What have you been doing all morning?
Well, um, I’ve been busy.
With what?
I woke up late, I admit. Almost 5:30 a.m. But for the next 15 minutes I stretched my body… and my mind.
What do you mean?
Every morning I meditate and practice my bed yoga poses, but once my brain starts stirring, I stir up trouble. I think of everything I should be doing. What I want to write. If I’ll have time for dance class. My next writing prompt for my class. How many deviled eggs I should make for Sunday.
Stop. STOP! All that in 15 minutes?
Oh, there’s much, much more. You asked me to stop.
I wouldn’t call that meditation.
What would you call it?
I’d call it wasting your time.
Jeez, you don’t pull any punches.
Why would I punch you? Make love, not war.
Did YOU come up with that slogan?
God. No.
Well, who did?
I just told you. God. No, not me.
You know God?
You don’t?
Who are you again?
Who do you think I am?
I think I’m going crazy, sitting here in the cross legged position, palms together, trying to not think.
Don’t think. Do.
Do what?
Do what you do.
What do I do?
What you do every day. Rise. Stretch. Look out the window and celebrate the new day. And then go about doing what you do.
Who are you again?
You meet me every day. Don’t worry, you’re up to the challenge.
Love it. Am chuckling away. “Monkey brain” it is called.
Peta
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Like most creatives (which means all of the bloggers here) I have dozens of monkeys racing around in there. If only I could tame them. xo
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Sounds like my mind. Always wonderful to meet life every day! Have a wonderful Easter, my friend!!
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Life has a sense of humor. Thank goodness! Happy Easter to you, Darlene. 3
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Good morning Pam,
You are having some fun conversation going there. My brain engage after having greeted the morning. Sun shining over ancient land, coffee brewing and then I sit down with breakfast in the sunshIne room and read what my friends are up to.😊🦋🌺
Happy Easter
Miriam
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Ahhhh, sun shining over ancient land. That just takes my roaming, roving mind to green valleys with fairies and dwarves hopping from cottage to cottage, knocking on doors with bouquets of flowers and cups of herbal tea. Oh oh, there I go again. Happy Easter. Happy Spring. Happy Roving to you, Miriam.
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Hehe, love this, Pam. Yes, I have met life and sometimes I like it and sometimes I don’t.
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Sooooooooooooooooo true, Robbie. But Life is always there, probing us, questioning us. and dare I say, laughing at us from time to time too. xo
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Haha! I didn’t sleep in this morning. My mind was ticking through today’s to-do list at 3:45 a.m. I tried to quiet it long enough to give me one more hour of sleep but here I am. On my second cup of coffee and it is 5:00. Met life too early today. Up to the challenge but not sure how long I’ll last. Will need a nap by 2PM and that is going to be awkward since I work today. Happy Easter my friend! – Molly
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We women (particularly) have so many questions and plans and ‘to-do’ lists for Life, that unfortunately we start asking too early in the morning. My wish is that you don’t snore half-way through work and that you make it home in time for a quiet nap, with no interruptions from LIFE! ❤
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I made it through the day, Pam. It was rough and I had to eat a brownie to give me the energy to keep going. It was a sweet way to keep my job!
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Brownies — and any kind of chocolate — have also saved my day many times…. 🙂
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A perfect description of meditating with a monkey mind. You may wonder how I know this, haha!
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I don’t wonder, Bernadette. I always say it’s the more intelligent, inquisitive people who have the busiest monkey minds. Right?? RIGHT! 🙂
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This sounds like my brain in the morning. I’m a definite morning person.
I hope you had time for your dance class. How many deviled eggs do you have to make? 🙂
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I’ve danced, I’ve taught a writing class, I’ve bought the eggs. Tomorrow, I hope to devil at least 12 of them….. If “Life” doesn’t get in the way. 🙂
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Life has a way of doing that! But at least you’ve danced and taught your class. 🙂
We’ve delayed our big family Passover “Seder” till next weekend, but I’m hoping everyone is healthy and can make it.
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Ohhh, hope so Merril. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and WARM here. Life suggested a long hike, and I totally agreed. ❤
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🙂
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Your inner conversations are so much more interesting than mine. I guess it’s who you know 😉
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You ALWAYS make me smile, Joanne. I’m sure you’ve met Life also. Perhaps you’re wiser than me and purposely forgot the conversation!!! 🙂
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Our brains are very much alike, Pam. Mornings are when I seem to be the busiest…maybe it’s because I’m at the day job downtown at 6:00 a.m. Have a wonderful Easter! ❤
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Whoa, Jill, you get up even earlier than I do in the morning. Does Life slow you down, or “egg” you on to stop asking questions and just get UP? 🙂 Happy Easter.
