Semi-Natural

The older I get, the more comfortable in my own skin I become. My teens and 20's I struggled, but there was something that happened when I became a mom. I created two of the most beautiful people, and that to me made me feel beautiful. I'm approaching 40, years of tennis in the sun show the wear on my face, yet I'm gravitating towards less and less make up. I have a decent head of hair that I embrace just as it is. Stylish, not so much, simple and low maintenance most definitely.
What I have noticed is a disturbing shift in our online (social media) appearances, this is something I have talked about at great deal with my daughter. With instagram filters, and apps like face tune, people are actually taking away their wrinkles, smoothing their skin, whitening their teeth, sometimes to such degree when you do see them in person you hardly recognize the person in front of you. They gather (or perhaps rather look for it) validation and praise on the social media, but shy away from showing the real self. I understand everyone wants to look good, but let's work on continuing to leave some of the real ness in. Don't get me wrong, I love IG filters as much as the next person, however when I run into the grocery store after a good workout (as I often do), I want people to recognize me as that's who I am.  Sometimes sweaty and no make up with fine wrinkles and hair that forms to one giant dread.  Beauty is different for everyone, but for me real beauty usually accompanies a genuine personality as well, and for me that's beautiful.
A couple weeks ago at my yoga studio I was approached going into class if I would mind taking a picture and saying a few words after class. I instantly said yes, but within a minute it dawned on me I was walking into hot yoga (a 75 minute class done in a studio heated to 110 degrees), what I wanted to do upon that realization was turn around and ask if I could do it another class, but decided I needed to meditate on it the next 75 minutes. Throughout the class I thought of my excuses, hoped I could sneak out "forgetting", but by the time we got to shavasana, I had decided to suck it up. This is who I am, I have no problem heading to Safeway after hot yoga why should I avoid FB looking the way I do after doing something so good. This was an exercise in being placed right in front of me. I decided to embrace it and embrace myself.
So this is the photo that appeared on Facebook.

Cheers to being the closest thing to the real you, you can be!

Posted with Blogsy

Dogs and Yoga

Two of my favorite things these days. I just want to take a moment and make something clear. I am fortunate to be doing both. I get to spend an average of 10-14 hours a month volunteering for the humane society and I love (almost) every minute of it. I either take a dog out hiking, or come before they open or after they close to get the dogs outside to "potty" and burn off a little energy. I believe in volunteering when you can, "can" being the key word. People often put emphasis on volunteerism, and I would like to believe that most people would love to give of their time. However for a better part of my life and I know for many, the time hasn't been there, or the "luxury" to not be working and instead volunteering.

Through High School I worked to save up for college, then was a young mom working multiple jobs, opposite schedule of my husband to avoid daycare, when there likely would've been time I ended up going through a divorce becoming a single Mom, trying to balance work and home on my own.

It was my daughter a few years ago (at the time she was 12) that wanted to volunteer at the humane society. It seemed like a good idea and we'd give it a try. For the first two years, we struggled to even put in our 4 hours a month, not for lack of wanting to, but her activities increased, meaning her "drivers" duties did to. It's only in the last 8 months that life has truly slowed down, she's busier but I have more time and I am able to spend far more time there.

I still work full time, however I'm lucky to have an unconventional schedule that leaves me with a free window every afternoon from noon-three.

I know plenty of people that would love to volunteer but they work a 9-5 and their limited time home is spent with their families. Equally admirable in my opinion.

Yoga is the other one, like I've said before I desperately could've benefited from this while going through the chaos of my husbands affair then our divorce. However, I could barely afford my house, all luxuries were cut out, and yoga wasn't even started. To belong to a "studio", be it yoga, barre or Pilates is a luxury. One that is certainly nice to have in life but not necessary to our survival. Fortunately I didn't know what I was missing at the time, because now it is a huge part of my life. I practice anywhere from 3-5 times a week. Again, because the time is right.

All this is largely due to Ricks support. I'm married to a man that works hard and provides a comfortable, stable life for us. Supports us in all our crazy endeavors. My kids are older, and I have more "free" time. In general I am secure and it's the right time to give. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to volunteer. Yet, aware that not all have the privilege to be able to do this.

 

Posted with Blogsy