The first one has left me in a deep trance of inquiry..."If you aren't practicing loving-kindness, then what the fuck are your practicing?" I heard myself giggle out loud as she so boldly spoke these words of truth. Holy wow....her words echoed into my heart and took off like a soaring eagle. This eagle of truth dive bombed my doubts, screeched out judgments, and perched itself in plain view. So simple, right?
As I am sitting with this statement, I feel inspired to create little 'loving kindness' experiments throughout my day. I notice when I situate myself in a space of judgment, when I contract because of my attachments, when I get lost in the forest of emotion, and when I am simply not present. I decided to look up loving kindness and here are two definitions I discovered, "tenderness and consideration toward others," while another is, "tender kindness motivated by or expressing affection." What if in this very instant our only prayer, thought, or desire was that of tenderness towards others and towards self...imagine how amazing our world would be if we lived by Alexi's philosophy!
Whether you practice Yoga, or you don't, I truly believe you have a responsibility to practice loving kindness....This practice calls us to show up on our mats, to show up in our lives...its having compassion for one's self and then when we are able to master that, we are more fully able to offer the olive branch of kindness to another...there's no perfect place or way to begin, simply practice it when you notice your inner critic, practice it when you don't feel like it, practice when you feel separate, when you awaken to joy, when you surrender to love, when life takes your breath away, when you judge another, when you lift the veil of understanding, when you sing the songs of life, when you allow yourself to believe in miracles, and when you embrace the possibility that YOU could make a difference that ripples out into the universe. As Rumi said, "Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
Loving kindness begins with self, so ecstatically explore the landscape of your own heart and allow this tender truth to ripple out to everyone..."If you aren't practicing loving kindness, then......?" Namaste!
May you Sweetly Seek:)
In gratitude,
Sarah