In This Season
I am knee deep in life.
So much good. So much challenge. Riding the waves of both.
Friday was the first day in a long time that I felt _____________ in a long time. Calm. Present. Hopeful. There's not a perfect word for it, but it was good.
Thank you God for good.
Other things that have been filling me up recently:
I listened to one of my favorite poets Mary Oliver (interviewed on the On Being podcast) and ordered her new book of poetry called Felicity.
The kids are so great. So great. Learning. Laughing. Listening (most of the time). Connecting. This season with them feels different. They are getting older. The conversations and the pauses are different. There are still challenges to be sure, but they are just really wonderful to be around right now. Anna rocking her spelling words and Simon loving his Doc Brown Halloween costume (and anything Back To The Future). Lots of "I love you's" everyday in this house.
Katie and Peter welcomed a baby boy into the world last Monday. It is the greatest joy to me to witness the two of them with their own child now. Katie has been with my family though our own thick and thin for the last six years. She has cared for them and for me with a deep, deep love. Our hearts are bursting to help welcome Graham to the world.
Satuday morning I woke up early, as I've been doing even since coming back from France, and went for a walk before 6am. In the dark. And it was awesome.
I loved this interview by Jess Lively with Elizabeth Gilbert who says near the end of the interview: "If you're not dead yet you're still a student."
This past Monday I finally, after saying I was going to do it since January, signed up for and attended a local yoga class. I literally smiled to myself during one of the poses, that I'm-also-probably-going-to-cry-smile, as I experienced that very specific feeling that I was exactly the place I needed to be. My body and mind were filled with the positive messages of surrendering and strength and moving through resistance. I'm going again tomorrow.
Current words: curious, whole, hope, ignited
Current playlist: Macklemore (Downtown), Bob Dylan (Greatest Hits), Mumford & Sons (Wilder Mind)
I listened to the Mary Oliver interview too (and the unedited version as well) and my copy of Felicity came today. I am saving it to share and read with a special friend this weekend, but it is really hard not to just dive into it.
I just got it too - saving it for a few quiet moments.
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reading this, I got that same smile. the I'm-also-probably-going-to-cry-smile. :) Happy for/with you.
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Oh Ali. I love this. Since my seperation and divorce, i started hot yoga this past April (thanks to a dear friend who took me) and it has been one of the biggest gifts and joys in my life. After almost 60 hours on the mat, my heart and life and body is being transformed and i truly can breathe a bit lighter and smile a bit wider. Yoga is such a gift. Love your post! I got Elizabeth Gilbert's book yesterday and i am looking forward to reading it.
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Love this! Love that you are good! Love that the kids are good! Love having the I am also going to cry smile and love that you had it! Love you!
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I am SO into signs & I said out loud today to myself....I wonder if Katie had her baby yet. Keep looking at your blog each & every day just because that is what I do & here is the birth announcement. Really hadn't given it much thought until today! How AWESOME & how BEAUTUFUL is your pic with your children holding the new baby! Congrats to all!
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Ali, this is so good to read! I'm happy for you , and thankful for your life. <3
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Downtown by Macklemore is rocking my world right now. So much good.
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Ali do you realise that by posting you're feelings like this that you are helping so many of us who are struggling for one reason or another. When I read your posts I instantly want to write about my own. The good and the bad. Thanks so much and please keep posting. Congratulations to Katie for her little bundle of joy.
Yes, my exact sentiments about this post photoaddict!
THANK YOU Ali for sharing with us!
I totally agree!
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Glad to you are well and also loving the Doc Brown costume. My son, Hayes, was Doc Brown last year, this year Gandalf from Lord of the Rings.
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I think when one experiences years when there has been a scarcity of 'I love you's, they are all the more precious when they are freely given and received. I think I had to 'grow up' for that to happen even though I had past the half century mark!
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Ali, I don't know you personally, just from your blog posts, various class content, and responses to me personally. I am really happy for you. You deserve this season. Thank you, for all you offer. You've really impacted my memory keeping, but also what I look for, what I want to see, and remember, and I'm grateful. Couldn't thank you enough if I tried. Again, in really happy for you, all great stuff. Michelle t
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Great post - so happy for you.
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The ebbs and flows of life are just beautiful. We are podcast soul mates. I also LOVED the Mary Oliver interview. Such a peaceful perspective that is unique and kindly wise. Also love hearing Elizabeth Gilbert on some different podcasts (The Good Life Project is another fave of mine). Lastly, that smile/cry still happens to me in my Kundalini Yoga classes and I never thought about it in that way, but it definitely feels like the place I am meant to be each week. Thank you for your continually inspiring creative voice. =)
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Congrats, to Katie and Peter!
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❤️❤️❤️
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Happy for you. :)
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Congratulations to Katie and Peter and welcome to baby Graham! What a blessing you all are to each other. I seem to remember your mentioning (this summer during camping?) that Simon was the baby whisperer . . .
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that crying/smiling, or crying/laughing happens to me, also, as I pull myself out of pool after an hour long swim when, 1) I haven't been in the pool for a long time, and 2) I haven't been in the pool for a long time and I know it is so good for my body, mind, and soul.
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So happy for you. Thank you for sharing your joy with us <3
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Love your words. Yoga class is a great place to be emotional. Nice playlist.
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Such a positive, uplifting post, Ali. You have such a way with words. I feel happier just having read your story.
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That's it girl…live the length and the width…just like you say!
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Yoga is like that. ;)
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This post makes my heart happy on so many levels. Love you Ali and congrats Peter and Katie!!
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Love pictures of "the baby whisperer". Let's see lots of those, ok? Does Simon have a layout about that strength of his? I can't remember.
(And the Mary Oliver interview is one of my favs. Have gone back to it several times since it first aired.)
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