Spiritual ADD

(Pics: Girls having fun, Bekha doing tricks on my dog (while I'm trying to keep my jeans on!), Liz and I hamming it up at Holiday par-tay...)

Gosh... there is just so much to write about!

Since it's fresh on my thoughts... I just sent out a newsletter this morning (if you want to be in the "IN" and catch the specials and info on what's to come, email me asap at sanieh@saniehyoga.com) and in my rush (although I've been up into the early morning hours working hard to complete it and get it sent out by my deadline) many errors were found :(
oh well, it happens... I do work hard to find errors but spell check doesn't always catch fragments etc.

Okay, Over it. :)

So... I'm inspired!

I can't put  my finger on it and I'm not trying to either. There is a buzz and I'm inspired! I just got back from Guatemala (see blog entries to your right ----->) and while I was there, I thought about a lot of things in my life that I want to put new and dedicated attention towards.

My practice being one. I am here to say that I have an intention for the new year (see blog entry to your right ---> "2008 accomplishments 2009 intentions" :) to REDEDICATE myself to my practice. I mean this on many levels...
My practice on the mat
My daily rituals and dinacharya
My devotion
Music
My teaching rituals
... to name a few

I just feel really REALLY inspired. For that, I am so grateful. I arrived late Monday night from Guatemala and Tuesdays I usually step out the door running, early and with a full day ahead of me. All day long, I knew that I was glowing... and this didn't require my looking into a mirror to for my notice... and I can ASSURE you, I'm NOT pregnant! :D

I just feel inspired and while I don't know where it came from in particular (it was most likely a collective I'm sure...) nor is there one thing on my heart specifically, it's there and ideas and works that have been on my heart for some time, perhaps on the back burner, and even new ideas and endeavors... they are arising and the simmer is picking up some temperature.

I've been telling a story about a man whose path I crossed while in Antigua this past weekend. He had what appeared to be a rubber floor mat for a car strapped under his back wrapping around forward to his waist-he was without arms and legs. My friend and I walked by him and I said "good day" in Spanish and I tell you what... this man got the biggest child-like smile on his face that pierced through my body shooting out the other side! I can still see that smile right now and it's changes something inside of me. I'm not sure what he said back to me but I felt the goodness without the need to understand the language or words he used.

It came to me that in our society here, we would most likely turn our back and pretend we didn't see such a thing. Why? It's exists, it's real. So then I started to think about something I had seen a while back about homeless people... how we spend more tax dollars NOT housing them than putting a roof over their heads. There was a story of a woman who was trying to get off drugs and in her weeping moment, she cried saying that people won't even look at her; they won't see her. They won't SEE her. Why do we choose - CHOOSE- to not SEE?

So I put a challenge out to my classes yesterday and today...

This weekend, while you are out and about on the town, or even at as stop light.... pause, and look someone less fortunate in the eyes and connect. It will be uncomfortable and it will be potentially scary- ask yourself why.

IF YOU COULD GIVE SOMEBODY THEIR DIGNITY BACK BY ACKNOWLEDGING THEM, BEING KIND, OR SIMPLY BEING HUMANE, WOULD YOU DO IT? WHY WOULDN'T YOU DO IT?

I challenge you. Connect a few times on this level because you never know what you will *really* see.

I met Chuck today on the corner of Duval and Mopac intersection. I rolled down my window and said

"Would you like some nuts?"

since I had a pack raw nuts in my car. He starred at them and said

"SURE!"

so I grabbed all of them (I had purchased a box of individually wrapped raw nuts for *emergencies*... this qualifies as such...) and handed all of them to him and said

"How are you doing?"
and waited for the answer looking him into his eyes.
 
"Hungry"- simply stated yet so profound.

He thanked me and I asked what his name was looking him into his eyes still then shared my name and he reached out his cold hand to shake mine.

Something so simple here that makes me feel human. What separates me from Chuck? A whole lot of NOT MUCH. This is not a "do good" thing to me... this is our responsibility as human beings... to look after and to love one another in any way we are humanly capable of. it's our responsibility as human beings.

My heart is full right now and I bow to that fullness because when it doesn't feel full, this echo will sustain me. That's how it works. We all have our days and it's those days of abundance that help carry us when we feel weak. Within each of us is the potential of the seed that has yet to bloom. If we can honor that truth, potential and abundance awaits us.

When we feel inspired, we become inspirational. When I die, I want to have lived an inspiring, charitable, loving and abundant life having connected to those who chose to share space with me. I want to live an inspirational life because without it, I'm just taking up space.

2009 is going to be my year. It's going to be full of abundance in life, love, work, play, generosity, healthy curiosity, and so much more... I'm coming into my own taking what I've learned and bringing it to the table that is my own expression in all things be it teaching and living yoga, in my relationships of all forms; budding, existing, and those yet to reveal themselves... I'm going to make more conscious choices in communication, action, and also in receiving the messages of the Universe. I am going to be responsible for the energy I bring into daily situations and own that as a choice I will make each and every time. I am going to  begin.... "yesterday".

"We never touch people so lightly that we do not leave a trace."

Abundant Love,
Sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com

PS:
Remember: Free community class at Lululemon downtown this Saturday at 830- this is also for an Austin area food drive so bring your non perishables with you so that we can put some warm food into some empty bellies in Austin. I hope to see you all there... until then

OM Namah Shivaya
Sanieh
www.saniehyoga.com