Trusting the Plan

Way back in 2008, I decided 2009 was a good time for a change. I set some goals for myself - finishing a triathlon, moving to the lake, and starting my own yoga studio. I said I was willing to do the work, and asked the universe to work with me. After that, all I could do was trust that the universe had a plan, pay attention, and follow it.

The plan for triathlon training was easy. I found an online training plan that worked for me, and followed it. I had no idea what I should be doing, so all I could do was trust the people who knew more than me. Other than the past couple of weeks, when my training has slipped a bit as house stuff got in the way, I've done every workout. With four weeks to go, I believe the plan worked, I am fairly confident I can finish the triathlon. I am looking forward to it.

Trusting the universe to give my family the opportunity to pick up and move was trickier. I couldn't just google "6 month plan to totally change my family's life" and get a list of things to do each week. I had to believe it would work out the way we wanted, and just wait and see.

When my husband got laid off in January, I knew the universe was paying attention. While it was unpleasant for him, it gave us the opportunity to accomplish some things at home while he looked for a job in New York. As April slipped by without a job opportunity, my husband was starting to feel discouraged, but I told him to have faith. Within days of finishing the last big project which made the house ready to sell, he got interviews and a job offer a short commute from the lake. I believe the universe was waiting until we were ready. We put the house on the market, and today my husband moved to the lake to start his new job.

The kids will move next, when school is finished, then I'll follow a few weeks later. I know the universe will make sure the house sells and we close at just the right time to wrap up everything. I'll keep packing, so I'm ready when the time comes. I may not know exactly what the plan is, but it's working. I have to keep trusting the plan.

Writers' Block

I’ve had a pretty bad case of writers’ block lately. There are many things I’ve wanted to write about. My day planner is full of little notes to myself so I would have topics for blog entries. When I sit down to actually write, however, none of those stories seem worth the time it would take to type them. I stare at empty pages in my journal with the same result.

Sometimes I sit down to write and just fall asleep.

After months of filling out online applications and emailing his resume everywhere he could think of, suddenly my husband, Rob, got two interviews. One wasn’t so great, but the other seems like the perfect job for him. He will be the Senior Computer Specialist for Essex County, New York. The County offices are 30 minutes from our Adirondack home, the hours are ideal, and he will be doing the kind of work that he likes. I am incredibly happy for him and our family.

Now comes the tricky bit. Rob is starting his job on June 1^st. This means that he will be leaving the kids and me in New Jersey until the school year is done. Then the kids will head north to stay with Rob (my first triathlon is there the weekend after school ends, so that works out great), and I will hang out here until July 31^st.

Which leaves us two weeks to get the house mostly packed and walls painted and a few things fixed. No problem, right? Hmmm, maybe you should plug your ears, because I think I’m going to scream.

We’ve done quite a bit of packing over the last ten days. Our garage is full of boxes and rubber tubs and furniture that doesn’t need to stay. We’ve got a storage unit and U-Haul rented, so we are going to empty the garage and take everything we can to the lake this weekend. I have lost count of how many boxes I have carried up from the basement. I’ve been cleaning, too, getting rid of the cobwebs I’d stopped seeing years ago. We’ve been in this house for ten years, which is the longest I’ve ever lived anywhere. I’d forgotten how much work it is to pack up a house.

Oh, and the North Country Triathlon is five weeks away, so I have to keep training. I am enjoying a recovery week now, after a huge training week for me. I did my longest swim (2,000 yards) and longest run (3.75 miles) ever. Just in case the packing wasn’t wearing me out enough.

There is a bit more excitement, too. The Schroon Lake Community Church agreed to rent me their community room for yoga classes starting August 1^st. True North Yoga has a home! I’ve got the class schedule set up, and once the house is settled I need to do some work on the website (the tables are messed up in IE – could everyone please switch to Firefox?) and start doing some inexpensive (okay, free) advertising. Just a few more things on the to-do list.

It is now safe to take your fingers out of your ears. I start teaching a new session of yoga classes at the county college tonight, so the loudest thing you’ll hear is oooommmmmm….

A Long, Long Month...

...and it isn't over yet!

Here are my excuses for not posting for the last three weeks:

1. Work has been really busy - the kind of busy that keeps me in the office until 11:00 pm. I will not miss this job when I leave.
2. We are trying to get the house ready to sell. This weekend I worked outside, planting some annuals and mulching over the weeds. Hopefully I did enough for curb appeal.
   
3. I have been teaching every yoga class I can, substituting for teachers who are away. (They are taking real vacations. I can't remember my last real vacation.)
4. I have a triathlon training schedule that I must stick to.

I need to get to bed early tonight so I can be in the pool by 6:00 am tomorrow, so I'll have to do the Readers' Digest condensed version of what's going on.

I did my first training run over 3 miles and felt great the whole time. I even had enough left in me to sprint when I got close to home. I am really happy with how training is going. Other than a few sore muscle days here and there, my body has felt good. I love how much more energy I have now.

I bounce off the walls on rest days.

Substituting for other teachers gives me a chance to teach different styles of yoga. I really like Vinyasa, or flow, yoga, and enjoy teaching those classes. When I open my studio, there will be Vinyasa classes.

My husband is starting to get responses when he submits his resume for job openings. We need lots of positive energy going into his job search so our plans all work out.

Since my last post, I've had lots of ideas that I wanted to write about, but I've forgotten them all. I'm sort of caught up now, so I can start fresh tomorrow. Or maybe the next day.