Hey poops, how are you all doing? I don’t know about you guys, but it’s been a crazy week so far in my poopie world. I certainly won’t bore any of you with the details at this time. Let’s just say poops here is facing some major changes in her life. And while it’s taking time adjusting to the idea, I am looking very forward to the weekend and will be relying on several of you (you poops know who you are) to provide me with a steady stream of cocktails tomorrow night : ) When the month of November comes to an end and my literary whirlwind is over, I will no doubt be sharing with you all the latest and greatest highlights of the emotional, funny,crazy, witty, sarcastic, unpredictable and, sometimes (hopefully) poignant journey that is Poopie Mommy.

In the meantime, I thought the picture below would provide you with a good chuckle. After all, you should know exactly who you’re dealing with here on this blog and what kind of woman has been sharing her advice with you. Though it’s not exactly the most flattering photographic image ever take of me, it certainly captures the essence of me. Lord knows, I’m not one to just stand there all stiff and smile perfectly. I wanted to add this stupid-faced photo of myself as a reminder to never, ever take myself or life too seriously. I sure could use that reminder right about now. And I hope, poopies, that you can look at ridiculous me here and feel the same way about yourselves. I’d love to tell ya that I had one too many drinks and that’s why I look like this, but the truth is, this is just me being me, muggin’ it up like a moron for the camera, cracking myself-up. And you know what? 99% of the time I do crack myself up. And I am so thankful I’m able to do that. Life would be a lot harder to take if I couldn’t.

Anyway, I really feel bad that I’m unable to blog as frequently right now, but the novel is going well and according to my stats (on nanowrimo.org – check it out) if I keep up my word count per day, I will complete 175 pgs/50,000 words by November 28th. Some of you may be asking yourself, why in the world, poops, would you want to write a novel in 30 days? And the answer to this can best be summarized in today’s MoMtra. I find that it is not only applicable to why I’ve challenged myself to complete my first novel, but it also applies to everything in life. And it is particularly timely for me and the poopie family right now as well. It is by one of my favorite poets of all time, T.S. Eliot:

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.

Man, if that ain’t the truth, poops, I don’t know what is. Think about it over the next few days. I know I will keep it in mind as I stay up way too late every night working on my book. Why? Because, just as Eliot reminds us, I need to find out just how far I can go. The old saying really is true – without risk, there is no reward. Maybe there’s something that you’ve been dreaming about doing, poopies, but you’re afraid or intimidated or don’t know how to get there or where to begin.  If it helps you, think about me and my crazy, literary endeavor. Who knows if I’ll finish? Who knows if the damn thing will be any good? Who knows if anyone will ever even read it besides me? I can’t answer any of those questions right now, but what I can tell you is that I already feel rewarded just by the doing of it – just by setting the challenge, taking the risk and going for it. I’ll say it again: ONLY THOSE WHO WILL RISK GOING TOO FAR CAN POSSIBLY FIND OUT HOW FAR THEY CAN GO. Don’t you want to find out how far you can go, poopies???

I’ll try my best to check-in next week. Can’t make any promises. But you know I’m always thinking of you… 

Good afternoon, beautiful poopie mamas. I hope this week has been good to you and that you’ve also been good to yourselves. Everything starts from within, so please remember that whatever you seek from others must first be achieved, individually, from the inside out. I also want to let you know that I may only be blogging sporadically this month when time allows. Poops here is attempting to fulfill a life-long dream of completing my first novel. I’ve had an idea floating around in my head for quite some time now, and I decided that 2011 is the year I will take it out of my mind and put it all on paper! November is National Novel Writing Month and yours truly is actively participating. I am banging away on my laptop with every free moment I have. So, please forgive me if I’m not posting as often. It’s not because I don’t want to, there just simply aren’t enough hours in the day for me to devote myself to my kids, husband, the novel and my blog. I know you understand, poops, and I thank many of you for your kind, encouraging words and awesome, enthusiastic support! It is definitely motivating me to continue!

Now, on to today’s MOMtra…another eloquent passage from the Tao:

Throw away holiness and wisdom, 
and people will be a hundred times happier. 
Throw away morality and justice, 
and people will do the right thing.
Throw away industry and profit,
and there won’t be any thieves. 

If these aren’t enough, 
just stay at the center of the circle
and let all things take their course. 

In yoga, we are always practicing balance – both on the mat and in our hearts.  Life is no different, and this passage reminds us of that. As Stephen Mitchell states in his translation, “When some folks are called saints, other folks think of themselves as sinners. When one fellow is called wise, others imagine that there is something they need to know.” If we can remove ourselves from the notion of categories and live without labels then everyone becomes wise and holy, and most important, balanced. Staying at the center means staying away from assigning ourselves and others one thing or another. This is judgment and the moment we choose to judge someone or ourselves, we fall out of balance. How can we stay in center if we’re constantly putting-up road blocks? How can we achieve balance if we’re always in our own way? The Tao tells us the easiest route, it gives us the tools and shows us the simplest way out of sabatoging our own peace. We must let things take their own course. And though it takes a tremendous amount of practice, this is the most worthwhile endeavor you’ll ever experience. Once you can allow yourself to do this, you feel light, and balance comes to you from the inside out. There is nothing left to weigh you down.

I encourage each of you to give it a try over the weekend. Whenever you find yourself ready to comment on someone’s behavior or someone’s words, or you feel yourself wanting to judge them or yourselves for anything at all, simply stop. Reserve it. Don’t assign them or yourself any kind of label or word or category. Just let them be, let yourself be. Take a step back and you will notice just how often you may actually do this from day to day and feel how unbalanced it makes you…how far from the center you’ve fallen. Does it take total awareness to achieve this? Yes. Is it difficult? Absolutely. Has poops here been able to do it? Probably not even for an entire day. But, I’m aware now and I’m learning and living more consciously, and just that has kept me closer to the center. Once you feel a bit more balance in your lives, poopies, I promise your hearts will continue to keep you centered. 

My lovelies, I wish you a terrific weekend full of love and laughter.  Thank you for your patience as I work toward achieving my literary goal. It’s a month of insanity, but a labor of love! Til next time….