Embraced

I feel like the universe gave me one big gigantic bear hug today.  Not a bad feeling to carry around with me all day long.

A few weeks ago, one of my new coworkers approached me about the necklace I was wearing – my mala beads. My new coworker moved here from Indian, and he quickly recognized the rudraksha beads.  He asked to see it. After careful examination, he told me my necklace was wonderful. It was beautifully balanced with the rudraksha beads, pearls, crystals, and gemstone.  He told me it would bring great things to my life.  We talked some more about where I got it (Tiny Devotions), what it means to me, and why I love it. He then showed me two of his own necklaces that he made for himself while he lived in India. I can’t even begin to tell you about their beauty.  I mentioned to him that I loved how masculine they felt and that my husband would love them.

Today, as I was reading my morning emails, the same coworker came to my desk. He had a present for me. He made Christian his own set of mala beads. Thankful. Touched. Appreciative. Amazed. I couldn’t believe that he took time out of his day to do this for me. The necklace that he made is amazing. Besides the simple beauty of the necklace, knowing that someone I barely know took time to create this necklace for my husband is a beautiful thing.  Thank you isn’t enough. I cried – thank you pregnant hormones. I quickly gave him a huge hug. I’m still in awe of the fact that someone who is practically a stranger to me made me such a special gift based on a brief conversation.

I floated on this cloud of gratitude for the rest of my day. During my blog break at work, I read Another Mother Runner. Today they featured a mom who is running the Leadville 100 tomorrow and Saturday and Sunday. 100 miles. Running. Simply amazing. What amazed me even more about this runner is that she doesn’t describe herself as special. She says she is just a mom who runs who happens to be running 100 miles this weekend.

Not only am I reading about this amazing mom who is running the Leadville 100 tomorrow, I’ve also picked back up my copy of Born to Run. The book incorporates a lot of the Leadville 100 into its plot. I had started reading the book right before my stress fracture.  I had to take a break from it while I was taking a break from running. If you haven’t read it yet, go get it. It’s an incredible read. The people are amazing.  I am again amazed by the fact they these ultra runners are just normal people.

Floating on my cloud of gratitude and now reenergized by amazing runners, I headed to Cole’s yoga camp.  Today was his last day of camp. They were hosting a parent reception at the end of the day. The instructors created a wonderful slide show to capture the moments throughout the week. The kids then showed off their sun salutations and did yoga poses while the instructor read a story.  Once again pregnancy hormones got me. I cried. (And I am not a crier!) The yoga instructors stressed the point that they spent time teaching the students that yoga isn’t just a series of poses practiced for an hour each day. Yoga is a way of life. They did community service every day. The encouraged each other. They celebrated themselves as individuals.  I wish more adults would take this lesson away from their yoga practice.  As we were leaving, Cole kept singing “I love yoga camp” over and over again. Before we got home, he told me he missed it already.

I think we all could live a little more, give a little more, push ourselves a little more.  We are no different than my coworker, the runners of the Leadville 100, or Cole’s amazing yoga instructors.  We all have the ability to go further. We can dig deeper. We can move outside of our comfort zone. I am in awe of the runners at the Leadville 100 in the same way that I’m in awe of everyone who completes a run for the first time. I know I could personally give more. I know I can push beyond my own expectations. I know I can encourage others more. I know I can celebrate who I am more.

We are so much more than we think we are.

We all have those things we think we will never do. For some it might be running. For others it might be venturing out on an adventure solo. It might be going to your first yoga class. It might be as simple as changing an unhealthy habit in our daily routine. How many times a day does the thought “that is just not something I could do” creep into your head? I’m here to tell myself and you that we can! There isn’t anything I can’t do. There isn’t anything you can’t do. It’s not going to be easy, but the end result will have you floating with pride.

What “can’t” is holding you back in your life? Identify it and make a plan to change it.  Don’t know where to start, let me help you! (I have a Master’s degree collecting dust that has taught me how to create programs for individuals that promotes health and wellness! I’d love to use it!)

I’m so thankful for the big gigantic bear hug I received from the world today. I hope I can pay it forward. I hope I can create an environment for someone else to feel embraced by the love of the world around them.