Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Share a Story.............
I am not going to make it to the joint today so I need a little of the joint's love and energy sent my way via this blog! Please share an uplifting experience you had at the joint. It could be a turning point in your practice, a conversation with a teacher or student, making a new friend..... whatever.
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After a string of text messages this afternoon between a very dear friend of mine and I, she sent me the words, "you're such a good friend." Upon receiving her message, I froze...I read the message again...I smiled...and then I didn't write back. In the world of texting etiquette, I wondered if my non-response was interpreted as an insult? Or can the pause of receiving a compliment without immediate response, whether it be acceptance or a rebuttal, hold a bit more meaning?
ReplyDeleteSo I started thinking about the promise of friendship, one of the sweetest promises that we make. In this particular case,
- What had I done that indicated to this friend that I am a good friend?
- Do I live up to her perception of me as a good friend?
- In the friendships that I hold, which ones need a bit more attention and tending to?
- And lastly, without texting back, does she still know that my sentiments of her, that she's "such a good friend," are just as present even when I don't sent a message back.
And yes, she knows. That's the beauty of a friendship. Its foundation is so strong, so deep, and just so sweet, that it's always present just as our breath is, whether or not we recognize that it's there. So friend who cannot make it to The Joint tonight, whoever you are, know that you will present this evening simply in the many ways in which you are present in those of us who will be there. I promise.
ive had nothing but positive experiences at the joint! to pick one.. how about the incredible adjustment descriptions that liz gives during her classes that have helped me to self-adjust and reach a new level of understanding and confidence in my practice!
ReplyDeleteas i was giving miss donna an adjustment at the end of my class today we joked about how sore i was and in a reference to something business oriented she thought out loud and said, "you are in the promised land!" now, she really was talking about something very practical, as explained to me after class, but at that moment, i giggled as i reflected upon the dictionary's definition of The Promised Land: a place or situation believed to hold ulitmate happiness. donna was right. at that moment, finishing up my 8:30am class, looking around the room at all the beauties closing their practices, feeling the muscle soreness of a good practice in my own body, I was happy. Very, very happy.
ReplyDeleteEvery single time, from the very first time, I swing my foot over the threshold of SYJ and read the Om Shanti scratched in the concrete ... I smile. My shoulders relax and my spirit lifts. I know the next hour or so is truly mine. I adore the new sitting room, after practice, some wonderful conversations between friends are bubbling there around...promises. ~ Maryellen
ReplyDeleteso my promise has been to write a haiku a day and share these poems with my yoga family so here is my haiku for day 6.
ReplyDeleteWaxing of the moon
Promises Fresh beginnings
Soul's awakening
while I would like to take credit for this haiku, I must say that it is a joint effect between me and my dearest friend without whom life would not be as interesting, as fun or as bright.
Tonight's class was so excellent. The flow and the energy amazing.............this is why I go to yoga, to feel so open so alive, so happy and positive and so in the moment.
One of my favorite poets Diane Lockward,is a bold and irreverent goddess. Many of the quotes and stories shared here on the Promisland blog are mostly divine and pretty poetry. One of her poems, that always seems to come back to me-- I really have to share. It is not butterflies and hearts and stars, but her observation of a crazy man who spends his life living his craziness with utter and complete conviction.
ReplyDelete~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crazy Larry
by Diane Lockward
I want to be crazy like Larry is crazy.
Larry who does not keep quiet about his desperation
but flails in the street, accosts
strangers, and does not say, Help me,
but foams and drools and staggers,
drunk on his madness, in collusion with demons,
and who, no matter how many times we lock him up,
keeps coming back,
who will not take his medicine or help himself,
will not change his attittude or think positive thoughts
but kicks, screams and bites,
and will not lay down on a therapists couch
and will not be restrained
even when he is four pointed on the hospital bed,
stretched out like a compass or that man on a medieval map,
a spread eagle Jesus,
who cannot throw off the beast on his chest
and is terrified every minute of every day,
but opens his mouth and roars,
who is not half-assed crazy, but crazy all the way,
crazy with conviction, crazy like he means it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now I am not advocating crazy, or street corner screaming, what i take away from this poem is if you're going to do something, don't do it half assed...go all the way.
Want to be Happy? surround yourself with happy people and wake up each day believing it.
Do things that make you happy. Having complete conviciton that this is your reason for being and every action you take, word you speak, meal you eat, friend you make ---are all done with the intention of being happy.
Commit with Herculean (or Larry-like) strength and conviction when setting your path or making your promise.
So let's all be crazy, like Larry.
Oct 22
BI