Learning Continues
/Have you ever tried to pause the learning just for a day so that you can take a break? I have! And it really didn’t work. I feel like everything around us has something to teach us, intentional or unintentional.
With the kids’s school year starting, the theme of Learning was very top of mind in August. The first day of school, I learned a very valuable lesson - “Do not set your expectations based on just assumptions”. My daughter just started kindergarten and watching her interacting with kids at preschool, I absolutely had no worries for the first day of kindergarten. She was excited and ready to go - at least that’s what I thought. When the time came to actually be at the school, all I expected and assumed changed. She became a glue. Quiet crying started. Tears didn’t stop. And I didn’t know what to do. I tried to listen to my gut but the tears were too strong…. Now that we are ending the second week, things are a little calmer but still not smooth. Every day, Ela and I learn new emotions and new tricks so that we can both have an “OK” experience at the school drop off.
Wouldn’t you say that she looks somewhat happy?
As parents, we all know that “learning to be parents” NEVER stops. But then, how about “learning about yourself’? This month, I realized that learning more about myself also continues, whether I like it or not. At work, I am selected to be a part of a Women Leadership Program. It is definitely an exciting opportunity and also challenging in the sense that you should be open to learn more about yourself. As we move deeper into the 9-month program, I watch my sarcasm trying to take over, creating a dilemma between willingness to learn and desire to stay as-is. Even that dilemma taught me something: My dad has more influence in me than I thought, especially when it comes to being sarcastic.
There is one thing that I continuously learn from everything around me, including the program I am in, is to curb my impatience. Believe me, it is not easy and I am totally open to learn from everyone around me, including my 4-legged boy. Breathing definitely helps, as long as I can put my sarcasm aside when I start to breathe to calm down.
Here is a place where I can take my deep breaths and be calm - even if my kids are on a giant truck
Given that learning always continues, how about learning to hold a 45-second wall squat (you can try to challenge yourself for a longer hold too)?
Let’s first get into the correct position:
Find an empty spot on the wall
Lean your back to the wall - from your shoulder blades down to your tail bone
Scoot yourself down so that your knees have a 90 degree angle and your hamstrings (back of your upper legs) parallel to the ground
Keep your knees right over your ankles
Push your shoulder blades and your lower back against the wall
Start your timer!
With your feet, feel each toe against the floor -10 seconds
Feel your heel against the floor - 10 seconds
Bring both hands on your quads (top of your upper legs) and feel the fabric of your pants/shorts/skin - 10 seconds
Focus on your breath - through your nose, breathe in (in 4 counts), hold your breath (for 4 counts), breathe out (in 6 counts), hold your breath (for 2 counts) Repeat it, at least for 2 times
How was your squat hold? Were you able to move your attention away from your shaking quads? If your quads didn’t shake, try to lengthen each exercise from #7 thought #10 by 5 second increments.
Big high five for all the learnings you did today…. Don’t forget to retain it! ;)
