The Twisting Paths

Have you ever wondered if something in your life is ‘meant to be?’ or fate ? Have you wondered if actions, no matter how random they seem, work together to create a path in your life that was destined to exist ? Perhaps, do you believe that we are blindly headed any which way, and yet, we still emerge in a way that is serendipitous? I love this idea, and while I often can’t help but view life as a series of forks in the road in which we must choose one direction or the other, I still can’t keep the idea that whichever fork (or many forks) I take, I will still end up where my destiny lies. I look at big events, such as where I went to school, and realize that I would not have my children had I not made that decision. Even little choices can sometimes turn into something larger…striking up a conversation with a nice person at the library, who will ultimately become a best friend.

Because I do believe that our choices do, in fact, lead us to the destination at which we are meant to arrive, I read “A Stopover In Venice”, by Kathryn Walker, with great enthusiasm. This wonderful novel of literary fiction involves two of my favorite ideas: fate and Venice. Although I’ve only spent one week of my life in Venice, I feel such a love for the city that, in some ways, it feels like a bit of me will always be there. As one walks around tiny alleyways, opening into piazzas, one can’t help but imagine something magical around every turn. Venice, in and of itself, in many aspects feels like fate. After all, it’s a city of great mystery, great beauty and great history. The fact that it was created by a people who simply hoped to defend themselves by living on the water only further illustrates its mystique. In “A Stopover in Venice”, Kathryn Walker tells two stories, side by side, both with their fates intertwined; one of a modern day woman fleeing an unhappy marriage, and the other of a Venetian woman of the Renaissance, who had a loving marriage. Yet, the twists and turns of both Venice, and the stories plots, create a serendipitous existence of them both. This novel illustrates that, even when we are experiencing a negative situation, ultimately, we will learn a lesson from that unfortunate experience that will lead us to further enlightenment. After all, what would inspire us to grow into the men and women we are capable of being, without challenge ?

During times of great change in the world, it’s often difficult to truly process this concept. And, it’s also hard to imagine how a tragedy can be meant to be. When a dear friend of mine lost a baby a week after his much wanted birth, I had no idea how to even find the words to comfort her, let alone picture a way in which this situation might bring about ‘good’ in the end. To be honest, I still don’t know the answer to that dilemma. I can say that my friend has grown into one of the most compassionate people I know…and yet, couldn’t this have happened without her losing her child ? Fate is not always pretty…and it’s not always understandable. I wish I understand why there is misery in the world. I wish I understood why my own children feel hurt by the meanness that exists in their every day lives. If I could take the pain they feel onto myself, I would. And yet, a rational part of me understands that each one of us must feel our own frailties to grow. It’s finding those edges of our personality, our gifts, our strengths and our weaknesses, and then exploring the boundaries beyond them, that do help us to push into the next fork in the road of our own fates.

An illustration I often use in my yoga classes is that of a treasure map. While we’re walking on the map, we can’t see it. We are on the very roadways themselves, and too close to the map’s surface to grasp the overall view. It’s only when our lives are complete that we will be able to look down, see each pathway, each twist and turn, and each fork in the road, and ultimately, view the lessons we learned along the way as the ‘gold’ at the journey’s end. My wish for each of you is a prosperous trip as you discover your own life’s treasured meaning.

As we move through life, the force of fate creates events that we only appreciate when we reflect on our existence. ~ Ronald Harmon

Thankfulness vs. Appreciation

During Thanksgiving week, most columnists, essayists and those who simply like to hear themselves speak, like to use thankfulness as a topic. It’s not surprising. The holiday industry of enforced merriment over Thanksgiving makes greeting card topics at the forefront of everyone’s consciousness. And yet, thankfulness is not bad a subject to discuss. It’s just overused in November every year. People are forced to say what they’re “thankful for” around the Thanksgiving table, putting one on the spot to come up with something original that will entertain their guests, make a profound point, or just avoid drawing a complete blank when called upon. There are only so many times you can “good health” or “an A on my Biology quiz” at this moment in the judgment seat.

