Night and Day

An opportunity to go to the top of The Shard in London on Friday morning before work and watch the sunrise whilst doing some yoga, meditation and listening and dancing to some great music seemed like a great way to start a weekend.

I went with a friend who had been before and she thought I would love it. She was not wrong. As I went to bed the night before, I said to my James, I am getting up at a ridiculous hour tomorrow because I have chosen to and not because I have to for work and it felt like a weird thing to be doing. As my alarm went off at 4am and I fumbled around in the dark and set out in the cold to get the 1^st tube I realised that this was weird but I was excited about it.

Friday was also the autumn equinox so when we arrived at the Shard (after greeted with lots of hugs) we got there just in time for the equinox ceremony. The experience goes like this, 500 people standing at the top of the shard fell to silence and watched the sun come up, I had goosebumps as I watched such a beautiful view and shared it with a room full of strangers who all of sudden didn’t feel like strangers. Everyone was dressed in glitter and sequins or something metallic wearing yoga attire footwear and leggings. It was so colourful.

The ceremony finished then the music kicked in and everyone danced through the morning.

It was spread across 2 floors and upstairs there was yoga and singing lessons. There was also a bar selling chakra fruit juices and banana bread. I felt so full of energy and happy.

And then…….I went to work…..and that was a big hit of normality.

As I had watched the sunrise, I decided it would be a wonderful weekend if I watched the sunset as well, and I thought who better to that with than James and Noodle. So we set out on Saturday night with a picnic and some warm clothes and went to the highest point in the Chilterns – Coombe Hill. Although at 1^st Noodle decided she was going to ruin my romantic evening by having 10 minutes of absolute madness at every person and every dog she set eyes on. After she finished having a tantrum we found a lovely spot and watched the sun set looking out towards Oxfordshire.

As the sun set, I said to James I am going to have 5 minutes of taking this moment in and try not to worry about anything.

I spend so much of my time not enjoying current moments as I am worried about something else in the future. Even on my way to the shard on Friday morning I was worried about work and how tired I was going to be. Such a waste of energy when I realise I am doing this unnecessary worrying and manage to stop myself. Not sure if this normal or not? Does every one do this? Or is this just me? Mindfulness and mediation is helping me getting better at this.