We all need that one person in our lives that will tell us the cold hard truth.  No matter what.  A girlfriend, sister, whomever.  Sometimes the truth is hard to hear, but consider the alternative.

Ms. Mariah Carey needed that sounding board this week in Austria.  She wore a one piece ski ensemble that did nothing to flatter her.  Where was her person?  This get up was just really unfortunate on so many levels.  I can’t imagine it was all-together that comfortable either.

So happy to see the WTC 1 towering over the skyline.  It is a true symbol of resilience.  While deep, deep wounds may not completely heal, we can rebuild.  In the midst of sorrow, despair, or heartache there is a chance to emerge from the rubble and stand tall once again.

I know.  This is not a glamor shot.  Obvious absence of Photoshop.  And real.

This photo and the website the shape of a mother tries to show the truth about giving birth to a child.  Tummies [and other parts] don’t always just snap right back into place.  We don’t often see these images, except maybe in the privacy of our own bathrooms.  It mostly likely is the norm, yet we beat ourselves up for our less than perfect ____________. [Feel free to fill in that blank!]

I am trying to live with a simple creed in mind:
Eat foods that fuel your body.  Exercise.  And except that, which you have no control over.

Be kind to yourself today.  You are simply amazing.

Last week Ashely Judd wrote an op-ed piece in response to the buzz surrounding her “puffy face”.

‘Why was a puffy face cause for such a conversation in the first place? How, and why, did people participate? If not in the conversation about me, in parallel ones about women in your sphere?”
-Ashley Judd

Truly, why do we care that Ashely Judd’s face is a little puffier than it used to be?  I love that she challenges all of us to reflect on the fact that it is seemingly o.k. to discuss a women’s body [or a change in her appearance].  Don’t we all have bigger things to worry about?

Read the entirety of her response at The Daily Beast.  I warn you…she uses really big words!
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/09/ashley-judd-slaps-media-in-the-face-for-speculation-over-her-puffy-appearance.html

While I can’t remember if I have blogged about Ms. Angelina Jolie [sorry],  I have made it known to my facebook world that I do love her.  There are two camps.  Hate her.  Love her.  And there is no where in between.  I won’t bore you with my reasoning….it is much like politics.  If you don’t share my opinion, I will respectfully agree to disagree and leave it at that.

However, I am going to blog about this………

 

 

Well, it has happened.  Pretty sure I am officially middle aged.  After persistent muscle strains in my back, I had to look for a therapeutic form of exercise.  I settled on hot yoga and started last week.  And honestly my back is already feeling better….however with my muscle relief came a few other lessons.

1. Hot yoga means it is really, really hot.  While I appreciate a good sweat, I am not a huge fan of others sweating profusely in close proximity to me.  Disgusting, really.
2. Listening to deep cleansing breaths make me laugh. [At least to myself- under my shallow, immature breath.}
3. My hamstrings are insanely tight.
4. Looking around to compare yourself to others during balancing poses causes you to fall over.  
5. I don’t speak the language.  Literally.  I am consistently behind the “flow” in power yoga because I don’t understand Sanskrit.
6. Lululemon seemingly has taken over the world-one overpriced tank, with a clever name, at a time.

Some of you are dedicated yogis.  I applaud you.  It is a exercise of humility and endurance.  It is Monday and the yoga mat is calling. I have mastered child’s pose and savasana with ease. Hoping this week I can get a little closer to the ground in my forward bend. Namaste.
[ps.  It’s great to be back from a long hiatus!]