Unconditional Love...

Unconditional love - to love others regardless of their behavior towards you. This includes yourself.

This week in Yoga classes the theme has been the 'anahata' or Heart Chakra. Anahata means literally 'unstruck sound'.  They say we can receive inspiration in our 

mind and our heart. I challenged the students to listen more with their heart since it often gets neglected, not giving it enough attention.  The heart speaks softly, as an 'unstruck sound'.  The heart chakra houses 'nada', translated 'the pulse of life'. For an organs that dictates our ability to live, couldn't we benefit from listening to it more.

This leads me to taking my own challenge and listening to what my heart is telling me. My heart yearns to express my love to those I have had the opportunity to care most deeply for, those I only wish to someday love unconditionally...

Disclaimer: I recognize the immensity of the task to list each person with which I have come in contact and with whom I desire to love unconditionally, but I will listen to my heart and mind to recall just a few.

Gods I love: Only one, the supreme being that guides our lives

Husbands I love: Micah

Parents I love: Almon and Janis Clegg

Siblings I love: Diann, Carl, Brenda, Sherlene, Lynette, Caren, Sharon

Family I love: Nick, DeLite, Layne, Randy, Neil, Jeremy, Nate, Nicholas, Daisy, Spencer, Tomina, Naomi, Jenalyn, Rebekah, Carly Ann, Caleb, Max, Kendall, Landon, Asher, Quincy, Emily, Nicole, Trevor, Conner, Porter, Stone, Piper, Cruz, Sixti, Jaxx, Stori, Solei, Axel, Lennox, Karen, Kirt, Alec, Krystal, Megan, Gavin, Vern, Launa, Alene, Grant, Cal, Dennis, Dawn, Janice, Lavar, Evelyn, June, Marie, Melanie, Ty, Debbie, Sue, and the list goes on...

 

Teachers I love: Alan, Jean, Jody, Paula, Marcos, Rama, Lisa, Corena, Mark, God again, personal spirit and so many more

Friends I love: Staci, Anna, Deb, Rebeccah, Sarah, Kellie, Amie, Kimberly, Tamara, Stacia, Rachel, Rachelle, and the list goes on forever....

Yoga Students I love: Carol, Carolyn, June, Kay, Midori, Lisa, Rhonda, Sonia, Janeel, Connie, Morris, Ann, Sue, Janine, Jim, Cindy, Tamara, Leisl, Sherrie, Layton, Kevin, Linda, Sophie, and so many, many, many, many more....

I love you, I seek to love unconditionally, I desire to do more, be more, love more, listen more. From my heart to yours, namaste.

I love bicycles & mothers...

(Singing)I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike.

I love to ride my bicycle, I love to ride my bike...

(belting slowly, annunciating each syllable at the top of my lungs), BI-CY-CLE, I love to ride my bike..... 

These are the words that echo in my mind as I reflect upon my younger years of learning to ride a bike. My brother, Carl, used to sing this little Queen-esque jingle, and then he would end it with calling me Banana legs on behalf of my easily bruised legs.

Do you want the truth about my history with bicycles? Well it isn't much different then my history with men. I grew up on a very busy street, one with few sidewalks, blind curves every way you look, and danger zones on every corner.  Not only was it a busy and dangerous but two experience further tainted my view of my street. In kindergarten I was hit by a truck while crossing the street, due to a truck failing to yield to the bus stop sign.  Not a year later my older sisters friend entered our driveway on a bike too fast from the street. She couldn't take the corner and smashed our rock wall and was nearly killed. Due to this danger my parents decided that riding in the driveway was 

the only thing permissible.  Now granted it was a spacious driveway, but come-on circles in a driveway gets old quick. Adding fuel to the fire, being the youngest of 8, I was lucky to have a less than par hand-me-down for a first bicycle. So not every kids dream to ride an old unfitted bike in countless lame circles on a dangerous street. Now I can see why my brother resorted to a unicycle.

May 2, 2009 changed that. I have finally for the first time in my short 31 years have received a bicycle. I don't have any of the obstacles I had as a child, no dangerous street, no bad incidents as of yet, no driveway circling, and best of all, no lack of not having a cool bike. I almost feel as though I have received everything in life one could hope for. I mean what more could make you whole than a super cool woman inspired bicycle. I now have less awkward legs long enough to reach the petals and no more bruises banana legs.

