Thankful

Here lately I have been feeling VERY thankful for all that I have...A couple weeks ago at Southland Christian Church, all who attended on that day were given an assignment: to go home and make a list, a list of ALL that we were thankful for. . And although I knew how important it was to be thankful, I learned only a few years ago the significance of it.  So I decided to finally challenge myself with this "assignment" and set a goal of writing down 50 things I am thankful for. BUT, when I came to 50 things, I realized I could keep going.... I learned a great lesson while writing my list, and it was the beginning of change in my life. So if you are feeling gloomy, discouraged, hopeless, I challenge you to start writing out 50 things you are thankful for and see how far you go. Look at your list everyday for a while. It will change your life.

Here is what I wrote down (in no significant order!):

1. My daughter,she is my world.

2. My husband, for working so hard for our family and for being my rock.

3. My mom,I am thankful for being the daughter of a very loving and supportive mom who is always there when I need her

4. My entire family. They have a huge piece of my heart.

5. I am thankful for my home. The place I go for comfort, peace, and warmth.

6. A car that runs and gets from point a - b.

7. My friends, I have no idea what i'd do without them. I truly value my friends.

8. My dogs, they make me happy when I'm blue.

9. Sir pizza. 

10.Electricity.

11. Stori's wrong pronunciation of words that always makes me laugh. 

12. Having dinner on the table every night.

13. My dishwasher!

14. Being financially secure: We're not rich (whatever that is, monetarily speaking), but we're comfortable and have what we need.

15. My camera

16. My health 

17. My families health.

18. I am thankful for my freedom!

19. The seasons. I genuinely love them all, especially fall.

20. The smell of the candles burning in my house.

21. Sunshine, it feels so good.

22. My bed, oh so comfy.

23. I am thankful for YOGA and the goodness it does to my body.

24. Being able to go to school for something I love, YOGA.

25. Late night trips to DQ.

26. Books

27. Date nights with my amazing husband.

28. Theraflu

29. Hot baths

30. Hiking

31. I am thankful for the shoes on my feet.

32. Being able to give my daughter all she could ever need.

33. Getting to spend quality time with my mom.

34. My cousins that feel like sisters.

35. My Uncle that feels like the dad I never had.

36. Music

37. Camping, always good QT with the fam.

38. Smores

39. The sound of rain.

40. Being able to play in the rain.

41. Trips to the ocean.

42. I am thankful for being able to take Stori to Disney world when she was 2 1/2. Something I never got to do as a kid.

43. Volunteers,No matter what they do. Speaking as one myself, volunteers do receive as well as give, even if it's just the satisfaction of helping, but I sure am thankful that so many people volunteer in so many different ways

44. Art. I love art. Being able to draw/paint makes me content.

45. I am thankful for Dancing.

46.GPS. How did I ever live without it.

47.Birds: Their sounds make me happy and so does watching them fly and flit about.

48. Tattoos...I love them on other almost as much as I love getting them.

49. The stars...I could lay on my back and stare at them all night long.

50. kindness of strangers: I love it when someone I don't know smiles at me or says or does something nice, just because. 

51. I am thankful for my Memories.

52. I am thankful for All those who've ever served our country (my husband included) And other countries too. It's an admiral and brave thing to do. Our men and women in uniform, past and present, have, do and will give so much for us all. 53. The t.v.s in our car that makes long trips with Stori a little easier.

54. Planes that carry us to see our family members that are far away.

55. A good bottle of wine.

56. Massages.

57. I am thankful for my camcorder so my hubby didn't have to miss Stori's first steps when he was in Iraq.

58. My phone, It connects me to every one I love and then some.

59. I am thankful for doctors.

60. Today.

61. Laughter.

62. I am also thankful for tears.

63. For faith to persevere and that the Lord is in total control of my life.

64. I am thankful I got to be a stay at home mom and watch my daughter grow.

65. Songs that you hear when you need them the most.

66. Being able to take Stori to the park and watch her play and laugh.

67. I am thankful that my dad got to meet my daughter even if it will be that only time.

68. That my heart is beating.

69. Blogging. :D

70. I am thankful for my senses. 

71. My talents.

72. My husband telling me I am beautiful in random moments.

73. I’m thankful that I have the ability to connect with a bunch of amazing people via services like Facebook.

74. Clean water.

75.  I’m thankful for all those cool “Ah-ha!” moments that have been so important to my personal growth over the years.

76. I am thankful for my Christmas tree lit up with beautiful lights and the presents under it for my family.

77. Girl time.

78. Forgiveness.

79. I am thankful to be able to have children.

80. Sushi.

81. The sound of a fan at night.

82. I am thankful my daughter loves ballet and she is great at it.

83. KARAOKE!

84. Good times and good friends at Euro's.

85. Old friends that are still in my life.

86. New friends that I know will always be in my life somehow.

87. Makeup ;)

88. Vacations.

89. Sundays.

90. I am thankful that my daughter is so smart and so talented and knowing that I had a part in that.

91. Game nights :)

92. hugs and kisses.

