Like many people this time of year, I find myself a little sad thinking of my childhood Christmases. The dreaming of Santa Claus arriving in the night--Ma, how he does he get into our apartment if we have no chimney? The family gatherings, and missing those who aren't with us any longer. The snow and the dark days ( I grew up in NJ). Now that I'm in a warmer climate and have real world, adult pressures, the season can be fraught with have-to-dos and responsibilities. I still look for Santa and believe he's around. It's easy to feel that you're missing that "magic" in all the sappy commercials this time of year.
I was reminded of a simple gesture by a patient's daughter. My patient passed away a few weeks ago, and his devoted daughter always came with him to his appointments. She came to bring me a thank-you card in the midst of her grief, thanking me for the support and the help I had given her father, and how he absolutely trusted what I thought. It brought a knot to my chest and I had to keep it cool in the middle of a busy clinic morning. Her gratitude reminded me what's most important for us to remember at all times--being kind, mindful of the golden rule, and just aiming for your best everyday, despite the headwinds!!!
In an earlier post I talked about bikram yoga, how deadly hot it was and how it wasn't for me. I truly love yoga and I persisted, I found a studio that offers "power yoga" in a room heated to 85 degrees, so you sweat but don't die. The studio is clean, smells good, has big windows facing a garden courtyard with lots of open space around it. I really feel that your surroundings impact your practice, your work, your life.
I was sold. I've been attending "power vinyasa" classes, a faster paced sequence of challenging poses in a heated room for 60-90 minutes, and it's wonderful. I really like how we begin and end each class with a long powerful "OM". There is a wisdom to this ancient practice of fitness, and I am much more flexible, limber, stronger after a few weeks. I can already do a partial tripod headstand! OK so my legs aren't straight and I can only hold it for 5 seconds, but it's a victory at age 43. Physical fitness is so important, it sets the pace for everything. Growing old, obese, weak, winded, and full of elevated lipids and diabetes and high blood pressure, NOT for me. I wish my peers and patients would listen to me when I suggest this. They are sooo behind the times, they think I'm crazy when I push for exercise, yoga, biking, swimming, etc.
Have yourselves a Merry Christmas and a healthful new Year!!!
