Questioning the Support of the Universe Part 1

There is a saying that if you put what you want out to the Universe, it will conspire to make it happen. That's very true. Even knowing that, how does one welcome the help? Do you research and study all you can and then give what you have? Or do you say "Hey, F.Y.I, this is what I want," then begin from there? From what I've heard, it's all of the above. Not always together either. Some people quit their job and then almost immediately find the perfect one. A game plan won't even be in place. How does this happen and why?

Maybe the act of quitting, that declaration of having enough is so strong the Universe has no choice but to quickly respond. Like a ping pong match. When someone serves, the Universe better be quick if it wants to rally (which it does). Is the plan "In two weeks, I'm out of here," a solid enough affirmation to bring about such change? 

When I began practicing yoga in April 2012, everything about the rest of the year began to fall into a better place. I decided I wanted to be a full time writer, I cut hours at my job, cut my hair and went all natural and realized I could have a passion about something in life. Yoga was the key to that. One decision, "I'm going to take my first yoga class this week," resulted in me finding one of my passions in life. Helped me to find a way to understand myself, my spirit and the world around me. What are the odds when I take my first four yoga classes I have the opportunity to go to the yoga studio four times a week the whole next month and a win a challenge? Universe, was that you? *said coyly* 

Is that it then? Just claim something and trying it out no matter how small or great? This is on my mind since the worsening condition at my job. I want to quit. Yes I know, want all I like, the universe will allow me to keep wanting. Actually quitting...Oh I CAN quit. I should. At least there is another income and a couple months rent saved if I did. Is that still fair to my partner? Will the Universe back me up? It's not so easy when I think about effecting other people and bills. Why is it so easy to jump to the negative thoughts with such decision and not the super awesome ones that are bound to follow? (That's for another post I think) 

I remember when I felt like I had no passion in life. A passionate person with no passion to pursue. I would see others and wonder, "What is that like? Why can't I have that?" I'd ask myself how a person finds something that makes sense to them and intrigues them so much they learn from it everyday. They don't mind working with it every day. They don't get bored, its just more exploration though familiar. Yoga was that for me. The passion I found to pursue and have tons to learn from all the time! I know that feeling now. The practice, practitioners, asana, meditation, spirituality...All of it is a continual process of exploration, interest and learning.  

My point is, I thought to myself about having a passion, "Why can't that be me?" A few months later it was. Now I'm asking again about quitting a corporate job to fully follow my career as a full time writer and yoga instructor, "Why can't that be me?" And then...

To Be Continued.... 

Did You Breathe Today?

Did you breathe today? Think about it. Have you felt your breath? Lungs? Are you aware of your existence? I want you to take a moment to sit back, close your eyes and take three strong yet calm breaths. I'll do them with you...

Did you do it? I did mine. If so, I bet you felt a difference. Did you realize you had a body, a chest with life energy flowing through it? If you didn't do it, that's okay, thought I hope you'll reconsider.

What is all the breathing about in yoga? Pranayama. Have you heard "If you can breathe you are doing yoga" or a variation of it. For me, it's about living. Waking up the sleeping or reviving the dead. Yes, the dead. There are multiple forms of life and therefore multiple forms of death. As I say, zombie's walk but they're not alive. 

Did you breathe today? Are you living or existing through space? The limbs can be alight by electricity as Frankenstein's poor monster. Or lived in like a child shivering in the sprinklers. Teeth chattering  and still not ready to stop feeling the day's fun. 

So often we walk around a bit numb. This is no judgment. I do it too. Life can go along without our realizing we were there. "Is it Friday already? Where did the week go?" It passed all the same, we just weren't there. 

Did you breathe today?  Cry? Did your body ache from an overdose of joy? I hope so. If not, sit back and take three strong breaths. Life is within you. Let it circulate your blood. 

What's In A Name?

Dear Jen,

I noticed something about your last name. I feel it represents a lot about you. Read it slowly.

Pastiloff. 

Did you get it? Here, I'll break it up Past-Il-Off.

The message I get is: Passed Ill Off. 

That's one of the main things you talk about. About shaking off the past negativity. The "shoulda, coulda, woulda" as you say.  Learning from it and being fine it happened because you are no longer there. 

Everyone has flashbacks. Everyone looks back to where they were and spends some time looking around. The point is to not do it too often and to not stay there. Don't live where you don't belong.

You practice living in the moment. Moving forward. And only seem to go to the  past to help others, and yourself if needed, with obtaining the greatest present and future! How brave is that? I can't even look at my journal from the past year, heck the past month! Even if it's all good news. You go back Years! You go into the jungle of past unpleasant experiences and cut the negativity of tangled vines with a machete. 

Everyone has things in the past that they don't like to remember. We don't like that we wasted time with this, or didn't do that. You on the other hand, and I'm not sure many can, take the past, put in a jar, study it, and then present it in the world as something worth seeing. 

You stand as the Ringmaster on stage before the Circus. The Passed Ill Off Circus! We think it's going to be a show of other wonders, (but it's a reflection of the own show we need to put on for ourselves). 

Your past is on display. We arrive unaware on how this will effect us and are amazed with glitter a unicorn and twinkling lights. We think it's going to be something we haven't seen before. A new wonder to take us away from where we have been. To stop thinking about it.  Instead, your show of the history you lived somehow bleeds into our own. 

We weren't expecting this. The crowd is wide eyed and perhaps slack jawed. It's a better surprise and wonder than we ever could have imagined! We didn't realize how much we needed a ticket to this show. 

For those surprised and perhaps fearful, and those of us touched and heart swollen, we can hear you calling from the spotlight during a brief intermission. 

"Look at this hurt, this experience! Look at his hate and this love! This past me and perhaps a past you as well. Look at what you are manifesting now. This isn't just for me, it's for you too. Don't shy away. Be touched, dazzled, brought to tears or silence. Here is my past. You've got one too!"

