Om For the Holidays

“There’s no place like home for the holidays…”  

Robert S. Nevil & Matthew Gerrard

What does it really mean to be home for the holidays? Some people are not able to go home. For others, home stopped feeling like home years ago, or never did.

Home is the place where we should feel safe, unconditionally loved and at peace. However, our true home is not in any particular zip code, but in our bodies and our hearts. Our true home is our physical and spiritual self that we carry with us at all times.

Over the holidays you may begin to feel homesick for the familiarity of YOU. Yoga and meditation are the safest, easiest routes back home, in the form of deep breathing, meditation or a few simple yoga poses.

These tools will keep you grounded in yourself, and the commute time is literally seconds. There is no traffic. No rest stops needed along the way. And there is simply no way to get lost.

Just like Perry Como sang, “I’ll be home for Christmas,” whisper a soft promise to yourself that you’ll visit home at least once a day this holiday season. Give yourself the gift of presence.

PEACE -The Most Sought After Zip Code

 

It’s one of those immutable laws. Life will always contain geographic and/or internal changes. 

Relocation is inevitable.

When we’re in between the zip codes of life, it can be very unsettling – if we allow it to be.

So how can peace be packed into any relocation?

While in transition it feels like everything is changing, but the truth is -  the essence of who you are remains unchanged. There is comfort and reliability in things that remain the same, so why not reside in that familiar neighborhood while navigating transition?

Your life’s history, and the love you’ve given and received will forever remain unchanged. All the good you’ve poured into the world is sustained no matter what state (emotional or geographic) you are in.

Look to symbols in nature as a way to maintain peace during change. Waves flow in and out, at times with great force, other times quite gently. Standing on the shore, all we see is fluctuation and change, but the essence of the ocean remains the same. Getting in touch with that sameness within us can provide peace as we flow in and out of transition.

Last but not least, no matter what transition we’re experiencing, the breath passing through our bodies is an ever-present portal to peace. In any moment of change, a gentle deep breath will always lead to greater ease.

Equanimity During Relocation

We’re always in the midst of some kind of life change or relocation, whether it’s geographic or internal. Yet even though change is the one constant in life, we tend to fear, resist or deny it, even though it’s inevitable.

And when we’re not wishing change away, we’re busy evaluating it and labeling it as either “good” or “bad.”

What would it be like to cultivate a sense of equanimity, trust and comfort, no matter what the next destination might be?

Imagine embracing all of our relocations in life.

To achieve that paradigm shift, start by recognizing that change isn’t good or bad – it just is. It is exactly the way it’s supposed to be. Shed the dynamics of evaluating, over-thinking, or over-controlling; these only drain your energy.

If you can embrace that concept, what you’ll gain back is the time and energy spent over-thinking, over-analyzing, or over-evaluating. During change, we’re already stressed, tired and confused. Why add to that chaos?

Let go of your need for everything to be good, because when we are attached to something being a certain way, we’ll inevitably be disappointed. In the meantime, we may miss what life wanted to bring to us – perhaps an even better opportunity!

Life is fluid. We might as well get used to that. Being present to life, rather than labeling life, helps us to live more fully.

Home Even in Hotels: 6 Ways to Cozy Up Your Room

Hotel stays are a common part of relocation. Even after you’ve moved to your new home, you might travel more often than before as you head back to see friends and family.

Relocating is stressful. Travel is stressful. Transforming your hotel room into a cozy haven can bring calm, familiarity and ease, and make it feel more like home.

If you can, choose to drive instead of fly. That way you can pack everything you need for a relaxing hotel stay. Otherwise, just select a few suggestions from this list:

1.     Pictures of your loved ones (including pets) quickly warm your heart. Soft-sided picture frames pack especially well.

2.     Nuts, protein bars, loose leaf tea (with your own special mug), and other staples. Nourishing your body with wise choices keeps you healthy while on the road.

3.     Luxurious pillowcase. Having a high thread count case next to your face is wonderful. Choose a color that will stand out from the hotel’s own linens.

4.     Comfortable slippers. The ability to slip your feet into soft footwear is a divine indulgence.

5.     Essential oils. A few drops of lavender on your pillowcase or in your shower can instantly calm your nervous system.

6.     Shower towel wrap. Envelop yourself in softness and warmth, instead of settling for those sometime scratchy and small hotel towels.

To make it even easier, keep these items in a special soft-sided storage pack that is ready at all times – just grab and go.

When you arrive at your hotel, take the time to make a personal connection with the front desk staff. Let them know why you’re there, where you’re from, and find out who they are as well. This will make it feel like a neighborhood, not a hotel. You’ll feel the difference when you come and go.

It takes some upfront planning to transform your hotel room into a haven, but it’s well worth the effort.

Thriving in Transition

At some point in our lives, we will all relocate. It’s inevitable. The one constant in life is change, and you’re destined to go through many relocations – both internal and geographic.

The principles highlighted in the following story have helped guide me and my clients through many of life’s most challenging transitions.

A weed and a tree were growing near one another on the bank of a swiftly running river in the jungle. The tree was shaming the tiny weed by comparing their height, strength and sturdiness. The humble weed simply bowed her head and asked to be pardoned.

The next day, a heavy rain came, flooding the river and eroding its banks. The strong, stiff tree was pulled down instantly. The weed, however, bent down, flattened herself, and let the water flow over her.

Once the river receded, the weed rose up, looking for her mighty neighbor. From far away, she heard the tree calling to her – lamenting his own lack of suppleness, humility and simplicity.

Whether you thrive or dive during transition depends, in part, on how supple you are. What life situation is raining down on you right now? Where are you stiff, and where are you supple?

Set an intention to bend around a situation rather than muscling through, and see how much easier it is to weather your current life storm.

Stay Fit, Even in Temporary Housing

Temporary stays are often inevitable (and sometimes dreaded!) when a family is relocating from one zip code to another. This is due to the lag time created when the employee starts the new job before the house is sold, or if the kids are completing the school year before the move.

Unfortunately, between welcome baskets filled with microwave popcorn and chocolate bars, loud music playing in the stairwell, and postage stamp-sized fitness rooms, temporary housing can wreak havoc on one’s physical and emotional health.

After all, it only takes about 30 days to create a bad habit or undo your good habits, which is quite often the minimum amount of time spent living in temporary housing.
Daniel Corridon, CEO of Stay Fit Housing, recognized how challenging it is to stay healthy when you’re away from home for extended periods, and so he created a solution:

Stay Fit Housing is a company that provides a unique and holistic offering to those wanting to keep up their fitness habits during a temporary stay. Stay Fit Housing is committed to helping their guests maintain or increase their overall well-being.

Leases at Stay Fit are 30 days or more, and include fully furnished apartments, a consultation with a Stay Fit health and fitness expert, and 10 fitness classes at local clubs. They also provide nutrient-rich food and drinks (no Snickers bars or microwave popcorn!). All of this value for a price that is less than you’d pay for a luxury hotel.

If you’d like to maintain your wellness lifestyle wherever your transition takes you across the United States, contact Stay Fit.