Choosing the Present.

…I haven't been sleeping well lately. I wake up at 1 or 2 am and can't quiet my mind to fall back to sleep for several hours. Considering my alarm goes off before 5, these sleepless nights are taking a big chunk of my rest, leaving me heavy for the day. Last night was one of the worst…a bad start to a new week. Monday mornings I usually run six "hill miles" with my group and then take yoga. This morning, I wasn't up to a hard run (or conversation) and opted instead for an easier route on my own. The air was crisp and damp; I could smell the wet earth as I ran along the creek.

the cattails, waterlogued*

Two miles in, my mind finally wakened and I stopped to walk. The birds are everywhere, squirrels too…I think the weathermen are right about more snow and ice this week. The landscape is shaded brown and gray, and in the cloudy daylight seems almost black and white. I leave the trail to get a closer look at the cattails in the pond.

I can't remember what kept me awake last night.

I finish my run and head to yoga. I arrive a few minutes early (happy my run wasn't too slow) and have time to sit still and quiet on my mat.

Daniela starts class; we're going to focus today's practice on the present. on being here in the moment. with our bodies and our breath. I work my body hard as I focus my mind on right now. I hope I can take that practice into tonight. My body and my mind need the rest.

*and yes, maybe a bit late to the game but I am obsessed with the waterlogue app! here's the original photo: