Presence

Thoughts race through my head…the usual nonsensical banter, anxieties and fears. Intermittently, a clear, conscious thought bubbles up to the surface, free from the habitual, unconscious wirings of the mind. I begin this stream of words now from this very thought, attempting to elaborate on this conscious-inspired topic. Presence……the gift of being here NOW, in the presence of the Self, uninhibited by the ego's attachments and aversions.

Presence is the space you hold for your Self, dictated by your present state, thoughts, feelings and actions. Your presence has the potential to ripple out to those around you, but the choice of the energetic effect it has on others is entirely up to you. To show up is the greatest gift we can give to those around us, for our presence invites others to bring their own presence, real and authentic, rooted deep down in the Self.

So here I AM, playing with the supreme act of showing up, fully, authentically, for no other moment than the one before me, the moment to contrive a stream of words together. But, to say I exhibit this presence in question is a huge stretch. I spend the majority of my time trapped in the constant fluctuations of the mind, sucked into the grip of the illusory fears. Anxiety is where I spend the greater part of my existence, a sometimes debilitating feeling that holds my breath at bay, sometimes out of my own awareness. But, the fear in question is contrived from a distorted perception of time, the mind merely projecting past events into the unknown future, as it creates a story, a drama it's convinced will pan out. So, more and more energy is sent out to build upon this illusory and contrived story….the "I'm not good enough" story. And, the more time we spend delving our energy into this story, the more "real" it becomes.

It's if and when we slow down enough to bring these unconscious beliefs and thoughts to conscious awareness, then and only then can we begin to break down the story, ultimately discovering the root is nothing but a lie, a lie someone told us long ago that we took on as truth, our truth. For me, it's been the same old story of "I'm not good enough." As I've delved deeper and deeper into this underworld, the falsity of this belief slowly becomes more and more apparent. My mind begins to see this, understand it, analyze it, pick it apart. Yet, my heart still feels the pain, the unworthiness, the rejection.

So, continues the disconnect between mind and heart, the mind knowing what the heart has yet to fully feel. I continue to act upon this belief, fixating my energy and attention on my body, attempting to control it, shape it, hold it perfectly steady in the form, obsessively dreading the impending chaos that will ensue if and when my body falters in my mind's perfect lens. What a constricting world to live in, one bent on perfection, rigidness and control. But, this is where my energy has gone for so long, the outlet for which I direct the anxiety and fear. It's an avoidance technique I've "mastered," the ability to avoid or numb out unwanted emotion by redirecting my focus on something tangible, concrete, malleable.

So I continue running, faster and faster, away from my Self, away from the thoughts, the fears, the feelings. Round and round I go, off into the next "fix," the food, the exercise, the fixation on a desired romantic partner, the very act of these things signifying the faulty belief in these temporary things giving me long-lasting pleasure. But, as I've began "unlearning" in my yoga teacher training program…pleasure is not true pleasure when it comes from the fluctuations of the mind. We think pleasure comes from fulfilling a desire but if this particular desire is not fulfilled, our world crumbles. We hang on the precipice of this need being met, a need ultimately no one and no thing can fulfill.

Maybe we all feel this, but perhaps few can name this yearning, this longing to be whole. And, the ironic thing is, we are already whole and complete, right here, right now. It is purely the polarities of the mind, the wanting, the needing for one thing and not another that convince us otherwise. We want a particular body, a size, a shape….maybe a relationship, more money, a better job…but it's never enough. I've been my "desired" weight and size and sure, temporarily, I ride the high of this self confidence for a little while but ultimately the feeling leaves me wanting more, a constant striving for a better high, an endless race chasing after my next fix. All the meanwhile, etching into my heart and soul the reaffirmation of my worth being dictated upon my physical form.

