Hoops and hurdles

never be afraid to let your feelings flow

Confession time.

Last night, I did something unabashedly selfish, and I am not the slightest bit ashamed to admit it. After helping with homework (times 3), cooking dinner, feeding The Beans, washing tiny bodies with lots of long hair, and making sure all little people were situated on the couch with a bowl of their favorite ice cream…..I vanished.

For a whole 45 minutes.

This is how it went down…

I grabbed my yoga mat, headed into our guest room, and closed the door. Yes, I considered locking it, but figured there was no point, because as I suspected, everyone who even gave a shit about where I might be, was eating ice cream. Then I used $1.29 from an iTunes card that belongs to Sugar Bean, and downloaded “I’m Alive” by Kenny Chesney (with Dave Matthews) to my iPhone. Once it was done, I jammed some headphones into my ears, set the song to repeat and hit play. Instantly, the world stood still. I was whisked away, and dropped right into my idea of Heaven. Left with nothing but my thoughts and music as therapy. Finally, I sat down on the mat, closed my eyes, lost myself in the lyrics and just breathed. And stretched. My entire body, part by part. The reason I say ‘part by part’ is because I not only stretched my physical limbs, but also my emotional ones. The inner most muscles and particles that you can only reach in moments of desperation, despair or heartbreak. The ones you should stretch all the time, but you can’t. Because it’s too painful.

Yeah. Those ones. 

Of course,  I was brought to tears. Silent, soul-shaking sobs in fact. I realize  I’ve been doing a lot of crying lately, but I know it’s not because I am weak; but rather because I have been strong for too damn long. My life has been a series of hoops and hurdles. I jump through a few hoops, earn a brief water break, hang my head and catch my breath, only to look up and face a long track full of hurdles to jump over, one by one. Honestly, I’m convinced I’ve lived at least two past lives: one as a circus dog, and the other as an Olympic hurdler. The skills are coming in handy, as I’ve become quite adept at hooping and hurdling. Dare I say, mastered the technique. What else would you expect from a perfectionistic Capricorn though? Maybe that’s why this path has been chosen for me. It makes for a good show! Thanks, God. Really. I mean it. Being good at something is a blessing, after all, and I’m good at two things….TWO! Yay me!  God, I know you are laughing, and it’s okay. My life is tragically funny.

Anyway, I came to a couple of conclusions last night. One, is that I don’t know rabbit turds from jellybeans about the proper way to do yoga. However, if what I did is even close to the real thing…..I am soooo in. Sign me up, baby! Best 45 minutes I’ve ever stolen for myself. Second, I am done hooping and hurdling  for other people who have no interest in helping themselves. From now on, this is my 3 ring circus/course, and unless the obstacle has a positive impact on my life, or the small people I brought into the world, I’m not bothering with it. This doesn’t mean I will stop helping people when they need it. I am a nurturer by nature. But there will be a catch. They must help me help them. Period. Otherwise, they can jump inside their own hoop and shimmy ’til they drop. And their hurdles? I know how to walk around those. Why this change of heart, you ask? Because 34 years is a really long time to hoop and hurdle.

And I’m exhausted. Plus….it makes me feel like this, when I do it too much. 

Okay, I’ve rambled long enough, and was just reminded of a hoop I have to jump through in about an hour and a half, so I’ll wrap it up here. In case you aren’t familiar with the incredibly soulful and inspirational song I listened to at least 20 times last night while vanishing from my life for 45 minutes…..I’ll leave you with the lyrics. Here they are:

So damn easy to say that life’s so hard
Everybody’s got their share of battle scars
As for me, I’d like to thank my lucky stars
That I’m alive and well

It’d be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me, I’m alive

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin’ in and out’s a blessing, can’t you see?
Today’s the first day of the rest of my life
And I’m alive and well
I’m alive and well

Stars are dancin’ on the water here tonight
It’s good for the soul when there’s not a soul in sight
This boat has caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I’m alive and well

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathing in and out’s a blessing, can’t you see?
Today’s the first day of the rest of my life
Now I’m alive and well
Yeah, I’m alive and well

~Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews

Breathe in, breathe out. Be well.

 

Comments

  1. Valerie Griffiths says

    Oh Nancy, of course you did it right! its not the end result..it is the journey to get there that matters.

  2. OK. First of all…disappearing for 45 minutes is SELFISH?! I would call it NECESSARY. Second – oh how I love that song. Love love love love love. It’s soooo right on the mark. Third – You go, fierce mama. Deep cleansing yoga breaths. As Riley would say, “connect with your inner chakras.” (She has no idea what that means, which is why it’s so funny that she says it.) INNER CHAKRAS, girl. There is a plan, it will become apparent eventually, and until then…INNER CHAKRAS. xo

  3. We all need some vanishing time…it makes us better mamas.

    And yeah, I agree. Sometimes if people suck you dry too long, then you’ve just got to let go of them. And it seems that the more you give, the more people take and so no boundaries ever seem to get set up, so we need to create them for ourselves.

    Hard, though. Especially for women.

    “Today’s the first day of the rest of my life
    Now I’m alive and well
    Yeah, I’m alive and well”

    Love that.

    x

    • Vanishing is so important. “Good for the soul, when not a soul’s around” 🙂 Not sure if you listened to the song, or just read the lyrics, but it’s magical to hear along with the music. Worth a listen, for certain.

      Today was a good day. Hope to have a string of them, but I’m willing to accept them one at a time 🙂

      xo,
      N

  4. So glad you found some time just for you! Even if it was a quasi-yoga session…actually those may be the best kind!

  5. thank you for this – I needed to read this today

  6. LOVED THIS POST! How did I miss it? And I must download that song. Now…

    • I think some of my better posts are buried in the archives….probably how you missed it :-)) and the song….will make you cry…huge tears you didn’t even know you needed to cry.

  7. Love this post! I have to start taking time for me again…like before i’m in a nursing home.

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  1. […] I need a break. Like this one so I can clear my head before I drop to my knees and beg God to show me what to […]

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