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    Please Take Care of Your Trees

    ByElizabeth

    It continues to be drier than normal and hotter than average, even with the few below normal days and the intermittent violent thunderstorm.

    A good, deep watering once a week is better than more frequent shallow waterings for trees during a dry spell or drought.

    If your neighbor refuses to take responsible care, take care of the trees adjacent to your own. Well-tended trees make great neighbors in the city.

    Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.

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    Reflection, Perspective, Limitation, and Love

    ByElizabeth

    How different the tone of these two photos just from the direction the camera was pointed, how much was included in the overall image, and the shift in the shape of my mouth.  The clowns with their paint, the angle of the camera, the reflection all pointed out for me how little I sometimes understand, despite my best intentions and efforts, in going about my day and interrelating with others.  Today I went to visit a friend who is in the intensive care unit.  She has been struggling with severe illness for many years.  Though she cannot really speak at present, I thought she was trying to reveal something of great moment.  Not knowing how to react or what to say, I held her hand and told her I loved her.  As I was leaving, I told her husband what I had observed (carefully not saying what I thought, which is hard for me).  Later in the day, thinking of the limits and perils of common speech, I composed this found photograph, wishing for more insight, more clarity, and more power to help, but knowing that love was all I could offer.

    clowns_edited-1

    clowns2_edited-1

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    Why Practice; Why Teach

    ByElizabeth

    Last night in class, I asked why people continued to come to class.  “To see how I can expand,” “for the community,” “for the delight,” “for relaxation,” were some of the answers.  Orie asked me what led me to teach.  The first reason I gave (and the one that was the primary reason for entering teacher training) was that I had been so inspired by what yoga had offered me that I wanted to share it.

    The second reason I gave was that teaching helps keep me disciplined about my practice.  I cannot abide hypocrisy, and so, I feel compelled to try my best to practice what I teach.  I do not always embody fully the teachings in my own life and practice, but I am always trying.  Knowing how the teachings and practices have shifted me and witnessing how the teachings inspire my students, leads me to continue to study, to practice, to try and align better on and off the mat.

    Today, with a day of stressful meetings and phone calls ahead, it will be a good day to try to live the practice.

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    Conversation With a Co-Worker

    ByElizabeth

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    On seeing me snap a picture with my phone of our shared view of the highway, homeless shelter, tax court, and an array of office buildings apparently designed in the school of Mies Van Der Rohe gone terribly wrong, my next door office mate asked, “are you taking a picture of what you will be missing while you are in India?”

    “No, I’m taking a picture of a heart-shaped cloud.  When I’m having a day as stressful as the one I’m having, I like to remind myself that there’s always a heart-shaped cloud out there to put things in perspective.” I held up my phone so that she could see the photo, as sometimes people don’t see the heart shape until I’ve photographed it.

    “That’s pretty cool,” she observed.

    She’s going to water my plants when I’m gone, and I’ll look for a little something from India for her that will make a hard day at the office a bit easier to take–perhaps a murti of Ganesha (the elephant god who is said to be the remover of obstacles).