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Body and spirit: another step toward balance

I am so excited to once again set a goal for the coming month in an effort to achieve more balance in my life. I don't think I really need to go into how much I loved March's step, as it is now a weekly ritual in this space. The success I expereinced from last month gave me even more momentum to decide what I wanted to choose as my goal(s) for April.

In pondering areas of my life that could use a boost, I easily identified two very important gaps: physical fitness and spiritual growth. 

Normally around this time of year I am energized to become active again. I take walks or jogs daily and feel motivated to tone up for swimsuit season. This year, I have been a bit of a slacker in that area. Even though this is a time when I should be most concerned with how my body can hold up to strain and endurance, I just haven't felt the urge to get off my butt and get moving.

When I was pregnant with Addie, I planned to have a natural drug-free labor, but due to a lovely PUPPS rash which caused elevated blood pressure (among other things), I was induced and had an epidural. I am so grateful that my labor ended with a vaginal delivery and a healthy baby, but part of me still hopes for the experience of a naturally progressing labor and delivering without the assistance of medication.

Since we aren't taking birthing classes this time around, I need to do what I can to make sure I am just as prepared, if not more so for bringing this baby into the world. There is a good chance I'll get PUPPS again, but just in case I don't, I want to be ready! So my plan for working towards physical fitness in April is to sign up for and attend prenatal yoga classes once a week. Hopefully I will regain enough skill to practice yoga more regularly at home as well.


The other goal I want to set for April is to once again make daily devotions a part of my routine. This Lent, I will admit to feeling a bit lost, which is a huge contrast to the deep connection I normally feel to this season of the church year. Although it is certainly the most depressing of all the seasons, for some reason I usually find such spiritual food during that time of deep reflection. This year, that has not been the case at all. In fact, it has opened my eyes to the ugly truth that I have been putting my faith life on the back burner in recent months. 

My sister is going to be brought into The Catholic Church this Saturday and I must admit that I have felt a bit of jealousy at her excitement and devotion to this new stage of her faith life and her relationship with God. Where is my excitement? Where is my devotion? I remember feeling that energy when I first completed RCIA, but once the process was over, I have slowly been moving into autopilot.

I believe the first stage in moving out of this rut is to reintroduce daily personal interaction with God through devotions and meaningful prayer. I'm not yet sure what time of day will be best for this, but discovering the best space and time will be part of my process. I will definitly keep you posted to my progress and I ask for your prayerful support in this particular goal. 

At first I was hesitant to take on two things at once. Would that move me toward balance or increase feelings of anxiety? The more I thought about it, the stronger I felt that neither could wait and both are important to the health and well-being of myself and my family. Besides, why can't I just assume that I will get as much fulfillment from my goals this month as I have in February and March? Yoga and prayer... Yep, April is going to be a good one.  

Head on over to which name to see what Nicola and others are doing to find balance this month.

2 comments:

Nicola said...

Good for you! Ditto for April. Fitness is my focus. And your March...I love how you have done. I realized about myself not too long ago that I wasn't focusing on the positives as much as I needed to, and my oldest if 5! So I began ending our day by telling my daughter all the things she did that amazed and impressed me. Just what she and I needed to take the focus off the (far fewer) list of things she did wrong or were frustrating for me!
Nicola

sara said...

Thank you, Nicola for stopping by and for your encouraging feedback! I love this process and will be forever grateful that you started it all. Best to you this April as we work to get in shape!