The other morning I ran my first full 5 miler in a very long time. At the end I felt better than ever, which was a nice surprise because the night before I lost a lot of sleep thinking “I might die tomorrow”.

In the last few weeks I’ve been in training mode. Running, meditating, practicing yoga…expanding past the normal music routine and trying to better my health and mind.  Maybe it’s “mercury in retrograde” (as I’ve been told over and over) but I’ve been in a sort of panic, like I had a lot of catching up to do before the new year. Maybe you feel the same thing?

While checking email last night I found a new message in my mail box from a guy whose blog I subscribe to. It’s called Zen Habits and the post was titled “Quashing The Self Improvement Urge” and the take away was something like “be content with who you are right now.”

I’ve heard that a million times throughout my life, but there was something about the way this was written, and maybe the timing that hit home for me.

In the beginning he lists off things that people try to do or accomplish in order to fill some inner void or feel more adequate about themselves, because in the end we want to be able to look back and say “I did it all” rather than “I wish I had…” As I was reading through the post, I found myself happily checking off accomplishments and “self improvements” I’ve made already. I’ve done this, and that, or been here, and there, but the list in his post kept going, and by the end of it, the feeling I had at first of satisfaction and accomplishment had changed. The mood had mellowed and I realized that I had started to actually count my blessings. I was noting them less as accomplishments and successes, but more as great things in my life to be thankful for. We all have many things to be thankful for, even in the hardest of times. If you are alive and breathing…start there. Meditate on that for a minute.

In my last email I mentioned that this was always the time of year I found it easiest to reflect, give thanks, and count my blessings.

As the new year is just around the corner and we begin to think of our resolutions and new goals, don’t forget to remember the things you’ve already been given.

I am so lucky and thankful that you guys have been a part of my life and I wish you the happiest holiday season, and a VERY happy new year in 2012.

See you all soon!

MY CALENDAR FOR UPCOMING SHOWS IN JANUARY (http://www.phoenixhart.com/live/)

ZEN HABITS POST (http://zenhabits.net/)

MY RUNNING PLAYLIST (Spotify link)

Xoxo – Phoenix Hart