It was a busy autumn season for me, with classes, working, reading and writing. Those who know me know that I love to overbook my schedule. I hate to miss opportunities to learn and grow, so I take classes, I say "yes" to volunteer opportunities, and I practice yoga with abandon. In that spirit, I decided to practice a little ahimsa for myself this past week. The first yama in the yoga traditions, ahimsa teaches nonviolence. It's this principle that most yogis cite as their explanation for a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle -- the principle that all life is sacred and deserves respect. With the idea of ahimsa in mind, I decided to practice nonviolence on myself and take a vacation consisting largely of lazy days with my nose in a book. Here's what I read:
"The Fault in Our Stars," by John Green (incredible)
"The O'Briens" by Peter Behrens (not bad, not great)
and most of
"The Round House" by Louise Erdrich (not finished yet, stay tuned)
As my vacation draws to a close, I feel refreshed and renewed. The lesson I learned on my staycation is this: I often commit subtle acts of violence against myself by packing my schedule from dawn to dusk. By quieting my life, I was able to connect with my higher self. I feel like a completely different person, one who is prepared to be of service to those who seek my support.
Also, I totally organized my sock drawer. Bring it, winter!
No comments:
Post a Comment