My presence remains fixated on this physical form. And, the only time I'm truly able to root down into my Self, my real, authentic being, is when I'm breathing, consciously. Most often, this happens when I practice asana (yoga), but it is a tricky thing indeed when this practice has the potential to be yet another method to "perfecting" the physical form. Yet, the breath remains my anchor, though I don't always consciously breath. Even now, I recognize the shallowness of my breath, going only so far as to the base of my throat, the type of breathing I exist in daily, characteristic of the "fight or flight" mentality.

It takes conscious effort and awareness to draw my breath deeper, into my belly. And, as simple as it sounds, this breath grounds me, roots me down into my Self, and back into my presence. It is through the breath that I am able to bridge the gap between mind and body, finding my way back to consciousness, into the heart space. When I exist from this space, my presence takes shape. I become the observer, the witness in the drama of my own life. But, to take this seat is to do so with unattached, nonjudgemental awareness, compassion and spaciousness...no easy task for most of us.

With this awareness, there's a choice….to numb back out into the drug of choice or to continue to bridge this connection with the Self through the breath, choosing to be seen, real and authentic, in all its vulnerability. Rooting down into this Presence, we grow and flourish, inviting others to do the same, to take the seat of the Self, to move beyond the veils we hide behind, to reconnect to our roots in steadfast, loving devotion. So let this be our chosen state of Presence, time and time again, the conscious choice to return to our natural state, to Be Here NOW, in all its presence, wholeness and pulsating connection to all beings. And, let it be so.

Conscious Connection

The present moment seems ever elusive at times. Here I am, a blank screen away from a completed blog post, and I find myself drifting away into the stream of consciousness that is the mind. The phone goes off and it's another email, another "to-do." The accompanying anxious feeling threatens to transport me into the unknown, yet obsessively "controlled" time that is the future. This is the curse: the fear of letting go and immersing oneself into the moment, in all its complexity and fullness.

The breath returns, deeper this time, as I consciously focus my attention on the deepening inhale with the releasing exhale. Meditation in motion, I like to call it. These days, I can't seem to coax myself onto the cushion, into the seat of the witness. The yearning is there, for the connection, back to my Self. But, the mind convinces me otherwise, that there is not enough time, that other things demand more of my attention. So, I sit here now, not on my cushion but in a chair, in front of this daunting blank screen attempting to formulate some coherent theme to summarize the arising thoughts.

Showing up, present and conscious, is the subject in question. These past couple of weeks, I've found myself shifting if ever so slightly toward this conscious awareness in every day interactions and existence. Though my outwardly actions may not have changed- namely the exercise addiction and food and body obsession, I have noticed an increased awareness of when I am engaging in these thought patterns and behaviors. But, my tendency to berate and self-criticize my deemed shortcomings ultimately arises, taking the space where self-compassion could be.

I'm coming to the realization that the eating disorder, anxiety and depression are all seeking the same thing. They may transpire in various forms but I think it all boils down to something much deeper, rooted in the essence of who I am: a soul longing to grow, love and connect. The thoughts revolving around the eating, the anxiety or the loneliness simply cover up this deeper desire.

The habitual thoughts keep me stuck in the illusion that these things that I'm "working toward" will fix the underlying condition. That a perfectly fit body, a calm mind, a romantic partner will lessen the aching I feel inside. So, round and round I go, falling back into the thought and behavioral patterns, cycling again and again. This is my suffering. I am striving for something outside of myself, and winding up empty handed.

And, all this does, is simply reinforce the belief that something is wrong with where I am at at this given point in time. That something is missing or disjointed. That I am missing some key ingredient that everyone else has. But, the truth is what I'm looking for is a connection to my Self. And, I truly believe that's what most of us are seeking. Starting this 6-month-long yoga teacher training a couple of weeks ago has made this, among many other things, very clear.

For three solid days, I was immersed into yoga, the embodiment of conscious presence with extraordinarily vulnerable, authentic and real yogis. My satsang, my spiritual community, a source of connection, and the space to shine a light on our true Selves. Tears were shed, hearts were cracked open and there was no turning back. For the next six months, this is my yoga, my opportunity to Show up, fully and completely, vulnerable and naked.

