Yesterday, I debated whether I "should" go to yoga or just go home. Mental Chatter ensues. I have been struggling with headaches due to new glasses and too much time in front of the computer. Also, my achilles recovery has turned south for a little while with all this ice and snow and heavy snowboots. Part of me felt like, I know once I go to yoga I'll feel better. And I know, that most of the time after I've shown up I am normally happy I did. The other part of me just wanted to go home and do a million other things that I really wanted to do. The previous night I went home and watched two movies on netflix NOT doing what I had planned but still I watched two really amazing documentaries on food - Food Matters and Food, Inc. - that I have been wanting to watch for a long time. As I walked out of the office, I asked myself what I need. The answer was, I need a nap. So I took the bus home.

As I took off the work warrior attire and prepared myself to take a nap, the mental chatter continued. If I take a nap, I'll never get back up and DO anything. I decided to put on comfortable clothes and NOT my pj's and to keep a light on in the living room while I just laid down until I felt better and THEN I would ask myself again what I needed to feel good.

I had a lovely 20-30 minute nap and felt rejuvinated when I got back up. I knew I needed to practice singing that night and prepare for a lesson the next day but I wasn't ready yet. When I asked what I needed, I said I needed to move and stretch. I wasn't in a yoga mood so I turned on the music. I had been wanting to check out some mainstream music that I hadn't listened to before. So I turned on the rhapsody and started dancing. I kept cycling through couldn't really find anything I felt like sticking to but I had a good time dancing until I got bored with the song and clicked to the next one. Sorry, I must say - Lady GaGa doesn't do it for me. I like Christina Aguilera though and that new kid Bruno Mars isn't bad. I like Eminem if it weren't for all the swearing. Anyway, I did that until I worked up a sweat and started getting interested in singing. John Mayer always puts me in the mood to sing ;). So then I set the timer to 60 minutes and had a blast doing my vocal warm-ups and then working on my songs and aria for my lesson. It was such an enjoyable practice session. I did what I wanted when I wanted. When the 60 minutes were up, I gave myself 10 more minutes to finish what I was working on (besides I took a little break to sip some tea here and there). After that, my lower back was tired - sure sign I was well grounded and tapped in! So I got out my foam roller and rolled around like a cat give myself a little self massage. Finally, then I ate dinner. I was just starting to get hungry at that point. I juiced myself a broccoli pear juice (yummy!) and then made brown rice pasta with olive oil, tomato, garlic, and some ground flaxseed and walnuts mixed in over spinach! It was delicious. Walnuts are really good mixed in with pasta! Mental chatter said I shouldn't be eating so late but I enjoyed my meal while listening to various singers sing the aria I am working on (Amour! viens Aider from Samson et Dalila). I knew I was at least eating healthy and that I had done what I needed for the night. Then I flossed, brushed the teeth, did the dishes (something I would normally be lax about and leave sit so I am very proud of that), put on the pj's I avoided earlier and went to bed. Husband came home just in time for a kiss goodnight. :)

I had the best night following what I "needed". The mental chatter says at the end of the night, but "you didn't do this and you didn't do that" and I said but I had a great time tonight doing exactly what I needed.

The End.