In Yogic philosophy, something that has brought such clarity to my life as of late, it is believed that the Divine is found in everyone. The "divine" or light exists in all beings, this is why at the end of a yoga class the teacher says and students repeat "namaste" - the light in me honors the light in you. In Christianity is is believed that we are "created in God's image". To me the two beliefs have always been one in the same. Yoga, in its purist form aims to put this belief into action- the idea that we are all one and that we all possess a divine light, however difficult it is to see, and because of this we must honor all human beings everywhere. It is the rejection of this idea- separateness which creates the idea of "the other" and causes basically all of the problems in the world from war to racism to tyranny and oppression. YOU are separate from Me therefore I can hate you/kill you/oppress you etc.

Where am I going? Lately I have been dealing with some difficult people, let's be honest, a difficult person. And I am remembering my teacher trainers saying when you find it impossible to get along with someone, when there is so much hate and disgust between the two of you that you can't even stand them- try to see the light in the other person. Because they are here, they were created by God and there is a light in them. This is what I am TRYING to do. It is difficult.

Another teacher said recently "you can not practice nonviolence without violence". You can not practice patience without the presence of impatience. It makes sense, if all we ever knew was peace, there would be no opportunity to practice peace.  It is when we are met with opposition that we practice the opposite.  This is called Pratipaksha Bhavana.  I don't know how this turned into a yoga lesson...I am really trying to look at this otherwise horrible situation from this peaceful, and quite empowering yogi perspective.  And I have wonderful teachers.  The end.

The Desk

Nate and I found an adorably perfect, but very beat-up little desk abandoned outside my apartment building on the street last week.  We decided to make it a project together- Nate got to buy fun power-tools and I got a beautiful new desk.  

I love stuff like this.  One day my home is going to be filled little projects we've worked on.  

Lists

I am a big list-maker.  I find that when I write things down it gives weight to the words.

I came across some life goals I had written right before graduation:

1. Graduate 

2. Get a full-time job 

3. Fully support myself 

4. Complete the 300 hour program 

5. Teach yoga full time 

6. Get married 

7. Visit Yogaville 

8. Study in India 

9. Complete a Yoga Therapy Program 

10. Get a masters?

11. Begin teaching in hospitals 

12. Have lots of babies

Sounds like a good plan, right?  Numbers 1-3 came faster than I ever expected, and today I completed the first step to #4, I submitted my application for the 300 hour Teacher Training Program - 6 months long, complete with an apprenticeship with a senior teacher.  Super exciting.... August thru January almost every night and weekend.  And excuse my boldness, but lately all I've been wanting is #6...because at the end of the day coming home to someone who will love and support me no matter what makes me feel like I can accomplish anything, however long my list. 

Finally!

3-year anniversary trip booked! 

1 month from today I'll be in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island

Staying here: 

Spring is here. 

The world is waking up and coming back to life...and so is this very neglected blog! 

I had one of the best weekends in a long time. 

After weeks and weeks of rainy icy weather with temperatures STILL in the 30s we had a wonderful 52 degrees and sunny weekend. 

Nate and I rode our bikes up to central park with Pumpkin in her carrier bungi corded to my rack. 

She had the time of her life.  It was her first time in Central Park and we played ball for hours, met other dogs and relaxed in the sunshine. 

We will be going back very soon. 

So excited!

Pumpkin playing ball with Nate and her new friend Cici the poodle

Bird! 

Luckily Broadway has a bike lane all the way down from Central Park.  Unluckily Broadway goes through Times Square and Herald Square.  Luckily I have a bell. 

...

Nate and I went to Frank's Trattoria- our favorite place! 

I always order fettucini alfredo, we always sit at the same little table, they always remember us and we are always the youngest couple in the restaurant by at least 35 years.

It's a cozy little hole in the wall that has been there for years and years.  The place mats are maps of Italy, the food is amazing, the atmosphere is cozy and quaint, and it feels like home. 

...

Then this afternoon we made homemade lasagna. 

It took about two hours and was pretty good but a little too meat-filled. 

 She got the extra carrots! 

 Ricotta!

The End.