I almost skipped it Friday morning. I even set my alarm later than usual convincing myself I needed the extra sleep.
But wouldn’t you know, I woke up early anyway and all of my excuses evaporated like my chips during our family poker games.
It was Day 30 of the online yoga series I was currently practicing each morning on the YouTube channel, “Yoga With Adriene.”
All of Adriene’s yoga series end with a Day 30 that is an unchoreographed, free flowing, on your own yoga session. There’s no verbal guidance. You’re just asked to “do what feels good.” Yikes!
What do you mean there’s no guidance? You expect me to just move my body through space with no agenda or plan other than the nebulous instructions to move in a way that feels good? Ugh. Queue the mental head slap.
As part of my ongoing (though admittedly somewhat sporadic) meditation practice and having listened to an amazing audiobook called “Mind Hacking Happiness,” I’m learning to analyze any negative emotions and explore why I’m feeling that way.
Unsurprisingly I suppose, I was resisting Day 30 of this yoga practice because I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO for thirty minutes on my yoga mat.
On prior Day 30’s (this was my fourth 30 day series with Adriene), I would either watch Adriene on the screen who was doing HER own thing and copy her or I would skip Day 30 altogether, like I was tempted to do this time.
But Friday morning I “made” myself do an entire unscripted, fly by the seat of my yoga pants, yoga flow. I didn’t watch Adriene on the screen once.
And you know what? I did great. Well, maybe great is an overstatement. But I did fine and, much to my surprise, I finished at exactly the same time as Adriene, as if my internal mental stopwatch knew it had been thirty minutes.
My lesson?
Become comfortable being uncomfortable.
Our lives are constantly changing with unexpected twists and turns.
COVID anyone?
Hurricane Sally?
Pensacola Bay bridge closure that triples one’s commute time to the office?
I’ve discovered that the key to maintaining my personal peace in the face of uncertainty is to
(a) expect the unexpected,
(b) remain flexible,
(c) become comfortable being uncomfortable, and
(d) embrace ‘what is’ in the moment.
My mom is currently experiencing major changes in her life right now.
I am flying up to Virginia later this week to help her move to Pensacola. It will be a whirlwind trip.
I arrive on a Thursday.
The cross-country movers come on Friday.
The house cleaners arrive on Saturday.
And then we’ll hit the road early Sunday morning to make the 14 hour drive to Pensacola in a rented minivan with one dog and three cats.
Can anyone say bedlam?
My mom is understandingly feeling nervous, excited, and anxious about the move.
Mama Terry is beginning a new chapter of her life amidst much uncertainty.
She recovered from her brain tumor surgery last December.
She retired in January after a 45 year career.
She’s been self-isolating since March amidst COVID.
And now, she’s moving away from an area she’s lived her entire adult life.
As an only child, I think she’s happy to live closer to me but it’s still a lot of changes to process in a short window of time.
Knowing my mom, she’ll manage the transition with humor and an occasional glass of wine.
The good news for me (and her I suppose) is that she’ll be living in Pensacola and I’ll be able to spend a couple of nights each week at her house to shorten my commuting time.
Plus, she’ll become a second witness on some of my Will signing appointments. So you might get to meet her soon.
Become comfortable being comfortable.
“Life” is going to happen anyway so we might as well embrace the changes and learn to adapt.
Much like your estate plan should adapt over time with your current life situation that likely looks very different from 5, 10, even 20+ years ago.
We can help you manage your evolving estate plan through our Estate Planning Maintenance Program.
Although change can be scary, look on the bright side. Change is rarely boring and keeps us on our toes.
Kristen “Becoming Comfortable Being Uncomfortable” Marks
P.S. We recently had our second day of signing appointments at the Hampton Inn in Gulf Breeze proper. The next one is scheduled for Friday morning, November 13th.
