Overabundance
The last two days have been wonderful days. Truly spectacular.
It all started on Wednesday when the new DVDs arrived to replace the messed up ones. After spending a couple hours checking 30 discs for defects and finding none, I finally released a big breath of air I felt like I’d been holding for 2 weeks.
It goes without saying that this problem has bothered me. It’s been like a weight on my shoulders, dragging me down.
At first it was emotional, all stacking up on James’s birthday, overwhelming me with feelings of inadequacy and rage.
But slowly I moved into an active mode with the problem. As long as I was DOING something about it, I felt fine.
At times though, I felt so completely powerless I just wanted to scream.
Receiving the new DVDs and testing them felt like coming up for air after diving into dark, deep well.
And mailing out all the working, perfect copies? That felt like shrugging off the weight of 15 quilts packed on my shoulders.
For the last two days I’ve felt light as air. The problem is finally over and I’m moving on.
And as I move beyond this “stressed out Leah” phase, I’m taking more notice of my life and everything around me.
It’s easy to get so focused, so blinded, so constricted to a tiny little sphere that everything else fades into the background.
In my yoga classes we’ve been focusing on heart opening poses that stretch the muscles over my chest and heart.
Over and over, my yoga instructor says “Open your heart, let your light shine, and release. Breathe….breathe.“
This has helped me greatly over the last two weeks, but today it clicked. I found that extra give, that extra elasticity within my chest (probably due to the weight lifted off my shoulders) to open and stretch these muscles.
These muscles are rarely stretched, even though I do yoga twice a week now.
If you take a really, really deep breath you can feel them on the top of your chest, probably feeling a bit surprised that you paid attention to them today!
Naturally our body wants to curl inward, hiding your heart, protecting it.
These muscles are used to constricting inwards, so it feels amazing when you can open up your arms, drop your head back, and release in the opposite direction.
It’s this opening that I wanted to share with you today.
Because for me, it’s more than just about stretching in a pose, and feeling that uncomfortable/good feeling that comes from making muscles do things they don’t often do.
It’s about taking that feeling off the mat and not just seeing, but acknowledging with vivid clarity the amazing overabundance that is all around us.
My Cup Runneth Over has been ready to quilt for almost 5 days now, but I’ve been stalled in my tracks, wanting to first feel, REALLY feel the same feeling I had when I first “saw” this image in my mind 8 months ago.
It was a feeling of overwhelming overabundance, of luck and gratitude, and pure, lightweight love.
And I finally found it again today.
Let’s go quilt!
Leah Day
yay feeling relief… I can imagine how free-ing that must feel…
Yeah for you!!! Bet ya the sunshine helped pick up that mood! We have had 2 whole days of gorgeous light.
Can't wait to see what happens with the quilt now that you are in the mood to work on it.
Take care of yourself and have some fun.
I am so glad for you! To truly feel your inspiration a second time is fantastic! Can't wait to see the finished quilt.
to add to your pleasure I was just reading British Patchwork & Quilting (March 2010 issue 194) and there you are on page 72 as March's Blog of the Month!
Congratulations!!!
I think you need to have a web cam set up so we can watch you quilt! Like one of my favorites, Manquilter!!
So glad you're feeling more relaxed. I was really feeling for you, starting a new business and having something so important go wrong.
Warm up that machine, stretch and take what's in your heart and put it in that quilt. Lane
I think it goes to show that your quilt "My Cup Runneth Over" came into your mind/life for a reason (ah, quilting serendipity!). With the events of this week now you can really relate to that phrase — I know I did as I read your post.
Really glad for you that the DVD problem got resolved.
Yoga. I really need to stop telling myself I want to take a yoga class and just do it. I love how you described the movement to open your heart – how the muscles are there to hold it in, and you need to work them to open them………. loved that.
I am so glad that you have found the resolution you needed to make this DVD thing right, and that they are now working. I am so glad that you have opened yourself up and are now moving on to create this goddess. She is beautiful. And in your hands, she will shine. Have a special weekend making this image come to life and I am so glad you are feeling life and alive again.
Thank you so much. I was just sitting here all clenched and really needed to be reminded to open up. After all the sun is shining again (well, sort of) and the wash is hung out.
I really admire what you are doing on this site.
Jeannette in CO in the our intermittent season – MUD
It's a pleasure to read your Blog and see that you are not only a quilter but also go to yoga. Good on you.
Also I enjoy all of your utube little videos. I learned free motion quilting that way.
Thank you for sharing so much.
Wishing you a good day
Heike
Oh yes, and I've just re-found you in the Patchwork and Quilting mag as 'March Blog of the Month'! Congratulations!
I haven't scrolled down to discover your problem yet but you describe so perfectly the stress when things beyone one's immediate control don't work out…you could be writing my week there. Thank you for the breathing tip, I'll try it- any sort of breathing probably hels thought….!!!!!