Saturday, June 6, 2009

Retreat and renewal

In a few short hours I'm heading east. My first stop will be the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. I'll be there for about five days on the Retreat and Renewal program. I'm looking forward to a lot of yoga, meditation, learning, eating healthy, and relaxing in the outdoors. I'm particularly happy to see that I can close my retreat with a kirtan session.

I have been a bit surprised to note my anxiety about being "unplugged" for these five days. It is my intention to turn off my cell phone and my computer until I leave Kripalu. I have become so used to being consistently available for work and school online and by phone. I'm amazed that I am so worried about not being in touch with my regular world. Of course, at the same time I'm excited about the opportunity to just be. No internet connection, no cell phone connection, but plenty of connection to the heart and the universe I live in.

See you all in a week. Namaste.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Be happy

You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.
-- Albert Camus

You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy.
-- Eric Hoffer

Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times.
-- Aeschylus
I'm probably too tired to be blogging right now, but I've been thinking about how I keep returning to the same struggle: to be happy with what I have. There are many blessings in my life, and no reason to keep looking around the next corner for something that is missing. There is always something missing, but happiness only exists in the present moment. I am trying to just allow myself to be here now with what is, not in the past or the future, but right here. I have all that I need.