Establishing Routine and Stillness

It’s been awhile since my last post as I’ve been readjusting to working full time. Now, I’m getting comfortable and finding a routine. So, my blog updates should become more regular.

Despite the hundreds of negative Dillard’s employment reviews I came across online, I’ve truly been enjoying my job. It may fluctuate from mind-numbingly boring to chaotically busy, yet it isn’t the misery I envisioned. The job definitely has it's share of drawbacks, but there have been awesome perks like the 50% of all purchases on my training graduation day! Overall, I count myself as blessed for being assigned to a great department. My coworkers are wonderful people that are laid-back and helpful. I hope I can keep my positive attitude as the novelty of the new job wears away and we move into the holiday shopping madness. We’ve already been assembling and decorating Christmas trees, and it’s not even Halloween yet!

As I’ve been settling into my job, I’ve also been focused on making healthy habits. I’ve been practicing yoga everyday – sometimes twice a day, and the benefits have been immense. Starting my morning with a energizing set of asanas is both soothing and revitalizing at once. It reminds me of my own worth and invites in gratitude. Yesterday, I started going back to Idaho Athletic Club. All day at work, I was actually excited to go the gym! What a great feeling. I’ve also decided not to eat refined/added sugar for a month and a half, and have been going strong for 2 weeks. I found my saving grace a couple days ago in the “peanut butter cookie” lara bar. It has only three ingredients – dates, peanuts and salt, but it tastes exactly like a peanut butter cookie!! Delicious!!

So, life is good and I’m finding more time even in the midst of my random work shifts. The aspects of my life are balancing out, and I think I can begin to focus on my larger goals again. But, just as I’m establishing routine, my life is about to shift again since I’ll be moving out with two friends next month into a house downtown. (so exciting!) So, the only thing constant is life is change, and that’s beautiful. I’ve been thinking about that often during yoga practice...about accepting and enjoying the constant change of poses rather than anticipating my favorites . I find myself settling into a relaxing yoga pose and thinking “oh, at last, I can experience that yogic serenity. This is what I've been waiting for.” But, I have to remind myself not to wait, that I can find that peace and elevated state through each pose and even beyond yoga in every action/inaction throughout the day. That should be my goal….just as my yoga instructor quoted yesterday “The stillness in stillness is not the real stillness. Only when there is stillness in movement can the spiritual rhythm appear which pervades heaven and earth.” Ts'ai-ken T'an. With that in mind, I can relax into even the strenuous poses, truly be present for the entire practice and translate the lesson into a sense of calm when dealing with stressful situations off the mat.