I remember, as a little girl, being captivated by the bravery of my father - As a deep sea diver, his work took him to oceans both near and far, deep and wide, so it was not often I could watch him dive. But when he was home, he had a trick or two to share with me! With his wristwatch set for three minutes, he would plunge into the deep end of the freshwater pool, and I, with clenched hands, would wait for him to come up for air. Three minutes is a very long time without air, and to this little girl quite out of the ordinary.
I've been thinking a lot about courage lately and all the ways it shows up in our lives. In reality, it is not only found in "the out of the ordinary moments" but even the smallest of moments in our days. It is a quality that cannot be measured and holds no bounds. The truth is that courage is what carries simple people through an average day. It is the spiritual strength that gives direction in the midst of confusion. Courage lives in you like it lives in me and takes the willingness to be vulnerable and embrace the unknown. "It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit." ~ J.R.R. Tolkien Each of us, in one way or another, is called to courage. There are times when we least expect it that life sets in motion a challenge that tests our courage and strength. I was recently challenged by my body's reaction to an allergic response. Emergency surgery was called for without the option of anesthesia. Fear stirred up inside as I lay there, vulnerable, holding to each breath as my tears washed through me like a river. "Why this? Why now? Will my life ever be the same?" More often than not, it is our response to the unexpected that life throws us when if we look closely enough or in a different light, we just might be courageous. Courage is not an action. It is an attitude. The truth is courage can be found in the way we live in each moment of our lives. It is in accepting the what is. It is feeling the pain. It is listening and trusting. It is sometimes simply putting one foot in front of the other. Even though the future is unknown for every one of us, we often skate through our days like Olympic athletes until we are forced to boldly slow down and allow our bodies to mend and our hearts to heal. It is in the quiet moments that I am able to hold the answers... That strength comes from being with what is, and courage moves me forward. "Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it's the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow." ~ Mary Ann Radmacher Courage is believing in YOU! "Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow." ~ Helen Keller
When was the last time you woke up in joy? The joy that makes you light in your heart? The joy you can’t touch because it lives inside of you? If I were to ask you how often do you feel joy, what would your response be? If you are one of the many experiencing hard times, you may feel that joy is off in some distant horizon. Where is this illusive joy? We live in times of accelerated change and more negative news than we can possibly digest. If we are to do more than strive, I believe we need more joy in our daily lives. If we are to thrive, we deserve the healing nourishment that only joy can bring. Where is this illusive joy? Joy is your natural state. You were born with it. It is organic and comes from within. It lives in your mind and body. It can be found in each breath, laugh and tear. It is the moment you invite joy in. "If you can carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment." ~ Carlos Santana Joy attracts joy: It is an energy that is constantly moving and expanding. When we share joy, it becomes like a wave in the ocean, gathering momentum. Joy attracts laughter: Who doesn't love a good belly laugh and can appreciate the healing that it brings, especially in times of distress? I can remember many a shared moment with loved ones as we waited for "the news" and cried until we laughed. Joy inspires: Its uplifting energy inspires an open mind, a curious imagination and a desire to live the life you were born to live. Joy connects us: When you feel joy in your body, you feel grounded and able to experience more energy and greater awareness. Joy is good for your health: The effects of stress on the human body have become more and more evident. The body is the vessel that houses our emotions and all that we experience. The better we treat our body, the better it can take care of us. You only have to catch a simple cold or flu to understand the impact of not being healthy. Your body is amazingly strong and resilient while at the same time extremely fragile. Joy leads to health and is your greatest wealth. Joy is not often talked about or practiced: Sadly, all you need to do is look at the high rates of anxiety, depression, drugs and suicide (made possible by a disconnection of spirit and a joyful heart). Like a gift, joy is your natural state, and you are meant to feel it. You only need to call on it and know it is always there for you. What would life be like if more and more people lived in joy, shared joy and spread it around? When we live from a place of joy, there will be a huge shift in energy and awareness, and from this place, we are creating a life filled with unlimited love and possibility. I hope you will give yourself an extra quiet moment and breathe this in. Joy can be found in every moment, each breath, smile, laugh and tear. Open your eyes to all the ways you find joy in your life. Pay attention to the ways it shows up naturally and go there often. Set your compass for joy and know it is always there for you. Henri Nouwen said it best, "Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day." Here's to your unlimited supply of joy! "There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
All too often, we take for granted the little things in life when in truth, it's the little things that bring lasting joy. We typically fill our days and don't stop to consider the most important details of our lives – what fuels our spirit and fills our heart – and invite that into the only moment life is happening, which is in this present moment. Our lives can become so full that we barely finish one thing and are onto the next. How many times have you completed a task you've been focused on finishing for some time, only to finish and move on immediately to the next thing? Instead, consider pausing long enough to acknowledge the energy and the wherewithal that went into making that particular thing happen. It didn't happen by itself. You made it happen first in thought and then by taking action. There are so many ways to find happiness at this moment, yet we are ready to move ahead so quickly that we don't allow ourselves to stay in the joy of the present moment. I remember being raised with the idea of "the pursuit of happiness." This isn't a negative pursuit. However, it does imply that happiness is somewhere 'out there.' The pursuit of happiness keeps us striving for more and looking for it outside of ourselves. We choose our goals and what we think will make us the happiest. We tend to achieve it and then pick another goal because that wasn't quite it, which can become a vicious cycle. I feel it's important to acknowledge when we might be operating from a limiting or scarcity mindset where we notice the things we do not have and keep us wanting more. It could be more travel, another degree or certification, more free time, clothing, jewelry, art or vehicles. The limiting mindset is a way of thinking that keeps us from fully living in the present moment and enjoying the blessings already bestowed upon us. When in actuality, the ability to draw happiness from the little things in life comes from a full heart and a sense of gratitude for what we have, where we've been, and where we are at. The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become, and it is only in the present moment that life is happening and you are truly living! So, I hope you will take this moment and hold to your heart what matters most to you. Give yourself the gift of appreciation for who you are, where you've been and how far you've come. You are more than enough. Your enough is what changes the world! "The only real journey is the one within." ~ Rainer Maria Wilke