For so long, I've felt this yearning, this aching in my heart for connection, authentic and real. This aching deep within my being longs for love. It desires so much more than I have been feeding it. My heart aches to be held, nurtured, comforted. It's easy in these moments of loneliness and longing to look outward to temporarily soothe the aching within. But, this is not sustainable and the feeling remains, urging me to hear its call and recognize the root of its desire.

If only I become conscious of it, dropping time and time again back into the space to allow its voice to be heard. Then, and only then will I find my Self, the conscious connection back to my heart, into the spaces where healing can manifest, into the presence of all that is is perfect, here and now. This is my Truth, waiting to be found, as I shed the layers to find the light. This is my yoga, uniting body and mind, heart and spirit, past and present...conscious connection illuminating the path before me.

Forever is an Eternity

Forever….the hiatus between a beginning and an ending, an intermittent pause between life phases and seasons, the blinking of an eye. For four months, I've been on a hiatus of sorts, taking a momentary break from my Self. And, in many ways this return to my voice, the vulnerable connection to my spirit and to the outside world, felt like an eternity.

The overwhelmingly blank page on the screen threatens to prolong the procrastination of words. But, here I sit, coming back to these same words, grateful for their stumbling appearance onto the screen.

The initially awkward stream of words transforms into something more fluid, natural, effortless. Turning off my left-brained, logical, rigid thinking, my right side takes over, giving life force to my creativity, my heart, my vulnerability. The dance between the two...my left attempting to make sense of this gibberish appearing onto the screen.

All too often this left-brained, masculine-feeding energy: the going, doing, accomplishing, action-motivated side dominates. The right-brained, more feminine-feeding energy: the compassionate, creative, loving, gentle flow hardly gets its say. Yet, writing for me allows this feminine flow to temporarily envelope me and coax me into this gentle, systematic flow of words and catharsis.

My writing is my soul and my heart, the cord connecting my body, mind and spirit. But, in failed attempts to avoid my Self as of late, I've continued and perpetuated my self-absorption into the ego ramblings, wrapped up in fear, negativity and self-criticism. These past four months have been marked by a momentary retreat back into the arms of the eating disorder. The bastard, the life-draining demon that haunts my footsteps, the monster lurking in the shadows.

He's the drill sergeant, the masculine hardness and rigidity demanding diet perfection and impeccable physique. You've seen him on T.V., in magazines, billboards…screaming at you, mocking you. "You'll never be good enough, thin enough, pretty enough to be worthy." Try all you will but you will never succeed, he says.

Chances are I'm not the only one who hears these condemning voices. They tell me that my worth is directly proportional to its harsh self-evaluation of my physical form, a judgment that fluctuates daily, based on diet and exercise "perfection" for that day. And, this harsh critic sees colors in only black and white. You're fat or you're skinny, you're a failure or a success. You're perfect or you're flawed.

He tells me when and how much to exercise, how much to eat and when to feel just plain shitty about myself. He's the voice that's told me over and over I'm not worthy, not good enough. He's the voice that controls the majority of my thinking and behavior. For most of my life, I have given up my control to an egotistical, slave- driving authoritarian. And, he has nearly dissolved me of my innate, feminine energy.

But, now my life is heading in the direction I've always desired and longed for, back into balance between the masculine and feminine. That's if I make the choice, the choice to leave behind all the garbage, the dis-serving habits and thought patterns, the toxic relationship with this inner masculine figure. The choice to take responsibility for my life, to take back what's mine: my mind and the thoughts I choose. The choice to make the shift from this stifling fear back into love.

The choice is on me, to close the gap between now and forever. To recognize the fear of regret in letting my life continue on this path of self-rejection, until at last it's too late to make that shift. I know it needs to happen, but it's a matter of doing it, making those conscious thoughts to realign with self-love and acceptance. The habit of my thinking has formed deep grooves, grooves for the eating disorder, the anxiety, the depression, the self-loathing. This is my shadow, my inner demons who have nearly exhausted me.

