Did you ever just have one of those days? You know, the kind when as soon as your feet hit the ground you already feel overwhelmed? Stressed? End up crying before it’s even 9 am. I feel you. I am having one of those days. To be honest, I have been having one of those years. Where everything feels upside down and no matter how hard I try, life has been standing there with a bag of rocks pitching them at me with no sign of fatigue.
I want to be happy. I want to be healthy. I want to feel peace. I feel that I am taking all of the appropriate steps to be in a better place.
When I zone out, preferably in my happy place on a beach, any beach, I find peace and what I believe is happiness or at the very least contentment. For those brief moments, I am transported to a beautiful place of serenity within my own soul. But my peace is always stolen as soon as I come back to the noise and stressors of life.
How can we find a balance between serenity and chaos while not breaking down in a heap in a corner somewhere before we’ve even had our morning coffee?
I am hoping, with fingers, legs, and toes crossed that for me, it is yoga. I find myself becoming more aware of not only my physical self but communing with my spiritual self on another level. A level of purity and compassion. Of gentleness and strength. I also am able to carry that peace with me for longer periods of time. I intend to deepen my practice and see where it leads me and I hope, with a sincere heart, that it leads me to the place of serenity I seek.
I recently started doing yoga on the beach. Combining my love of the ocean with my passion for yoga. It is, without question, one of THE most beautiful experiences I have ever had. The fact that I can do this, on a daily basis if I do not let the chaos of life hold me back, is a gift in itself.
I intend to give myself this gift more often. When life is beating me down, I will make my way to the water and commune with nature while feeding my spirit.
There is a beautiful greeting that is used in yoga. Namaste. It is said as a term of respect, gratitude, and the genuine acknowledgement of one soul to another. A connection of kindred beings. I have heard many definitions:
“The light within me recognizes the light within you.”
“I bow to the divine in you.”
“My soul honors your soul.”
Regardless of the definition you choose, I believe they are all saying the same thing. I think Mahatma Ghandi said it best when he defined Namaste as “I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you of light, love, truth, peace and wisdom. I honor the place in you where, when you are in that place, and I am in that place, there is only one of us.”
My words to you as I set out in the world today are Namaste my friends. You are infinitely loved beyond measure and today is just another day. It will pass and you will get through it. We are in this together even when we feel alone. Find your inner happy place. Even in the darkest of moments, remember that everyone is going through something. You are not alone.
Peace and love,
Ang
angela a. johnson 