Those Soul-Sucking Robo-Calls

Last night I answered the phone, and it was a robo-call from Mike Huckabee. I didn't pay much attention to what the recording was saying, but heard something about "stopping those frightening Freedom From Religion advocates". When we receive these calls, I like to stay on the line and wait for the real human can come on and hear what the call is really about.

Soon a woman came on the line and said "Do you want our schools to teach the history of gays and not allow prayer?" and I answered "of course." Hoping for a passionate, "of course NOT" she then said, "let me repeat that" and then repeated her question, and I answered "absolutely!" She stuttered, mumbled, and then said"goodbye" and hung up.

As I walked away from that conversation, I felt sick inside that her question would most likely raise funds and interest for her candidate. Where is the discussion about health insurance, school funding, unemployment, the war? Can't we use our brains to solve problems in our country instead of silly, emotional debates?

NIMBY--Comstock version

I am excited for Spokane's Summer Parkways to begin, so I was surprised when I went to their website this morning and found that several folks who live in my neighborhood, where there is a ride scheduled for June 22, were quite angry about the scheduling of the event. I added the following comments in hopes that they will relax a little.

I am thrilled to live one house away from the route and surprised to see that a few neighbors are unhappy about this event. Think of those who live in Browne’s and endure days of Art Fest; our streets are never busy, and three hours of folks enjoying our lovely area and having fun certainly is worth a bit of thinking ahead. I urge you all to jump on a bike for the evening–all is well when you are on a bike!

Furthermore, I am sure that 29th will not be closed, but monitored by volunteers, so those who need to get home will be able to get there. You might have to park a block away, but it shouldn’t be much trouble. As for vendors, I welcome them as businesses who wish to support active, outdoor fun.

Finally, even if you feel put-out by this event, remember the organizers are volunteers and are working hard to find the best ways to make these events possible. As a very involved community volunteer, I know that criticism is defeating. Rather than complain, agree to volunteer for the evening or grab a lawn chair and wave as we pass your house. Make Spokane a place we all want to live.

My Mind in Yoga

At the Shala, my lovely home away from home, I am often surrounded by the most dedicated, serious, talented yogis in town. While those practicing around me appear to have it all together, here is my confession—I am often a pathetic yogi! While it might look like I know what I am doing, let me share some of what goes on in my head during practice.

For the first fifteen minutes on my mat, I am generally thinking about how sore I am. I find myself wondering if my muscles can hold me up, soften, twist, or do whatever it is they are supposed to be doing. I am sure the folds I could do the day before didn’t happen, the arm balance I attempted was a fluke, and I will never reach my toes again. I push myself to just keep moving and breathing.

My concerns during the middle of practice are broad and embarrassing. While trying to focus on the postures, I am wondering how much longer the class will last, will I make it through hand-to-big-toe balance, do I need a pedicure, is my mat getting smelly, will I have to do headstand, and did I turn off my cell phone ringer.

As we work our way toward close-out, my attention shifts to wondering if we have ice cream at home or do I need to pick some up on the way home. That’s it: ice cream.

After all of this scattered, monkey-brained thinking, I finally come to savasana. When I was new to yoga, corpse pose was the greatest challenge of all. I heard that I should be quieting my brain, but for years, thoughts continued to zip around. I recently learned that having a consistent meditation is the one thing that quiets my mind, and have settled on a three steps I do each day in corpse pose.

First, I decide what was the best part of the past twenty four hours and focus on that with a sense of gratitude and joy.

Second, I determine what I really, really want from my life to find an intention for where I put my energy once I leave my mat.

Finally, I choose my mantra—a positive message that I need to repeat to myself to counter any anxiety that might bubble up during my day.

Calming my mind will always be the greatest struggle of my practice. But like all of you, I will keep doing my practice knowing all is coming. So try not to laugh the next time you see me in shoulder stand, even though you can assume one thing: I am thinking about ice cream.