Jun07
Posted on Jun 7 by Ruth Davis
In yoga, students are encouraged to go to their soft edge–to stretch deep enough where you feel the stretch but not so deep that you hurt yourself. It is at this soft edge that the muscles release and then you can breathe in and stretch just a little bit further. In life, as we shift and change, we push up against a lot of soft edges. It is where our biggest growths happen. This past week I gathered with my Mastermind-coaching circle. We are an intimate group of 14 women who are all upleveling our lives, our businesses, our dreams with our coach Christine Kane. It is an amazing opportunity to share and support each other as we stretch and push to get clearer and closer toward our biggest visions of ourselves. There is an incredible amount of trust and vulnerability among us. I guess that’s why I felt comfortable enough during one of our dinners, to ask my friend Kathi,” so what kind of lipstick do you wear?” It seemed like a pretty innocent question. But it led...
May30
Posted on May 30 by Ruth Davis
Today is Memorial Day in the US, a day we honor and remember those who have died in active military service. Maybe you know someone who gave their life fighting for our country. Maybe you know someone who is currently serving in our military. Today is a day to acknowledge, not only those who have fought for our national freedom, but also for our personal freedoms. * * * * * * * * As a kid, I marched in the local Memorial Day parades–one year as a beginning baton twirler, one year as a girl scout, and years later, with my alto sax in my high school marching band. We played patriotic songs and there was a lot of flag waving. But I never knew anyone in the military. But I did know people who had died. So I began to think of Memorial Day as a day to remember all kinds of people who were special to me. Lately, I’ve been thinking how so many people in our lives fight for our freedom. Our parents, our teachers,...
May24
Posted on May 24 by Ruth Davis
How many times have you thought, if only I could win the lottery…if only I were rich…oh, how my life would be different… Really? If you had a million dollars, what would you do? Quit your job? Then what? Lie on the beach all day? Then what? Go on a cruise? Then what? Give money to your favorite charity? Then what? Buy some cars, a new house? Then what? Most people, when asked to really think about this, realize that the thing they would REALLY want to do is something close to their heart, that makes them feel excited and joyful and part of something bigger than themselves. Do you really need to wait until you have a cazillion dollars to begin pursuing this thing that sparks your heart? What IS this thing thing that you wish you could do, if only…..? And what is stopping you from doing it now? Can you donate a LITTLE bit to your favorite charity NOW? Or start saving for a 3-day mini-cruise? Or find a coach who can guide you toward a more...
May17
Posted on May 17 by Ruth Davis
Today is my mom’s 80th birthday and we are at a local casino, celebrating at the slot machines. By the title of this blog, you might think that she hit the big one and is now a Mega Winner. She is, but not in the typical terms of a casino. Eight years ago, my mother was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Most people diagnosed with stage three of this horrific disease die within three years. My mother underwent chemo and radiation and, while she has lasting side effects from the treatments that make breathing more challenging, she was declared cancer free. She incorporated more fruits and vegetables into her diet, proclaiming she was learning to “eat the rainbow.” She started letting go of the little things that aggravated her. She focused on the people and activities that bring her pleasure and joy. She joined a writing group at the senior center. She began clearing the clutter of papers and photographs. And we resumed our weekly Scrabble games, this time joined by my father. In 2007, five years cancer-free, we celebrated...
Mar15
Posted on Mar 15 by Ruth Davis
We can plan and dream in our heads but we must be present in our bodies to take action, to move forward in our lives. A lot of people think they can’t DO something until they are inspired. They think if they wait, inspiration will come and THEN they will do that great thing they thought of. The truth is, action comes before inspiration. In yoga, students are encouraged to find their soft edge, to stretch deep enough where you feel the stretch but do not feel pain. It is at this edge where the muscles release and then you can breathe in and stretch just a little bit further. Moving BEYOND what is comfortable and safe is where real growth can happen. So when was the last time you did something a little outside of your comfort zone? It could be something that you’ve always wanted to do but were a little too scared, or something you never considered doing by yourself. Maybe it’s going a movie by yourself, or taking yourself out for a lovely meal. Maybe...
Jan31
Posted on Jan 31 by Ruth Davis
Gratitude is the single easiest way to shift your life. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failure into success, the unexpected into perfect timing and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~Melodie Beattie The universe is a magnet–if you are stuck in the woe-is-me and the worry of things, the universe will offer you more opportunities for woe and worry. If you focus on the spaces where you feel joy and peace, you will experience more joy and peace. The easiest way to do this is by being grateful for what is. Even the small things, especially the small things…. TRY THIS SIMPLE EXERCISE: BEING GRATEFUL (GREAT-FULL) Every day, write a list of five things you are grateful for. Things that make you feel great and full. They can be small things big things things that make you smile. They...