I see glimmers of light every now and again, clearer thoughts that fill my body and spirit with love, the love I know is there, waiting to be tapped into its full potential. And, I sense that the opportune time is now. In a little over a month, I will begin a journey back into my Self, through a yoga teacher training program. A six-month-long program, I will delve into the teachings and embodiment of yoga.

And, it has quickly manifested into something with profound implications that I can't even grasp. But, again, it's going to be a matter of my choosing to go deep into that journey, into the muck and yuck, the negative voices and stories that I've told myself over and over, to reevaluate my life up until this point. Yoga is the tool that's opened parts of me, exposed my inherent ability to become still, to quiet the voices if only momentarily. To connect me back to my body, back to the moment. It's going to be an exquisitely beautiful journey of self-exploration and triumph if I so allow it to naturally flow, to ease into those healing spaces.

Working at my current place of employment, a school for kids with behavioral issues, I realize how necessary this type of therapy and release is, for not only myself but for these kids who act purely on impulse, in the heat of the moment. Having worked in this environment, I've come to realize certain behaviors of mine, mainly the eating disorder, is all based on impulse. In a lot of ways, I'm just like these kids.

Addictions of any sort are all about impulse, not thinking and acting purely out of emotional distress. Inevitably, reaching for your drug of choice. But, when you slow things down, allowing the conscious, frontal part of your brain to gain back control, you loosen the subconscious, animalistic power exerted over that impulse, that desire to reach for the bottle, the joint, the candy. And, slowly over time that neural pathway weakens until new habits, new ways of thinking form. Yoga, meditation, writing and prayer allow you to retrain the mind and redirect the focus.

It's a life-long journey back to the Self, the time between now and forever, the path that's laid out before me to take back my freedom from the fear-driven subconscious thoughts and behaviors. The choice is mine, from now until eternity.

Let it Go

"We need to learn to let go as easily as we grasp and we will find our hands full and our minds empty," said Leo F. Buscaglia. 

I stumbled across this after quite some time of digging for the perfect quote, a string of words I didn't seem to think I could weave together myself. But, the ironic thing is I latched onto my search, unable to pull my mind toward this blank screen staring me down, avoidance of the task at hand. Fixated on the notion of discovering the sentence that would summarize these past few weeks in a nutshell, my mind would not rest until this "need" was met. 

Lately, this has been the state of my "being," consumed by meaningless thoughts and worries. My mind has been adrift, my thoughts erratic. I find myself doing one thing and thinking another, unable to be conscious with the moment in front of me. Running away, or attempting to run away from my thoughts swirling about in my head. Distracting myself with the business of everyday life, making sure each moment is spent "doing." 

My sense of calm has nearly been vanquished by the utter chaos of my mind. So, it's time I take a much-needed, long overdue breath, grounding me back into the only moment that matters, the here, the now. But to do so requires some de-cluttering of the past, some reflection on that which I cannot change, that which I am trying to surrender and let go of. 

Something unexpected happened about two weeks ago, an ending of a relationship that had only just begun. A bitter disappointment to something I thought was heading down a path I had not yet been down, but was eager to experience. To think something was one thing only to find out it was little more than a casual thing for the other, is disappointing on many levels. But, to be made aware of this ending without words from the other person, with zero explanation or reason as to why is wounding on levels that I hadn't experienced prior. 

To have spent time with another person, letting them into your life, opening them up to your family and friends, is a risk I thought was worth taking. Believing this person to be a genuine, good-hearted person who I could trust, only to wind up feeling vulnerable, exposed and made a fool. The ending came without words, without any indication that things were heading that way. And, still I have not been given the closure I believe I deserve. It all boils down to a lack of respect and common courtesy to simply communicate to the other person, someone they had spent time with and had clearly indicated their interest in the relationship. But, this did not happen and it is quite unlikely to ever happen. 

