Friends this is a VERY short week for Pilatecising and it'll be an even shorter blog. I must have put it out there in the universe, because last week's theme about life's inevitable juggles and conflicting tugs has really brought on a doozie of a week. I had a very solid week of teaching and launching studio changes, while simultaneously working an unexpected VFX assignment. This one was so detailed and intensive it turned the whites of my eyes red. The transitions between the two jobs was so tight the black part of my eye split into two (if you watched The Substance you'll understand the reference).
I was one person trying to live several lives. Every pulp of time was squeezed with very little minutes in the day to spare. Oh but except there still needs to be some sort of general house and cat upkeep. Oh AND an undivided attentiveness to our pop star in training, pre-tween 6 year old. For a second I was pretty proud of how I was handling it all UNTIL, much like The Substance, trying to split yourself in two has consequences.
Right after I hit “send” to deliver my last matte painting to the compositor, I grabbed my coat and dashed out of the door. I had 1.5 hours before grabbing my daughter from aftercare. SO much time. So I went for it. I jumped in one of those massage chairs at a manicure place, and did that thing I always do which is totally forget to press the buttons that make it massage. Apparently I'm just happy to sit in an overly sized chair. Got the mani-pedi-supa-shiny-shellac-shebang-bang package. So content. Then right as polish hit the nail, it's as if I woke up from a coma, "Oh my God it's Monday." Mondays she doesn't go to aftercare. She just started an after school musical theatre class. Which means she gets picked up earlier, like in 5 minutes to be exact. The sight of a line of blissed out women half asleep getting their nails done...and one one woman standing in the foot tub, texting like a mad woman, while trying to plea her way out of this absolute inconvenience!!! I don't know if my tires hit the ground driving to get her. Somehow I was only a minute late.
Still.
I felt so embarrassed, ashamed ... and yes the word from last week "GUILT." That night I calmed down and gained perspective after watching a classic 80's classic film, naturally. We watched Karate Kid with our daughter. I have to say, it's a way deeper film from how I remembered it. Much like a lot of the classics you rewatch, it just hits differently when it's been over 30 years and your seeing it through the lense of your little one. Here we thought we were going to show her a film about discipline, perseverance, your leg gets swept and you get back up… just one long training montage to Joe Esposito's 80's muscle-t hits. When really the film is about BALANCE.
I didn’t realize there was a point in the film when Daniel and Ali break up. That all those training montages where he’s putting in the extra hours and finding focus, although inspiring, turns into an unhealthy obsession. He stops being a kid and he starts to hide behind the karate training and in Mr. Miyagi’s shop. I also didn’t realize how parallel Karate Kid is to Flashdance. The push push push doesn’t make you better. You can actually start sliding backwards if you don’t stop to breathe, reset, give all that work a moment to shift into a proper gear.
As we were watching the movie and my mind was still devastated, and quite frankly a little concerned, about my mental lapse from the day, there was a scene where it was as if Mister Miyagi’s words were piercing through the screen and talking directly to me. In the scene Daniel was too overwhelmed to go anywhere on his birthday, even as he was sitting in a beautiful new car gifted from his Sensei. He was stressed about the tournament and didn’t want to add any distractions. Mister Miyagi said, “You remember lesson about balance? Lesson not just karate only. Lesson for whole life. Whole life have a balance. Everything be better.”
So in the spirit of balance I am off this week, heading to celebrate a friend’s big birthday in Mexico. I’m actually writing this on the plane right now and it still feels surreal. Just insane to do something not work, retreat, child, or family related. However I think I need to follow my own advice. Between last week’s diagnosis on guilt and what is actually honoring your true needs and values, and this week’s mental lapse because of exhaustion…and plus Mister Miyagi told me directly, “Balance!” I am following my bonsai instincts.
When I return to the studio next week prepare for some one-legged crane inspired moves. We will “Paint the fence!”…“Sand the Floor!”…“Wax On…” and yes “Wax OFF.”
Excited to make your bodies sweat, smile, and …BONZAI!!!!
Xo,
Celeste
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