this morning I woke up at 6:30am, tried to do some sitting meditation, and found I was stiff and not breathing properly.

I can teach mother to breathe, but I'm not in such great shape myself either.

anyway, I ended up doing the 1st part of Strength yoga video; then I did a 15 - 20 min session fo sitting, and finished up w ith a lyaing down medidation. I fell asleep. woke up at about 8, went out at 8:30 for morning walk 45 mins, came home 9:15, showered, went to work arriving 10:20.

Felt good.

I think my body has been trying to wake me up 6:30 most days but I've just been ignoring it .
Isn't its fault it gets sleepy most days when I keep telling it to go back to sleep every morning.
No wonder I don't feel really awake.

but this is a good change.
I will do these every morning and I will become clear, awake, focused and stronger.

It is a good start to the year.
it is thanks in part also to Soo Chin for agreeing to join me for the first 7:30 morning walk.
Having experienced it again, I (my body) remembers again how needful it is and looks forward to the walk in spite of sleepiness .

the added energy and strength i gain from the morning walks, yoga practice and calmness, focus and mental clarity from medidation I will need for learning and improving in all those things I want to eg:

ballet
piano / vocal practice
preparing the TIVG proposal
work skills
french language
freelance / article writing / voice work

all these things in turn will help in building self esteem

and we'll see an uplifting spiral...

a good beginning. yes.