Forewarning: this is a long, twisty, stream-of-thought sort of post. It may not be followed by all, so don’t be hard on yourself or feel confused.
It’s the evening of Thursday, May 2. It was an energy balancing day. The body felt heavy and slow but I had a lot I wanted to accomplish both at work and personally.
Around lunch time my energy had tanked. I got some work done for my mom and then headed home to take miss poochy-pooch out for her walkies. She always lifts my spirits, but today was a two-coffee kinda day. Same went for a coworker of mine. I picked us up some coffees and headed back in.
It was a two-coffee kinda day.
Halfway through my almond milk cinnamon cloud macchiato, my energy started to pick up and I accomplished some big goals. By the time work was over, I had made a decision about something.
At the beginning of the week, I had decided I was going to do a yin yoga class at my old studio on Granville Island when I lived there. My body hadn’t been able to handle yoga classes (only some home-based short stretching) for the last two years due to some injuries, and I had to ask for extensions on my passes more than once. I’m grateful the studio allowed that, so it’s another reason I like to go back there.
Not only is it a lovely space set on the second floor of a pier and across the water from David Lam Park, but it’s a piece of my old neighbourhood that I really loved.
It’s reminiscent of the great big lessons I learned while living there, plus a lot of happy self-returning time.
My energy began to wane after about Tuesday. Lucy and I had gone for a walk to a local park nearby and whilst about to begin our return home, as I was walking, I was suddenly hit with a wave of energy. I swear Lucy felt it too.
I felt so heavy that I could barely lift up my legs. I slugged myself to a water fountain, grabbed some water and hung out in the shade a bit. My energy had been picking up since then but I’d been dragging.
So, as the week went on, my likelihood of heading to this class was declining by the minute. Thursday was no different. Work was slammed and, and, and, and… but I had made a commitment to myself.
Do I really need the rest, or do I need to push myself just a little? There was a bigger picture.
“Girl?” I said to myself, “If you keep saying no cuz you’re scared, where’s that gonna get you?
No where.
Where do you wanna go?
What do you wanna do?” (This related more to life in general over the yoga class, but it was what I needed to hear.)
Well, I have a good idea of what I want to do, but it’s not solid for me to act on, so, I do nothing.
I’ve decided I have to step up.
After coming back from lunch, I had my hands busy with coffee cups and one of my coworkers had the door open for me before I even got there.
I said thank you, then turned back to him as I walked down the hallway and said “That was next-level. That was really appreciated. Thanks again.”
He smiled and gleefully said “Ha ha! You’re so welcome!”
On my walk after work, this idea hit me.
“It’s time to be next level.”
“What are the next small steps I desire to take to lead me closer to my passion?”
I want to push it just a little extra.
So, I got myself to that yoga class.
It was run by a sub-you named Eric. Still a yin-class, but different than I’m used to.
And it was soooo good. It pushed me next level.
If you dont know yin, it’s the feminine practice of yoga. It’s slow and poses are held many times longer (minutes at a time).
It takes patience and a listening and deep connection with the body.
Quieting the mind takes practice. Learning to be slow takes practice. Belly breathing takes practice. Being mindful of words to self takes practice.
Many yin classes bring me to tears.
They test pieces of me that I hide due to keeping myself busy and through distracting.
I have to say, there’s something about being in community doing practice with others, that is not only so unifying, but vulnerable.
Everytime I take time to connect with self, it blooms into something so beautiful. I gently smiled with my eyes closed the entire class. I was being seen and was seeing at a whole other level.
I have begun a daily practice around Gratitude. It’s a group I joined on Facebook through a friend I follow and it’s to share 5 different things I’m grateful for, for 30 days.
Thursday gave me a lot to be thankful for.
After yoga, I took a walk around the island. I was sad about leaving there, but also so grateful that I manifested that time there on my own for a while. I had formerly lived there with a partner and loved it so much. That area was a part of me more than anywhere else I had ever lived. Vancouver is definitely my home.
I saw one person only. I loved how quiet the early mornings and evenings were on Granville Island. Right on the water, I had found the secret side on the opposite of the market and used it most days to meditate and walk Lucy off-leash.
I saw a heron and watched it for a while, as the dragon-boaters rowed by, heading into dock for the night.
The great blue heron was a strong totem for me there. They lived in the pines on the Southside of the Island. Their prehistoric sound and look enamored me, and watching their expansive wings and curved body skim over the water of False Creek always stopped me in my tracks.
They mean stability for me. Deep grounding. Strength. Longevity. Purpose. Staying the course.
Their long skinny legs so rooted to the earth and water, holding their large feathered bodies, elegantly moving along rocks at the waters edge, watching for food.
My heart was already full from class, and then this picturesque beauty showed itself.

To end the night, I had plans to meet a girlfriend for some Burgoo comfort food. We talked big topics over shared a grilled cheese and kale cesar, alongside some Grace gingerbeer and followed by strawberry cheesecake (omg so good).
I am grateful for her company, truth, vulnerability and wise words.
I’ve found it more important to make closer connections. To be less fearful of sharing my truths.
Did you know the most important human need is relationships?
This is a whole other topic to cover another time…
Have you noticed how I’m following my conceived alphabet in a very new order? 😜
“To be vulnerable is to connect. If my purpose is to love, then so it is.” ~ Jennifer Marie Luce
💖 I would love to hear from you. Positive and constructive comments and discussion is always welcome.
Like this:
Like Loading...