Permission to be Human
Hey, Aruni.
Want to check in?
Well, thanks for asking.
I feel fuzzy.
Slightly internally shaky.
Not quite numb—
Just checked out a bit
And a tad,
Just a tad
Edgy.
And you know what?
About how I feel?
So what?
So f___ing what?
It doesn’t even matter what I am feeling
Because we are surrounded by good news.
Here’s the news:
There is protection.
There is care.
Whether I feel it
Or not.
No matter what is happening
Or not.
There is protection.
There is care.
It is here.
It is available.
Sometimes I feel it—and
That’s good.
Sometimes I don’t.
And that’s fine, too.
Nevertheless,
We are guided.
Nevertheless,
There is support.
Nevertheless,
All unfolds anyway.
Protection.
And.
Care.
Thank you,
Life.
Thank you,
Wood nymphs.
Thank you,
Buddha and Jesus
And Moses
And Mother.
And the tiny mosquitos flying around my head.
And the white egret in the wetland.
And dear St. Francis.
Thank you
For being
With us.
~~~
Here’s my plan:
To practice.
That’s all.
Just—to practice.
No matter what is happening around me
No matter what is happening inside of me,
To remember
It is okay.
And when I forget it’s okay?
Like, every 30 seconds or so…
I will breathe
I will relax
I will lean into the truth, which is:
PERMISSION TO BE HUMAN,
FULLY GRANTED.
No matter how long
My forgetting lasts,
Whenever I am able,
That is the
Perfect moment,
To come back home.
I pray for the courage
For me,
For you,
For us,
All—
To bear our own humanity.
I pray for the willingness
For me,
For you,
For us
All—
To practice.
To let it be okay.
To let ourselves be okay.
And to keep going,
One step,
One breath,
One moment
At a time.
Om.
Shanti.
Peace.
~~~
Friends,
What are you noticing?
What is life teaching you?
What are you practicing?
~~~
We need a good song this week, right?
Here’s what I found—
Playing for Change.
That fabulous Stevie Wonder song,
Higher Ground.
It is remarkable to hear the different musicians, from all over the world, making music together.
It is—
Wonderful.
~~~
Folks,
May you be present.
May you be whole.
May you ride
The waves
Of your life.
May you live in peace,
No matter what
You
Are
Given.
May all beings benefit from our shared words.
Blessings,
Aruni
~~~
INVITATION
THE YOGA OF RECOVERY
Do you struggle with addictive patterns?
Have you unsuccessfully attempted to control negative behavior or thoughts?
Do the addictive actions of other people impact you?
Join me for the Yoga of Recovery, which weaves together the ancient wisdom of yoga and the practical tools of contemporary recovery programs.
July 25-27