Friday Musings—26/07/24

How’s your week going? Hit reply and let me know—I read every email.

What's new with me

If you missed it, this week I shared my mid-year assessment.

The focus of the last few classes in the yoga trauma healing program has been on balance. The main takeaway is that we want to be a thermostat, not a thermometer. The latter simply reacts to the current temperature, while the former sets the desired temperature and responds to external events in a way that maintains the chosen status quo. In other words, by building a baseline state of grounding and inner strength, we can remain calm and maintain our balance regardless of events, rather than reacting and letting external circumstances dictate our mood and actions.

At the same time, we should remember that no balance is eternal and that growth lies in venturing beyond our comfort zone. Change is scary and uncomfortable, but once we have that baseline to provide security, we can more safely make changes and find a new balance. If we fall, it's no big deal as long as we pick ourselves back up and try again.

Are you more of a thermostat or a thermometer? And how easy is it for you to accept or even seek change and find a new balance?

An ancient tradition of resilience

You know I love to learn about cool life stories, and this one definitely is. It's also a testament to our capacity for resilience. Rieko Hirosawa, a blind Japanese woman, is dedicated to preserving the ancient musical tradition of goze uta. This tradition, which began as long ago as the 1500s, provided a rare livelihood for visually impaired women in feudal Japan. These women memorized numerous songs and endured rigorous apprenticeships and challenging lives on the road. Hirosawa's passion was ignited by meeting Haru Kobayashi, the last true goze, who inspired her to continue this cultural legacy.

By the way, if you come across interesting life stories, please send them my way.

On side crow pose and playing

A few days ago, I woke up very early feeling tired and a tad unsettled. I decided to do some yoga and then figure out the rest of the day after that. I'm not a morning person, so I usually pick some gentler, "stretchier" practices to ease me into the day. For some reason, though, I decided what I needed was a fiery, third-chakra-focused session!

I opened the solar plexus chakra July playlist (kindly put together for free by Allie Van Fossen) and got down to it. I quickly felt more energized until we got to the point where Allie decided it was time for a side crow. I shook my head thinking, yeah right, I can barely do regular crow pose. But at a certain point, I felt that sense of play that we've been working on in the trauma-healing classes emerge, and I was like, what the heck, why not try it. And I actually managed to lean on my arms and get my feet off the ground (for like one second 😅). More and more, I'm realizing yoga is about how I feel on and off the mat rather than the pose itself.

I also thought back to when I spent a summer break in Biarritz, many moons ago. I decided I'd try surfing and remember many cold afternoons and evenings where I'd spend most of my time waiting and swimming out to catch a wave, trying to jump onto the board and surf, failing, and then repeating the process. If I miraculously managed to hop onto the surfboard and stand up straight, I'd fall back down in no time. I was frustrated because other classmates were progressing faster and I felt I should be doing better, instead of fully appreciating the precious time spent in the water, being there with friendly people from all over the world, watching the sun set into the ocean. Now, I'd be elated if I could spend some time there again and manage to stand on the board (which I'm positive I wouldn't be able to do anymore!).

Quote of the week ✍️ 

"Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient."  (Steve Maraboli)

As always, I welcome your insights or questions. Which musing was your favorite? What topics would you like to see covered in future newsletters? Any other suggestions? Let me know in the comments or send me an email. Don't forget to share this with someone who may find it interesting.

Enjoy your weekend and TTYS

ML