Eh, what good is money anyway?

I was supposed to teach a six-week class this summer but the course got canceled.  Initially I was pretty upset.  It wasn't a lot of money, but it was an income.  I couldn't really find another job for just six weeks (I had already committed to my training program at that point), so I accepted the fact that I would not be teaching and embraced the notion of having extra time this summer.

In the past 26 years, I have held at least 25 different jobs ranging from working for a professional show dog handler (where I acquired my love for Shih Tzus) to holding an Associate Dean position (where I acquired my distrust for for-profit education institutions). I had a 15(ish)-year stint as a nanny (such an amazing family) and teaching has been extremely rewarding.  I've also had some fun jobs working at an interior design studio, a real estate company, and a medical library.

There have been some less-than-desirable jobs, such as fry-cooking at McDonald's, commercial cleaning, and yes, that professional show dog gig.  Simply making a living can get in the way of what what we'd like to do or where we'd like to be.  Besides, more often than not, there is no short distance between reality and dreams.

I decided that I wanted to be a yoga instructor because I love yoga.  Yoga brings me joy and I'd like to have the opportunity to share that joy with others.  I essentially depleted what little savings I had to pay for my training.  While some may think that's a huge gamble, I don't see it that way.  As long as the intentions are honest and genuine, anything one can do to invest in one's happiness is worth the sacrifice.  

This particular Friday morning, however, I found my convictions to be less-than comforting.  I was really wishing I'd had a paycheck to deposit into my account.  Sometimes it's tough.  But then I thought about all the ways in which I am truly fortunate and I was able to, once again, feel gratitude.  I am excited about my training and look forward to a time when I can share my good fortune with others. Namaste, my friends.

Beauty and the Best

For a long time I was reluctant to tell people that I had been accepted into a yoga teacher training program. That's just me and my fear of failure (we do a number of things together...or we don't, it depends on which one of us happens to be calling the shots.).  You see, I tend to harbor good news as if it were a dangerous fugitive.  I worry that I may not succeed so in order to keep from disappointing people, I just don't tell them.  

I did tell a few people right away because I was pretty excited.  As I started attending more yoga classes and got to know the "regulars," I felt compelled to share my news with them as well.  But then I didn't want to be that annoying girl in class who is all like, "Look at me! I'm going to yoga teacher training!"  So I kept the news to myself.

Flowers and well-wishes from one of my lovely
yoga instructors :)

Eventually, I decided that sharing the news might be a good thing.  I started by telling some of my instructors then some of the wonderful people in my yoga classes.  The response has been overwhelming.  Everyone -- especially my instructors at Estudio -- has been so amazingly supportive and excited and just plain wonderful about my training.  Of course my friends have been top-notch; they always are.  And my family and Aaron have all been fantastic.  I feel so grateful and so very blessed.  Namaste, my friends, namaste.