Nah-mah-stay

When we bring our hands into prayer and say namaste at the end of a yoga class, we are saying "the divine in me recognizes the divine in you." We bow in reverence to the divine light inside ourselves and to the divine light that surrounds us.

I have seen cute t-shirts with a "nama-stay in bed" logo. I almost bought one. Then I thought that I really don't want to stay in bed. I want to get up every morning with a continued sense of awe and wonder - like how I felt when seeing Half Dome for the first time. 

I since have hiked in Yosemite National Park numerous times - mostly with a group of inspiring girl friends when we needed a weekend to get away from our obligations as moms of preschoolers. Nothing can beat the feeling of accomplishment when you get to the top of the massive granite boulder. Except perhaps the fun of slithering to the edge on your belly to look down the face of the mountain only to see the tops of helmets and extended arms of climbers coming up that way. Just thinking of that lifts me up.

Each trip leaves different memories, revelations and growth opportunities. Even when I thought "been there, done that" another lesson showed up. It's the same when I practice yoga. What keeps my practice interesting is my sense of curiosity and wonder. Both, about physical movement and the fluctuations of my mind.

Now even when I just look at my busy bird feeder on our iced over porch, I marvel with the same sense awe at the ability of bright red cardinals, dark-eyed juncos, and downy woodpeckers to persist despite the harshness of our subzero winter. 

In this season of change, weigh less, exercise more, eat healthier,  I decide that some things in my life need to stay. I want to stay - not in bed but - connected to the light inside of me and inside of you and live from a place of wonder, gratitude and amazement.

​namaste.