Yesterday, like so many of you, I woke up in a state of shock and sadness. When I got out of bed, it was after hours of insomnia followed by restless sleep of nightmare after nightmare, from which I could not force myself to wake. When I did finally regain consciousness, I was covered in sweat, congested, driven crazy by neuropathic itching and muscle twitching, and feeling disoriented. That … [Read more...]
Those who’ve known me the longest and those who know me the best sometimes express surprise or amusement when I am described as shy or introverted. I don’t blame them for being befuddled really. When I was a little girl, everyone was a potential friend, and I wasn’t afraid to go up to strangers and talk a mile-a-minute in their ear, occasionally with a foreign accent. My mom, I think, is still … [Read more...]
As the years roll by, I become increasingly convinced that spirituality isn't just about our personal relationship with an ethereal Divine. I believe it is also about learning to cultivate love for all life's creatures–especially when it’s challenging. Especially when our loved ones are being emotionally distant or crabby or are failing to actively listen to us and acknowledge our concerns. … [Read more...]
Ananda Hum I am limitless joy, A lotus blossom unfolding To the divine light of pure consciousness. My white petals openly fully To the infinite abundance That is the birthright of us all. Let me center myself in truth Of the ceaseless comfort and peace That the unbound and eternal Universe provides, Calling on the energy of Creativity and transformation That is Life. … [Read more...]
Lately, I've been doing a lot of meditating on whether there comes a time in your life when it's too late to shift gears and move in another direction. While sometimes it can feel like we've gone too far down the wrong the path to turn back now, I have seen so much evidence of people being able to reinvent themselves, to learn and grow, to evolve toward a better version of self. I have long … [Read more...]
Our minds have the power to either make us or break us, depending on whether we choose to focus on the positive or the negative. Our brain interprets the thoughts we allow to tumble around repeatedly in our minds as reality, whether they are actually true or not. No matter how often the people we care about compliment and encourage us (or criticize and discourage us), our niggling inner voice … [Read more...]
I often tag my yoga pics with #PracticeMakesProgress to remind myself that the goal of my practice is NOT perfection. The reason I get on the mat is to express my dedication to healing and healthy living. I get on the mat to Embody My Body, to feel all the sensations that sometimes get buried in the harried activity of day-to-day life, to listen to the messages the body is trying to tell … [Read more...]
My life revolved around gymnastics for much of my childhood, as I proudly grew from a tiny tumblebee of age 4 to a competitive gymnast in adolescence. As the type of athlete who thrived on strength and speed, one of my absolute favorite things was to go whipping through the air backwards. At the request of my friends, I would not-so humbly tumble through a succession of back handsprings and … [Read more...]
There are periods of my life when I have grown paralyzed while facing the veiled path of the future that lies ahead. The plethora of choices available to me overwhelms: Which direction is the correct one to pursue right now? Can I follow it without completely neglecting my other desired paths? What if I make the wrong choice? Other times, the choice is clear, but uncertainty confounds me. What … [Read more...]
Has anyone else been feeling out-of-sorts today leading up to tonight's full moon? Other folks have been describing the unexpected fatigue I woke up to, as if needing to cocoon ourselves for a spell before opening up a fresh pair of wings once again to embrace the sky. As we shift into a new cycle, a new month, it is a perfect time to let go of what no longer serves us. To let go of self-doubt. … [Read more...]