365 Inspirations—341: Beach Walking and a Long Winter's Nap

"Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap."—Barbara Jordan

Today we went beach walking at Discovery Park. It was bitter cold outside. Who, in their right mind, would go to the beach on a day like today?

Nevertheless, we bundled up and headed out.

Suddenly, while staring down over a cliff at the murky greens and blues of Puget Sound, I recalled my dream from the previous night. I saw that exact water in my dream. The same color, the same everything. The only difference was that the water was warm and people were swimming in it.

My husband is usually pretty quiet on our walks, but suddenly memories of beach walking in Korea along the East Sea started flooding back to him.

He began to recount these stories to me. He talked about how he loved walking alone or with friends along the beach in the winter and how they'd always stop by a tea house after and drink tea. They'd talk about their dreams and ideas and sometimes stay until the shop was about to close. Usually they weren't ready to go home, so the shop keeper, out of kindness, would make them all steamy bowls of ramen before they left.

I listened with intent, happy to hear my lovely husband, who is normally quiet and contemplative, become chatty and full of enthusiasm while retelling these stories.

We stopped by our favorite fish stand on the way home and got a salmon taco, right down by the fishing boats that make their way to Alaska in the summer and fall.

When we got home, I was so exhausted. There was no real reason why I felt like this. I hadn't exerted more than the usual energy on our walk, but I wanted nothing more than to sink down in my bed under the thick pile of blankets with a good book, a cookie and a glass of milk. And that I did.

I am not a 'nap' person. I rarely, if ever, take naps, but today I slept for a very loooonnngg time in the middle of the afternoon.

A friend, who went with us to Sedona on one of our yoga retreats, left a book with us. It's not what I usually read. It's an old Russian novel called The Golovlovs by M. Saltykov-Shchedrin. It was rated "among the very best novels in the world" by Arnold Bennett. The Golovlovs is one of the last translated, but highest-ranking, realistic novels of nineteeth-century Russia. Somehow I got swept up into the characters of the novel.

Under the warmth of my blankets I'd read a dozen pages or so and then doze off for an hour, read more pages and then doze off for another 30 minutes. I swear that when I dozed off I was dreaming of the characters in this book. They played out on the movie screen in my dreams.

There's something that seems very natural about napping in the winter, especially when it's freezing out. There are icicles outside, but you are inside, warm and toasty with a good book. When I awoke the first time, the sun was starting to set, casting an orange glow on my backyard. The second time I awoke, it was pitch dark outside and I drew the shades and continued reading more.

Not sure how I will sleep tonight given that I napped all day. But I'm ready to go back to my cozy bedroom and continue on with the book and see how far I get before I fall asleep.

Do you enjoy taking naps?

365 Inspirations—281: Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

Gluten-free dark chocolate cupcake with raspberry frosting

"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going to fast—you also miss the sense of where you are going and why."—Eddie Cantor

I don't believe the weather person in Seattle. The forecast calls for rain, rain, rain,...but we have sun!

And who coined the expression 'You can't have your cake and eat it too'?

Of course you can have your cake and eat it too, and you shouldn't feel guilty about it. Like my husband always says, "If you can't enjoy life, then what's the point?"

It's not that I believe life should be just one BIG pleasure trip where you can do and eat whatever you want, whenever you want. Of course work or even hard work is part of that equation, but who says you can't enjoy work? Or even hard work?

If it's work you enjoy, you get to have your cake and eat it too!

So are you doing what you love? Are you enjoying your moments?

We don't know how many moments we get, so we might as well make the most of them.

Today, despite fretting about the classwork and grading that I have for my classes today, I felt the need to get outside in the fall air and see how much the leaves had changed color since last time I was out.

My husband and I headed out to Greenlake and did a 3-mile walk, our favorite. The leaves had in fact changed color quite a bit and they were stunning.

We started out with rain and ended with bright sun!

