With his camera,
I took three pictures
of one monk smiling
At the Capitol. He was
in his orange robe.
I took One picture
with my phone.
Of three monks. Or
Perhaps they were
two monks and
an accolyte.
Here it is.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
As I was doing my laundry yesterday, most of which I line-dried, I thought about the fact that I have not been to the dry cleaner in nearly a decade. This is one of the small things I have chosen in order to be a little kinder to the environment.
Some of my clothes, especially things I bought several years ago, say “dry clean only.” This includes knits made of wool, tencel, modal, or rayon (all of which are natural fibers) and linen and silk unconstructed clothing. All of these do fine with hand washing (or on the gentle cycle in the washing machine) and being hung up to dry (this also applies to cotton, button-down shirts). Of course, if it doesn’t say to dry clean then you definitely don’t need to dry clean.
Always believed the label? How was clothing made of natural fibers cleaned before there was such a thing as a dry cleaner? Think they look better or it is easier to get them dry cleaned? Think about the solvents, the plastic, the energy for the cleaning method, and whether you drive to the dry cleaners. Then make a decision.
Most things do not need to be cleaned by use of poisonous solvents (just because a solvent is “organic” or “natural” doesn’t mean it is good for the environment) and then wrapped in non-recyclable plastic to take home (many dry cleaners will take back the hangers, but will say they need to use the plastic wrap because their premises are too dusty for your clothes to stay clean outside the plastic wrapper).
So look for clothes that say “gentle wash, line dry” instead of “dry clean only.” If it says “dry clean only” think about whether it really applies. It will not apply for a wool sweater, most knits, or unlined clothes. A business suit — yes, it won’t keep its shape unless you dry clean. Do you really need to wear a business suit? Will a choice not to wear a suit impact whether some people think you are truly “professional”? Possibly. If you decide you need to wear a suit regularly, how many times can you wear it before taking it to the dry cleaners?
PS. Don’t experiment with things that are new and expensive. Try it on older clothes and discover whether you need to believe everything you read.
It is a gloriously cool and breezy morning of the type that is common for New England and very rare for DC, especially heading into Independence Day weekend. I had a longer and earlier walk than I usually do. I have an early morning meeting at the Internal Revenue Service.
As I walked down Constitution Avenue past the museums and federal buildings, I wondered how many of the hundreds of millions of people whose lives are impacted by the IRS ever think of it as a building with real, live human beings working inside of it.
It can be tremendously difficult to see a broader perspective when faced with things that cause us burden, obligation, or challenge. One of the key reasons to practice yoga, and in Anusara yoga to practice (it is indeed a practice we have to work on) opening to grace, is to recognize our humanity and the light in all things so that life feels more beautiful even when we are struggling.
I woke up woozy and sore this morning and went back to sleep for about 45 minutes after I was done with my morning practice. Although it is atypical for me to need more sleep after I have practiced, I knew that I was not sick. I was just experiencing side effects from the flu shot.
I have only gotten the flu shot once before. The side effects felt like I had the flu (albeit a mild case), and I got the flu any way that year. As I haven’t gotten the flu in the past several years, I have not gotten the shot in subsequent years. (Note: The vaccine has been very effective 17 of the past 25 years, and not particularly effective for three of the other years. It was suggested to me that I should not continue basing my decision on having, by coincidence, only gotten the shot during one of the ineffective years–2003-2005).
I was strongly advised to get the flu shot this year as a precaution for the trip to India. The plane travel, regardless of how much healthy living I do otherwise, will both tax my immune system and put me in contact with a host of viruses, etc. Also, and perhaps more important, I know I will be visiting loved ones in the hospital this flu season. Going through a little discomfort now is worth it to minimize the risk to those I will be visiting.
Have you gotten your flu shot?
Below: Workers line up to get the flu shot at the Health Unit.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
One of the regular participants in the Wednesday night yoga practices called Uma “Fluff Girl” last week. “Right,” I thought. “That suits most of the time.”
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
To be able to be most fully present when being active, it is crucial to pause, to be quiet and still, to nap, to allow enough time for a good night’s sleep.
Resting and being quiet does not just mean practicing meditation, pranayama, and asana while otherwise speeding about and constantly multitasking. The practices are a wonderful way to bring more delight, acceptance, flexibility, awareness, and understanding to everything we do, and make more manageable an overstretched life style.
At some point in our practices, though, we realize that in order to get the most out of the practices and to be able to live what we get from the yoga, we need to be well-rested and consume with all of our senses and eat what best nourishes our body and mind.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