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I’ve always gone to the day job early. I spring up out of bed and get it done! 🙂 Happy Easter to you, too! ❤
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Uh-huh, same here. My morning musings are much the same while my brain slowly comes to life. Good to know I must be fairly normal . . . 🙂
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Or both of us are extremely ABnormal, Mary. 🙂
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If you call that waking up late you really don’t want to know when I usually get up! Lol! 😂
A lovely and inspiring conversation you had – and life has it absolutely right! 😊💜
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Life is wise that way, isn’t “it, she, he, they”? I guess I’ll invite Life into my conversations more often. :-0 ❤
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Meditating is hard work.
Getting our thoughts to settle down is no easy feat ~> it’s like herding cats. 😀
Watch that monkey mind
Racing, racing, all the time
Sit still and just be
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Sounds like you and Life get along really well. I’m a bit envious, to be truthful. Namaste. Happy Spring. And get those cats in line! xo
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Hi Pam,
great conversation. I like to meditate every morning.15 minutes every morning.That is the best way to start my day. I have similar conversation with my subconscious. I told to my subconscious before my bed time “Ask me couple questions “. In the morning I wrote the questions and presented it on my blog in the post “Interview with Ben Aqiba”
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I’d love to read the “Interview with Ben Aquiba” Can you give me the link here? I looked in your blog but couldn’t find it. Yes, I try to meditate early in the morning too, and it DOES make a difference. Now, tonight, I’m going to ask my subconscious some interesting questions! ;-0
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Here is the link Pamela.
http://benaqiba.com/interview-ben-aqiba/
Thank you
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Oh yes, now I remember (and have revisited this wonderful post). Knowledge. Happiness. Positivity. Three great ingredients for life.
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Rise, look out over the green valleys of Lincoln’s rolling hills –
Do a series of short exercises for ‘Arthur’ and me –
Cup of coffee, look at a picture of my Mom on the den’s book shelf –
Silently say the ‘Lord’s Prayer –
Have a quick and simple breakfast –
Open the laptop and allow the madness to begin!
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What a fabulous way to start every morning, Billy Ray. And by doing so, it’s that much easier to let the madness then begin!! 🙂
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I’m not saying anything … who isn’t … who isn’t what … I’m not saying …
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That’s exactly how my meditation would go if I were to do it more often. Often after yoga, I’ll lay in corpse pose for some time and try to quiet my mind. But it doesn’t want to be quiet. It wants to scream at me with all the things I need to do. 😄
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Haha. In my last yoga class, one of the participants fell asleep during corpse pose. Snored like the devil. I asked Life, how am I supposed to concentrate on nothing with this sonorous sound? Life didn’t answer – was probably asleep too. 🙂
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Ha! Another reason why I work out in the privacy of my own home. 😁
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Always knew you were a smart lady. 🙂
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Ha ha. So funny. I think you’ve already met life, Pam. Now go out and enjoy it. 🙂 Have a wonderful day, my friend. 🙂
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My Life honors Your Life, and bows to our mutual creativity and fun. ❤
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Loved your inner conversation for all to read. Aren’t we amazing creatures????
I use Insight Timer—a free app with zillions of meditations or just wonderful pieces of music—all set up by how much time you have—-
5 -10 – 20 minutes—it’s a real help to calm the monkey mind!!!
Happy Easter to you and yours 🌸
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I’ll have to check that one out, Pat. I have the Simply Being app on my phone, and I must say, it does quiet those playful monkeys a bit. Life hums along with the soft chants. 🙂
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I see you answer your own questions, a sure sign of sanity!
This morning I woke up disturbed because of a frustrating dream that wove in a bicycle, a plane stuck in a canal, and details from a Netflix movie last night. I played some Easter music this morning, Swiffered the floors with Hubs help, so I don’t need to attend Pilates, which involved stretchy rubber sashes yesterday … still sore.
Happy Easter to you and your extended family, Pam!
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LIFE says “Stretchy rubber sashes” are dangerous. Stick with a comfy rocking chair. 🙂
Happy Easter, Marian. xo
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You’re up to the challenge, girlfriend. It’s funny how often we think meditation is about ending thoughts. I’m learning it’s more about letting everything be, including all those voices in our head. (They just can’t be exclusive, like they’re always insisting they should be–just one small part of the swirling whole…)
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Swirling is the operative word here, Kathy. May our minds and hearts and souls continue to swirl unfettered (and once in a while, with a soothing chant of Ommmmmmmm). ❤
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Stream of consciousness! The flow is perennial and I love how life is fun for you Pam! Have a wonderful weekend!
