Go Forward

As part of my teacher training program I get to work with Gabriel Halpern of YogaCircle in Chicago. We are apprentices for his Yoga: Good for What Ails You Workshop. In this apprenticeship we are working with students who have pain in different areas of the body. I'm really enjoying the opportunity to work with these students and I'm also loving Gabriel's dharma talks.

Last night's story during savasana really resonated with me. In its simplest form it was a story about a man and his teacher. His teacher kept urging him forward while the man was hesitant to believe that the grass could really be greener on the other side. Despite his disbelief, he listened to his teacher and continued to prosper as he moved forward. The moral of the story was to keep moving forward, to step out of your comfort zone and trust life.

Later, after our students had left, he spoke about how we suffer only when we live in our memories. I spoke about this before and I believe it. I believe if we can live in the moment, we can be free of our suffering and we can move forward. When we get stuck in our past, re-hashing the mistakes and missteps, we miss out on what's going on in the here and now and we miss the opportunity to go forward. As tough as it is to get your head out of the past (believe me, I was there, too), it's so rewarding and refreshing to move on, to learn from your mistakes, and believe that the grass is greener.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.
- Henry David Thoreau