Less is more . . .
Monthly Archives: December 2009

All the Details

by Holly

snowflakes

It has been a week of simple pleasures–the type of things that, all too often, I take for granted. Such as . . .

  • Marveling at the clean blanket(s) of snow
  • Accompanying Inky on his Caring Canines visit
  • Buying holiday presents for a child whom I’ve never meet
  • Enjoying the glow of my beautiful Christmas tree
  • Cozying up on the couch with a loved one (pups nearby)
  • Making breakfast for dinner (accompanied by a glass of malbec)
  • Devouring my homemade calzone (even better the next day)
  • Rearranging my end tables
  • Adding 2010 plans to my cute new agenda book
  • Accomplishing a big professional goal at work
  • Fortifying myself with fresh-squeezed orange juice
  • Savoring a bowl of tomato soup with parmesan croutons on a cold winter’s night
  • Receiving my first holiday card of the season
  • Discovering a new (to me) musical group: the Vitamin String Quartet
  • Making yoga + brunch plans with a good friend
  • Attending my first kundalini yoga class with the gong
  • Staying healthy (knock on wood and take my vitamins)
  • Laughing together (oh, hello ab muscles)

How about you? What are some of the little pleasures that you’ve been taking for granted?

“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of
daily life.”
                                                                                                                    –William Morris

_________________________________________________________________________
© 2009 Good Karma Housekeeping. Because everyday things can be pretty special, too.


Should We Talk About the Weather?

by Holly

flip flops in december

One of my least favorite topics of conversation is the weather–only because it’s usually riddled with complaints. Too hot, too cold, too sunny, too grey. I do my best to avoid ganging up on Mother Nature, even though she can be a tempramental lady sometimes. Occasionally though, she’s a saint–delivering us an unexpected, gorgeous day.

Today was 72 degrees and sunny. Today. December 3. In New England. Oh, Mother Nature, I could kiss you for this unexpected treat. I (almost) don’t care what tomorrow brings. Or the next day. Those torrential downpours this morning on the dog walk are a distant memory. Because today I ate my lunch outside. In a short sleeve shirt.

New England: this is why I love you!

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilirating; there really is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”
                                                                                                                      –John Ruskin

_________________________________________________________________________
© 2009 Good Karma Housekeeping. Making the space–mentally and physically–to live happily ever after . . . no matter the weather forecast. (Photo by David L. Ryan/Boston Globe staff.)


Enjoy the Silence: Meditation with Mantras

by Holly

horizon

I’ve been attending a weekly Kundalini yoga class for the last two months. It’s a style of yoga that’s very different from the power/vinyasa flow I am used to. The poses are dynamic (i.e., you’re moving) but you do the same pose for several minutes. It might look easy on the surface, but I can attest–this stuff is intense!

What has really captivated me about this style of yoga is its bevy of mantras. Lots of chants and hand motions. It’s like cheerleading in Sanskrit–but without the kicks, flips, and squeals. The mantras serve as a form of meditation.
Generally speaking, a yoga class is a meditative experience in and of itself. But there’s something about throwing around all those Kundalini gang signs (better known as mudras) and the lullaby of all those foreign words that has swept me into a place where to-do lists and everyday woes are just a tiny blip on the horizon.
“Your strength is how quietly, calmly, and peacefully you face life.”
                                                                                           –Yogi Bhajan

_________________________________________________________________________
© 2009 Good Karma Housekeeping. Making the space–mentally and physically, on Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m.–to live happily ever after. (Image courtesy of stevoarnold via Creative Commons.)

Blog Widget by LinkWithin

Scrappy Theme by Caroline Moore | Copyright 2012 Good Karma Housekeeping | Powered by WordPress