When my children where babies, a mixture of feeding, diapers, schedules, tears, and moments of bliss filled up my days. As I learned to be a mother, what mattered most was survival and sleep.

As my babies grew into their chubby bodies and distinctive personalities; laughter, play, and discovery became the focus of our lives. As I fell in love with my role as a mother and raising a family, the thing that mattered most was creating a safe and loving home for our children.

Now my toddlers are boys, growing into men. Our days are full of activity, conversation, learning and growth. As I recognize the rapid rate of life, and how the years slip through my fingers, the thing that matters most is the moment.

I started jogging after the affects of my first baby had placed me in a foreign body. I had been stretched and softened to make room for a miracle and once he arrived, I was eager to have my former body back. As I ran the miles, the thing that mattered most was to lose the weight.

Over time my body became familiar again. I learned to enjoy running and craved the challenge of speed and distance. I began to race, and as I trained, the thing that mattered most was pace, distance, and the thrill of competition.

As the years went by, my weight remained stable and I lost interest in competing. Now, as I step out to run, I relish the fresh air, the solitude, the movement and the freedom. As my body and breath fall into perfect rhythm, the thing that matters most is the moment.

The first time I stepped on a yoga mat, my intention was to stretch. My only concern was to mend my sore muscles so I could run faster. In those first few months of learning to practice yoga, the thing that mattered most, was to get it done.

After months of dedicated practice, I realized that yoga had more to offer than its healing affects on the physical form. I began to recognize the subtleties of the practice and the connection between the body, the mind, the emotions, and the spirit. I became passionate about learning more. During those first few years of developing my practice, the thing that mattered most was knowledge and understanding.

Now when I step onto the mat, my breath guides my body. I listen and feel and move with conscious awareness. I appreciate and enjoy the balance of softness and strength. I accept, nourish and work gently with my weakness and limitations. As I continue to surrender to the practice each day, the thing that matters most is the moment.

It’s interesting for me to look back at my intentions and find that, while some things begin in service to the ego, they often evolve into something that offers more significance. It seems to me that for all the various reasons that we do the things we do, there is depth beneath the surface intention, and as we continue to evolve and progress in our lives, all things lead back to the source; the source that lies within each and every moment.

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