My birthday

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by

Leslie Gordon Yoga
in

Dear Friend,

Today is the first of what I hope will be a weekly blog post. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic when I moved all my classes to Zoom, I have been sending a weekly newsletter containing my Zoom links. I’ve decided to start posting the first essay in these newsletters as my Blog. I am starting with the one I posted on my 60th birthday, April 19. Here goes…

Leslie

Today is my birthday.

I am not telling you that so that I will hear from you with birthday wishes. I am telling you because I take time on my birthdays, especially the ones that end in “0” to pause and reflect. To evaluate where I am and where I would like to be moving forward. I imagine you do as well.

Here are a few of the things I am thinking about:

*Many days leading up to this birthday I thought “How did I get to be this age? I still feel like a kid!” Then I remember the kids who never made it out of high school or the mother who fought and lost her battle with cancer when her kids were in school with mine, and I know that I am fortunate to be this age because I know many others who never had the opportunity.

*Each day I stand in front of the mirror and look at the now permanent lines on my face. Sometimes I stretch out the skin to remember how I looked in my younger years, but then I remember that those lines represent the many times I’ve smiled. Now they are a permanent reminder of the happiness I have known.

*Sometimes I think that now I’m too old to start anything new, but then I remember that age is an illusion, and none of us has a guarantee of another day whether we are 20 or 60. It’s the perfect time to begin something new! To feel energized with a new purpose.

As I move forward to the next years of my life, I remain eternally grateful that yoga has been a part of it for 40 years! I think of all that I can still do because of the times I have gone to my mat, even when I didn’t feel like it, to stretch, move, and breathe! 

We are all so fortunate each and every day. Birthday or not! I move into my next 60 years with Gratitude!I look forward to seeing you on the mat!

Love, Light, and Virtual Hugs,
Leslie