So, how was belly dancing?

Well, I did it and belly dancing was great! The other women there were pretty much just like me and I really had nothing to be scared about. I brought a pretty scarf of Kayla's with me, but then this week I went out and bought an authentic belly dancing scarf complete with jingles. Watch out people!

I'm feeling much better now overall and, as I said before, the red tent idea really helped me during that hard time. I would still suggest it to anyone.

I would also suggest taking a belly dancing class!

Namaste

Jen

Dancing my cares away

You may not believe it, but I have signed up for belly dancing lessons. This was done as a way to search myself and do something that bring out a more happy-go-lucky side out. SO tonight is the first class and I'll report back soon to talk about how it went. My therapist thought it was a good idea and she was actually proud of me.

There are other things I would like to try, but this is no. 1

Jen

The Red Tent-- An Interpretation

I am knee-deep in the DBT therapy, which is working great and I would suggest (shout) to anyone with a personality disorder to please check this out. While the DBT is working, I am still at odds with myself during a certain time of the month...PMS...and since I have been tracking it, I realize that my hormones have a huge impact on my mental state. I am in the throws of it right now.

I was at my wit's end on Tuesday, walking my dog, and then it hit me like lightening. The Red Tent (by Anita Diamant). This is a book that every woman should read, based on Genesis and the character Rachel. The premise of the book, though, is that during the womens monthly cycle, they would stay together in a Red Tent. In this tent the women were able to get away from usual duties and life and just BE a WOMAN.

So, I decided that I needed my own red tent. I'm lucky because I happen to have an old Day Care building on my property (one of my failed business ventures) and I am using it for a red tent of sorts during my worse days of PMS. My wonderful husband is very understanding and he doesn't mind if I stay in here a couple of nights while he takes care of things. Actually, he likes the "red tent" idea.

I have set up a space for my bed with red sheets and spiritual pictures/figurines. There is a table covered with a black lace veil and an incense burner. There is a table on which I can do "mindfulness" activities, such as putting a puzzle together or coloring a mendala. I can also watch the movies I like to watch and I indulge myself with some yummy treat.

Any woman can do this and you don't need an entire building. Whether you have an extra room, part of a basement that could be fixed up, or just part of your bedroom that you could personalize, making a red tent is something you could do for yourself. If it's in your bedroom, I suggest kicking your significant other out for the night. Light some candles, take a bubble bath, meditate...do anything and everything you need to just get you through those few hard days.

I'm so excited about my idea that I have decided to collect things for my red tent-- one or two things a month. This will be a fun hobby for me and I'll always be on the hunt! I hope someone reads this and gets as excited and relieved as I am now.