Ten Things

Let's just keep it simple. Ten things to say here I am, here's what I'm about.

(in no particular order, and semi-completely random)

ten.

yoga.

the yoga studio where i trained and poured many hours of blood (got a paper cut once,) sweat and tears and where i now teach. 

my first true love, yoga, has been part of my life in one way or another since i was a teen. since deepening my practice in ytt (yoga teacher training) which also enabled me to become a teacher, my practice changed entirely. guiding students through practice is a wonderful gift, but practicing next to them is still my preference.

nine.

derby.

my skates, as of now. full of not only sparkles, but blood and sweat, too. no tears... yet.

roller derby is the most recent edition to my list of lovers. inspired by a yoga student (hero, and fellow skater) i attended my first training in march of this year and it, as well, forever changed my yoga practice. hip openers will never be as lovely as they once were.  i now call the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls my family.

eight.

art.

cut paper collage-y thing, made this after a friend shared with me the song "ochrasy" by mando diao

art is creation. music, paintings, books, fashion, performances. i've been creating things in all medias since i left the womb (aside from music, i'm slightly, completely, musically challenged.) my love includes not only creating, but appreciating creators and their creations, favorites range from andy warhol and frida kahlo to marc jacobs and the beatles (duh.)

seven. 

sobriety.

where i write my step work

sobriety is also a recent "hobby." i realized a huge part of my lifelong depression had been my lifelong obsession with the bottle. something had to change if i was going to survive this life. i broke down, contacted a friend, and on march 20th went to my first aa meeting. 

once again, my yoga practice changed.

six. 

my best friend meg.

we've been known to take long miserable (but fun?) road trips, this was on a short not-miserable fun roadtrip. if you look close enough, you'll see my eyes on the road, not the camera...

i hate choosing favorites... but this girl, this woman, has been the supporting player in my life for a handful of years now, and sometimes taking on the lead role when i wasn't able or willing. she's a huge part of who i am, and why i am, in a mostly not-codependent way. 

five.

kindness.

drawing isn't usually my strong suit but i'm quite fond of this.

ahimsa, or non-harming, is part of patanjali's eight limbs of yoga. i have a love/hate relationship with the practice. it's simple, to say, we should be kind. kindness in action, and thoughts toward each and every living thing; plant, animal, human, self. that little reminder to be kind to oneself, to be more kind to others.

four. 

puppy.

my dog, puppy, in a fort of yarn baskets and multicolored blankets

i found this guy, yes his name is puppy, in a pet shop (gasp) almost exacly 7 years ago. he's a pain in my ass half the time, a pain in everyone else's ass 45% of the time, and sniffing dog ass the remaining 5% (he's short, he doesn't get to sniff other dogs much.) i wouldn't choose life without him.

three.

others.

did i really have to post a photo? no, but hey look it's the caffeinated yogi, and a giant orange bench!

no, not ghosts. friends, mentors, students, teachers, acquaintances. people. they come in all different sizes, shapes, colors, ages, and they all have something amazing to share (usually.) i have trouble with idolizing people (like deanna, check out her blog too:) until i realize, they're just people, however amazing. i've learned to be inspired by and share life with them rather than idolizing them. 

two.

family.

the favorite cousin and me a few thanksgivings ago, after giving each other bad makeovers

i have a mother whom i like, and a brother, some nephews and a niece i get to see on skype. and a favorite aunt and cousin, by marriage. i'm not close with my family, my fathers side being arab and living over there, and my mothers side be nuts and spread all over the great u.s. however, despite my disconnect with my real family, they're an undeniable part of who i am, why i do or don't do and believe or don't believe things... more on that another time.

one.

quotes.

found this in the road somewhere (wish i could remember, maybe boulder,co) simple, honest, find it within yourself.

you'll get a lot of quotes on here. usually something i've googled or read in a book of quotes. i'm hoping to get back into reading more often to be able to share that form of art with readers too, but for now they're random things googled, heard, or read in a bathroom stall at a hipster cafe.

Namaste:)

MMD