When Life Gives You Lemons - Preserve Them

The last month was rough mentally, physically, and emotionally. I spent the weekend with an old friend who unloaded a cache of old magazines on me. Among People and Elle, there was an older issue of Body and Soul, which I sat down with over a cup of coffee and a scone.

Full disclosure: I am a planner. I ended up in Atlanta after graduate school in a small college town for many reasons, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that the most important one had a name: C___. I met C. at wedding. His childhood best friend married my childhood best friend and romance was set in motion. For seven months we commuted between cities, and finally, in May, I made the move.

Before I moved to Atlanta, I was fit. I practiced yoga three times a week, walked everywhere and ran most days of the week. Life in Atlanta was different. I found a gym, started attending cycling classes and a gym-style yoga, but it never felt right. Driving to the gym seemed antithetical to working out, but it wasn't possible to get there any other way. The yoga wasn't right either. When I practiced in my small town, the teacher paid close attention to my posture, correcting me when it was needed or encouraging me to be mindful of what my body was feeling that day. At the gym, the practice was forced, erratic and lacked a spiritual foundation. I never practiced yoga to look good, but rather to feel good. I did not feel good at the gym.

By January, I stopped going to the gym altogether. Then in February, I lost my job. My health and mental well being seemed in jeopardy, completely out of whack with each other. I plunged into a depression, doing only what needed to be done, but nothing more. I slept a lot and C. watched me lose interest in the many things that had always brought me great joy.

Finally, I few weeks ago I decided only I could change things. So I started running again, but this time C. joined me. He encouraged me to go an extra lap or do an extra set of leg lifts. "It'll make you feel good," he'd say. I also found a wonderful yoga studio and began attending every Saturday. Then last weekend, I found the 28 day plan in Body and Soul, but more importantly, I found a magazine that spoke to the struggles and challenges I'm facing on a regular basis. I told C. about the plan and asked if he would join me. We start our journey to better health and more mindful living next Monday. We're both looking forward to it.