Recently the topic of passion came up in conversation. Most people it seems are too afraid to live passionately, perhaps because of the risk of getting hurt or maybe even because of some past hurt, but they simply don’t. They choose to live a safer, lukewarm, sort of life. A good friend of mine said this to me a few days ago:
“You’re a passionate person and that’s a good thing. It means that you have the capacity to truely enjoy life. With passion comes major highs and lows. The lows are the sacrifices we take to enjoy highs like no other.”
I think she hit it right on the head. The lows are worth it. In my opinion in order to live a life worth living you’d better live passionately. …So here’s to living life like you’ve never been hurt and experiencing the highs like no other!
Just a musing I thought worth sharing.
I started to do yoga oh…about 2 months ago now and I’ve really been getting into it. I’ve latched onto a local studio (my Moksha) really well. They’re one of the larger studios in Winnipeg and I thought I wouldn’t like that, but it really has been such a positive thing. Their size allows them to offer all sorts of classes for all different levels of people. I’ve already grown so much in my practice there and I can’t wait until I’m able to participate in the more difficult classes. I crave inversions.
In our western society it’s also really nice to see some instructors place an emphasis on the spiritual, meditative side of yoga. A lot of other studios have westernized the yoga practice and treat it as a workout akin to pilates or the such. Had Moksha been like this the first time I went, I probably would never have gone back for a second class. I’m so thankful to have a place like this nearby. The mantras that go along with the yoga practice are such good roots in which to live your life daily. When I grow up I hope to be a wise old yogi.
If you have never tried yoga, throw out any stereotypes you have about it and give it a shot. Worst case scenario you just won’t go back, but it just might become a big part of your life. I think it’s worth the shot.
“It’s a funny thing about comin’ home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You’ll realize what’s changed is you.” -Benjamin Button
Two weeks ago I returned from Cuba. It was an amazing trip. Cubans never cease to amaze me with their generousity and kindness, despite so much hardship. The people there are so genuine and trusting. My cuban friends even joked about hitchhiking being their national sport!
This was the first time I’ve returned to Cuba in 5 years, and the way I experienced it was…much different then the last time I was there. Last time I was only 17 years old, and stayed on the tourist path nicely laid out before me. This time, I made an effort to get off the beaten path, making real connections with the locals. I went fishing with a local for hours on the rocky shore. I grabbed some beers and wandered through the local market (talk about a stark difference from even the tourist thrift markets). I played baseball with some locals in the town near where I was staying. I experienced Cuba.
I’m back in Winnipeg now and I’m having trouble slipping back into the way of life here…it just feels less “right”. Although I’m back where I was before my trip, I feel like I’m looking through a different set of eyes…or at least with a different perspective. Friendliness in the streets is few and far between here: Saying hello to a passerby is considered odd…hell even making eye contact makes people feel uncomfortable. In the morning I look at blur of cars buzzing past my bus stop: Most all of them occupied by but a single driver. And then there are all the things we take for granted here…
Our problems are so miniscule here compared to big problems in other places in the world, and we place so much emphasis on them. It just seems so dumb, so…pointless. I can’t help but feel we live in a hopelessly segregated, introverted society.
Will I readjust? …or do I even want to?
I was just made aware of a project of which I would like to be a part of next year, and it’s called “Help Portrait”. Help portrait is a movement of photographer who are using their time, equipment, and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate. The basic premise is to find someone in need, take their portrait, print their portrait, and deliver it to them. I’m 100% behind this cause - why not take a day out of my schedule and use the gear I already have to give others something that means so much to them. A picture really is a fascinating thing that we overlook and take for granted…but to those less fortunate, it’s almost “magical”.
http://vimeo.com/8585737
This year a small group of Winnipeggers participated in this global event and made a big difference. Next year, I’m going to do what I can for this, and you should look into it too. It’s global, so there’s likely already somewhere you can pitch in OR you could start up your own initiative. More details at www.help-portrait.com.
“ In a world where 1% of the population owns 40% of the planet’s wealth… in a world where 34,000 children die every single day from poverty and preventable diseases, and where 50% of the world’s population lives on less than 2 dollars a day…one thing is clear: Something is very wrong.
Peter Joseph
May your reflection always grin back at you.