Anger, resentment, frustration. I despise the haphazard, inconsiderate way he handled things. My thoughts still swirl with anger toward my inability to control his actions, to make him see how he wronged me. Easing in and out of this phase, I briefly enter into the disappointed, sad, and let-down phase. But, sadness has never come easily to me, especially the type that I feel like I have no control over. I have yet to cry over this, though I know it could be the healing and closure I need to move on. But, part of me, mainly my pride, refuses to let myself shed a tear over this person. The ego part of me is rejoicing at the fact that I did not allow this person in completely, to see my wounded heart. And, frankly he didn't deserve it.

But, anger can only simmer for so long, before it becomes inwardly directed. Questioning what I may have done, why I wasn't good enough, I move into the pity phase. But, to stay in this space does nothing more than reaffirm the deep-seeded belief that I'm not enough. So, where do I go from here? How do I let go of something I have absolutely no control over? 

The eating disorder, "Ed," has been harassing me, begging me to come back into his arms, assuring me that he will make all things well again. Lies on top of lies on top of lies. Giving me comfort, reliability, and guarantee of the results, Ed thoughts consume me. Though I know I want nothing to do with his mind games, the thought pattern is already laid down. The thoughts and urges to restrict and gain back control over something when I feel like I have no control over other things. And the opposing end of the spectrum wrapped in the urge to binge, to slink away into the cloud of depression. Neither serve me in the long run, but the control freak in me begs for some release. My thoughts run around and around. Fear, anger, sadness…emotions I am resistant to feeling. 

A voice remains, stifled and quiet but still within hearing. The voice urges me to refocus, re-prioritize my life toward recovery of mind, body and spirit. This voice comes from that place within me that speaks the truth, but is overshadowed by habitual fearful thinking. Maybe this is why that relationship had to end. Maybe, I need more time to focus on healing myself from these wounds and reestablishing a loving relationship with myself. It's been a lifelong struggle, but what better time than now. 

Grasping onto things, situations, expectations, end results has always been easy for me. Letting go of these same things is a whole different story. But, for me, the letting go part has always been the part, though uncomfortable and foreign, that I need to move through in order to live in this moment, the only one I have. Though these words I have uttered may be marked by imperfection, I relinquish the control over what I should and should not have said or could have said better. 

With an eager heart, I wish to surrender the past, letting go of the unexpected disappointment and moving forward into the life I want- one marked by self-acceptance and self-love, healing and recovery of mind, body and spirit, grounded in the present. 

Young, Wild and Free

Time is a peculiar thing. To think we have so much of it, to live our lives at a leisurely pace, wasting away the precious moments that we will never get back. But, to be in a state of constant urgency to fill the day up until the last minute is to overarch into the other end of the gamut. To find that middle ground, that tipping point between living each moment, each day to the fullest and simply counting the minutes until the long, dreaded hours of the day waste away. Thus, is the balancing act of life, to reclaim the innate privilege of young, wild and free. 

When I was young, the notion of time was irrelevant to the vein of my existence. Nowadays, I find myself a slave to the clock more than I would like. Planning each day down to the last minute, I structure my day according to the "to do" list, leaving little time to catch my breath. Literally racing from one event to the next, I move about my day in a blur, not quite sure how I got to my next destination, preoccupied by the stress of running late…again. I'd like to think of myself as a punctual person, but I have developed a nasty habit of being about five to ten minutes late, which does nothing more than increase my stress and make me prone to unsafe driving whizzing through traffic. 

These past two months have literally flashed by in a blur, full of significant changes in the course of my path to come. The ongoing busyness of work, devoting half my week to working at the group home, the other half to the school. And, in between, filling the gaps with as many articles and freelance assignments as I can mange. What began as a a good kind of busy has slowly transformed into a wear and tear sort of busy, one that leaves me dragging at the end of each day, wishing for one day to do absolutely nothing. Of course, that day never comes because I wouldn't allow it. 