I love life. I love my bicycle.

Today my bike took me to Yoga class in the am, to lymph drainage massage after, and to Assisted Living Center to see the sweetest old yogies around! Bike has become to me: confidence builder, Yoga promotor(perhaps I should get a sign), leg sculptor, and style producer in her minty green hue.

I am grateful for my legs.

I am grateful for my mother. She teaches to me to focus on what I can do, NOT what I can't do. This makes me happy!

To all green bikes and wonderful mothers everywhere, I love you!

The beauty of men and women....

Hail to all pink bicycle helmets everywhere!  After realizing that my mother-in-law had to search the entire Wasatch front just to find one, I realize all the more how precious the color PINK really is!

So is it true what they say, men and women really are two very different creatures, even from different planets? I have learned from my short 3 1/2 months of marraige, that girls like PINK easy bake ovens, and men like green lawns.  At least this is the case for me.  Currently my two most prized possessions other than my husband: PINK kitchenaid mixer, and PINK helmet. I think the reason I love them so much is because they lead to two of my current favorite activities: baking cookies and bike riding.

Tonight I came from teaching yoga class to find Micah, entrenched in cleaning the garage. Yesterday he set up our patio outside and grilled some dinner. All month he has been working on getting the lawn as lush and green as every other Bountiful yard to keep up with. While it might not seem it, I think this fella' has a real love for GREEN. He might not be green conscious but he sure likes to make his little patch on earth as alive as it comes, chemicals, sprays, endless water and all!  

Connie loves pink, Micah loves green!  I love the differences between men and women, for years I pretended that I wanted to make my cake and mow the lawn too. The truth is I don't want to mow the lawn, I never have wanted to mow (ok, other than that one time in highschool they paid me $40), and I don't think unless I have too, that I ever WILL want to mow the lawn! 

So here is where both elements unite, AKA Pink meets Green and they get along. After Micah completed his garage cleaning extravaganza he utilized his little green turf for mint green Bike and PINK helmet.  Indeed miracles do happen; men and women can live in harmony!

I have come to peace with this knowledge, and I honor that part of me that says 'I don't want to work, I just want to bake cookies all day!'.  I am completely at one with the universal law that says women are great at some things and men are good at others. I am starting to understand why these two creatures from different planets are meant for each other.  After all, I would hate to have a beautiful yard without a beautiful meal waiting inside of the house it is attached too with pretty flowers and fresh baked goodies. 

In fact, I would hate to have to do this whole life thing alone. I am grateful I don't have too. In fact, I think back to single life not far gone and I realize even then I never had to do it alone.  I was never ever once alone. God was always the best man I had in my life, and always will be.  He gives me a life of balance,  helping me at times to get my off my femi-nazi high horse and bring me down to where I should be, Planet Earth.  In fact that father of mine loves me so much he sent a physical reminder of himself to continue to humble me each day.

So pink KitchenAid mixers and pink helmets. Living proof that: 

Dreams can come true, Dreams do come true. Never ever give up hope of your dream!

What will come next in pink? Babies? One can only hope...

So much love to you and pink.

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you!

When your young at heart... (Frank Sinatra sang it best).  He sang it at our wedding reception, and he sings it over and over in my heart!

So I have had quite a few dreams since the incept of 2007, the year of living the dream. It has seemed to pour over into each new year. Some of them have come true, some are coming true, and some yet to be.  2009, year of love, has been full of just that and for that I couldn't be more grateful.

2007 Dream - To follow my heart rather than my head in my career.  

That meant quitting my boring, uninspiring day job, and following my passion, yoga. I completed my 500 HR teacher training in July 2007, gained employment as Events Manager with YogaWorks, and later Studio Manager with ISHTA yoga. During this time I began teaching but nervous to make the plunge into full time teaching I always held onto another job for the financial comfort blanket, albeit trapeze school, cookie making, appleseeds, etc. However since moving to Bountiful, UT I have acquired 8 weekly group classes, 6 adult classes, one children's class, and a family flow class.  I am working right now on expanding in our community by teaching at Assisted Living Centers and to special needs groups as well. With gratitude I offer classes at Infusion in Bountiful and Flow Yoga in SLC. 

