Second First Yogi

Second First Yogi By Deena McDaniel – Positively Beautiful Blog 1/30/26 Is the first time you accomplish something really the best time you’ve accomplished it? Think back to a moment when you were working your tail off. Then came the relief — the reality of success. Funny how success can feel both fast and slow at the same time. You graduate from school… then the job hunt begins. You get the job… then come the promotions. A job change, a layoff, even getting fired — and suddenly you’re starting over again. Life circles back. Begin again. Not just in careers — we hit the reset button as people. It’s every single day. Starting again takes courage. In one month, we mark two years of a major restart. My Florida roots of 20 years don’t fade quietly. Winter reminds me to use my “fake sunlight” — those special spectrum bulbs — because darkness can press hard on my spirit. Yet nothing grows unless something first dies. A seed sown changes form completely, but its essence remains. A carrot still brings a carrot. I struggle in the waiting. But growth happens in the dark soil too. Where is your adventure to say, “I’ll try again”? “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness… ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”— Lamentations 3:21–24Our past is not as strong as God’s calling on our lives. Aging whispers, “Time isn’t on your side.” Maybe you feel that too. What we reach to achieve now feels urgent. So why are we waiting? Are the people you surround yourself with inspiring or draining toxic sludge? You are who you associate with. “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” — 1 Corinthians 15:33 Character is built through the fruit of self-control. Recently, our oldest daughter, Mary, completed her yoga instructor training certification — again. Years ago, she lived the yogi life in Florida, even giving back to the community by teaching at an alternative school, where many young lives were hardened by tough life experiences. In Florida, her influence reached beyond a single boutique yoga studio. Mary inspired my own yoga journey. I’ve experienced firsthand the physical results, accomplishments, and joy that come from the practice. Watching her take this second journey, I see a wiser, more tender hearted and skilled woman. It makes me wonder: How have I grown wiser with age and experience? Does wisdom always come with age? Obviously not. Wisdom comes with work. No one stands on a mountaintop without the grueling trek up. “We are not built for the mountains and the dawns and aesthetic affinities; those are for moments of inspiration, that is all. We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle.” — Oswald Chambers And in the valley is growth. Work. Results. Valleys are green, lush, and plentiful as we plow through daily life. The mundane matters. Are you in a valley of growth or a valley of darkness? Maybe both. When I battle the blues of “Who cares?” I wonder if you do too. Humans act like humans. But small, faithful steps shape the future. Live out what you’ve learned, earned, and burned. You’ve learned what not to do. You’ve earned the wisdom to take the next step. You’ve burned the toast enough times to remember to change the darkness setting. Jokes aside — we are shaped by the paths we choose. “I will not forget you. Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” — Isaiah 49:15–16 What are we making of our lives? Eternity is real. Be vulnerable. The work we do, the lives we touch, and the God we serve are intertwined. Be diligent. Follow the Lord’s leading. Wait and work at the same time. What drives you? We can’t take anything with us after death. We stand faultless before God only through the blood of Christ — our own righteousness is filthy rags. So, we serve Christ fully, gaining victory over sin. Firsts. Seconds. Thirds. Endless do-overs. That’s part of being human. Add to your faith — and begin again. Maybe even make a snow angel after sledding fast and winning a snowball battle. Stay young at heart. Winter really does have its perks.