Instead of thankfulness as a trite, sugary notion we trot out alongside the turkey, I hope to incorporate a spirit of appreciation, rather than thankfulness. Most people would say “But they’re the same thing !” and roll their eyes at me. I beg to differ. I believe that thankfulness is something we feel internally. Appreciation, however, is something we share. The emotions and ideas are similar, but truly, the execution is different. Thankfulness is often about a ‘thing’, be it that test in school, a roof over your head or being grateful that the sweet potatoes didn’t catch on fire. Appreciation is usually generated towards another person: the stranger who smiled and cheered you up on a bad day, a friend who’s willing to come lend a hand to help you move or your family willing to fly across country to visit you in the hospital. Appreciation means going outside of your own box of emotions and expressing those feelings of gratitude to another human being. Maybe it’s simply a smile back at the kind, and patient, shopper behind you who isn’t hissing at you to hurry up when you can’t find your wallet. Perhaps, it’s telling your friend all the things about her that you love. What about expressing all the little things your mom has done for you over the years that have added up to a lifetime of blessings ? Appreciation goes beyond thankfulness. It places the responsibility of sharing how much we truly value that other person’s place in our lives. For many of us, there is also no greater gift than knowing we’ve made a difference, no matter how small, in the life of another.

In Yoga, cultivating gratitude is part of the daily practice. As we sit and focus on nothing but the breath, we draw inside ourselves, quiet our minds, and let go of all the extraneous, external concerns, or ‘mind trash’, that we have accumulated. The breath brings with it all good things, and a seated, peace-filled, meditative breath can leave the yogini feeling a deep sense of appreciation those who have made a difference in her life. Sometimes, I believe we aren’t being selfish by our lack of expressed appreciation. We are simply overwhelmed by the day to day toll that life takes on us. We worry about deadlines, bills and finances. We are concerned about the war, the economy and the fact that our dog just ran away. We stress over gaining 5 (or 20) pounds and know that the holiday season isn’t going to help our waistlines much. With all these thoughts pulling us in a thousand directions, is it any wonder that we often forget to express gratitude ? Often, we’re just so grateful when something does go ‘right’ that we forget the appreciation part of it ! But, bringing yourself back to the breath, every day, even for a few minutes, can help move away the clutter and bring forward the sense of appreciation you do feel…and do want to share.

There are endlessly creative ways to share appreciation with people. For someone who helped you long ago, I can’t think of a more remarkable gift than a letter expressing the moment that person touched your life. For a friend who has picked up your children more times than you can count, a bottle of wine, and gift certificate to her favorite restaurant---or even a home cooked meal, delivered to her door, might be just what she needs to know her actions were felt by you. For someone you love deeply, listening to them….really listening, not just nodding along, can be create a deep impact….making eye contact, asking questions about him (instead of rambling on about you !), can show your love, as well as your appreciation. The more you think about the person whom you’d like to shower with gratitude, the more you place are out of yourself and into them. The right path of expressing your thanks will make itself known.

So, ring your neighbor’s doorbell and leave cookies on her porch, or hug a friend who is having a bad day. Hire a sky writer to thank someone who saved your life or shout it from the rooftops (metaphorically or otherwise)! Appreciate those around you…and I promise, the world will be a better place.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone. ~G.B. Stern

If you can read this, thank a teacher....

Have you ever heard the expression, made famous by playwright George Bernard Shaw, “If you can’t do, teach” ? It’s one of those maxims that is so widely quoted, we simply know it, as a culture. And yet, could there be anything more offensive to teachers, who feel driven, compelled and passionate about sharing knowledge ? There is no question that Mr. Shaw most certainly encountered negative teachers in his life. I’m sure that’s also true of the average person. I’ve not only had my share of either poorly equipped instructors to downright hostile ones. I’ve met these teachers in my own days of schooling, and more recently, on my children’s behalf. And yet, too often we let these negative, Napoleon complex, teachers are the ones whom we remember. We often forget the teachers who stayed after school with us, the professors who let us cry on their shoulder in their offices, and the men and women who inspired us to excellence. Sometimes they provided insight into a difficult subject. Just as often, they provided insight into ourselves, challenging us to grow into the human beings had the potential to become.

