Yogis from all over the world flock to India, the birth place of yoga and some of the greatest teachers to find inner peace and hone their daily practice. I thought that my trip to India would answer all the questions I had been struggling with: What is my purpose? Where should I live? Who should I love? I honestly thought that I would be laying on my mat after a hard practice, with sweat spewing from my pores and nerves tingling with life and BAM! everything would just come to me. A lightening blot, an apple falling from a tree: I would be completely healed of all my unknowing, then I would come back to California and create this new life purpose. Suddenly I would know exactly the steps to take to get my new job and new love. Reality: I would lay on my mat after a rather chilly practice since we started at 7am and the yoga shala was outdoors and I was struck with enlightenment alright: I am spoiled. I am spoiled to live in a free rich country, where I can go to yoga with a bamboo floors and a cozy 80 degree heated room and narcissistically think about myself. I can walk on sidewalks on clean streets, get hot water at all hours of the day in the comfort of my own home. So did I discover the meaning of life? No, but I did learn that going outside of your comfort zone and doing something that scares you will get you one step closer to those answers you seek. I don't know what my purpose is, I don't know if the type of jobs I am seeking will satisfy me, I don't know if California is where I should be. I do know that being pushed out of my comfort zone and seeing the other side of the world made me thankful for all that I have; family, friends, trash pick-up, running water, toilet paper...and it made me curious to see more. I encourage you today to do something that scares you (scares you not endangers you)! Take a different way home from work, go for a walk without your cell phone, go to a movie or concert by yourself. Anything....it doesn't have to be a trip around the world or quitting your corporate job. It can be simple or complicated, just different. I know you won't be disappointed.
Love the blog, E! And love hearing you talk about atomic wedgies and your existential transition. The best thing I got out of college was adopting an existential philosophy that regardless if there's a higher power, the best thing we can do is be good to each other and make mankind a tiny bit better because of our existence. Played a part in my career transition, for sure.
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