Over it

Sleep of Reason, Goya 1797

I have blogged before about trying to find balance between a demanding job and part-time study. I feel pretty bad that I can't seem to manage the ups and downs of my life when I don't have to juggle a family as well. I know plenty of people who do all of this and then go home to look after the family at the end of the day. At the same time, I have friends who share my sentiment and feel its is doubly hard to manage doing it all alone.

A colleague at work suggested I read a book called Thirty Something and Over It, for a laugh if nothing else. Sure enough, the book was very easy to relate to and hit home on a number of issues especially since the author worked in a very similar environment. I started to question what it is that I actually do. I mean, I know what I do on a day to day basis but I can't see how this really adds value to society, let alone to my life. Working for large corporations lack substance and meaning. It seems to be largely fluff and fold.

So back to this book. By the end I realised that everyone absolutely needs balance in their life. To continue to work for heartless conglomerates one must have other interests. It is imperative to make time for relationships, family, friends, hobbies, sports and general down time. Lets face it, big corporations simply pay better so the opportunity to maintain a reasonable lifestyle is available and largely the reason why so many people do it. Money certainly isn't everything but it can make life a little easier and it can also allow time to focus on the things that are important to us, so long as the balance is there.

For almost two weeks now I have reduced my working hours to somewhat 'normal'. Well, its probably still longer than some of my peers but its considerably less than before and I feel like a completely different person. Its amazing how easy it is to get sucked into the dredge of being at work for lengthy hours week after week. Its too easy and it shouldn't be. In fact, its harder to make the effort for change but the results are wondrous.

Accomplishment

Its such a wonderful feeling to finally be able to achieve a pose. I seem to have so many limitations from old injuries and it feels like it takes me that much longer to master poses when my yoga friends appear to move into each asana gracefully.  I know that this is just setting myself up for disappointment, comparing to others in yoga is frowned upon as everyone is in a very different place.  And I know that even though my peers look like they flow into every pose with ease, this is not necessarily so.  Still, it can be incredibly frustrating.

So when I was able to balance my weight in my hands in Crow pose for the first time and when I was able to finally get my head and shoulders off the ground in Wheel – I was so excited.  Now, I try to improve on those poses, create better form and hold them for at least five breaths.  Its still a challenge, but one that I cherish.

This is one of the great benefits of yoga, a sense of accomplishment that can be completely overwhelming.  

Architecture

Everywhere I go, I notice the architecture of the buildings around me. Whether I am travelling abroad, to another city or simply walking down the street, I notice the way cleverly designed buildings make me feel. Imagine the Potala Palace in Lhasa was built around the 7th Century AD.  I particularly like the European Gothic grandeur with its intricate detail found throughout Europe.  And of course New York City with its amazing skyline of geometrically and architecturally stunning buildings commonly designed throughout the Art Deco period.

Full Moon

Often the full moon unknowingly brings chaos to our lives.  People behave erratically, and experience a momentary lapse in their usual demeanour. The police are become inundated with calls and more so if the full moon happens to occur on a Friday or Saturday night. 

For me, the full moon conveys an equanimity – a soothing calmness, like listening to rain fall whilst laying in bed. It’s a marvellous big ball of light in the sky and I am always astonished at its bright luminosity.

However, the waning moon, which falls immediately after the full moon, brings up emotion and a stronger sense of intuition. My intuition is pretty sharp most of the time but seems to heighten at this time.  The body becomes much more responsive to detox, both mentally and physically.  Sometimes we hold onto negative energy and this moon cycle will help eliminate the toxins. It is important to acknowledge feelings and emotions when they arise. Without this release of energy we create blockages that prevent us from moving on, continuing with our life path and journey. Be kind, accept and forgive.