Empowered Spirit

Besides this great landscape throughout the Ohio land and a great book by Ina May keeping me company, sadness on the bus lingers in the air. When a young boy asks his mom what cautious means - when she talks about her own mother discovering her birth control and cigarettes in her purse as a teenager. Discusses smoking at age 10 and how she can't wait to get off the bus to take a smoke. Little one proceeds to squeal with excitement to look at the lush green trees we pass and ma yells, "shut your ass up." No wonder our wonder dissipates as we age, curiosity continues to be suppressed. Still can't blame mom, but why do I feel so angry? 

My program is coming to a close, as this week marks the end of my service with Philly Health Corps.  Weird changes, bittersweet feelings.  I'm going to stay in Philly for a little longer. I am intrigued by the spirit of this city.  Things I thought were worth talking about at my last day at the health center:  1) I missed my surprise party. What can I say? I didn't know about it...  2) I learned about this fabulous artist  Fred Tomaselli .  3) There are cucumbers growing on the roof top garden!  I really want to expand, but my eyes feel heavy. 

I attended a yoga class earlier this week that had profound, yet simple, quote hanging in the bathroom. "Peace. It does does mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." -Anonymous When I find myself sitting in silence - breathing, exercising, stretching - I notice myself trying to bring quietness, an element of peace, to the mind.  But maybe that is all wrong. I have encountered a similar sentiment with a Sensei in a Warrior Yoga class at Santa Cruz. He'd tell us to let the thought come to your mind, and allow it to sit with you. Like these feelings of "bad" emotions or negativity, we must allow it to be. We must allow it to be, for it to pass. This quote illuminates the significance of being self-centered, this concept of being calm while the world frantically carries on. It's so easy to wrapped up with the stress and enumerable tasks that consume a