simplifying yourself

Discussing life experiences with my brother late at night at IHOP the night before he and his family fly back to North Dakota, I realize that these are the moments that matter. The minutes spent in a booth with someone you love sharing your opinions, your values, your ideas, your passions without limitations or fear of being judged.

I wonder sometimes how people miss out on these moments. The distractibility of trying to live up to another person's ideals or portray a lifestyle that you don't actually live all for nothing.

I value my relationships more than anything. Yes, I get off track sometimes, I make mistakes, and I fall short of this simplified version of life, but I always find my way back.

Yoga offers the idea that you must seek self love to serve love to others. If not, you may seek love through others which in the end always creates an imbalance and threatens to capture you in an illusion of fulfillment.

Love is not complacency.

It is not comfortable.

Love is change.

It is challenging.

And it is beautiful.