Serenity Now

Expand… and suddenly you are embracing it ALL.

I can remember when I was young, in my parent’s bedroom, hanging in a frame over the dresser mirror, was a prayer:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
…and the wisdom to know the difference.

I had read it many times over during our years in that house, realizing, even at a young age, the power of those words and the usefulness in memorizing them. Although, I haven’t lived it verbatim everyday, the Serenity Prayer has served as a reminder throughout my life how much time we can spend being stuck, mired in our own ideas of how things are “supposed” to be, consistently leaving us open for disappointment.

A dear friend and yoga teacher, recently pointed out the benefits of “the middle way”- as the Buddhists call it - resides in the calm or contented states of being. In other words, not attaching to only joy or fighting so hard to avoid misery and pain. We must live with both in the world. Therefore, the best thing we can practice is expanding within the space between. Therein lie the serenity, courage and wisdom of complete acceptance of whatever may come.

Thank you, Dejisan, for that powerful reminder!

Peace.

** News Flash**

Read all about it!
Update on LAS VEGAS LULULEMON GRAND OPENING:


http://thesucculentwife.typepad.com/succulentblog/2008/01/lululemon-athet.html

Thanks for all your support, everyone, and thank YOU Anne-Marie for bringing Lady Guru to the West Coast!
Sat Nam!

(Photo by Anne-Marie Kovacs)

Why Not?

Leap… and suddenly you realize you are the net!

We all share a common illusion: that we are in control. Of course, we do have the capability to make choices, and those choices will surely have an impact on the direction we take, but I think we can get into trouble when we become attached to the idea that those choices we make will actually bring us safety and security, when in truth, how could we possibly predict that? It really hit home in a big way, one day, when my husband and I were debating yet another scenario of polar opposite opinions. It occurred to me, neither one of us was wrong, just lobbying for our own sense of security. Isn’t that what every decision and choice we make in our life is ultimately based upon? Security, comfort? Could it be this is why we feel we sometimes need to fight so hard - to defend our fundamental sense of security and wellbeing? When, ironically, the idea of security for one person, can translate into sheer terror for another! One person can feel better talking out her issues when another may feel more secure keeping them inside; some people feel safer investing in stocks, others in real estate; and maybe some find more comfort remaining in the familiar, while others fear boredom or stagnancy and look for change.

I found had to allow myself to, yet again, grieve another major loss – the letting go of the concept of stability, safety, security – and come to a resolve and finally a comfort and liberation in letting go, to have faith I will play my part on whatever stage is set, to relax and ask “why not?” instead of “why? ”, and to be open to the newness that every moment brings while truly respecting the path of others.

Peace and many blessings.