Disclaimer: If you know me fairly well, skip this part and begin reading below...
An introduction to life as I've lived it:
Back in December, I set the intention (and bought the plane ticket) to return to Costa Rica on February 9th in order to pursue la pura vida. After setting off with a similar intention in November, I was amazed by how quickly my "plans" went out the window. I learned two days into my initial voyage that the yoga retreat where I had intended to cook would have no visitors for nearly a month-- the initial length of time I had intended to stay. This left me at the top of a hill, at the end of distant beach town, at the tip of the most southern peninsula of Costa Rica, without electricity, phones or dry matches to send smoke signals (it was the end of the rainy season), and most importantly, without a plan.
Somewhat surprisingly, in my two hour hike back to the nearest town, I resolved to remain calm, because I instinctually felt like something better was coming my way. I found a patch of cell reception along my jungle beach path and used it to call my parents. Again, somewhat surprisingly, they too remained calm. To make a long story short: despite torrential rains, flooded rivers, and the threat of airport closures, I arrived back in San Jose one day later with a list of yoga related contacts in Costa Rica. (Thank You Costa Rican Biologist Angel!)
By the next day, I a new plan had found me, and a month and a half later I was graduating as a certified yoga teacher-- a goal I have had since my first yoga class at Laughing Lotus over 5 years ago.
Friends' Abridged Version:
So, here I am again, a couple of months later, armed with a "plan," (although this time even less focused) to return to Costa Rica in order to pursue peace and balance, to share yoga and cook, and to complete another part of a professional training at the yoga institute. (Infinite thank you's to a fellow Nosara Grad for providing a scholarship).
And yet, it's February 12th and I'm not there yet. On February 10th, I boarded a plane to Las Vegas, seeking out my old bedroom rather than the beach, in the hopes of creating some space around an emotionally charged week of various "see-ya-laters" from friends and loved ones (some seemingly more final than others). Despite my usually independent nature, I chose not to try to push through this alone, and to instead create some grounding and stability before setting off to take over the world.
I'm so glad I did, because this morning, in our living room, with the flashing lights of the strip (and strippers!) only a few miles away, I felt enlightened for two fleeting seconds. Here is what came up:
I was moving to Costa Rica (I thought) in search of balance; in order to live more simply, without the distraction and intense energy of the city. But I haven't even arrived there yet and already I was planning my next move. I could see myself, sitting on the beach, without any real stress to speak of, and I could already feel my heart and mind racing with the question, "what next?"
It dawned on me that I could end up on the beach in Costa Rica, in one of arguably the most tranquilo places on earth, and I would still be stressed out. For years I've been blaming the city for making me crazy, and this morning I realized...
It's not the city! It's just ME!
Of course, the truth is, it's not just me, it's many of us. There are many others out there who simultaneously love the city, but feel overwhelmed by it, who love the stimulation but go to the point of burnout. I am telling myself at least, that there are others who swing from one end of the spectrum to another, without yielding for moderation at some point in the middle.
And hence, a blog is born. Living La Vida Yoga is intended to be a rough guide to creating harmony and finding balance no matter where you are, written one day at a time, by someone still trying to figure it out. For all of the spiritual gangsters and spiritualistas living life in the concrete jungle of NYC (and in the towns and cities beyond), and to anyone else who is in search of making more peace, finding more joy, and living their life as they want it to be exactly where they are now, this blog seeks to inspire and support you on your path, and more importantly, share the journey.
It may seem easier to find enlightenment on the beach, (although I can already see how misguided that idea was). Finding enlightenment on the subway... at rush hour... in the summer... now that takes BALLS!
Peace for now!
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