Mantras to Live By

In November I took this excellent class about teens and how to celebrate this time of development rather than dread it.  It was one of the best professional development classes I have ever had and worth giving up a fall weekend of hiking (which says A LOT).  Another benefit of this class is it reintroduced me to the wonders of meditation.  This was my third try at meditation and I am not sure why it took this time but for some reason the timing was right.  In the past I would always find it so stressful to sit around and do nothing.  "I just don't have TIME meditate. " But I happened to be in a stressful place and I could not ignore the immediate calming and relaxing benefits I was experiencing.  At the same time Oprah was offering her free 21 day meditation so it was perfect timing.  Below are some of my favorite mantras. 

My go-to mantra is No Regrets.  Whenever I start to wonder what-ifs about my job and how things would be financially different had we stayed in NJ I just keep repeating No Regrets.  My friend said it better-  your life choices reap better health.  She reminded me there is more to life than salary and health benefits.  And whenever I start spiraling I just keep repeating No Regrets until I feel calm again.

Here are some other mantras I like to meditate with:

"Be present in all things and thankful for all things" -Maya Angela

"Live today, not yesterday, not tomorrow, just today. Inhabit your own moments" -Jerry Spinelli

 These three all came from the Oprah 21 day meditation- I do not think there we names tied to them:

The fullness of life is here now

Awareness is the home of wholeness

Happiness itself is a kind of gratitude

Since I am an admitted planaholic living in the moment can be a challenge.  One of my resolutions and goals is to be more intentional about living in the here and now and enjoying the present.  

Here is a watercolor Laurel made with some of her favorite mantras.  It was hanging in her wing at Conserve School that is why it says Badger Wing