#BestYear Week 1: My Daily Practices

My Devotion

I am devoted to designing more surprise and purpose in my everyday life through the following ways:

• Showing patience, faith, and trust by surrendering to what unfolds each day.
• Being open to shifting old habits that no longer serve me and obtaining new ones that support my growth, wonder, and passion.
• Doing my best to not worry about how "hard" my work could be.

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Inviting Slowness

It would behove me to slow down and center every two hours or so. Slowing down in this way would inform me of so much... how my body is feeling, where my emotions are, and do I need to retreat for a bit, to walk outside for a break. 

Doing this, I know from the past, has be extremely helpful - so why I do I continue to challenge myself in NOT doing it? We often don't do what we know is good for us and when we do those things we say to ourselves, "Now, why don't I do this more often? I feel so much better." The joys and ironies of being human. 

So to honor all I have written thus far, the habit(s) I commit to do nearly daily that will have me enjoy my day more is this:

• Rising early enough (out of bed) for tea and breakfast.
• Go outside, take more Wonder Walks.

Rising early enough is my greatest challenge. I wake up early enough but I do love my bed and will lay there for quite some time - it's cozy and safe and I don't have to think of all the challenges of the day. But there is a sacredness to rising early, creating a ritual of tea and breakfast - even just preparing a smoothie is a ritual. It is a way to honor myself and the day as well.

A way to honor waking up being able to walk, eat, and love. What stops me in my tracks is thinking about how hard it may be to sustain my work and life. How I will have to continue to work hard and I've worked hard so much of my life already in various ways... physically, mentally, emotionally, and somewhat spiritually. Because ever since I can remember, I've equated hard work with suffering - it's what I've known, it's what my family has known, it's what my ancestors have known. And for quite some time now - years even - I have been tired, carrying all that I do (some needlessly). 

I've been working hard to break this cycle for quite a few years now, but it isn't an easy one when it begins before you were even born. It is where I come from. It is the people I come from. So I guess the question may be, how do I honor them and myself at the same time? I am sure they wouldn't want me to suffer too. And then I think, in honoring myself I am honoring them. They came before me wanting better for themselves and for their lineage. 

Highlight(s) from the Week

I had the privilege of traveling with my husband's college volleyball team to the NAIA National tournament. The team had their most successful year yet going 20--0 in their league, winning the league tournament, and getting an automatic bid to Nationals where they were ranked 18th in the country. It was one of those special seasons that don't often happen. 

As I was watching I was overcome with the excitement of watching these young women compete. So much had me miss being a part of a team and a part of athletics:

• Their athleticism and team work.
• The smells of popcorn and hot pretzels in the arena.
• Hearing the joy of support and competition.
• Witnessing the team's perseverance and never-give-up guts.
• Hearing the loud cheers of the crowd and the teams.
• The sound of the volleyball - seeing and hearing the digs, passes, hits, and serves. 

This all made my heart open and feel a joy I haven't felt in a very long time. 

​#WeQuest #Quest2020 #BestYear