The show begins again. The audience sits still as you show us where you have been and where you're going. We are allowed to come along. It's interactive! No expectations, no certain ways things are supposed to be done. Only connection on the highest level and producing the most wonderful-filling manifestations.  

Who knew there could be so much good in where we've been? Even the parts that leave a sour taste on the tip of our tongue. 

At the end of the show, there's and invitation to come again.

"There it is. It's all there. Nothing to hide and everything to see. Heartbreaks and headaches. Loved ones and sticking to your guns. Holding yourself back and losing your track.  New life creating and karaoke yoga gyrating. We are the combination of our past but we don't have to stay there. Passed Ill Off Circus! Whose ready to join me?!"

All I know is, I'll forget about my ticket. I'm running away to join the circus! 


xoxo

~ Chelle aka Writer Yogi   

Meatless Monday: Broccoli Stuffed Tomatoes

Time for another yummy recipe for Meatless Monday! 

I actually made this some time last week. It's a recipe I got from an old book for Broccoli Stuffed Tomatoes. For those who don't like tomatoes, this recipe can be substituted with a potato I'm sure, or something else of the sort! Now I do hope you pardon the picture quailty. I will give you the recipe in a nutshell then give you the step by step photo instructions from my tiny hallway I call a kitchen! haha.

 Hollow out four tomatoes and boil a 10oz package of frozen chopped broccoli 

A better view of the tomatoes. I honestly used a plastic ice cream scoop to accomplish this. It was really easy!

Here is where I got creative. Drain the broccoli. I honestly have no idea what a garlic roll is so I used Mozzarella cheese, and a dash of garlic and herb spice and my liking of garlic salt. (Can you tell I tend to cook as I feel at times?) Heat it so the cheese gets melty.

Lasty, stuff the tomatoes with your cheese and broccoli mixture and place in an oven preheated at 375 degrees for 10 mins and you have a lovely meal!

Buon Appetito! Happy Meatless Monday my friends,

Chelle aka Writer Yogi 

Meatless Monday

Today I'm going to try my best to participate in Meatless Monday. A non profit initiative for better living for ourselves and the environment. It's actually pretty cool. Check Meatless Monday's website HERE. You can learn about the initiative and also, incase you were wondering, you don't have to become a vegetarian. Unless you want to, then this is a great way to get your feet wet! 

I got inspired to join in by a&o 'Discover Inspiration'. One their website you can find MM recipes, along with other great articles. They are also on Facebook. I don't consider myself a huge meat eater. Yes, I do eat meat, but how can I claim my per portions without paying attention?

Last week I wanted to try my first Meatless Monday. I failed early afternoon eating leftover pizza with sausage on it. I didn't even think about it! I had not completely committed to the idea in my mind that day or the night before so I can at least say it wasn't a moment of weakness. It was a moment of not paying attention. This event makes me happy. Yes, my Fail was an actual Win. (whoot!) Here's How: Looking back on last Monday I can think about why I want to participate in this international initiative. Also, have one way to assess my relationship with meat. 

1. It's tasty. Please forgive me staunch vegetarians and vegans but it's the truth for me. I was raised eating meat. It makes me think of the first time I told my birth mother my (now) husband was a vegetarian and she gave a little My Big Fat Greek Wedding reaction.

Bride: "He doesn't eat meat."
Mother: "What do you mean he don't eat no meat?!"
*silence*
Mother: "That's okay, I make lamb." 

I admit,it wasn't that bad at all, it just made me think of that scene. She did however raise and eyebrow like "What? What's that?" I find when you grow up eating meat, it's really hard to just let it go. It's like, why wouldn't you eat it? It's already dead and its so good. What's the harm and why waste it? I Love fish and chicken wings! There I said it. haha. Seriously, I do though. 

2. It's Filler. Thinking on why there is sausage on my pizza (besides yummy) or why I wish to avoid vegetarian meals is I feel meat is filling. I actually have this notion I can't get satiated from a meal if meat isn't in it.  I know we are not really supposed to get full, and I'm totally fine with that. It's just a part of me says I won't even get the sitting back with a small smile "Ah, that was good" feeling if it's completely veggie. 

What are my final thoughts on my first Meatless Monday? Well, first, I hope I don't mess up since the day isn't over! Also, with these two major reasons listed, and seeing the site on the benefits, I didn't see why I shouldn't participate. It's one day a week and an all around benefit for the environment and yourself. What a super two in one. I can assess how often I turn to meat and the reasons why. Comfort, laziness, fear of missing out a satisfaction in a meal. I've also found that I can turn this day into one of Gain instead of a day of Loss.

I have a tendency to shy away from the idea of something if it involves me losing something. MM can be seen as Not getting to eat meat. Less meat. I don't get to have something. What I will try to do to turn the idea around in my head for a day of gain is to perhaps give it an alternative name like More Veggies Monday. More veggies. More chances to prepare a colorful healthy meal. More vegetarian cooking experimentation (and cooking in general) for myself and my husband! 

Now, will this result in me being able to dedicate every Monday to this? Possible *gasp* vegetarianism? *chuckle* That's for another day in the distant future and a distant post. The jury is Living in the deliberation room on that one! I do know I want to try it for a least a month and to enjoy this first Meatless Monday. In celebration and getting into the spirit, I made myself a salad! (picture below) With fat free ranch which I used to swear was a sin to be made until I found one that tasted pretty good. :P

Anyone for joining me next Monday?! 

Namaste my friends,

~Chelle aka Writer Yogi 

Spinach Leaves

Cherry Tomatoes 

Cucumer

Green Pepper

Baby Carrots

Quorn Meatless and Soy-Free Southwestern Chik'N Wings