Keep Calm and Carry OM

Image via knowyourmeme.com

For the next 11 days, I'm taking a cue from the now famous British WWII-era public safety posters (pictured on the right, above), and am working to "Keep Calm and Carry On." You know this catchphrase, right? It's been everywhere over the past decade or so, and I believe that's because it's a pretty great slogan. After doing a quick google search, I learned that it resurfaced in early 2000, after one of the original posters was found and placed in a British bookshop. Once the message was posted online, it spread like wildfire, inspiring tons of "Keep Calm and _____" images to be created and shared. Kind of cool, right?  

So anyways, I'm sure you've come across a bunch of spinoff images that you like, and today, I wanted to share the ones that speak to me (or just make me laugh). What I also have to say, though, is that I LOVE that the British government created these simple posters and hung them all over the country. What a wonderful public safety message, you know?! Obviously, times were very different then and there were very specific reasons that they felt the need to remind their citizens to "keep calm," but I think we can all use this simple reminder when life get a little crazy--no matter what the circumstances (whether something life-changing, or just #firstworldproblems).

So, lets take a look at some fun spinoffs inspired by this poster...

As I'm sure you would guess, the yoga ones (including the "OM" one above) are my favorites:

Via tumblr.com

Via yogatherapy.co.za

I think it's also obvious why I like the following two parodies (very appropriate for my life right now!):

Via theberry.com

Via knowyourmeme.com

And these just make me smile: 

Via theberry.com

Via theberry.com

Via theberry.com

I love the colors and themes used in the following two:

Also appropriate for this blog and some of my favorite subjects to write about:

Via Etsy.com

Via fanpop.com

Via carry-on-project.tumblr.com

And, although it's TOTALLY non-yogic, I get a BIG kick out of the following one (probably my favorite, although I don't truly feel this way--at least, not in this extreme manner...):

People are so clever, aren't they? And don't worry, I would never really get this mad during a yoga class ;)

How can you keep calm this week? What brings you peace and allows you to carry on when you get worried, upset, or anxious? I hope you can invite more of whatever this may be into your life today.

Namaste,
Mary Catherine