It was around 12pm when we started our walk and suddenly we were hungry. We stopped off at Mio Sushi right across from Greenlake and had a delicious bento box lunch. I had the miso salmon and California roll combo. It was delicious.

Next to Mio Suchi is a place called Cake Envy. They do wedding and other event cakes, but they also make cupcakes daily. I'd never tried it and I was curious, so we decided to split one cupcake and a mocha for our dessert. We had the gluten free dark chocolate cupcake with raspberry frosting. I was surprised at how rich and moist the cupcake was for being gluten free!

So now it's about 3pm, and it's time to go to work. I teach ESL from 5:30-9:40pm. I like my job and love my students this quarter. I feel lucky that I get to enjoy my day and enjoy my students and classes!

Do you believe you can have your cake and eat it too? Do you take time to enjoy your life?

365 Inspirations—279: Beautiful Fall Day in Seattle

Pictures speak louder than words today. It was hard to get anything done with weather like this! Here are some pictures from the weekend in Seattle:

Fall leaves on our drive to the park where we walked

Kayakers at Discovery Park, Seattle

Feeling the sun and Fall on our walk

Okay, it wasn't all fun and games, but I will say that I spent the majority of time outside and did very little to get ready for the teaching week. This means I'll have ALOT to do tomorrow. I did do a few things besides enjoy the weather. I washed my car! It was a perfect day for car washing. Sunny and in the 70s in October! Now it's raining outside at almost midnight. The weather changes quick in these parts.

Did you enjoy your weekend? How was the weather where you live?

365 Inspirations—62: Exercise

Yoon's Yoga Bliss Summer 2012 Retreat at The Yoga Lodge

"Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it."—Plato


I fell off the wagon last week with so many things to do. It's the end of the quarter at the college and I feel I'm losing my zap. Last week I didn't do yoga or walk much and I felt it. My mood is not so good when I don't exercise or don't eat well.

This morning I woke up to blinding sun. I couldn't believe it. It was so bright and sunny in my bedroom. My husband got up and made breakfast and we enjoyed eating it slowly while gazing out at the orb in the sky which was casting light on my front yard and garden giving all the flowers and trees just what they've been waiting for: sunlight!

I really wanted to be outside, but I promised myself I would go to yoga because I hadn't been for a week. I'm so glad I went. It was so nice to get my body moving again after a week hiatus. I went to an event for a friend in the afternoon and as soon as it was over, I headed to Greenlake Park for a 3-mile walk around the lake.

My husband wasn't able to come with me because it was nearly 5pm and he teaches another yoga class at 5:45pm. I think it was good for me to be on my own for the walk around the lake. I was much more able to focus on my stride and breathing by myself. I kept a steady, fast pace and felt my breath. I really tuned in to the walk itself and how invigorating it felt to be outside in the late afternoon sun. I felt my blood pumping and everything was coming to life again.

I enjoyed the scenery and really took in my surroundings.

Now I understand why I wasn't in such a good mood last week. Even though I was busy, the lack of exercise did not help my mental or physical state.

I realize now that even when I am busy, I have to keep up with exercise and really make time for it. Usually I'm pretty good about exercise.  I walk almost everyday and do yoga 2-3 times per week, but not last week.

But not to worry. I'm pulling myself up on that wagon. I'm back in the saddle again and it feels good!

Do you exercise regularly? Is your mood affected when you don't get regular exercise in?

365 Inspirations—50: Early Spring Flowers

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.”– Buddha

We are having a very mild winter in Washington State. It's been in the 40s and 50s. We usually have somewhat mild winters, but this one is particularly mild. Today was a bright sunny day and it feels like spring outside. My husband and I decided to walk around Greenlake, which is about a three-mile walk. We do it often.

We have a huge Camellia tree in our front yard by our front door. It was planted long ago. I think it was the tradition back in the 40s and 50s in the Seattle area to plant certain kinds of trees and bushes when houses were built. Ours is a 1940s bungalow.

