Those who know me know how deeply I love yoga. I gave a Yin yoga class last Saturday for the 'hood once again on our beach in celebration of the Summer Solstice. Once again this year, it was pure serenity, magical, in that the lake was gently lapping, the birds were calling and flitting around, and two butterflies even came down to flutter amongst the yogis, who were unaware, as their eyes were closed. The sun came out halfway through the hour-long practice. Prior to the gathering, one of the neighbours asked me if I would be open to having the Tibetan prayer flags she and her husband had bought from monks when they were on a retreat near Algonquin. These prayer flags had been blessed by the monks, and so it was with reverence that I said most certainly, yes. We used a shepherd hook from our garden and a piece of rebar from my husband's garage from which to suspend them. Sorry it's not the best quality, as I took it with my phone.
The flags encircled us with love and healing and good chi. |
View of Lake Erie this morning from the path in Lakeside Park where I walk each day |
that about 10 years ago, although I did not know it at the time, there was one particular catalyst for a huge change in my life. One of my dear friends found out that the cancer she had been fighting had spread; it was basically everywhere, and she'd been given just 2 months to live. It was heartbreaking. I made her a quilt, with some help from another friend, as well as donations from several staff members to help cover the cost of the materials.
That was the first quilt I had made with such incredible vibrations as I sewed; it was almost tangible. I don't have a picture of it, but I do know that it is well-loved. IS. Ten years later, she lives on, vibrant, full of humour and wisdom, she has an incredible depth of empathy, love; in short she is a testament to the power and positivity of the human spirit.
The all-too-real possibility of losing someone close to me made me really stop. And think. Think about the fragility of this life, acknowledge the importance of living each day in the best way one can, revel in the beauty in every single place on this planet, appreciate loved ones. Would that I succeed in these areas every day. However, I do keep trying.
A Catalpa tree in full bloom - that is a 2-storey house it towers over! |
She it was who
got my serious journey in yoga started in 2001, by introducing me to Yoga For Today, with its wonderful teachers under whom I had
the honour of first learning about yoga. She it is with whom I love to discuss books we’ve read. Because she is originally from Toronto,
and lived there for the first 20-odd years of her life, she is the one person
who really understands the pull I feel to this part of Canada.
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She has been the most supportive, the most positive, given the most kudos, from the
moment I first told her of our plans to quit our jobs pre-retirement age and
move away. She recently started knitting, and inspired me to
pick up my needles and get back into it myself, although I do admit, I don’t
knit as much as I’d like to!
She made me the blue and purple infinity scarf and I made the orange one with a pattern she gave me |
And so I just
wanted to express my love, gratitude, and appreciation for her, my happiness that
even though physically, we are far apart, she has enriched my life in so many ways, yoga not the least of them.
And that brings me
full circle to that hour of serenity sharing yoga on the beach last Saturday for which I am
so thankful. I am living my dream. On so many levels. And I am eternally, forever and ever,
so very grateful.
Catalpa blossoms |
Beautiful post xx
ReplyDeleteWe count our blessing every day, lost our first spouses year's ago and found each other and are so happy
ReplyDeleteA thoughtful post and great photographs. I did yoga years ago, not for long, but I have thought about going back to it. By the way, I like the new font!
ReplyDeletewww.thequietstitcher.com
Omg that TREE is GORGEOUS!!!! Does it have scented blossoms? Methinks it would be overpowering if it did as there's so MANY blossoms!
ReplyDeleteYes, humble gratitude for all our blessings.
And I like that font too....still find it easier to read somehow. Our brother said something about that - something like the eye flows over simple "normal" fonts more quickly or some such thing :)
wow, what a beautiful story about your friend. Life is good, isn't it? I'm adding you to my bloglist, and I'm sure I'll see more of you throughout this New Blog Festival. (I haven't added the button onto my blog yet, gotta do that!) Namaste
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