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I suppose that we should remember that a stream is always moving, sparkling, running from one rock to another, therefore, so should our own stream of consciousness! May LIFE answer all of your streaming questions, Balroop.
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Enjoyed your writing prompt today. Many can relate to it . I know that conversation well. Meditation needs to be done out of bed after you are up. It can be done in quieting the mind, using an active seed thought or a quiet walking meditation.
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I have always found it easier to meditate while walking, Patricia, now that you mention it. Life follows along, chanting sweet nothings in my ear. 🙂
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This made me laugh! I can so identify with thoughts that will not be quieted, no matter how hard I try.
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Many who meditate often tell me I should let the cacophony go on and on. Eventually “Life’s thoughts” will calm down. We’ll see about that! 🙂
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Haha. Sounds like me, myself and I again. 😉 Happy Easter, Pam.
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But I bet you have terrific conversations with you, yourself, and I. 🙂
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Good to hear that I’m not alone in having thoughts like scrambled eggs at times.
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Scrambled eggs – great way to describe those thoughts. Sometimes mine are even poached!! 🙂
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I wake early as well and the noise of the list of things to do is deafening. I think taking 15 minutes to mediate, think quietly, be with oneself is a fabulous idea. good for you to put it into practice.
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Meditating is certainly a “practice,” and I wonder if I’ll ever get good at it, Sue. ;-0 Now, put down that list. Ommmmmmmmmmmm.
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LOL. Here’s to taming the monkeys, Pamela. I think you’ve had better luck with yours than I have with mine. 😉 Hugs!
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Hey, one of these days, maybe my monkeys will meet your monkeys! 🙂 Actually, I think our monkey brains help us with our stories, don’t you? ❤
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I
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I loved it
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Thank you! You, obviously, have met LIFE also. 🙂
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Pam, this is fabulous! So many times in my morning yoga class I have to debate myself to find that stillness. I relate to this inner dialogue and you gave me a smile! I loved this!
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Many thanks for the encouraging words about my monkey mind and conversation with “Life,” Debra. So, when we’re supposed to be still (inside) while doing yoga, the teacher tells us to just say quietly to ourselves “Let Goooooooooooo.” This helps….sometimes. 🙂
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If life meets me like that Pam he may just get a little bop on the nose. I don’t like the inquisition that early. You handled it well.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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I wish you’d been with me during my conversation with Life, David. You would have stood up for me much better than I did! 🙂 xoxoxoxoxxoEasterhugsxoxoxoxoxoxo
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Why is this so familiar? That eternal ‘to do list’ keeps popping up for me too! Sometimes I think, “I’ll finish the list, and then I won’t have anything to worry about!” But it’s always there, with more ‘to dos’ than ever!
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I wake up with a To Do List already starting to form in my brain. I used to try to meditate early in the morning and it was an angsty disaster. I came to realize that later in the day my monkey brain is so tired that I can sit and think of nothing, so I attempt to be zen then.
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HaHaHa… I spent 30 years with Metlife and I remember this slogan well…. One of my favorites… It was a sad day when Metlife stopped using Snoopy in its ads…. Thanks for making me smile this morning!
Have a wonderful Easter Weekend.
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I’m dealing with jet lag so I am trying to mediate at midnight or should I say I am trying to go to sleep. Have a wonderful Easter holiday.
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Sometimes it’s the same thing, right Gerlinde? 🙂
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Yes it is
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Ha ha ha … you had me spinning … reminding me of Who’s on first?
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🙂
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A nice surprise. Those internal debates can get intense.
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Love this conversation, Pam. They say when you meditate don’t block the thoughts (or the talks). Accepting them is the only way. No backing down. No contest. Accept, and walk past 🙂 Happy Easter.
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I like that. I mean, if I blocked out my thoughts, I’d never know what LIFE wanted to tell me …. 🙂
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Thanks for the laughs Pamela. Happy Easter.
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🙂 Happy Easter.
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Thanks!
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I live with plenty of monkeys, both inside and outside of my head. Your conversation was enlightening and uplifting!
I hope you had a wonderful Easter!
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Haha. Yes, I get that. To all of the monkeys in our LIFE! ❤
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I do the same crazy thinking in the mornings. When I catch myself, I try to be more intentional with my thoughts like how happy and satisfied I’ll be when I accomplish such-and-such task or job. But it is so easy to make ourselves feel like we’re not doing enough!
