give endless love.

8) The tulip sitting on my kitchen table. I love seeing it's colors. It's yellow and reddish.

9) Finally finished with all the episodes of L-word. The show was ridiculous.. It was sometimes fun.. sometimes crazy. Asher and I got to watch it together and spend time together which was nice, but I'm honestly glad it's over. Too much L-word in too little time.

10) The park by my house. I love being able to walk the dogs there everyday. There are swings and trees and flowers and gardens. It's so beautiful. Nice to have so close by.

What are 10 things that make you happy right now? I will try and do this once a week or so.. Love to you all.