I'm amused when people are surprised that my primary physical activities are yoga and Pilates, keeping a strict schedule seven days a week. I've maintained this routine for the past five years, with a few exceptions. I didn't start out that way; change was incremental, beginning with three 30-minute workouts every week one year, increasing to four the next, five the following - wanting to challenge myself more as time went on and I found new activities I loved.
I work out for my head as much as for my body - feeling so much better after moving that stale energy around and releasing tension. It became critically important during my cancer diagnosis, like a savings bond for my health.
My yoga teachers often speak of taking our practice "off the mat" - as in what we learn about ourselves in class may be relevant to other areas of our lives. When I first started practicing, I became easily fatigued and frustrated with myself, then with the teacher, sometimes lamenting under my breath. I didn't understand that part of my practice involved learning compassion towards myself through the struggle, and after years of practicing, have developed much more mental as well as physical strength.
This mindfulness is important in the creative space, as we're often struggling to produce on a schedule according to demand (real or imagined), but quality work takes time, engagement, and inspiration that isn’t always driven by external factors. On the bottom line, it costs more. As a consumer, it matters where we spend our money -
each purchase a little investment in the creator's stock.
When packing for a move, I’m reminded that even though I try to keep a lean lifestyle, I still have things I don’t need, and the waste troubles me. Generosity aside, where I spend my money counts, evermore in an economy where prices are climbing and salaries have not been adjusted to the cost of living for decades.*
Part of my role as a conscious consumer is to take only what I need and leave the rest for someone else, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the highest quality in the meantime. In my travels, this has usually been found locally in any city I might visit. As I move towards dissolution of MAVEN MAINTENANT, preserving the brand’s core values of intentionality, sustainability, and purpose will continue.
ORIGINAL WORK COPYRIGHTED TO HYPE GIRL MEDIA
*EXAMPLE: Range of average income before taxes according to Consumer Expenditure Surveys (2021-2022) was $81,251 (Southern region, low) to $104,423 (Northeastern region, high) according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.