Having progressed out of the "honeymoon" phase of my job, I find myself feeling a bit more drained, emotionally and physically. Working with these kids, though satisfying and extremely rewarding, is definitely no easy task. It takes nearly all the energy I have to devote the attention to these attention-deprived kids, but I've noticed this worn-out demeanor taking over these past couple of weeks, preventing me from being present. Initially, I felt a sense of passion and excitement at the prospect of being a kid again, in a way, living out the years I missed out on when I was young, already consumed by the eating disorder. Being with these kids has given me a chance to reclaim my youth and to redeem these "lost" years.

But, I am beginning to realize that if I am going to continue down this career path like I intend to, I need to learn to recognize my limits and boundaries. To know when to take a step back and protect myself from getting sucked into the bottomless pit of emotions that comes with this kind of job, to really start utilizing the self-care tools I hardly ever use. Otherwise, "Ed" will most definitely creep back in. And, in all honesty, he's still been hanging around here and there, mostly in the form of binging, which isn't glamorous by any means but it beats the full-blown eating disorder black hole. It still seems to be my way to self-sooth after a day, a week of nonstop activity. 

Aside from the job, I will be moving in less than a week into a house with a good friend of mine and another girl. These past few weeks I've felt myself pulling away from my family, not really attempting to spend time with them, not that I am around all that much to do so anyways. But, this urge to be independent, on my own, in my own space, has been coming to the surface, causing me to be a little more agitated than normal when I am at home. 

I am extremely appreciative of my family and all that they've done for me, allowing me to stay with them rent-free, but I also think I'm ready to stand on my own two feet. Nearly a year after graduating, I feel rooted and grounded enough in my job and in myself to plant my roots in my own home. It may not be as glamorous as I hope for, paying my own bills, but I feel like it's time. 

It seems that change comes in waves, sometimes pounding ones that you didn't see coming or inevitable ones you've been resisting for some time. Other times, slow, rolling waves that still aren't quite comfortable but gentle enough to ease into. Looking back over this past year, since graduating less than a year ago, I still can't fathom all that has happened, leaving me in a crazy, emotionally-draining, yet fueling and recharging time warp. 

Yes, time is a strange thing. To think I have my whole life ahead of me, to live out my life, to finally take responsibility for each day, allowing the "perfect" schedule to slip by the wayside and allowing the flux of daily bumps and turbulence. To live for today, present and aware of the beauty in each moment, undefined by time. 

I'm learning each day to let others in, to let a particular relationship unfold as it so needs to, in the time and manner it needs to run its course, whatever that may be. But, to enjoy the moments getting to know another person on this level of intimacy and allowing that person to see me, my wounds, my heart. Still fearful of entering into this foreign domain, unaware of what is to come, but attempting to let go of expectations and doubts. Going back in time now, to reclaim the lost years of my youth, letting go of the fears, living each day as it comes, young, wild and free. 

The Tides of Change

"Embrace change," reads the engraving on the tea mug warming my hands, as I sip the soothing tea. These two words, simple and direct, reflect a way of life, the only way to live in a state of contentment.

Riding the waves, the tides of change, in our lives, we know the cliche saying is all too true. With change as the only constant in this lifetime, coming to grips with the ebbs and flows of every day life is no easy task though.

Reflecting on this, I come to find that it not only is pertinent to situational matters: a change of lifestyle, a change in occupation or a change in environment, but to the passing moods of our unique, but shared emotional states. Throughout each day, we all experience moments of ease and happiness, only to be disrupted momentarily by waves of anger, frustration, impatience, guilt or sadness, among many others.

What begins as a "good" day slowly transforms into a day bogged down by the stresses of life. The next day, the stressful day eases its grip on you as soon as you meander your way into a more relaxed state of mind, maybe brought on by a chat with a friend, a yoga class or the notion of the weekend within your reach. Whatever the pattern may be, each day we know the emotional roller coaster that may lie ahead if we allow it to.

I find myself experiencing this roller coaster a little less frequently these days, as I've come to find some stability in my routine, job and support system. Though, I know these states of depression, hopelessness and anxiety were not entirely due to the external events but moreso to my attachment to these events and allowing them to govern my emotions.