I can’t possibly name all the teachers who made a difference in my life, but I can share one story that illustrates the depth of knowledge that one professor had. As an Early Childhood Education and Psychology major in college, I took many courses within both disciplines. The lab science requirement for my Psychology degree was entitled “Lab in Experimental Psychology”, though we at Wheaton commonly referred the class as “Rat Lab”. I was assigned two white rats, whom I named Bert & Ernie, in deference to the Sesame Street fans of my future teaching career. Bert was my control rat, and simply fed, was taken care of and existed peacefully. Ernie, my experimental rat, was supposed to learn a variety of activities, including running through a maze that changed daily, and then learning to press a buzzer to obtain food. While my classmates rats all seemed to be the Olympic champions of, quite literally, the rat race, Ernie seemed content to just kind of hang out, look around the maze, maybe dig a bit. Our lab sessions could last anywhere from 20 minutes (for those with gold medal winning rats), or half a day (for mine). At the end of a particularly frustrating lab period, my classmates had left, and Ernie was still meandering around, happy go lucky in his lack of enthusiasm for my grade in the class. I had assumed that Professor Zuriff had also left. As Psychology department head at Wheaton College, I knew he had more important things than watch my directionally and motivationally challenged test subject walk the wrong way, in true Mr. Magoo fashion. Frustrated, angry and impatient, I howled at Ernie, “You stupid rat ! Just ding the bell so we can both leave!”. Out of the darkness of the lab, came my Professor. My cheeks burned red, and I wished that I could simply melt into the floor, like Oz’s Wicked Witch with water poured over her. Instead of berating me, threatening me with a poor grade or even criticizing my technique, Professor Zuriff said both kindly, and calmly, “Ellen, this is just a rat. If you lose patience with it, how will be keep your patience with your students ?”, and then left the room. I was shamed, not by his words, but by his generosity of spirit and insight into my soul.

It goes without saying that I learned valuable lessons that day. I learned to be patient because my ‘student’ simply didn’t understand what he needed to do. But, I learned something more important as well: that a teacher, no matter how laurelled, stayed very late to help me, not by telling what to do by speeding up the process for Ernie to learn, but by simply observing, gaining insight and letting me discover my own lessons. He spoke of relevance to my future, not just with the immediate message of the class. I learned that a true teacher doesn’t simply impart knowledge he wants regurgitated, but wants to know that his students will succeed beyond the classroom in their chosen fields. I learned that a true teacher learns who the student is, and sees each one as an individual, with unique gifts and talents. This one afternoon taught me about the kind of teacher I wanted to become myself.

I’ve spent most of my adult life as a teacher, in one form or another. I have taught in traditional elementary school classrooms, been a homeschool teacher, a tutor, a Director of Education and now a Yoga Instructor. While I don’t believe that I will ever achieve the kind of insight that Professor Zuriff taught me, I believe that I can strive for it. He set a standard for caring, excellence and humility that I’ve tried for emulate for more than 20 years. I hope that, if he does look down from Heaven, he will see all that I’ve learned, even in the two decades since graduation. And, I hope he will be proud of the lessons I’m still learning.

I also hope that Ernie, wherever he is now, has finally found that bit of cheese.

Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives. ~ William A. Foster

All dogs go to heaven...

You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Dogs are truly amazing creatures. They love us with complete and reckless abandon. If our days are horrible and depressing, and we’re in the very worst mood possible, the love we receive from our dogs can be the most healing of all soothing balms. Coming home to an empty house from a stressful day is always hard. But, being welcomed with the joy that returning soldiers receive when arriving safely home from battle makes walking through that door worthwhile. And, we haven’t even risked our lives. We’ve just slaved away, listened to other people’s complaints, tried to solve problems and felt little satisfaction. And, yet, we are greeted as liberating heroes ! Their trust in us, their faith in us, and their complete devotion to us make believe in ourselves again. Dogs have the ability to see past our grumpiness, our laziness and our worst faults. They look into our very hearts and see the good that lies within.

Dogs, however, aren’t sedentary creatures. We have to walk them, care for them and engage with them. Study after study has shown that people who own dogs live longer, healthier lives. Why is this ? For those who live alone, dogs provide a reason to get up the morning, to exercise and to look outside ourselves. For others, they provide lessons in love and responsibility. The wonderful programs of visiting pet programs into nursing homes have shown remarkable results in the residents. Even people who can’t have a dog, can feel the joy emanating from their furry visitors. Dogs beg us to interact and to be less selfish…even if it means sharing a bite of bagel in the morning, or a touch of steak at dinner. But, we are happy to share with them, because they make our lives more musical.