93. I am thankful that I did not become an alcoholic like my father.

94. I am thankful I have became closer to God.

95. Fate.

96. USMC

97. Text that make me smile.

98. Love. It is completely magical and amazing.

99. Acceptance. I am so thankful for those who accept me for who I am.

100. Holidays. They always lift my spirits in some way!

101. Change. Sure it scares the sh*t out of me but I know it can be a wonderful thing.

102. Patience....I am getting more of it every day.

103. I am thankful for surprises! 

104. Passion. One of the best things: seeing someone passionate about what they do or who they love.

105. Dreams. Both the daytime or nighttime variety are pretty cool. 

106. I am thankful for a movie that leaves you feeling moved -- priceless.

107. Umbrellas

108. I am thankful that I could go on and on and on with this list.

  "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. 

If you concentrate on what you don't have, 

you will never, ever have enough."

Oprah Winfrey

Your turn ;)

Guest Speaker!

So my amazing teacher at LHAA got our class a surprise guest speaker for Christmas and apparently he is a big deal. :) For homework we were told to read a book called The Heart of Yoga and email the guest speaker with two questions. Below are mine....just looking for some feed back I guess. Do these questions make since? Are they worthy of what I am guessing will be his life changing response? 

Question #1

One section caught my attention quite a bit in Part 3 of The Heart of Yoga. I could definitely relate to being excessively attached to something based on the assumption that it would contribute to my ever lasting happiness. When I am bored per say and something different satisfies me, even once I automatically want more. This I assume is normal but, if the possession or activity becomes very important or indispensable whatever the cost what should one do to avoid this leading to future unhappiness? Is there a way yoga can help in this situation?

Question #2

I know that I have not yet reached a state of yoga being that I have only been practicing a short time. I am most confused with detachment.....I know that I could be happier if I lived a life of detachment but I am confused how to get there. I want to go through a cleansing process and let go but it seems as if there is something in the way. A wall of some sort that I can't break down. I feel like this is a critical step in Yoga and I want to conquer this. So I guess my question is: Why??? Why can I not let go? Could this have to do with something from my past that I can not get over?

Namaste,

Samantha Wade (Sami jo) 

Heading In The Right Direction

So...I absolutely love school but I HATE bio-mechanics..I know I have to learn them if I ever want to become a Yogi of worth so I will to continue to study, study, study and grow. But as of right now I am noticing I simply like yoga because it feels deliriously good, inside and out. My greatest belief is that we should all pursue whatever makes us feel this good so, I am. I love feeling strong and increasingly peaceful. I love meeting myself during practice every day. 


I suspect, bottom line, that yoga is the best vehicle for taking me where I've been headed all my life anyway.


I have always felt like something was missing. All my past jobs and schools never quite fit ME. I never quite felt like I belonged at any of those places. Now, WOW...I finally belong. This is it. I know it. And in knowing that, my heart is happy. 


I have a lot to learn through out this next year and I am excited about it all, even bio-mechanics (maybe) and I look forward to teaching someday. I want to share all that yoga offers to absolutely every one I come in contact with. Now, I know Yoga is not for every one but everyone should at least give it a chance. It truly is body, mind and above all, life changing.


" Before you've practiced, the theory is useless. After you've practiced, the theory is obvious. "

LHAA

Soooo I got accepted to Lexington Healing Arts Academy at around 6:30 last night! I am super stoked about it! I really wanted this and now I have it. I cannot wait to add CYI at the end of my name. :)


My goal is to own my own studio although I know I will have to work at a few gyms and get my name out there before that will happen. I plan to get the most out of this education and also further it with every year. I have done a lot of research on CYI salary and it all depends on what you want out of it. A CYI can make any where from 15,000-215,000 a year. I would be happy some where in the middle. 


I have worked since I was 15years old up until about 4 years ago when Stori, my daughter was born and now I am more than ready to get back out there. I am scared to death, but ready. I am excited about my future for the first time in a long time. I never was meant to be a stay at home Mom. I love my daughter more than life itself and she has benefited from me staying home greatly but it's just not for me. Besides she needs to thrive around other children as well. 


Yoga is something I have become extremely interested in almost obsessively actually. The benefits it offers are outstanding....Yoga not only helps us spiritually and emotionally: mind-body connection, positive outlook on life, self acceptance, concentration, memory, hostility, depression, overall mood just to name a few it also helps us many physical ways as well:  management of chronic health problems, weight loss, managing symptoms of afflictions like menstrual cramps (haaayyyy ladies), backaches, headaches, and arthritis. Yoga boosts energy, stamina and endurance...once again this is just to name a few. The list goes on and on. The advantages of practicing Yoga are enormous and yield amazing results within a very short span of time. If you are performing Yoga, then you have a definite edge over other non-performers.


Yoga has also been proved to enhance your sex life but that is a whole other blog entirely! ;)


Just call me a yogi :D

Finally....I'm a Blogger. EEK!

This is what I guess I would call an introductory blog that has been a long time coming. My mind has been so full here lately I decided it was time to make room and share some of my brain clutter with you. Whoever you are. Not quite sure what I am going to blog about exactly but I am sure that will come to me as I go. That is how it works right?
As I go through all kinds of feelings and experiences in my journey through life -- delight, surprise, chagrin, dismay -- I plan on sharing it all with you. So needless to say my blog will be random, very random but also verrrry interesting ;)


Sam's next blog coming soon...ENJOY!