Car Accident

Usually I take a different route, usually Sophie is in the car.  But today was different. Today I had my 1st car accident in the UK. Here are the facts...

Who: just me

When: 7am today

Where: On the way out of Ely headed to the base

Who's fault: not mine

My first car accident was right after I got my drivers license when I was 17. I will never forget it. I was working at the Flower shop on Easter and on my way home I was stopped at a red light. I dropped something and went to pick it up and slowly rolled into the car in front of me. I was devastated! Luckily, I've never been in a serious car accident. But the few that I have been in has always taken my breath away.

So today, driving along and bam (insert slow motion) hit in the side. I was on the way to the base to do my volunteer shift and usually Sophie would be with me. But, luckily Mike has night work this week so he was home with her. And I usually don't take this route. Le sigh... Everyone was fine but shaken up a bit. The girl that hit me was obviously on the way to work and both of us were just shaken.

The hardest part is that we're in a foreign country. I know what to do when in an accident in the US but what do you do in the UK? And the whole not knowing what to do is the hardest part.  So I called the Police. And they said if no one is injured then call a recovery service for the cars. So we have spent hundreds of £'s on AA (yes AA not AAA) and I call them and they can't help.  So Mike to the rescue (as always) to take pictures and drive the poor Panda home.  It's that stiff upper lip, get on with it British attitude. Even the gal who hit me after the shock subsided just got on with it. And.... well.... I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. For me, I'm still trying to figure out why I'm so tired and have a headache.

All in all.... it was one heck of an ending to January. I'm glad this month is finally on the way out.  And as for my poor Panda... she will be sleeping in a garage for awhile. 

New Year, New You! A yogic perspective...

Every new years is the same thing... resolution time. 

What will I do differently? What do I want to change about myself? 

 A couple years ago I decided to Hell with resolutions. I'm not even going to think about it. But for some reason it's so engrained in my psyche that I can't escape thinking about how I would like to be different.  We all have things that we would like to improve on but for some unknown reason I always stray to the negative. I frankly want to change myself! reinvent myself! be different! be a combination of all the best qualities of the people I have met. I want to be kind and patient and knowledgeable.  I want to flow through my practice with ease and most of all...  I want to feel comfortable in my own skin.  In my head this is perfection.... and

I want to be perfect!

But darn it, I'm human.  And I know deep down that I am already perfect. There is a light that glows inside of me and I've seen bits and pieces of the flicker during moments of clarity. But darn it, I'm human! And sometimes I forget about the light burns inside me.

So for this year, as I was multitasking a baby nap, dog walk and a run: I thought to myself: What should I do in 2013? What is my personal goal?  And immediately this is what I thought....

1. To listen more, talk less - I'm a chatter... and the worst kind of chatter. I like most, like to talk about myself. So this year, I will be talking less and listening more. My soap box is already in the bin!

2. Letting go of fear - I fear a lot of things. I fear those around me leaving me, I fear failure, I fear success and physically I fear headstand. I teach it! I demo it! But I don't do it in my personal practice. I'm afraid! And this year I will let go of fear so that I can live a less fearful life. 

3. I will find some kind of Balance - In my life and in my practice. There will be hard times and easy times but I will be working on keeping the scales of balance even.

4. I will love myself! - Because this is who I am. My personal stories have helped mould me into the person I have become. And darn it! I'm human but I'm perfect just the way I am.

So rather than thinking you need to shed some weight or you need to make an extra million. Why not accept yourself for who you really are. Honor yourself because after all there is a light that shines in you. I've seen it! It's beautiful!