Some contributing factors:
- My diet is incredible here. I have granola with nuts, fruit, and cinnamon every morning with a soy/rice milk blend. For lunch and dinner I have a large salad (never before have I enjoyed salads... at all...) with sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and Bragg's Liquid Aminos, in addition to a small amount of whatever entree they are serving (generally an assortment of cooked vegetables and a soy or wheat protein) and a bit of whole grains. Dessert is only served once a week here, and while it's taken some getting used to, I don't miss it nearly as much as I thought I might. And if I do want something sweet, I have some rhubarb that I got from the garden and cooked up with cinnamon and a touch of raw sugar, or I have a piece of homemade bread with Earth Balance, cinnamon and raw sugar. I drink several cups of tea daily. No alcohol, cigarrettes and maybe 2 or 3 cups of coffee a week (which is a huge step down from the 10-12 shots of espresso each day that I was consuming prior.)
- I've been much better about taking my multivitamins and calcium supplement since being here. Plus I've added a Vitamineral green superfood powder to my regiment and I swear that the last three days I've had more energy and colors have been brighter. I mix it with the soy/rice milk and have it with breakfast and dinner. I've also discovered Kombucha, and plan on stocking up on it during my next trip to town.
- I'm practicing asana 5-6 times each week. I usually go to class about 4 days a week and then the other days I'll do my own practice. Even though the classes here aren't generally as physically challenging as what I am accustomed to at home, it is a good mental exercise for me, and I am learn about different schools of thought concerning asana and alignment, which is quite valueable. Plus my own practices get me moving and sweating so I am not missing that as much as I would be otherwise.
- The amount of internal work I'm doing is amazing. I'm journaling at least once a day. I'm processing and asking questions and really enjoying it! In the past, doing this kind of work has been tedious and unpleasant and felt like a chore because so much of my energy was expended in other areas of my life. I never really could keep focus or the desire burning. Here, when I'm not working, it's all I want to do! I'm finding so much joy and acceptance within myself. I can feel my confidence rising and sometimes I'm just so happy that I want to run around and let everyone know how lovely I feel.
I wish everyone could have an experience like this. I highly, highly recommend it. I feel so blessed to be here and have this opportunity. What a gift. I never expected any of this here; it's really all a surprise to be transforming this much.
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On another note, there is a group here for a silent Buddhist retreat right now. There are about 55 of them and they are all completely silent from Friday through tomorrow. It's really interesting... makes me want to try it for a day. It's interesting watching them walking as a group. They all spread out and don't make eye contact and don't break off into groups like people normally do. I suppose that even though they spend all this time with the same people that they aren't able to get to know any of them or make any sort of connection. Some of them do cheat though... I've had a couple people whisper to me about one thing or another that they need.
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I am SO happy here. Even when I get in a funky mood, I snap right out of it like nothing. I miss Portland, and I can't believe that tomorrow I will have been here 3 weeks already. Still no plans for after the program...
Namaste all!
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