Just as I am aware of this, it must be true that these series of changes most recently: working at the group home and the school the kids attend, quitting Old Navy and applying for Americorps NCCC, are not entirely responsible for my reclaimed sense of security, confidence, trust and happiness.

My attachment to these things, these changes, is steering my mood and thus, controlling my ability to remain happy as long as these things stay constant. But, as we know, things can always change and nothing is guaranteed. So, why must we latch on so tightly to temporary situations or conditional states only to be disappointed when they are no longer? Are we simply setting ourselves up to be disappointed?

We spend so much time fighting and resisting the inevitably of change, whether it be these particular changes or other more tangible ones. The one I speak of is the attachment to our body and its predetermined worth by society or ourselves. Like many, my attachment has been in terms of how fit I am, how healthy I eat and of course the number on the scale.

And, this changes daily. One day, I may have eaten "good" and exercised for the magic amount of time and feel good, confident and solid in my deemed worth. The next day, maybe I've overeaten or not exercised up to par or at all and feel completely different, low self worth and mood. Though I know endorphins and all that good stuff are involved, I know its my attachment to these things that creates my present happiness or distress. So, how do we detach from these things and remain the neutral observer riding the tides of change?

Trust seems to be a key player in this. Trusting that everything is temporary: a bad mood, a horrible job, a negative relationship with others or with ourselves. And, on the flip side, the "good" is temporary as well, when it comes to basing our happiness on the deemed positives in our life: a good mood, a fulfilling job or a loving relationship.

This isn't to say we shouldn't be happy if we do have these things, but I think there's more to it than that. Finding happiness in our willingness to roll with these changes and flow with the waves of life, rather than resisting or latching onto the outcomes. I think when we let go of basing our state of happiness or sense of worth on our outside world, we come to terms with things as they are, not as we want them to be or as we think they should be.

Maybe, it's about recognizing that which changes and deciphering between that and the only thing that remains constant: authentic love for ourselves and others. And, as we work toward this acceptance of ourselves and others no matter the flux of moods, situations or physical appearance, we find love as our anchor, the only anchor to hold us down and keep us grounded as we ride the tides of change.

True Colors

You may know the person I speak of. She is your friend, your ally, your accomplice, your other half. She is your enemy, your bruised ego, your aching heart, your tears and sorrow. Her words are your words, her expression and beauty a mirror of your own, her soul a twin flame lighting the darkness of the world. 

I've known her all my life. She's known me at my worst and at my best. I can't say I've always appreciated the bond we shared but somehow, I knew this love was unlike any other I would ever experience, a blessing and treasured gift. She's grown to be someone I admire more than anyone else, for her strength, her courage, her resiliency, a free spirit soaring in the breeze and turbulence that is life. 

You may know her by another name, but she is one and the same. A sister to share the blood of your ancestors pumping through the web of veins, a common link between the generations. Her life is no mistake, as yours is no accident either. As sisters, you share an unmistakable, undeniable love unlike anything else. 

My sister is someone who loves with her whole heart, a courageous soul fighting for who and what she loves. With the beautiful words etched on her body, she has intended herself for a life of love, a path we all seek. Inscribed in Spanish, the words marked among images and designs of the night sky read: 

         

       "Haz lo que amas y ama lo que haces." 

                            Do what you love and love what you do.

A journey we all seek, to live the life we love. I find myself mulling over the concept of love and passion in terms of living out my life purpose, whatever that may be. Working at a group home with kids with special needs, I am beginning to grasp the possibility of finding my niche, my passion. 

I always thought I wanted to be a counselor, and maybe someday I will. But, life has other plans for me right now. When I look forward to going to work to interact with the kids, I know this is where I am supposed to be. I feel their stories of loss, hurt and abandonment seeping into my heart, pulling at my heart strings. Their presence in my life has awoken a love in me I haven't always been in touch with. They truly bring out the best in me, the caring, loving, patient parts that have struggled to find their say with the shadow of my fears, regrets and shortcomings. 

