Are You Afraid?

What is the opposite of Love? Many would say that Hate is the opposite of Love, but love and hate are actually quite closely related. Sometimes, they are a hair's breadth apart. Sometimes, both can exist at the same time, toward the same person or situation. When someone says, "I have a real love/hate relationship with my ex--my exercise routine--my job", they are harboring both emotions at one time. But opposites cannot exist together.

Darkness vanishes in the presence of light. Abundance cannot exist where there is scarcity. There are no limits to a boundless universe. These opposites can only abide separately, not together. One wins, the other is vanquished. Hate sometimes lives with Love. So what is the opposite of Love?

Fear. When there is fear there cannot be love, and Love is the most precious and useful emotion there is. Love can only be explained by poets and teenagers. Love is too often taken for granted; love is not taken for granted often enough. When we feel the highest emotion toward someone, we say, I Love You. Or, sadly, we say, I am afraid of you. Equally powerful, one has the ability to bring joy, the other to cause withdrawal.

Where there is fear, there is uncertainty. In our world today, there is much to be feared. Countries divided, peoples against governments, lone gunmen, terrorist cells. But if we choose to live in this fear, to abide in the feelings of hopelessness and aloneness, we choose to live without Love.

Choose Love.

The Power of Plenty

One of the fun things (and there are many) about being a yoga teacher is seeing a group of people follow your spoken direction with their body movements. I say, "Swoop your arms overhead," and the room fills with flying birds' wings. "Float into forward bend" creates an exhalation of movement toward the ground. It is a truly beautiful thing to see. But once in a while I like to throw a curve ball and see what happens. Instead of starting with the right leg as usual, I ask them to step back with their left leg first. Some comply without a thought. Others make a little scribbling motion with their hand to determine which side is the left. And a few protest. "Don't you mean our right leg?"

So what's the difference? Are the folks who follow the direction seamlessly the ones with the most resilience, or are they avid rule-followers? Are the protesters rigid and afraid of change, or are they just comfortable with routine? And those who don't quite know their right from their left (me!) probably never even noticed that they usually stepped their right leg back first. Are they flibberty-gibbets? Or just relaxed?

The answers are: Who knows. Probably some of each. It doesn't much matter. What does matter is practicing in a group of people with varying abilities and viewpoints and expectations, and learning a little something about yourself in the process. That something is missing when one practices yoga alone. (Yes, a personal practice is important and useful; so try a bit of each!) The group dynamic is powerful and empowering, as long as competition is kept out of the equation. Moving together, breathing together, finding stillness together. The same, yet different.

Inhale your arms overhead and reach into the sky! Grab a star and exhale as you hand it to the person on the mat next to you. Right hand, left hand, it doesn't matter.

"Hmmm, I think she's breaking some sort of rule. Teacher said to cross our legs!"

They say it can be dangerous . . .

I’ve been thinking.

Voices in harmony are so beautiful.

Wouldn’t it be nice to visit the Garden of Eden so we could stop worrying about teenaged boys’ pants falling down or teenaged girls’ bellies showing or young singers shedding clothing or plumbers cracks or heck, saggy boobs! Just us and our bodies with complete acceptance.

Mystical fountain in Bryant Park, 1/14
(Photo courtesy of Nicole Howard)

It is very very sad that sugar is so bad for us.

There is a need to begin trusting ourselves again. The time for blindly following is over. Go with your gut.

Watching a paper cut heal is like witnessing a miracle. The skin just knits itself back together without a trace.

You can experience awe at the Grand Canyon; you can experience awe looking out your window after a snowfall. Awe will surface when you gaze upon the face of any newborn and when you look into the face of your own child at any age.

Meditation = ahhhhhh.

The world is becoming gentler. It might be hard to see, but if you look and listen, you’ll notice.

If you love, you are loved. If you Love, you are Love.