The tug of war between comfort and growth. 

Yesterday I had on my calendar to go to my regular yoga class at the end of the day. I had carefully planned my work schedule to ensure I would be done in time in order to attend class, return home afterward and relax without any writing to tend to that was unfinished. However, when the afternoon of yesterday arrived, I was eager to stay at home, unwind, cook a good meal and relax with a hot bath. Comforts. 

In the back of my mind I knew how restorative, necessary and worthwhile attending yoga class would be, but oh my goodness, did I not want to go. 

But . . . I did, and as soon as I sat down on my mat, went through my own personal regimen of stretches before class began, I knew I had made the right decision. The class exhausted me, challenged me beyond what I was capable, but I was present the entire time. I set my day and my week aside, and I just gave myself the ability to be present in that room with a handful of other people working through their yoga practice as well, stepping away from their lives for an hour and fifteen minutes. And then the gift of choosing to go to class was given . . . the opportunity for growth. 

My yoga instructor began class, incorporated throughout class and completed class with the question, "In this moment, what am I being given?" At each segment of our vinyasa class: when we were holding poses that our breathing enabled us to do, when we were folding our bodies in half, and when we were completing the session in shavasana, she would ask us to ask ourselves, "What am I being given in this moment?"

What a necessary question to guide us through our days and especially through moments we may have in the past deemed stressful, unmanageable and irritating. As the holiday of Thanksgiving is nearing here in the states, the mantra of inquiry seems quite pertinent, but why not pose this question throughout each of our days all year?

When we pose the question "What am I being given in this moment?" we are removing the future worries, the past pains and reflecting on what is going well, what is enabling us to live our lives. Maybe you will only be able to be thankful for drivable roads to get to the market to pick up food (as I remember last year during the Snowpocalypse, many people were not able to drive, and even if they were, roads were impassable to acquire the basic everyday needs), or maybe the gift of sight will be the best you can muster, but there is, as my instructor reminded us, always something to be grateful for. 

As I was attempting to hold some of the more difficult poses, as I did so, the question would dance in my mind. And in that most unwelcomed moment of focus, muscles screaming and a feeling of wishing that moment to be in the past, I was reminded to be thankful that my back no longer hurts me, and I have a body that enables me to try these poses no matter how discombobulated I may look. 

So today and as you move forward, keep this question as a regular inquiry to yourself. Perhaps you will begin to notice the ease of your self lighten, the angst in your step lessen and the joy of your days expand.

Speaking of joy, the holidays are upon us and oh, I do believe I may be turing on a holiday tune or two in the coming days. I wanted to share with you some exciting plans I have coming up and invite you to follow along. In a few short days I will be hopping on a jet plane and scooting across the Atlantic to kick-off the holidays in England. With some time in the city, just enough to visit a museum or two and enjoy a play, I will be primarily enjoying a respite in the country. Something I have been wanting to do for years. I look forward to sharing as much of my journey with you as I am able via Instagram, so if you aren't already following along, click here (@thesimplyluxuriouslife) and be sure to check out TSLL's stories as well on IG within the 24 hour window. Once the trip gets underway, you will be able to find those images specifically with #tsllengland.

Also, it is, as I stated above, the beginning of the holiday season, and if you are looking for a gift for someone on your list who might enjoy TSLL's first book or are looking to find a simply luxurious way of organizing your everyday, I want to share with you a limtied opportunity to save 15% off all of the following: signed copies of TSLL's book Choosing The Simply Luxurious Life: A Modern Woman's Guide, TSLL Notepads and TSLL's Planning Pages. How? Enter HOLIDAY15 when you spend $10 or more by Monday November 27th in TSLL Shop on any of the above items. 

Okay, well, I have to finish packing and planning (and catching a bit of sleep), and you have a weekend to begin enjoying. Thank you for subscribing to the weekly newsletter and may the beginning of this festive time of year be as joyful as you had hoped. Until next week, I'll see you on the blog.​​​​​​