The long days of summer are here, and I am relishing the slow pace and simple schedule with the intention of softening into quiet mornings, afternoons in the garden, gentle beach strolls and musical evenings. This summer, I am committed to enjoying the journey rather than the destination. To not be so focused on what I am planning to do or making happen, whether it be changes to my home or in my life. Summer reminds us that we have plenty of time if only we allow for it. I hope you will make time for the things you love and that matter most. When we are often so focused on the next thing, we lose connection to the beauty of the everyday. There is joy to be found in the little moments when we intend to stay present in the now and not get too caught up on the outcome or how we think it should look and instead welcome what shows up. When we are present to the moment, our needs become clearer, and we are able to listen and respond. Possibly there’s one specific area in your life where you’ve been working really hard to evolve and grow, whether that’s a project, a relationship, an idea that you’re realizing or something that you’re working on for yourself. Or maybe you want less stress, less worrying about the future and feeling less anxiety about the past. Perhaps this is the reminder you need to really slow down and let go of a little bit of control and not focus so much on the end goal and what that has to look like so you can actually enjoy it because the process really is about living living your life. Of course, the journey isn’t always smooth. It is often bumpy, with plenty of ups and downs. We all have challenging times and easeful times filled with grace. That is the human experience. If we don’t learn how to really arrive in the present moment and truly enjoy the process in all the ways we are growing, then we’re going to be missing out on a lot of life. To do that, we must incorporate enough moments and practices into our daily lives that bring us a sense of the here and now, that take us out of the thinking, judgmental mind and into the body that takes us straight back home and into the heart. What are a few of the practices you can invite more of into your life? Are there some things that bring you peace, ease and joy? It could be spending time with a good book, by yourself or with a trusted friend, swinging in a hammock, journaling, writing, tending to your garden or moving or relaxing your body. In the quiet moments, we connect to ourselves and are open to all that life has to offer us right here and now. As a teacher and lifelong student of yoga, we call it the practice because that is what it is. It is not a specific outcome we are reaching to obtain. It is quite honestly the practice of showing up and being present with what is. The practice is about living – Living your life. "And at the end of the day, there is nothing but the journey. Because destination is pure illusion." ~ Rich Roll Enjoy where this summer might take you, and may this letter be a reminder to enjoy the journey and let go of the destination. "We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle." ~ Marilyn Monroe
I am writing you this letter from Hollywood, where I am spending the summer solstice. It is a pure pleasure that I am here to embrace the teachings of yoga from a few of my most favorite, highly esteemed teachers. I adore these women for their big hearts, trusted wisdom and the energy to share it while they hold space for personal growth, transformation, deep reflection and the courage to stretch and reach beyond what we think is possible. The studio is situated in the quaint village of Larchmont, several miles from here, so I will ride the metro daily to and from classes. My days begin with a luscious view of the Hollywood hills and the sprawling city stretched out beneath it. Dressed in my soft, light yoga gear and running shoes, I am greeted by the doorman. He wishes me well and then points me in what I hope is the right direction. I am headed to the Hollywood Walk of Fame to catch my bus, which, as I learned over the course of several days, does not run on a set schedule. In reality, I don't have a clue as to what time I will actually arrive at the studio. So, each morning, my stroll is deliberate and brisk, although I'm careful not to miss a single moment of who it is I am passing by. I receive 'good morning' greetings from a kind young homeless man, a boy delivering freshly cut flowers to the corner market and an elderly woman bent over her cane waiting for the light to change. Although I don't know a single soul, there is a sense of belonging that no one deserves to be here more than anyone else. Everyone I pass is doing their best on every corner of every street. Of all the things that make up an ordinary day, travel offers the ultimate opportunity to open us up to what each new moment has to offer, to try something new and ultimately to look at life through new eyes. As I move closer to the Walk of Fame, the stars begin to shimmer in the morning light. My gaze drifts through the golden tapestry of stars etched with each actor's name, and I begin to wonder what it must've felt like for them. Stars you and I began watching on the big screen from a very young age – the glamour and the glory only to last a short while. Then, like a vision, a little elderly lady appears gracefully supported by her walker, her feet shuffling slowly over the sea of stars, her chin is up and she walks with purpose. I could not help but feel a sense of wonderment towards her. She must be 90. She's lived to see and feel everything imaginable, and she must have stories to tell! And I think to myself, now that is a star! It got me thinking about what a star represents. As it turns out, 'You are a star' originated in Ireland and is an all-around compliment that means you're a great person, you've risen to the occasion and been generally wonderful! It existed long before the whole movie star thing and came from the symbolism of a bright shining star. In ancient times, the stars were the only navigation system used by explorers to map their routes and reach their destinations. Stars represent a guiding light, a direction and finding one's way. A star's pure light is often associated with spirituality and the divine and represents wonder, mystery, beauty and the connection between us and the universe. Stars represent faith, illumination, enlightenment and knowledge. They can also be a symbol of hope as it is directly associated with light and the wonder you feel when gazing up into the infinite night sky. May the light of summer shine ever so brightly upon you, and always remember you are being guided by the light above and the spark within. You, my dear, are a star! |
Blog Author:
|