Concluding The Year of Being Present and Welcoming The Year of Connection

This has been a fantastic year of self-realization and growth. Even with the loss of my Grammie, I learned to be present, truly in the moment and to connect, letting go of the past and living every moment to its fullest.

As the year comes to a close I feel a new closeness and appreciation for family and friends. My heart and mind are clear and balanced. I have identified the giraffe as my inspiration - tall, alert, aware, and large-hearted. There are no extreme highs or lows as I savor each day.

Next year's theme will be The Year of Connection as I further develop relationships, community, creativity and the practice of deepening my personal practices of connecting mind, body and spirit through clear intention.

Brilliant Day

Having a lovely visit with Simone and Iain. Feels like I'm at home with friends - which I am. So easy for me to get around London, especially with my old school A to Z.

Radlett

Visiting Simone in the outskirts of London. Having a wonderful visit.

River Thames

Walking along the river near Kew Gardens with my dear friends Martin, Leah and Lois. So wonderful to have a warm welcome.

Girl Power

Even though I visited London a year or so after moving away in 2008, I am having very strange feelings about going back to visit. Sitting in the DC airport and hearing all these British accents takes me back to feeling so foreign and out of place in London.

Tonight I said my first "Cheers" after hearing the flight attendent say "lovely" six times in the three minutes she helped me. I love hearing lovely but am cautious about falling back into British colloquialisms.

I am going to frame this visit as an opportunity to create new memories and experiences. So happy I'm going with my friend Leah, meeting my other friend Laia and also spending quality time with my dearest friend Simone. Girl power!

On My Way to London

Already in my sleep position in Dulles airport.

Post-Christmas

Forgiveness

Yesterday I attended a Vinyasa hot flow class at Dancing Mind Yoga in Falls Church. The instructor started the class by emphatically asking is to dedicate our practice to someone who needs love and connection, but who can can not reach for some reason. During Vryksasana,
Tree Pose, near the end of the class, she had us look at someone in the room to whom we were attracted for any reason. I looked at the woman across from me and found that it was very uncomfortable to make eye contact, so intensely with a complete stranger, especially while balancing on one foot. As we were in the pose I noticed that she and I were becoming more in synch as I lifted my arms, so did she. As I lowered them into prayer position, she did as well.

The Vinyasa unexpectedly penetrated my dreams. I thought about someone who use had been in my life and who had hurt me deeply, but in my dream I actually felt love and compassion for them. I awakened in the morning with a warm heart filled with forgiveness through the connection I regained with this person in my dreams. What had been categorized as evil actions in my memory, were now behaviors that I saw as weaknesses that I did not have to accept, just notice.

I know that I will never let anyone define me by their actions and behaviors. We are independent, even if we are interdependent.

Holiday Lights Galore

An evening walk in the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

Walk in the Woods

A crisp Virginia day hike.

Fresh Hot Pumpkin Donuts

At the Falls Church farmers market.

Cartooneria Creation

I took an art class at Studio One with Ruben Guzman and hand crafted this flying giraffe. My inspiration was compassion, open-heartedness and possibility. His name is Majestic and he will fly in the corner of my bedroom. I'm pretty much blown away that I created this creature.

12.12.12 at 12:12

Living my dreams, feeling totally happy with life and so many possibilities for the future.

12.12.12

Buddha's Hand - an intersting visual at the Civic Center Farmers' Market for this special day. I'm going to pretend that the farmer was going to sell me a few fingers since I couldn't afford a while hand.

Plant Babysitting

My friend and real estate agent needed more light for her plants for a month so I am babysitting. They brighten my place.

Hopefully, they will live through the Amy-not-very-consistent care of plants experience.

Contemplating the "Year of Theme" for 2013

Every year since 2009 I have had a theme:

2009 The Year of Amy
2010 The Year of Living My Dreams
2011 The Year of Balance
2012 The Year of Being Present

For 2013 I'm contemplating the following options:

The Year of Connection
The Year of Love
The Year of Community
The Year of Truth
The Year of Strength

Giving the options some thought. 

Jim Kweskin Gig

Yeah, a reserved seat with my name!

Mexican Food Irony

I went to Mexico for a week and didn't have any illness from the food or water. But then I had Nachos at http://www.barcesar.com on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland and have polluted my stomach.