My dear Yogis and Yoginis,
We all have our moments and times where we get shaken, tested or beaten by life events. Having a strong supportive community is almost essential to make it through and coming out whole on the other end.
I for my part felt always weak and insufficient if I would share my
sorrow. This column from Paulo Coelho made me rethink.
“At the beginning of our lives and then again in old age, we need the help and care of others. Unfortunately, between these two stages of life, when we are strong and able to take care of ourselves, we neglect the value of caring and compassion. Where our very life begins and ends with need and compassion, wouldn’t it be better to live
compassion and love for others while we are strong and in full
possession of our powers?” These words come from the Dalai Lama.
In fact, it is very strange to see how much we often pride ourselves on our emotional independence. Of course, that’s not far off. We need them all our lives, but we’re “embarrassed” to admit it. We prefer to cry in the quiet little room. And when someone asks us for help, that person is considered weak. Unable to control his emotions. There is an unwritten rule that says “the world belongs to the strong” or “only the most capable win”. If that were the case, there would be no human beings, because we belong to a species that needs to be cared for for a very long time.
Researchers say that we are only capable of surviving on our own when we are more than nine years old, while it takes a giraffe six to nine months and a bee to become solitary in five minutes.
I know that I am, and always will be, dependent on others: my wife, my friends, my publishers. I even depend on my enemies for indirectly helping me to practice swordsmanship.
Of course, like every healthy person, I need times where I am on my own and think for myself. But I always ask myself: Have I isolated
myself too much? I can’t let this aloneness become an addiction.
Emotional independence gets us nowhere – only to us building a fortress with which to impress others.
However, emotional dependency is like a fire that we ignite. At first, relationships are difficult. Just like fire comes with smoke, which makes it harder to breathe and brings tears to the eyes when lit.
However, once it burns, the smoke dissipates, flames illuminate
everything around – spreading warmth, calm.
They might set off a spark that will burn us, but that’s what makes a relationship interesting, doesn’t it?
I started this column with a quote from a Nobel laureate. I will also end it with the words of Albert Schweitzer, the missionary and
physician who received the same award in 1952. “We all know about the sleeping sickness that is widespread in Central Africa. But we should know that there is a similar disease that attacks the soul – and which is very dangerous because it nestles unnoticed.
At the first sign of indifference and lack of enthusiasm for one’s own kind, one should pay attention! The only way to guard against this
disease is to understand that the soul suffers and truly suffers when we force it to live superficial. The soul loves beautiful, deep things.”
~ Paulo Coelho (Happinez Magazine)
Wednesday 22.03.
Deeper breath through side bending
Slow Flow
Thursday 23.03.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice
Friday 24.03.
Solid like a mountain
Flow
Monday 27.03.
Breathe space into your hips
Slow Flow
Wednesday 29.03.
Finding your flow
Flow
Thursday 30.03.
Open Theme
Yogis Choice
Friday 31.03.
Supple spine
Flow
I am grateful for being a part of our strong community!
Love,
Nicole