In reviewing the opportunity to teach such an honored practice, I realize I am only as able as the abundant life source that connects me to this earth. I have one foot always firmly planted, anchored, and one ready for the next adventure.  An open invitation awaits you.

 

2008 Dream - To be married. 

It took just a touch longer than 2008 to be realized, but January 24, 2009, all the elements united with the Day club, Connie became a Day. Need I say more...

As if that dream wasn't enough, the year of love produced not ONE but TWO honeymoons.

San Diego AND Hawaii, we loved them both...

2009 Dream - To open a bakery 'Connie's Cookies' or 'Cookie Paradise'

So this one might be a touch longer off, but things are in motion. 'Connie's Cookies' will be featured at the Bountiful Farmers Market, Bountiful Summerfest, and possibly Ogden Farmers Market, this July-October.  It is still far off from a true bakery, but homemade is always best made in the home after all.

So now what does 2010 have in store? Gaundi said 'Gratitude is the mother of all virtues'.  Well Gaundi, one of my dreams in 2010 is to become a mother, how 'bout that?

2009 - The year of Love

Miracles do happen. I am getting married, it is true. What has spawned such a decision after 30 years of solitude in marital status?

So many reasons we get married that swirl through my mind:

 -Its the next phase in life 

- Its better than being alone

- The ability to procreate, have a family.

- Save money.

- Finally someone you love more than yourself.

- Insurance coverage is easier and more affordable.

- You've met your "soulmate".

- You've lived together for 7 years and its common law.

I suppose the list could go on, as I ponder all the reasons I see others marry I can only speak of my experience and what has led me to this point. It is simple really. You may have seen 'When Harry met Sally'. At the climactic conclusion of the movie when Harry comes to gather up his Sally, he simple states 'When you decide you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

When I met Micah J. Day June 9, 2008, we began a friendship that I did not want to end. I had a subtle feeling from the inception it was something that should continue. Maybe I am looking for the 'happily ever after', or better 'happily FOREVER after', but I have no desire for this relationship to terminate. Unlike a plethora of relationships I have dabbled in this life with men, this one felt instinctual from the start.  The truth is, you can't fight nature. I spent the last 3 years of my life, living the dream, dabbling from yoga instructor, event manager, photographer, trapezist, Cookie baker. Each and every role, hobby, and occupation I met bright inspiring individual, celebrities, and world renowned teachers. I worked for those that brought their dreams to fruition in Manhattan, both successful, and not. I have tasted of the great adundance mother earth has to offer, engaging with all varieties of human beings with all interests, tastes, and dialects.  I have dabbled in the most exquisite cupcakes, the finest made ice cream, the most intriguing shops, abundant farmers markets, the poorest and richest neighborhoods. I rode the subway with the downtrodden with the least material wealth, and then sat next to the millionaire next door. I have been serenated in the park, swung from a trapeze, run through central park, walked from the top of manhatten to the very bottom.  

The city of NYC offered mystique, intrigue, challenge, vibrancy, excitement, a melting pot of diversity, life lavish and radically simple all at the same time.  The city inherently hides an intense contrast of dualities, extremes in every square inch. They say you either love it or hate, and I unabashedly will lead the "I LOVE NYC" Group.  In a cliche generalization I could say New York City is 'Where I found myself', it is where I came to experience everything life has to offer, sucking the marrow out of life.

With all the beauty and gratitude of that experience as I reflect on 2008, the year of freedom, I realize I found a freedom in myself not felt prior. A freedom not only in the exterior landscape, but more importantly the interior landscape.  I realize today that I am exactly where I need to be, and that I have everything I need within to be whole.

About a month ago I made a trek back west to the great state of Utah to progress my journey with Micah. It came to me not long after being in Utah that 2009 would be the year of love, exploring what it is, how it functions, and how to offer it back up to our creator.   I have an exciting year ahead in which to report my findings. I hope you will join me for the adventure.

Love and lightness in the new year.