Alright tonight

“You came down a twisted up road…you’ve been traveling for light years…wait to begin again, lifted above by a love that does not end,” so penned John Hiatt. 

What does it mean to ‘practice with a beginner’s mind’? We are shaped by our experiences, this much is true. We are not, however, those experiences themselves. No matter what you do (your 127th Adho Mukha Svanasana aka downward-facing dog, your 1st one, your road test, racing a loved one to the hospital before the baby comes, or choose-your-own-adventure,) there will be an opportunity to begin again. Each moment comes once, then is gone, lost to the annals of time. There is no yesterday, and no tomorrow. (Metaphorically, ‘natch. Bills still have to be paid, bunnies brushed, kitties fed, papers graded, and dishwashers emptied. #adulting #adultingisoverrated) 

In the Bhagavad Gita, our hero goes through journeys real and imagined. He is a young man, a (perhaps reluctant) warrior, and a deep thinker with a deep-seeded (-seated?*) insecurity, always needing to get counsel or confirmation from his faithful companion. Eventually, he becomes a man, coming into his own. 

But, he was sure put through his paces first! He dusted himself off, and kept going, through that twisted up road. Can I get a do-over? Wait, lemme do it again! I do it, all by myself 😉 

Is the insecurity he feels seeded, as in planted within, only to sprout if it’s incorrectly or unecessarily watered? Or is that insecurity seated in the Muladhara chakra, (the root one,) where security and safety reside if uncovered and allowed to? 

Where does the “love that does not end” originate? We can learn to tap into that within ourselves (but maybe top off with friends, family and partners.)

What happens when life (Life?) knocks you down? How do you turn your pain into purpose? Everyone has gone through something. What have you done with that?

Incidentally, this post went in a different direction than initially intended, but then again, don’t most characters take over & write the (their?) story? This is a song off Paula Abdul’s 1991 album, Spellbound. It’s called “alright tonight.” It’s a catchy little ditty with a Caribbean feel. Who knew what gems lay within? The writer, it seems, was *quite* prolific, although none of the titles rang any bells of mine. 

If this resonated with you, feel free to comment below. Until our mats unfurl again, be well.

-M