first day off

My routine here starts a lot earlier than at home and I really love it. I hope I can keep it going at home. Generally I go to bed around ten, and even earlier wouldn't seem abnormal. We get up after the sun, and start something by 7 (whether it be working in the garden or sprouthouse, or going to yoga). Lunch starts at 8, 8:30 (I love this--a good breakfast to start your day, but not *immediately* after waking up). Then we do whatever until 1, 1:30 and have lunch, the heaviest meal. Then dinner around 5:30 or 6, which comes with green juice. Or you can have two pieces of fruit instead (since dinner is not necessarily the heaviest meal, though it could be. But the special things come out at lunch). The whole thing is shifted earlier, and I really like that. 

I went to a lot of scheduled things today, trying to take advantage of everything before it all passes me by--yoga class, spiritual Q&A, temple, etc. The Oasis spa was remodeled and had a grand opening, with community members invited. It was fun to see and talk to different people. The food was also really great--cookies made of coconut flour and agave (basically) with cacao you could scoop on top. And other nice things. Overeating doesn't seem to be a problem as long as I eat a lot of greens and have green juice/wheatgrass. I have been having at least two green juices a day and my body loves it. I will have to bring some powerful green powders to Peru to keep my body nourished. A new food that I will have to make at home is raw yogurt--really delicious. I was raised eating yogurt regularly and never really liked the soy yogurts--too sweet. These are made from seeds (like sunflower seeds) and are real simple and easy to make.

One thing discussed in temple after meditation today was dealing with difficult times, agony and sadness. One man said that our judgement of the situation can be what makes us struggle. He also told of when he was having a hard time in life and called up an old friend. He said, "I've fallen off the path." And his friend said that you cannot fall off the path. The path is everything, all this. That was exactly what he needed to hear.

A woman also shared a story--a few days ago, she was having a tough time. She cried alone for several hours. And then, it began to rain for the first time since she's been here (almost 2 months). Beautiful.