A deep breath and rest

My friends, I have been less actively writing this month.  It is an intentional period of rest before a very big shift in my life. Next week, yoga teacher training begins.

I am thrilled and anxious, at times bordering on terrified.  The best part is that I have only a limited understanding of why I feel this way.  But, I know that this is the feeling that precedes transformation.

Right now, I am focused on all of the practical obstacles.  (How will I get there on time? How will I fit in all of the practice? When will I see my husband? How will I manage to meet all of the obligations of life during this time?) I take comfort knowing that it will all work out because it always does. I have already had the preparatory conversation with everyone directly affected.  Now, it's time to let go and trust that all will be well.

To kick off this time of study and commitment, I will be travelling to Utah to engage in a yoga/hiking retreat with an old friend. Beautiful landscapes, a more beautiful friend and time to sweat it out. I am very much looking forward to this time devoted to resetting the physical and spiritual systems. This is also an opportunity to reset another set of systems.

During this trip, I am going to engage in a digital detox. Vowing to use my phone as a phone, rather than a portable computer.  No social media.  No internet browsing. Absolutely no videos of other people doing things.  This is a time of experience, not spectatorship.

I may write while I'm gone, but on paper with a pen.

See you sometime in October!

But, it's not supposed to rain

In preparation for upcoming training,  I'm reading a book called The Path of Yoga by Georg Feurstein.  I recently read a passage about book learning and experience.  In yoga, a scholar can study and study, but can only ever fullly learn by experiencing yoga. 

Today, at the doctor's office, I met my new primary care physician. He's a resident.  I love working with students.  They are so engaged and enthusiastic.  It's the beginning of the semester and he is in his first of 3 years at the practice. 

He comes into the exam room, brand new lanyard bearing the mascot of the Washington Huskies.  He's smiling a little too big. He vigorously shakes my hand as he says, "I'm Vic."  Next he takes a seat at the computer to login.  Once the computer opens and his hands are poised over the keys, he glues his eyes to mine, "It's dark outside today." 

Me thinks I doth detect a pattern. They are clearly focusing on improving bedside manner with this class of physicians. It's almost as if he is running down a personality checklist. 

 - Invite patient to use your first name.

 - Maintain relentless eye contact. 

 - Comment on the weather.

Ok, Dr. Congeniality.  I see your weather comment and raise you small talk!

Me: Yes, it's dark out.  It's very cloudy. It feels like it's gong to start raining any minute. 

Vic: Yeah, it's not going to rain today. The news said it won't.

Me: i feel like sometimes meteorologists need to go outside and look at the sky. I think it might. It feels like rain.

Vic:  Well, it's not supposed to rain today.  

This isn't a story about being right or wrong.  This is a story about capturing what's available to you and living it.  You can train your mind to know about clouds and pressure systems and  patterns.  Armed with that knowledge, you can stay dry, but you'll never know what the air taste like just as a rain sweeps in.  You can't know how the feel of soft rain can change your heart.  

The lesson is that the moderate step is in between. Knowledge is incomplete  without experience.  Likewise, knowledge  enhances experience.