Erin Cavanaugh

So I’ve been doing the 21 Yoga Journal Challenge so far and have started a 15 meditation practice. So far I’ve gone about 10 days. I listened to 2 guided meditations and on the rest of the days just tried keeping my mind focued on the breath. I’m having a really hard time with this goal, but am hoping to keep it up. It’s not so much the 15 of time, that goes by fast; It’s the thoughts swirling around so much, the sounds I hear, and the physical pain I start feeling after sitting. I get so distracted! I’ll keep it up though, I enjoy it. It makes me really take notice of the present.

Back on this goal. Today I am on my ninth day of smoke free living. It’s been really hard trying to quit this time. I just decided pretty randomly that last Wed. when I woke up I wouldn’t have one and have just kept going. I had some bad physical withdrawls this time…especially headaches, but that has seemed to pass. Now it’s more mental than anything. I have been really tested this past week though by going out with smoker friends to bars and such. Many times I felt I was going to cave in, but I haven’t yet. I keep waiting for when I will. Last week I was mentally not positive about the whole go at quitting. But since I’ve been able to go a week I’m finding that I really enjoy this inner strength in me I didn’t know I had. That is what is keeping me going and it’s almost like that feeling of “I keep waiting” is being replaced by “you can do this”.

Been keeping up with this in the form of charity. Since I’ve been living in Jersey City for the past 6 months I joined a knitting group. At first I was just going and working on whatever project I had. Now the group has decided to do some charity projects, which I’ve really enjoyed. I made a scarf for the Special Olympics and 2 baby hats for another charity. Now we are working on 4×4 squares that we will all contribute for making blankets. Glad to be doing something beneficial with my hobby!