I am in the process of receiving my yoga instructor certification, and one of the required texts is by James Hewitt, The Complete Yoga Book. I am extremely busy with classes, papers, and currently three jobs, but I have found time every morning to sit down on my porch and read from this text. I wish I could take an entire day to escape under a tree and read it in its entirety, but that would throw all the other aspects of my life out of balance. My yoga practice helps me maintain balance, and for that I am grateful.
The title is a quote from my dream man (if only he was still alive), Jack Kerouac. I sometimes find that this quote sums up my entire state of being most of the time. I get inspired about 100 times a day, and I let a handful of those inspirations consume me. Sometimes this is a wonderful thing, sometimes it only leads to confusion. Do you ever have those moments where you can’t explain the feeling in your heart? Now, I have a problem expressing those feelings, and writing helps, but sometimes it takes more to really be free-
I have said time and time again that all I want in life is to be at peace. I have to tell myself to stop looking to the past or the future for this peace. And be in the present moment. This moment. No other. I have realized though that no matter how many times you tell yourself something, practicing it is a different story.
I subscribe to elephant journal, a great source for inspiration on living a mindful life. I spend most mornings with a cup of coffee or chai and read some of my favorites, as well as other articles that peak my interest. I came across an article by Kim Roberts titled, Three Reasons Why I Am Not Married. It really spoke to me because I can relate to all three reasons, and although I am only an early twenty-something, this questions weighs on my mind. I have been in a relationship with a man I thought everything of, and then a wave of despair came crashing down and the debris is hard, almost too hard, to pick up. I am not sure I believe in the love my great-grandparents had anymore, but I want to. Yet, I can’t help but think we may only have a Mr. Right for this moment, not a Mr. Right for forever. And maybe that is okay? Is that a part of living in the present? I wrote in an earlier post, the nature of love, that I just don’t think love is valued anymore. This is circumstantial and of course doesn’t apply to some of those lucky ones. So, today while I was reading Robert’s blog, Diary of a Pilgrim, her post Beyond Hope and Fear resonated with me.
I am content right now. At this very moment, and that is all I need.
Here in Winona, MN we are lucky enough to have a wonderful co-op filled with shelves and shelves of great and natural foods, drinks, and body care products. It has become a ritual of mine every Friday after my shift at Timber’s (a family owned restaurant that I spend my time waitressing at) to go to the co-op, get a cup of coffee, and browse the isles. It is therapeutic in a way. Today my most exciting purchase was a margherita pizza. And of course the spring issue of Yoga International.
I am proud to live in a town that is so eco-concious and community driven. There can always be improvements, but Winona has so many local shops that are supported 100% by the community. I have boycotted corporate mega stores, such as Wal-Mart, because they buy out the small local businesses that give towns like mine so much character.
As I was walking out of the co-op today, I came across a documentary titled bag it: is your life too plastic?The documentary takes a powerful look at the the impacts of plastics on society. Quick fact: Americans use 60,000 plastic bags every five! minutes, disposable bags that they throw away without much thought.
I so badly want to go to the Wanderlust Festival this summer. I may have to pick up a few extra shifts, and by few I mean I may have to pick up another job just to pay for the tickets (plane and festival). It would be so worth it… yoga, music, speakers, nature, peace. Yes please.
