Change.

I'm a huge believer that every 3-6 months, everyone experiences a good amount of change. It's like our version of shedding skin. But it certainly ebbs an flows, lots of things happen at once and the they draw back into hiding for another several months.

For me, it's my time of change, I can feel it in my bones! So friends and family, I'm moving. Just a little further into Brooklyn is all, but in New York especially, any move is a monumental one. It's like, how can I pack up all my things which are jammed into this little space, and figure out how to get them into that other little space less than a mile away? It doesn't sound hard, but if you lived here you'd definitely understand where the head scratching commences.

It's a bittersweet deal for me, since my current roommates have been nothing but butter and baconfat to me. (In my world, that's close to godliness). I've spent more time here than any place since I've moved out of my parents house to go to college, so I know that I'll leave with a slightly heavy heart. Then again, I'll be living in the perfectly befitting (for me) area of Carroll Gardens, surrounded by friends and brownstones and the Frankie's empire and ice cream parlors. So, I don't think I'll be sad for too long.

Look at this pretty picture while I talk deep thoughts

I had a cup of coffee with a friend from the yoga studio today (new friends! wheee!). After delving into some pretty deep, almost excessively yogic conversations, I was left pretty enlightened by her outlook on life, her seemingly wise yet humble demeanor, and dammit she's two years younger than I am! I started to wonder how she was able to, even in the most frustrating of situations, set all the negative bullshit aside. I mean, if I were able to do that, I think I'd live a life that was exponentially more peaceful, not to mention a helluva lot simpler.

Call me a skeptic, but I usually think people who are so easygoing, so tantric and so meditative are pretty spacey, loopey, and frankly just not in-tune with the real world. I also usually feel like it can be an act, and whatever evil a person is trying to suppress with this falsely blissful way of living will come out eventually. It's all a bunch of Patchouli. (Get it? Like Baloney, but Patchouli? Haaaaaharawrrrrr)

What, me, skeptical? Judgemental? nahhhhhhhh...okay, so maybe a little. But back to my original point- talking to this friend today, and working at the studio in general, has made me rethink a lot of things, has suddenly made me realize that some people really do live by certain codes and really don't care what you say or think. Some people really do just want to hold hands and sing, some people really do want to sit in silence for ten days straight. And you know, more power to them, because they have this crazy peace of mind that I don't think I will ever have, a greater sense of what their life means and how it affects others, a more evident peacefulness surrounding themselves. Rather than being concerned ALL THE TIME with their thoughts, their jobs, their bosses, their bank accounts, they are able to LET GO (so important!), and my biggest revelation today- take everything with perspective. This. is. genius.

So what, does this all stem from daily yoga practice and meditation? Uhh, probably, but I'd like to think it can be achieved just by opening one's mind to this world. It's hard for someone has cynical as I can be to let go and flow with the wind. But I think I've got it in me. I mean, I'm a nice enough person, right? And I surround myself with only good people, right? So here's my newest resolution to myself, that I'm hoping will help me deal with my super scattered way of life right now: I'm going to meditate daily.

Yeah, you heard me. I'm going to be "ohm"-ing with the best of them. Whatever, to meditate doesn't mean you have to chant and sit cross legged on a 10-foot stick. I've just realized (literally, this morning) that meditating simply means clearing about ten minutes from your day to breathe, to think singular thoughts at a time, to make resolutions or identify problems. When you set aside ten minutes to be still, no matter if you call it pranayama, meditation, time out, chill out session, recess, whatever, ESPECIALLY in New York, I'm sure that only good things can come from it.

I'll probably end up thinking a lot about my CSA. But whatever, at least it's quality time.

Also, finally graduated to arm balances.  Successfully.  I did this in class today: