Monthly Archives: October 2010

United we stand

Darlings~

'United We Stand' is a motto our country adopted over 150 years ago back during the American Revolution, The Civil War, World War 2 and re-surged in volume after 9/11.

Pride and patriotism is our hallmark as a country, igniting the passion and forward focus that keeps us steady on our purpose. Since the days of the American Revolution, pride and patriotism have been a hallmark of the United States, giving our nation vigor, direction, and sense of purpose.

On October 24th of 2001, America adopted this motto and our waving flag on our postage stamp.

The postal system. In light of all of the terror that ensued back in 2001, the postal system stayed true.

It was one of the very few things we could rely on to stay steady.

Like yoga.

When all things around us seemed chaotic and unstable, we received our mail, everyday but Sunday.

One of the most recognized symbols of our freedom, the flag, crossed most every piece of mail, reminding us, as a country, as people, united we stand.

What other reminder is there that YOGA exists everywhere, whether you are in downward facing dog, sitting in a cubicle or making a speech in front of executives or a classroom of four year olds.

Yoga is union and in unity we stand.

Unity means union, harmony, synthesis, integral, alliance and togetherness.

Today, unity is our collective intention.

If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately. – Thomas Paine

The web of our life is a mingled yarn, good and ill together – William Shakespeare

Life is made of ever so many partings welded together – Charles Dickens

Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success. – Henry Ford

We can work together for a better world with men and women of good will, those who radiate the intrinsic goodness of human kind. –Wangari Maathai

Yo, the sun don’t shine forever, but as long as it’s here, then we might as well shine together, better now then never. –P Diddy, Puff Daddy

Sayin’ lets get together and feel alright – Bob Marley

United we stand, divided we fall. – Aesop

Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking. – Mahatma Gandhi

So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. - Baha’u’llah (ba hey u lah)

There can only be one state of mind as you approach any profound test; total concentration, a spirit of togetherness, and strength. - Pat Riley

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength”

Let there be space in your togetherness – Kahlil Gibran

Even if a unity of faith is not possible, a unity of love is. –Hans urs von Bathasar

In essentials, unity: in differences, liberty; in all things, charity – Anne Baxter

Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony. – Mahatma Gandi

Not in achievement, but in endurance of the human soul does it show its divine grandeur and it’s alliance with the infinite. – Edwin Hobbel Chapin

Peace comes from within, do not seek it without – Buddha

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. – Helen Keller

Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend. –Albert Camus

Mere change is not growth. Growth is the synthesis of change and continuity; and where there is no continuity there is no growth. - C.S. Lewis

With an eye made quiet by the power of many, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things. – William Wordsworth

By uniting we stand, divided we fall; in so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed, for heaven approves of each generous deed. -The Liberty Song - John Dickinson

Together,

Lady


Find the love…

On October 19th, 1979, Mother Theresa of Calcutta earned the esteemed Nobel Peace Prize for the work she did for the destitute of India.

She continues to inspire all of us to do good, for ourselves and each other.
However, sometimes it seems daunting to 'give back.'
Sometimes, we can barely give to ourselves and those we love around us.
There is so much to give to, so much that is needed and so many ways to find out more about who and what needs are out there.
It can be overwhelming.
And many of us can't dedicate a life of service. We may not have means, time or money.
As the holidays swiftly make there way into our laps, its impossible not to think of the wonderful ways we could use our personal abundance in service to others.
Don't allow yourself to be overwhelmed.
It's like coming to the mat for your yoga practice. Sometimes you know what's coming and sometimes you are surprised. Arrive from a place of peace and gentleness so that you can deliver peace, goodness and gentleness to your mind and body. If you can do that, it will be effortless for you to find the time and energy to give to others, because you have looked out for yourself first. Nurturing oneself is a challenge.
Make that your effort - before you leave for the day, come to the mat, get into the car, prepare a meal, come from a place of love, gratitude, peace, kindness and all words positive and nourishing.
If you don't sufficiently know how to DO for yourself, the DOING for others will be subpar.
Mother Theresa did not expect others to live her life, nor did she expect praise or prizes for the life she was led to do.
We all have the paths we are on. We use each other to inspire and fuel ourselves towards our goals, on our own and with each other.
Good for ourselves, our loved ones and those that extend beyond.
Mother Theresa said, "I have found the paradox - that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt - only more love."
I love that.
And I have to be reminded every day that a life, even partially in service, has to start with yourself.
Find the love, in yourself, in your practice, in your postures. And let it radiate beyond into your work, passions and relationships.
If you focus on frustration, 'not getting' something or negative emotion, it will only keep you down. These days, we barely have time. And we certainly don't have time to waste on negativity. So if you feel it, smoosh it with love. If you think it, say, no thank you, not right now.
Or as a great teacher friend of mine says, "cancel, clear!"
Love that.
Find the love and you'll find the time, to love and to give.
Find the love and all the rest will drop away.
Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Let s always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.
Love is a fruit in season at all times and within reach of every hand.
Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.
I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much.
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
Live simply so that others may simply live.
It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.
God doesn't require us to succeed. He only requires that you try.
Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.
Prayer in action is love. Love in action is service.
Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has yet to come. We only have today. Let us begin.
We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it
Life is beauty, admire it
Life is a dream, realize it
Life is a challenge, meet it
Life is a duty, complete it
Life is a game, play it
Life is a promise, fulfill it
Life is sorrow, overcome it
Life is a song, sing it
Life is a struggle, accept it
Life is a tragedy, confront it
Life is an adventure, dare it
Life is luck, make it
Life is too precious, don't destroy it
Life is life, fight for it
~~Mother Theresa~~
Finding the love,
Lady

The Mets

In 1969, the NY Baseball team, The Mets won the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles.

What many thought was a hapless expansion team, rose above judgment and assumption and persevered with dedication, hope and the openness to possibility.

It's not necessarily the win, but the possibility that makes us try. If we have contentment or santosha (in Sanskrit) in the journey, we can remain even in both success and failure (as quoted in the Bhagavad Gita).
As we arrive on our mats or become mindful in any activity we find our YOGA in, let's bring the idea of possibility into our intention as we travel through our practice and our day ahead...
The future is simply infinite possibility waiting to happen. What it waits on is human imagination to crystalize it's possibility. -Leleand Kaiser
Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible. - St. Francis of Assisi.
Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with the things that move us toward progress and peace. - Ronald Regan
Relinquish your attachment to the known, step into the unknown and you will step into the field of all possibilities. -Deepak Chopra
We don't know who we are until we see what we can do. - Martha Grimes
Standing Bow pulling posture ain't so hard now is it? If you get it today, great. If not, there's always tomorrow. Anything is possible.
It's just a game and at the end of it all, you end up with you, the best prize, so keep your eye on it and let the rest go.
Loving,
Lady