Bandanas

Aparigraha, or non-grasping in Sanskrit, is a tough one for yours truly. One of my orange bandanas is almost as old as my Yoga practice. (Ahem, 2k!) It is discolored, and paint-splattered, but it’s mine. It has a logo of sorts (a tourist trap from a cruise to Mexico taken 100yrs ago) so it can only be worn folded two ways. Another one is no longer a fun shade of green, but a sad, washed-out paler shade of pale. The text, a band whom I’ve never listened to, is no longer readable. I still have the tee-shirt from my senior play in high school. It’s no longer fit for human consumption, so to speak, but it’s good for gardening. 

(Aside – do your tee-shirts go through a cycle? “Good” ones for work, “cute” ones for socializing, “eh” ones for sleeping, and “ew” ones for yard work? Final step is rags for nasty garage and basement jobs.) 

One of the poses recommended in the Yoga Toolbox, written by Joseph & Lilian LePage, recommends Tadasana, or mountain pose, as something that might help with a reticence to LET. IT. GO. If you think about it, mountains don’t hold onto much. The snow may land there, but eventually it melts and runs off. The rocks may crumble and roll on down to the valley below. The birds may nest there, but you’ve got to leave said nest sometime.*

This harkens back to the Meat Loaf post from last (this?) week. (The weeks all kinda blend together at this point, no?) Do what you can while you’re here. Use it all up! Ya can’t take it with you :). As my all-time favorite band in high school sang, “Love: don’t abuse it, and you’ll never be sad again. I’m on my way!” INXS. This means do all things with love. I imagine it’s like teaching your kid to ride a bike: you run alongside, helping them balance, eventually letting go (literally) and letting the knees scrape as they may. Put the effort in, but don’t get hung up on the results. 

What can you let go of? What are you holding onto? What’s holding you back? (Let’s not go to town and empty all the drawers. There are some sentimental items worth holding onto, after all. And scanned photographs for the rest.) Perhaps it’s not literal, but figurative? Grudges? Resentments? Silly spats? Digest it before it digests you. 

*Just to play devil’s advocate, though, some things do take root on ye ole Mount Mossy. We have a sad pinetree nicknamed the Charlie Brown Christmas tree in a small flat area with 1/64th” of soil most likely, and it’s hanging on, and has even sprouted some new cones. They’re red! 

In short, as Alie Ward from the Ologies podcast says to paraphrase, Text your crush. Cut bangs. We’re all gonna die. 

Incidentally, new bandanas came today. They’re in the hamper so they can soften up before taming my abundance of hair. (Thanks, Dad!) 

Feel free to comment below if this resonated with you, or if you have questions. Until our mats unfurl again, be well. -M