Ramble of the Evening: Showing Gratitude for the Little Things

I apologize if you've come to my blog today expecting some workout pictures and my routine, but lately I've been trying to focus more on the mental stuff rather than the physical stuff.

So my ramble of the evening begins...

Sometimes we're so busy and stressed, we get carried away and forget about the little things. While on campus studying on a Friday night, I went to get myself a latte at the Starbucks. Something as simple as the barista commenting on my make up and saying "I really like you're eyeliner, it's really cute!" easily made my day. It's these little gestures/comments that can make people's days. I know it sure made mine!

I walked away feeling happier and more cheerful, and it made me want to "pass on the good deed" of making someone feel happier/ helping someone out. On my way back to my study area, I bumped into two random strangers would looked puzzled and lost. I kindly approached them, asked where they were heading and if they needed directions, and directed them towards the right direction. The guy left with a big smile on his face and said "Thank you, I really appreciate that".

It kinda makes you think "hey! I'm putting faith back into humanity!", or maybe something like that.

I've also spent some time over the past weekend thinking about the different things I want my future to consist of, in terms of my career and my fitness related issues (personal training, running my blog, starting a business of some sort, etc).

It frustrates me that I want to do so many of those things right now, yet I need to focus my time on school and need to build my way up there. That being said, it only makes me want to work harder to do better, and achieve the many other things I also want to achieve. It's by doing that step, that will allow me to take another step towards my other fitness and business related goals.

So here's to the start of a new semester, of the continuation of motivation, concentration, dedication, and hard work on both my studies and my personal health and fitness levels.

(It's cold in my house hehe)

Cheers!
xoxo

Selina :)

Yogi Tea Quote: Gratitude Journal Entry

Tonight's yogi tea quote writes "May your inner self be happy and secure".

The first thing that came to my mind was inner peace and yoga.
My long time friend Alyssa is a strong believer and advocate for yoga. She occasionally tells me things about yoga, it's benefits, and how it can help build one's body and mind to be stronger. I listened to what she said, but I don't think I 100% fully understood the things she meant until the first day I tried out yoga with her.

Man, that stuff is hard. If you ever thought that yoga seems easy, boy are you wrong. It takes so much focus, energy, balance, and flexibility to accomplish even the simplest moves. Even though we were taking baby steps during our class, I was still sweating up bullets and feeling breathless and falling down throughout. But by the end of the session, when we took a few minutes of time to ourselves to just lay down, and clear our minds, that's when my inner peace kicked in.

I felt so relaxed, so weightless on my shoulders - I almost drifted off into sleep. Through that experience I understood why Alyssa and many others practice yoga. It really does bring inner peace and happiness. And when you have peace and happiness within you, you will slowly feel more secure, confident, and strong.

To wrap things up, tonight I feel gratitude for the many great friends I have in my life. Never under estimate what a simple friendship and the simple things your friends say or do can affect your life. It may not seem important at that moment, but somewhere along the road, you reflect back on what they've said and done, and realize how it's slowly changed your life.

Alyssa has moved away last week to pursue the next chapter of her life, and I'd like to wish her the best of luck in her studies and where-ever yoga and yogi tea takes her next!

Cheers!
xoxo

Selina :)

Yogi Tea: Quote of the Night

Slowly over the last couple weeks, I’ve started to look forward to my cup of Yogi Bedtime tea before bed. With each tea bag comes a little slip of paper attached on the string with a quote. You may have seen me post a few of these on my instagram. 

Tonight’s quote is “Inspiring others toward happiness brings you happiness.” 

I think these little quotes are great. They make me reflect a little bit about the day and something related to the quote. It makes me appreciate things more, and be grateful for many things that I probably take for granted. 

And that’s exactly what I told myself I’d work on in the new years - to be more grateful, thankful, and to try and write these things down and share it with my blog readers. 

I had a really tough day today. It was the first day back to school, and like most people I was definitely not in the groove. I felt tired, sluggish, and nothing close to energetic. I had to study for some exams I have in the next couple weeks, and it hard to get back into the habit of things. I took a break and went out and had a nice steak dinner with my mother, but before that, I was very down, feeling depressed, and snappy at times too. 

But my mom, being the great mother she is, didn’t pout or yell back at me for being snappy. Instead she apologized (even when I was wrong), and just told me to back to focusing on my studying. My mom is the most selfless person I know. Everything she does, she wants the best for me. If I could grow up and learn half her traits and be half the mother she is for my kids, I’m sure my kids would appreciate it too. 

So while I’m sipping on my yogi tea and trying to figure out how to express my gratitude... I thought of this. I am so thankful (yet can never thank my mom enough) to have my mom in my life. She makes so many sacrifices for me, all because she wants the best for me. She supports me 100% in all the things I want to do, but isn’t afraid of telling me her true opinion on things. 

The yogi tea quote also reminded me that everything I’m doing now is to help me reach my goal (personal trainer and nutrition dietitian). Even though studying doesn’t bring me happiness at that moment, when I am able to do what I want to do, I will experience happiness then. And it’s then that I can bring happiness to others too - both mentally and physically! 

So if you’re ever feeling lost, depressed, or confused - sit down and have a cup of tea, and just reflect upon what you’re thankful for <3 

Cheers 

xoxo

Selina :)