Dogs can also be incredibly sensitive. A few years ago, we had a dinner party for my mother, and some of her oldest friends. One friend, Norma, was disabled and in a wheelchair. My oldest dog, Mackenzie, was then a 3 year old, and a very large German Shepherd. Mackenzie sat by Norma’s chair the entire time, occasionally resting her large, gentle head in Norma’s lap. While Norma didn’t own a dog at that time, she had been a Shepherd owner and lover during most of her adult life. I was amazed at the serenity Mackenzie, usually so dramatic and playful, showed while staying very close to our guest. She was attentive, concerned and gentle. When the car arrived to pick up our guests from their evening, Mackenzie followed Norma out the door and looked over the car very carefully. I could almost hear her brain saying “Is this a suitable and safe way for my new friend to leave ? I understand she has special concerns.” The extraordinary part about this visit was that Mackenzie had never been around a disabled person before, and often was overly gregarious in her greetings. I had been concerned about her being gentle enough. Yet, Mackenzie rose to the challenge, and made Norma’s evening special. Norma enjoyed being loved, gently & peacefully, that evening from someone who simply enjoyed being by her side.

These stories are endless and almost everyone has them. I enjoy walking my dogs into town, because I’m often stopped and talked to by people who have dog memories to share. They’re a great unifier among very different people. The provide a common language for all of us. Of course, I’m just as often stopped by people who are fascinated that, combined, I walk 260 pounds of dogs.
In Yoga, a pose I enjoy practicing as part of our Sun Salutations, is Upward Facing Dog. When held for 15 seconds or more, this asana can improve posture, strengthen, arms, wrists and back, firm your abdominal muscles and has even been shown, in some cases, to improve mild depression. I find it utterly fascinating that a pose can help treat mild depression…and has the name of one of the greatest loneliness cures: dog!

Since two of my favorite topics are dogs and yoga, I have watched Animal Planet’s “K-9 Karma” for years. I am only sorry that there aren’t new episodes, but the wonderful ideas combining our pets and our yoga practice have made their ways into my heart. Unfortunately, my pets aren’t nearly as cooperative about practicing yoga as “K-9 Karma’s” host, Kari’s, are. Mine usually feel the urgent need to kiss my nose while I’m in an asana. But, it’s a wonderful, uplifting and joyful celebration of two of my passions.

So, today, take your dog for a walk. Kiss her and snuggle with her. Tell him what a wonderful boy he is ! And, if you’re not a dog owner, I can guarantee there are fabulous friends just waiting for a walk, some time spent, or even adoption, at your local shelter. Just guard your slippers.

Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made. ~Roger Caras

Contentment

"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is." ~ Anne Frank

Isn’t it amazing that Anne Frank wrote these words not long before her family was turned in to the Secret Police ? I find it extraordinary to read about her optimism and heroic spirit, under the most trying, terrifying and tragic circumstances. It’s hard to fathom hiding in an attic, crammed together with another family, survival based solely on, to quote Tennessee Williams, “The Kindness of Strangers”, and yet to remain filled with a sense of hope and inexplicable joy. Anne Frank’s courage has always been noted, but what fascinates me beyond that valor is the happiness she felt in simply living…her zest for life coming not from outside her circumstances, but from within her loving, peaceful and sanguine heart. She was literally bubbling over with the insights into the human capacity for great promise.

Anne Frank’s words remind me that we have the potential not only for greatness in acts of kindness, love and generosity, but for deep contentment, regardless of our circumstances. I believe it’s much more difficult to remain in this state of bliss than it is to show happiness outwardly. In many ways, it much easier to lend a hand, give a hug or provide a listening ear to a friend who is struggling. These are all active qualities. The passive quality of remaining in gratification, under any duress, is more challenging. Why ? Because it requires a deep sense of balance in our perspective on our lives. Balance is very tricky to achieve. It’s easy to be happy when things our going our way! When we are laughing, singing, dancing and all good fortune seems to just flow in our direction, we can most certainly indentify with overflowing bliss. But, what happens when we lose our jobs, we’re up all night with a sick child, we find out a parent is ill or we’re very worried about our finances ? What happens in our hearts when we watch the news, seeing terrible stories that we are powerless to change ?

St. Paul wrote, “for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want.” That’s a very powerful sentiment, and deeply difficult to achieve. Yet, isn’t this precisely the sentiment Anne Frank was sharing ? We all face challenges daily. Some are astronomical in size, such as learning you have a terrible illness. Others are more mundane, and yet, can feel astronomical when we are overwhelmed by them. Our challenge isn’t always to solve the problems, but to learn how to live through them, with them and regardless of them.

