What's your shift?

A lot of how we used to operate in the world is now quite different. Some things we miss dearly and some things are improvements.  There are many people whose lives have changed very dramatically and who have had to endure, or will be facing, a huge amount of suffering. Whether you read the news or not, we all know this to be the case. There is no doubt that our world is in the midst of a huge shift, and if we are part of the population that is fortunate enough to still have the resources to cover our basic needs, and if we are paying attention, we might be able to shift along with it without the resistances that arises from thoughts that might start out with:

• But its not the way it usually is...
• I wan't it to be like it was before...
• But I just can't...
• I am not sure how...
• What happened to...
• Remember when...

When one of these phrases start your sentence, pause and see if what you are about to think/say/do is of value to what is actually going on in front of you, in your head, or to the person you are about to say it to. 

We absolutely can adapt to what the challenges are that life gives us. Adaptation is not just for  the hero you may read about, like the 15 year old girl who rode her migrant-worker injured father on the back of her bicycle 700 kilometres to bring him back to the safety net of his village, or the front line workers who are working hours upon hours a day, or the people organizing food for people who have no access, the school teachers who are working many many more hours per day as they navigate this new way of education, and on and on.... 

There are so many ways we can BE in the world differently, and some of that recognition for you might be to look at what rituals or habits have changed in your day.  The picture above was taken during a week-old new ritual of a 1/2 mile walk in the woods to a creek where I sit to do my morning practice. This is a definite improvement over where I usually do my practice. Being out in nature offers different energy, but so does being out in public. Plus one, minus one.  But regardless of what the score card reads, I am grateful for this new opportunity to "see" my practice from a different view point.  Has it changed my outlook? Hard to say so soon in the game, especially as so much other stuff has changed. This new ritual has given my walking partner a regular practice, which he didn't have before. I am participating in his shift by shifting myself to a shorter practice time and to unfamiliar chit chat before and after my practice which is not what I am used- usually I just step into the shower, which I enjoy immensely. However, I am happy to be a part of a shift, regardless of what the score card reads.

I am very curious to hear what has changed for you. Especially your asana practice (since that is what has brought many of us together) now that you are at home.  What new things have you found out about your body, What new rituals have you found?  What are the ways you are staying in contact with the suffering this pandemic has caused and how has it changed you? Please share your thoughts, either on the blog page, on Facebook, or in an email to me.

I look forward to connecting with you on these shifts!
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