Often when I walk, I mentally review daily news, the day’s to-do’s, people in my life, and take note of what feelings and thoughts arise. Moving my body and observing the subtle wonders in everyday life help me process. On such a walk, I was feeling some overwhelm then I looked across YBC Gardens and saw people doing a dance workout. I smiled, thinking to myself, that’s nice for them. Then I thought, why just smile and watch when I can head over and join? So I did! All summer long and beyond, Yerba Buena Gardens offers free, interactive classes for the public. On Wednesdays from 12-1pm “Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion” happens. (ybgfestival.org)
I turn 55 today, and I’m grateful to be alive and well. Reflecting so far, I’ve had 3 significant career phases: 1. child performer/artist/modern dancer [ages 11 to 34. (Also was a waiter, bartender, and caterer in there)], 2. travel, operations, and project managers for two event companies (2004-2016), and now 3. Yoga teacher, studio owner and initiator of the seasonal SF Well-being Fairs (2016-now). It feels like separate lifetimes!! I give massive credit to my parents for guiding me to discover my passions when I entered the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, OH. It set me on a magical life-course that included a rough time of running away at age 16 and being suicidal – because I’m here today, I credit this time as the start of my spiritual path. As death has become a more conscious topic in recent years with wars, genocides, and horrors on this planet, I feel more compelled to celebrate life – mine, yours, all of us that are alive. We are here for a reason.
Our industrialized world doesn’t quite know how to recognize the beauty that exists in the natural world and its flow. And as we all know, our current administration is working hard to erase the great strides of humanity. I don’t know that we can ever say life has been perfect on this planet at any time, but I do think we can acknowledge the impact that war, colonizing, twisted ideologies, and “industrializing” society has had on us. Native Americans, Indigenous Australians and others found a way to elevate and honor life’s interrelatedness and interdependence and some indigenous folks were even able to coexist without war! (Read more: thebulletin.org) Unfortunately, what we’re seeing is political power embroiling many in the trance of nationalism and safety under the guise of fascism. And we’re the experiment of what happens when a people get overwhelmed, disheartened, distracted, and then become useless to make real change.
We have to take best care of ourselves to manage this insanity. But if our self-care spills over to self-indulgence, then we lose connection to the imperative of collective liberation. It’s a more subtle version of the ‘us vs them’ paradigm if we’re not mindful of our ultimate goal. My joy in being alive is that I have energy to be of service. My exuberance for life is that I recognize I have enough, and I wish to share what I have been given with others. My gratitude is towards each of you for finding some value in being a part of Mukunda Studio.
We are alive today. Let’s make good use of our time together!
Let’s stay connected,
Marc