The Camellia tree was probably just a shrub when it was planted, but it's huge now. We don't normally start seeing blooms until very late in February or the first week in March, but I found that one little bud decided it was time to open. It made me happy.

We have a beautiful Buddha statue that sits under the tree. It's a nice greeting every time we come home from somewhere.

I noticed, on our walk around Greenlake, that other flowers like Daffodils and Crocuses have made their appearances, but aren't quite ready to bloom.

I think I'm ready for spring, even though we didn't really have much of a winter. I would have liked to have seen a little more snow on the lower levels, but I'll take the spring flowers!

Have you noticed any spring flowers coming up where you live? 

365 Inspirations—39: Bright Sun and Puffy, White Clouds

"Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere, I've looked at clouds that way."—Joni Mitchell 

I think no one appreciates the SUN as much as a Seattleite. Basically because this time of year we don't see it much. When it does decided to show its face, the first thing I want to do is get on my walking shoes and head outside.

I have a split teaching shift today and only have a short time between classes. While in my afternoon class, I could see the bright sun from the classroom window and it was beckoning me to come outside.

As soon as I finished my class, I got in my car and headed straight for Greenlake Park. Well, actually I hit PCC, the local grocery store, on the way to the park because I hadn't had any lunch.

I sat in my car and had some fruit and a chicken salad. The sun was beaming into the window of my car and I felt so happy and warm inside while I ate my late lunch.

I then switched shoes in the Greenlake parking lot and pulled on a jacket, hat and gloves and headed out into the sun. It wasn't a completely clear day. It was one of those "puffy, white cloud" kinds of days. You know the ones—crystal blue skies, white clouds that look like different animals and shapes if you stare at them long enough, and bright sun.

I sat on a bench and let the sun hit my face as walkers, skaters and bicyclists passed by. I looked up at the clouds and swore I saw one that looked like a heart. I thought, Wow, look at that! A heart-shaped cloud. Just in time for Valentine's Day!

I'm now back at home and the sun is about to set. I'm heading back to the college for round two. I'm so happy I was able to get out and about today.

Have you spent time in the sunshine lately? Do you ever stop and look at the clouds and see shapes?

365 Inspirations—16: Solitude

"It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts."—K.T. Jong

Solitude is my inspiration for day 16. Well, at least I found inspiration in my time alone. We all need time to ourselves to ponder, dream and scheme about life. I spend quite a deal of time with my husband because he's my best male friend and companion and we enjoy similar activities, but every now and then it's good to do something on my own.

I had a break between classes at the college where I teach. This morning, before my earlier class, I packed my car with gloves, a hat, a scarf and boots just in case I felt like going for a walk after class.

The sun was shining bright and I hopped on the freeway and drove directly to Greenlake. I slipped off my work shoes and put on my walking boots, hat, scarf and gloves and began walking the three-mile loop around the lake.

I tried to feel my feet in my shoes and the cold wind on my face. I stopped to take a picture of many ducks on a log sunning themselves.

I wanted to be aware of all the sights and sounds around me. I walked close to the edge of the lake and could hear the waves lapping against the shore. I saw a man writing in his journal on a bench, some people were running around the lake, others were speed walking and some were meandering like me. There were lots of moms and strollers and most people were walking in pairs or groups, but there were also a few people walking alone like me.

I stopped to take a picture of my shadow. It followed me half-way around the lake and it sort of felt like I was walking with a friend. When I took out my cell phone to take a photo, I noticed that my husband had called me. I decided to call him back.

"Where are you?" he asked.
"Well, I'm more than halfway around Greenlake," I replied.

He was on his way to Greenlake to do the very same thing I was doing. He decided to walk the opposite direction than he usually does and we ran into each other near the end of the walk.

It was the best of both worlds. We each got to experience solitude while walking around our favorite lake in Seattle and we also got to meet up at the end. We went to PCC (our local, organic supermarket) for a bit of dinner afterwards and I felt so refreshed.

Do you enjoy solitude? How do you spend your alone time?