It’s funny how life can pick up with an intensity that you weren’t expecting. Things have changed massively for me in the past few weeks and I’m stunned with how you can move from a frozen state to full on momentum in a short span of time. But alas, here we are!
I always joke that my friend Lea is the busiest person I know. Getting into her schedule is nearly impossible and yet, she squeezed me in for an overnight visit this weekend—I’m thrilled. It will be so nice to visit Lüneburg and see one of my favorite people before I, too, become the busiest person in the world.
I did an audit of my calendar today and it’s quite full! Not only is it full but it’s organized and planned out….?? I’m skeptical as I’ve spent the past year unable to commit to any plans or follow-through on almost anything which resulted in me feeling constantly miserable and worse, rountinely letting people down. In the following months, I will visit several countries, ones I’ve been to previously and ones I haven’t. I’m looking forward to the travel both professional and personal. My life finally feels like it has balance and I can actually look forward to things again.
On a weekly basis, I’ve got the cadence down pat. I’ve finally found a therapist to see IN PERSON if you can believe it. I instantly connected with her and look forward to our sessions. She’s kind, patient and asks me questions I need to be thinking about. She challenges me and that’s what I was hoping for in a therapist. I’m going to my German classes twice a week and studying my vocabulary outside of the classroom. I’m running and doing my fitness classes on a consistent basis. I schedule social activities within reason and don’t extend myself or overbook. I’m busy but in a healthy way, if that makes sense?
Last night I decided to do a 95 minute yoga class with my free evening. I was feeling sore as hell from my run and I had a lot on my mind…what else is new. Despite not really wanting to go by the time the class rolled around, I went anyway. I found my thoughts taking me down an unproductive path but did my best to stay in the moment despite the intrusive thought pattern. As I looked around the beautiful yoga studio situated in an Altbau with big windows, plants, and crown molding, I had the evergreen thought or realization of how lucky I am. Things have been challenging at times but I couldn’t help but express my gratitude for the ability to move my body, push it to limits and do so in a beautiful country and setting where I have the freedom to live and work.
In Savasana, aka the corpse pose, I laid there with my eyes closed, completely still. I thought about how life was coming full circle again and how the things I hoped for were finally happening. I thought back to moments from my weekend and how it makes my heart expand. I thought about the feeling of unconditional love both giving and receiving. I thought of how much I missed him. Then, I stopped thinking all together. I felt the hands of the yoga teacher on my shoulders as she massaged them as a gentle reminder to release the stress. I took a big exhale and released the tension. A moment of stillness before my life picks up again.
On the docket for the next two months:
- St. Maarten
- Karlsruhe
- Strasbourg/Colmar
- Brussels
- Lucerne
- Düsseldorf
- Cologne
And last but not least…. the Camino! I’ll be doing a four day stretch on the Camino most likely the Camino Francés. I’ve been talking about doing this for years and this will be a good bookend to the journey I’ve been on, I think. My best friend, Carly, will come too.
Aus we gooooooooo