A Grateful Anniversary by Guest Blogger Susan Smith

November celebrates my first yogi anniversary, as Barbara’s student. So, when I received the email for guest bloggers, it couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time!

Looking back from where I am now, I return to the summer of 2007, when life as I knew it was changing before me, like it or not. An extremely private problem was becoming harder to keep under wraps. I have a chronic lung disease called
Cystic Fibrosis. Something I would rarely tell anyone about, since I did not (and still don’t!) want that disease to define me. I had to admit to myself that, for my own good, it was time to retire from the business world.

My priorities in life needed to change and taking care of myself was (and is) my new full-time job. I won’t sugar coat it. . It was a difficult transition. Over the next year or so, I cleaned out and organized about every nook and cranny of the house but when I found myself alphabetically organizing my spices I decided that, even if there were limitations to what I could do, it was time to work on reinventing a new life.

One day I worked up the courage to attend class at High Street Yoga. With Barbara’s welcoming spirit and gentle approach to the practice, I knew I was in the right place for me.

As I progressed in my appreciation for the benefits of yoga, I wondered if incorporating lessons from our weekly sessions would be helpful to do on a daily basis??? So, the experiment began with a few minutes at the beginning of each morning to see if I could encourage a more positive, healthful attitude . . . funny enough . . . it seems like if my head is in a better starting place, the glass looks half full rather than vise versa.

Thank you to Barbara for your part in enriching my life’s journey. I am grateful for what I am learning and can say that I am coming from a more healthful, empowered place. Each new day is a gift and it’s exciting to think of the possibilities that may be ahead!

Most recently, I added The Metta Meditation, to my morning routine. It can be found on October 6th blog entry. Let me encourage you to take a few morning minutes. . They just may influence your day too