Zazazu

Last week sometime, I filled out a form here to get a free, customized t-shirt from Starbucks. I played around with the interactive design thing on the site and finally came up with this design, although the actual one was much larger:

According to the promotion, I was to get a t-shirt with that design – Venti Single Soy Latte – on it sent to me for free, no shipping cost or anything. Totally free.

I filled out my address and everything but never really put that much into it. We all know how these things turn out a lot of times. They don’t!

Imagine my surprise today when the shirt actually arrived to my doorstep via UPS. It actually came – for FREE! And it is adorable! It is the design that I created on an off-white crewneck t-shirt that is 100% organic cotton and environmentally friendly, as stated on the tag. What’s more is that the shirt also came with a coupon for a FREE drink of my choice from Starbucks, good until March 31. So, I kind of got PAID to design and order this shirt.

Cool?

Much.

Want one? Click here.

Please remember to post your thoughts to this morning’s blog – Get in the GAME!

Stop questioning if you’re in the game and start deciding how you want to play it.

This was in an email that I got recently and it really caused me to think. Am I truly in the game? I don’t equate being “in the game” with having loads of money or a super-nice car, etc. etc. I equate it with following my passion, really doing something that I love to do and doing it well. I equate being “in the game” with being content and fulfilled, or at least always moving toward that.

But, I often find that I have no idea what that passion is. Yes, I love vintage clothes. Yes, I love yoga. Yes, I love to write. Yes, I love to shop. Yes, I’m passionate about animals. Yes, I am very interested in the world of alternative healing. I have many interests but am perplexed on how to hone them down to really focus in on what will fulfill me, what will lead me to have a passionate life, what will get me IN THE GAME.

To that end, I’m calling for input from my wonderful readers here, since it does often help to have an outside perspective on things. In my head, I’m muddled about where I want to go, what I want to pursue but I know that many of you – my friends and readers – see me in a certain way, in a certain light and have very clear pictures of what you see me doing, the person you see me as.

This may seem like a silly and vain exercise but I think it will be very helpful, or I hope it will be. So, please fill me in on ME. Tell me how you see me, what you see me as being good at and what you always envision me doing with my life. Perhaps I’ve been moving toward something all along and just didn’t realize it. Perhaps you all can help me see what that is.

Thanks to everyone of you, for helping me out here and for reading my blog!

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have
known defeat,
known suffering,
known struggle,
known loss,
and have found their way out of the depths.
These persons have
an appreciation,
a sensitivity, and
an understanding
of life that fills them with
compassion,
gentleness, and
a deep loving concern.

- Elizabeth Kubler Ross

I’ve been doing yoga now for about ten years, at least off and on for ten years. In that time, I’ve met MANY practitioners of yoga, followers of yoga, teachers of yoga, people who have dedicated their lives to the study and pursuit of yoga. In short, I have met MANY people who claim yoga as their way of life.

For so long, I aspired to be like them, to be the type of person who was yoga to the core. That is what I wanted, to be “in” with them. But, slowly – and now very clearly – I see that that is NOT what I want. At all.

I love yoga, don’t get me wrong. I love asana, the eight limbs, studying it, pursuing it, living by its principles, challenging myself with it, the whole kit and kaboodle. With any luck, I will be able and keen to practice it for many, MANY more years. But, I’ve come to regard my yoga practice – my yoga life – as my own. I no longer try to live up to a certain standard. I no longer want to be a part of that certain crowd.

Over these ten years, the startling majority of yoga people that I’ve met seem to think that they are better than others. Their thought, it seems, is that their way – their beliefs and practices – are vastly superior to those of other people, other people who do not study or practice yoga, even, in some cases, those who DO study and practice yoga. Speaking frankly, many yoga people that I’ve met are downright “holier than thou”.

It is sad to me to see such a wonderful discipline, such an old and time-honored practice be represented by people who look down their noses at others, others who, in many cases, are trying very hard.

And the diversity of yoga is so beautiful! There are so many varieties of people who practice, study and love yoga these days. They don’t all burn incense, cook huge vats of locally-bought vegan food, teach for six hours each day, meditate for another six, listen to Krishna Das and fellowship around bonfires ONLY with other practitioners of yoga. And they shouldn’t have to or be expected to. Their love for and study of yoga can be just as bonafide, just as well-intentioned, just as thorough as anyone who does all of the above-mentioned things. They can be just as much a yogi as anyone in the “in” crowd.

So, even for all the years of wishing to be “in”, I realize – most happily – that I’m glad not to be. Because, my yoga life is mine. Yes, I do love stiletto shoes – LOTS of them, I do have too many chic clothes, I do read Vogue and I do love caffeine (although I’m trying to get out of that). I listen to jazz, I shop too much, I read a lot of mainstream literature, I buy my groceries at Kroger, I watch Oprah and House, and I drink soymilk instead of almond or rice milk. In the eyes of many of the yogis I’ve met, I don’t live up, I’m not a true yogi, I’m not “up” to their level. I’m a wannabe.

But, in my eyes and – more importantly – in my heart, I’m every bit as much a yogi as anyone in the “in” crowd. Is my lotus perfect? No. But, I do choose to look at anyone who aspires to or studies yoga with a cheerful eye, whether they stumble or not, for – truth be told – don’t we all? I’m not enlightened, nor do I pretend to be. But, I don’t know anyone who is truly enlightened and I certainly do not believe that enlightenment is brought about by being holier than or judgmental of anyone else.

So, I will keep my shoes, my Kroger-bought food, my Vogues, my jazz, even my daily date with Oprah. And, I will keep my yoga. And it will be as good as anyone else’s. And perhaps – just perhaps – somewhere along the way, I will create a new “in” crowd, one that allows you to be yoga in whatever way you choose.

Namaste.

[ A great article that ties in nicely can be read here. ]

The Ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic by experts. Don’t wait for experts.
~Marry Cohen

Today begins Lent.

No, I’m not talking about the stuff that is nestled in the nether regions of your jeans’ pockets. I’m talking about the (predominantly) Roman Catholic Lenten season, traditionally a time of sacrifice, the 40 days of giving something up to make yourself – or preferably the world – a better place.

So, what will it be?

May I submit that NOW would be the perfect time to make the world a better place. You can do this by giving up something in your life, something you do, that contributes to Global Warming. We all do SOMETHING that contributes and, chances are, there is also SOMETHING that we can give up. So, who’s with me?

(Anyone?)

First, let me just run down quickly the threats that Global Warming poses to us, to our planet, to our world.

Global Warming…

… and the list goes on.

What can we do? How can we help?

Well, I’m not asking you to sign a petition or go and storm the White House. I’m simply asking you to make slight changes in the way you live, to be a bit more conscientious about the choices you make, the energy you use, the heat you produce, so to speak. Start with one. Don’t set out to completely overhaul your way of life. Don’t set out to alleviate Global Warming single-handedly. Just do what you can do and be an example to others.

What can I do, you ask? Here are some ideas:

So, what will your contribution be? Comment and let me know. Also, feel free to post other ways to alleviate Global Warming.

Happy Lent, from this non-Catholic to all of you!

Do or do not. There is no try.

~ Yoda

I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity, and her flaming self respect. And it’s these things I’d believe in, even if the whole world indulged in wild suspicions that she wasn’t all she should be. I love her and it is the beginning of everything.

~ F. Scott Fitzgerald