I love doing Yoga, but I am not one of those Gumby Yogis or Yoginis on Instagram, I need blocks at times, or a chair, blankets, straps, I do my best, but often I need a little assistance. I can get a bit down at times because I want to just bound into a pose, but that isn’t how my body operates and that is something I have had to learn to be okay with. I can only keep practicing and slowly, oh so very slowly, changes are made, a little more flexibility, a little more strength, better form, a more complete expression of a pose and so on. I see such a similarity to life, we can’t win every moment. We are never going to be perfect, there is always room for improvement and support in its many forms is not only needed, but necessary! We want to ace this life thing and when we don’t, all these doubts rush to the surface, but we need to remember, we are continually learning and growing. Perfection isn’t the goal, trying a little harder at each step to do better than before is the goal we should strive for.
“You must purge yourself before finding faults in others.
When you see a mistake in somebody else, try to find if you are making the same mistake.
This is the way to take judgment and to turn it into improvement.
Do not look at others' bodies with envy or with superiority.
All people are born with different constitutions.
Never compare with others.
Each one's capacities are a function of his or her internal strength.
Know your capacities and continually improve upon them.”
― B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life
There is so much pressure to be a certain type of person, someone who is poised, who has their life together and if they don’t, to at least pretend that they do. It is a difficult walk to walk, most of us don’t have this life thing figured out, or maybe we have it kind of figured out, but no matter where you are on that varied scale, you are doing amazing! Truly you are, because as long as you are trying, you are doing a stellar job!
"If you're reading this...
Congratulations, you're alive.
If that's not something to smile about, then I don't know what is."
-Chad Sugg, Monsters Under Your Head
It is so important to remember that everyone is struggling with something, no matter how perfect someone's life looks on the outside, EVERYONE struggles! We all need someone to lean on! Relying on our partners, friends, religious leaders, counselors, therapists, is nothing to be ashamed of, it is actually something to be proud of! Being vulnerable is such a beautiful thing. Our vulnerability provides a pathway towards a more beautiful and fulfilling life, it allows us to look within, to see deep within, to reveal our truth, to live our truth without fear.
"Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light." Brene Brown
As you continue to juggle all the issues, ideas, struggles, successes in your life, don’t hesitate to reach out for the support you need. Be your own champion. Know that support lifts you up, it isn’t a crutch or a prop, it allows you to function better, feel better, be better! The African Proverb, “it takes a village” is incredibly true, we need one another, sometimes to hack through the path of life while you hold the light, other times, so you can support one another on the path, literally holding one another up. No matter how much you are struggling at this moment, hold onto the promise that things can and will get better, things will eventually, oh so slowly, get to a more even keel. Work towards happiness, work towards a better tomorrow, support is just one component to the much larger puzzle called life.
“A best friend is the only one that walks into your life when the world has walked out.” -Shannon l. Alder
As always, thank you for allowing us on your life path, thank you for allowing us to see your brave. -Team SG
