The great Keanu Reeves said it best, "None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an afterthought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean."
I find the first line really hits -terrifying but weirdly exhilarating. As a mom and seasoned instructor that's my number one take away from fellow parents and clients. We want life to feel more palpable and our bodies to feel stronger, but we continue to make ourselves an afterthought.
This past weekend I was in Mérida, Yucatán celebrating a good friend. Not only would I run to celebrate this person wherever they are, but this place is so meaningful to them. The way they describe it is like going from black and white to color. Somewhere over the Yucatán jungle to a vibrant Mexican Baroque Oz.
Like a second home with beautiful food, beautiful backdrops, and a beautiful pace that keeps luring him back. A pace I can’t seem to shake seeing how late I am on my weekly blog. Instead of rainbows, it's agave hammocks stretched between the arches of Mayan ruins. The town is draped in a garland of electric wires, pastel buildings are braced with ornate wrought iron. I felt like I was walking around my favorite New Orleans neighborhoods. The greenery, the birds, the citrusy smells, the tropical fruits, however, are almost exact to Kailua. Being from those two places, my system was having an existential crisis. How did I travel so far (literal trains, planes, y el autos) to feel so at home? It was so surreal to be in a meld of all my homes, like very distinctively different places that grew old together and became one place.
It’s also crazy to think this place could have easily been somewhere I would only hear about from other people’s stories. A place I could barely pronounce and have no clue where it is. However, because I said a series of “yeses,” I was able to actually experience this surreal place. I said yes to leaving my studio, my family, my routine, and comforts for 5 days. I said yes to traveling solo, far away to an unknown place. I said yes to me.
Look, I realize I could not have said yes unless I had an amazing significant other who said yes. It also helped to wrap it up in a package that covers Christmas/Valentine's Day/[throw in a day where you get a cool present]. It is not lost on me how lucky I am to be able to get on that plane. I know not everyone’s schedule and life situation can allow for such a trip. However, a beautiful exotic getaway isn't the only way to reset yourself. The idea of changing your order of importance can be done in smaller, doable doses, through daily lifestyle decisions where you say “why not” instead of “I doubt it.”
The problem is habits are sticky. Seeing that most of my day is trailing a free-spirited, fearless 6-year-old, I'm constantly saying things like “be careful” … “don’t do that” … “nope, put that down” … “oh yeah, that would be fun, but not today." It’s no surprise that the same dialogue is on loop in my brain for myself. It’s a sticky habit where I'm already declining something before I finish reading the invitation.
It’s not like we should always say yes and do what we want all the time. Just abandon all responsibilities and splat caution against a wall! In many ways, it’s actually about being less impulsive and becoming a more disciplined self. I love the saying, “Discipline is choosing what you want most, not what you want right now.” Be very clear with your aspirations and where you want to land. The quick “no” isn’t always the responsible choice, depending on your truly hopeful path and inner needs.
This past weekend, my path landed me in Mérida. I was able to experience a place I would have otherwise never been to. I spent time with friends who are special to me and met new friends. I followed Keanu’s advice and ate the delicious food. I walked in the sunshine and jumped in an ocean... in this case, a cenote.
In the spirit of Valentines Day, we are going to be more playful than ever in the studio. Movements I really love but with unassuming approaches to force us out of our autopilot. I’m hoping we can all work on rewriting any loop in our heads. Whether that's the constant "no," or impulsive people pleasing "yes," and lean towards the uncomfortable things that will truly fill our hearts. The best valentine we can give the ones we love is being a better version of ourselves. Then sharing our findings with them. According to Keanu, there's no time to waste.
Excited to make your bodies sweat, smile, and make what you love a priority. Not an afterthought.
XO, Celeste
"...Fight for what you love, because no one else will do it for you. Every moment in your life is an opportunity to change who you are."
~Keanu Reeves
"There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness."
~Keanu Reeves
“Someone told me the other day that he felt bad for single people because they are lonely all the time. I told him that’s not true I’m single and I don’t feel lonely. I take myself out to eat, I buy myself clothes. I have great times by myself. Once you know how to take care of yourself company becomes an option and not a necessity.”
~Keanu Reeves
"Your value doesn't decrease on someone else's inability to see your worth."
~Keanu Reeves
"There are seven billion people in the world. So when one of them behaves badly toward you, he's actually doing you a great favor because he's saving you time. He's telling you that he's not worth your while."
~Keanu Reeves
"I wear my heart on my sleeve and that can hurt. To be vulnerable is an enriching way to live, but when it goes wrong it can be agonizing. But if you don’t open your heart to people, you end up being excluded from the rest of the world."
~Keanu Reeves
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