the option

It was a beautiful Tuesday starting with a lunch date with my soul sister and I even brought my sweet Norah so she could enjoy the outing with me. Every time I take her out somewhere she gets all the attention. It's adorable. You know that friend who is in your life like a family member? Who knows all the ins and outs of your world? That's my soul sister. I am very thankful for the relationship we share.

Before arriving to yoga, I quickly filmed a live video for my make up and skin care business. I spoke with my close girl friend from San Antonio and our college days via FB live. We survived two awful professors while achieving our BA in English, and since then we have been besties. She even joined my company. She wishes she had made the leap sooner but you can't go back in time you know.

The spiritual instructor was teaching the 4:30 Hatha class today, so of course I opted to go. She only subs right now so I love to catch her class when I can as she offers her own unique stamp on the class. She opens by chanting a mantra, one I do not know, but that translates into an amazing calling for the practice to enhance our lives and bring us peace. It was a small class today, just four of us and her. But what was even more odd was that I was the only female in the class. That has never happened.

Throughout the class, she would constantly give us "the option" to do the next step of the pose. She frames it each time with a kind tone which creates a non-threatening environment where you feel comfortable trying the bind of the pose. If you can meet your hands together and clasp them - great, if you can only reach your finger tips to touch - also great, if you try the bind and it does not work in anyway whatsoever - also great because you can go back to the most recent step of the pose.

Life is interesting that way. In the way that there is always an option. My step-father as a child taught me this a long long time ago when he used to tell me that anger is a choice. That I always have the option to be happy. Yoga furthers this belief as I continue to work in my practice, and I understand and embrace that some days I will knock out a pose and other days my body and spirit may not. It connects to the mindset that one must assess your body and soul each day in order to actively take care of it. You are always able to create and build relationships. Some you will out grow, others will last your lifetime, but the one that you know will always exist is your relationship with yourself.

My wish is for people to understand that we are all on a journey, this unknown path. Furthermore, we are all here to support others and you never know your role in another's path. Never hold yourself out of the world because you could be withholding your influence on someone else's journey. It isn't for you to know or understand, but it is for you to participate so that you too have influence and encouragement on your journey. Choose the option that leads you onward in your journey, not on the side.