Boosted into Stillness

Hello from 2023. As advised from a few knowing folks, I am entering this new year carefully, slowly and with deep intentions of resting. At the same time, I contrast that with goals far and wide, but they are different this year for me. Read 50 books, develop a daily yoga practice (thanks Yoga with Adriene, I’m on day 6!), finish my first draft of my memoir, play music because I like to play, keep writing this newsletter weekly, deepen my therapeutic touch practice - to name a few.

Honestly the hardest one is the yoga. I keep hearing people asking for help out there, and yogi types are all like, ‘try doing yoga’ and the seekers are like, ‘don’t tell me to try yoga’ and I’m the pickle in the middle of this interaction. Because starting is hard. And once you do make it to the mat, the truth comes out. I’m not as flexible as I imagined. Damn I am out of shape. This floor is dirty. My dog is going to eat my face. I don’t breath deeply most of the time…

Baba is helping us do Yoga with Adriene.

The rewards come quick though. And before I start making big plans to go on a yoga retreat in India, I’m just keeping it in the one day at a time mode. Which is all anyone can do in the grand scheme of living after all. I love a calendar, don’t get me wrong. A full calendar is both reassuring and stress inducing to me at this point. Yesterday I said to a friend, “I”m really busy. Doing what, I’m not exactly sure, but I know for a fact that I am busy.” This was a small bit of growth on my part, because it was me protecting the most valuable thing I have - my time. It is something that is so easy to give away to whatever or whomever is ready to soak it up. I grew up thinking it was good to always be busy, to avoid ‘wasting time.’ But really, wasting time is a by-product of overscheduling. It’s the rebellious act that comes out of committing to too many things all at once. I am still in a struggle of how to find the most perfect balance, and how to say NO without feeling horrible remorse or experiencing deep FOMO.

So for now, taking it slow. Breathing. Just a little bit of movement each day. It feels good and right for now.

Here is a wonderful gem from the dear hearted Charlie Elkind, a TT colleague of mine who has his finger on the pulse of so many healing aspects in this world and beyond.