Why It Matters

The pace of my life is picking up.
Today was my first day back to school.
I aim to become more balanced, more positive in attitude, mindful, and less judgmental this school year. This, of course is in addition to my health goals. I was challenged twice today:  I passed on the potato chips and cookies offered at my meeting, and I nearly didn’t succeed in the judgmental department.  Well, I guess you could say I definitely did not succeed in that department, but I recognized it when I felt it, and by the end of the day, released my negative feelings. I’m feeling pretty good now, especially since I am updating my blog.

We got home from vacation late Sunday and I weighed myself Monday morning to face the music. I gained a pound. Wish I hadn’t but I’m not surprised.  There were a few indulgences over the week, but for the most part I’m pretty happy with my eating. I definitely had some of the best fish of my life, and did some hiking. I’m a bit concerned about keeping up with exercising now that I’m back to work. This summer I’ve been going to place relatively far from home to work out as it is where my son has been training this summer. It’s probably just a matter of me lacing up and hitting the pavement outside my front door.  And of course, I do have a treadmill here at home, but I really don’t like it so much. Regardless, I need to come up with something.

Had an interesting experience yesterday at Whole Foods. My son and I have had a routine this summer on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We set out for his training and my workout, then head to Whole Foods afterwards to get fresh food for the next two days, and eat lunch there from the salad bar. As I was checking out yesterday, the cashier said to me, “You’re a good person.”  I was a bit surprised, as I thought of her as being one of the more cranky check out ladies (see how judgmental I am?!?).  “How do you know?” I asked. “Because I’ve been watching you all summer having lunch with your son.”  She continued, “And I’m psychic.  I also know you’re a hard worker.” At this point I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  The psychic stuff is a bit too hocus-pocus for me, but her words were speaking directly to my heart. Then she said, “But you are very emotional, so I am going to stop, but I want you to know that the happiness you seek will come. You will be surprised.” At that point (while I’m bagging and filling up my cart), I am literally fighting back the tears. We talked a bit more … about astrology, about God (yes, all of this while checking out) and I thanked her for kindness and for the twinkle in her eye.  I resisted the urge jump over the conveyor belt to hug her. Before I left, I told her how this was basically my last day of summer (she corrected me to say, “No it isn’t, you have many summers ahead of you”), and that I was feeling particularly sorry for myself on this day, and that her words meant a lot.

On the one hand, I feel pretty pathetic that the kind words of this stranger meant so much (too much?) to me.  But on the other hand, I am amazed at the ways in which the universe provides for me exactly what I need, when I need it. This ‘manifesting’ is something that seems to be happening more and more in my life.  Perhaps not, though.  Perhaps it always has, but I haven’t been quiet enough to notice. Either way, I sent a silent gratitude prayer to the universe for the little gift delivered to me by the compassionate soul behind the cash register at Whole Foods.

What about you?  What are you manifesting?