But, with the kids, I find myself existing in this space of authenticity and genuine love. And, I suddenly realize this is exactly what those words mean to me right now, at this point in my life. To find something I love and to do it with my whole heart is what I'm after, what I'm constantly seeking to find. And, maybe for now, I've found it. A place to open my heart to kids who are desperately in need of the love they have been cheated out of the majority of their existence. 

As my heart opens to the lives of these truly amazing kids, I know this is yet another, blessing and treasured gift. It is a chance that I have been given to learn more about loving without judgments, without conditions, without preconceived notions or expectations, opening my heart to loving freely and openly, letting my true colors shine out into my life to share with the world. 

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God….” Corrie ten Boom

Coming back from two weeks spent in Ecuador…two weeks spent soaking in natural hot springs, trekking partway up a 19,000-foot volcano in a cloud of fog, touring a coffee plantation, seeing the world-renowned blue-footed booby (a Darwinian discovery) and drinking my body weight in fresh-squeezed mango juice, not to mention the plethora of delicious and salivating food (fried plantains and shrimp ceviche to name a few favorites)…only to return to subzero temperatures back home, a new sort of harsh culture shock.

Adjusting to "reality" has been a challenge and I find myself in a bit of a situationally-induced depression after coming off of the high of traveling. Over the course of our travels, I found myself able to loosen up and let go of the rigid exercise and food rules, able to enjoy my time with my family and go with the flow. It was a much-needed break from the day-to-day routine. 

A couple of days into my trip, I received an email from my boss (at the group home for adolescent boys with special needs that I am working part-time at) that a full time position had opened up. We proceeded to correspond about my interest in the position, which led to her seemingly informally offering it to me, which I was extremely ecstatic about. I felt as though things had finally fallen into place and it gave me a much-needed sense of peace knowing I had found something secure, stable. I was elated at the thought of landing a "real" job and finally moving past this awkward, uncomfortable limbo phase. 

The next day, at the same exact time that I was writing a postcard to the boys, I heard from my boss saying that she had decided to give the position to another girl who had been there longer than I had. I was devastated. A part of me had known all along it was too good to be true, after all I have really only been working there for about two months. But, another part of me felt like it was the perfect time. After processing her decision and coming to terms with again, being back in the limbo phase of waiting, I find myself coming back to this ever pervasive theme in my life: trust, or rather the lack there of.

This theme of trusting in the unknown, in God, in the universe, to let go of the fear that keeps me stuck in my ways and unable to look past the temporary discomfort of the unknown, keeps showing up time and time again. The situations that keep presenting themselves all go back to this lesson, to teach me that I can't keep holding onto these fears, the fear of the future, of not being in control, of not having a "plan."

When I thought I had gotten the job, I heard this inner voice say, "See, I told you; everything always works out." It's amazing though how much time I spend worrying about things not working out and focusing all my energy on this. So, as much as I'd like to say I am not afraid to trust my unknown future to a known God, I can't say I'm there yet. I want to let go of the fear and just keep living my life as though this fear does not weigh me down as much as I let it.


Coming off of this high of a vacation and the brief high of believing I had landed a job, I'm yet again trying to find my footing, some sense of purpose and sense of worth. It's funny how much emphasis we put on external factors to determine our worth, but how can we not place some value in this? I think having a purpose, whether it be a job or volunteer work or your role in the family can positively serve to aid our sense of worth. But, it's a fine line between placing all our worth in these roles we play and in simply using them to add to our happiness.

All rambling aside, I know this theme, this lesson of trusting in the unknown, letting go of the fear and having faith that things will work out, is going to keep surfacing, probably stronger each time until I start learning the lesson. So, heeding the wise words of Corrie ten Boom, I am going to keep working toward this sense of intuitive trust, in myself, in my abilities, in the future, in God, letting go of the illusion of fear, and moving forward as best I can, into the unknown.