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That’s perhaps the most frustrating thing in my life, Kate. That I’m not content to just BE. I feel I must always be DOing. May LIFE help us get over that misconception. xo
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Life can get pushy like that sometimes. And sometimes we – or at least, I – need it! I am currently working on a MS that I’ve been very busy procrastinating over, but I do like that idea of using an advertising slogan as a prompt. I shall ponder …. Jeanne
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My creative writing class and I found lots of inspiration from different slogans, like “Got Milk?” and “Just Do It.” As far as that last slogan, I also did a prompt with one word last week: Procrastination. Wow, did that produce a lot of stories!!! 🙂
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Love this post about your thoughts when you start your day. I think we are all a bit like that in the morning…bit sleepy yet we want to get about our day and wonder what to do first. I like your comment above to Kate – that we just BE as opposed to DO. Sometimes there is only so much we can do, and there will always be someone else who will just do more…and no reason why we need to be in a competition. So just enjoy ourselves and being ourselves 🙂
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I’ll admit, Mabel, the days I wake up with no agenda, allowing myself a day to just do NOTHING….those are my favorite days. :-0 ❤
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Sounds exactly like my mornings…but I do manage to get the Treadmill in…and the bed made. Does that count as a day’s work. Yes, Monkey Brain…a little tidbit from Natalie Goldberg…I figure if she can have it, so can I and perhaps you also…Enjoy this cloudy day.
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Natalie Goldberg led me on my way toward Creative Writing. She’s a writing wonder, so monkey brain it is!
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Pam, every time I try to get Life to pump the brakes a bit and slow down (especially in the morning), I just get laughed at for a response. Life waits for no one…it just keeps pushing forward. I’ve at least negoiated a bit of “me time” during each day…but then it makes sure I get back up to speed immediately thereafter!
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I think we humans, over the ages, have tried to tame Life, but so far, Life has proven she’s going to stay on the wild side. 🙂
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Cute… loved the conversation! …nothing (brain or body) turns on for me in the morning before about 8:00am. Neither my Yorkie nor I do mornings. Hubby says “Neither of y’all are morning puppies!” I need to wake up and get a cup of coffee and roam around the house for a few minutes before I can think straight. My hubby knows not to tell me something he wants me to remember before 9:00am and I know not to tell him anything I need HIM to remember after 9:00pm LOL! If it is important, write it down! 😉
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I was forced into enjoying early mornings by my kids. My son was born believing that he should never miss a sunrise (although now, he groans because HIS boys feel the same way). But I must admit, I love being up before the sun. It’s quieter, I can write with no distractions, and by 10 a.m., I don’t feel guilty for taking a dance or yoga or walk break. On the other hand, I’m sure I’ve gone to bed long before you even take your first evening yawn!!! 🙂 And I promise, I won’t bother you until the sun’s been up at least three hours. xo
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Not sure which I like best- the slogan or the story. 🙂 🙂 Call it a draw.
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Yes, whoever came up with that slogan oh so many years ago was GOOD. Fun to shape the slogan around our own experiences now.
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Hi Pam! I loved this. Nothing like facing ‘life’ head on! ❤
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Good point, Debby. Although sometimes, I’d like to hide my head in the sand and ignore Life, wouldn’t you? ;-0
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Did that for the last month. So invigorating!!! 🙂
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Omg haha laughing 😂 enjoyed reading 📖 this story 🙂 can relate myself too 👋😀
Ps. Do u really wake up 5:30 and do stretching? I’m usually doing 30-40 min stretching qi gong, but only evenings, in mornings- only yoga 🙂
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Pam, that sounds like my brain whirring away!! 😀😀 I woke early this morning, a to do list charging like the clappers through my mind … thank you for this reminder to stop and celebrate the morning. It’s wonderfully sunny out, warm, Spring in all its glory! Here’s to quiet thoughts and being! Hugs xx
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I know – thoughts are bees buzzing in my brain. But they rarely find any honey there. So I learn to quiet them down. 🙂
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Bed yoga, yes. That’s for me.
Seriously though, I love that sleepy early morning time. I often ponder my dream (or write about it in my nearby journal). But I’m so often pulled from my reverie as nature calls, and she is terribly impatient. I envy you your expandable bladder.
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Haha. Oh noooo, no bladder waits (particularly if it belongs to a woman over the age of 50). The bed yoga (and the conversations with “life”) occur right after necessities are taken care of. 🙂
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Good we have our priorities in order, hey? I encourage you to do a post on Bed Yoga. With photos, please.
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haha. I may wait a while on that encouragement. That said, my bed yoga felt really good this morning! 🙂
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