The tall task we face is finding our path through the chaos, not merely for survival, but in order to thrive. Most of us can sustain times of stress. We look ahead and realize these complications will not last forever and, keeping our eye on the objective at the end of the trial, we work towards that goal. But, have we thrived during that time ? Most likely, we’ve squeaked by. The key is to live abundantly while in the midst of turbulence. There are many ways to accomplish this, and none of them are simple, ‘quick fix’ methods. Each path is completely individual, and what works for one person, may not be helpful to another. But, I believe that keeping the words of both Anne Frank and St. Paul in our minds, we can ask ourselves these questions daily:

What happened today that made me smile ?
What happened today that I did well ?
What words did I say that made someone else happy ?

By reflecting on the joy, not the sorrow, and by eliminating the negative questions our minds plague us with, we can look to the good in all things, and in all ways. Often our evening recaps of the day begin with the “bad”. The simple action of reflecting on the good…no matter how trivial it might seem…can bring us to a place of looking for the simple pleasures in our every day living. Merely halting the inner dialogue of ‘what’s wrong’ can be incredibly uplifting.

So, when the dog eats your couch, your children are arguing, you’re worried about how to pay your heating bill or you wonder what you will do for your friend whose marriage is ending, take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Simply exist, at peace, in that very moment. Tackle each challenge as it comes, but know, in your heart of hearts, that all *is* well. Imagine the possibilities of hope when you unlock the inner potential for joy, regardless of your circumstances. And, always have a cup of tea handy.

"I am not made, or unmade, by the circumstances in my life, but by my reactions to them." St. John of the Cross

Eight

When my friend, Marcia, posted this on her knitting blog, I begged her to let me copy it! What a great idea! And, of course, being me…I immediately thought of a wonderful book called “ The Eight” by Katherine Neville. It’s a twist-and-turn mystery, set during the French Revolution, with a dash of DaVinci Code throne in for good measure. It’s not a new book, but one definitely worth your time.

And now, on with the great 8 survey:

8 TV shows I watch :

1. Weeds

2. Entourage
3. John & Kate Plus 8 (that even works with the survey!)
4. House Hunters
5. Most shows on the Travel channel
6. Rachel Ray
7. The Ghost Whisperer
8. Whichever New England sports team happens to be competing..and I don’t have the remote.

8 of My Favorite Restaurants (I have too many favorites to name them all):

1. Waterfront Restaurant, Camden ME
http://www.waterfrontcamden.com/

2. The Edge, Camden, ME
http://innatoceansedge.com/dining/index.php

3. Francine’s, Camden, ME
http://www.francinebistro.com/

4. Brevetto, Camden, ME
http://www.downeast.com/The-Maine-Mouth/May-2008/The-Scoop-Brevetto-Kitchen-Wine-Bar-in-Camden/

5. The Youngtown Inn, Lincolnville, ME
http://www.youngtowninn.com/

6. Café Miranda, Rockland, ME
http://www.cafemiranda.com/

7. Suzuki Japanese Cuisine, Rockland, ME
http://www.suzukisushi.com/
8. Chez Michel, Lincolnville, ME

8 Things that happened Yesterday

1. A big section of our fence fell down for no apparent reason.

2. Murphy tried to climb the section of the fence and got stuck.

3. My dishwasher, newly replaced with a new computer chip, began making hissing noises as if it was now possessed by demons.

4. I emailed Caroline at school three times and talked to my mom twice.

5. I watched the news obsessively about the Santa Barbara fires, since I spent a great part of my childhood there.

6. I read three chapters in Margot Livesy’s new book.
7. I made Risotto, and ate almost all of it myself.
8. I took the dogs for a very long walk in the mist to work off the risotto.

8 Things I am looking forward to:

1. Caroline coming home for Thanksgiving!

2. Picking out the tree and decorating it.

3. Finding a new job…hopefully soon.

4. Always beginning a new book.

5. Going to Arizona in the Spring.

6. Celebrating my 22nd wedding anniversary, albeit quietly.

7. My next yoga class.

8. The first snow !

8 things on my wishlist:

1. A new fence ! ;-)

2. The perfect butter leather soft black boots.

3. Gloves that can’t be lost.

4. A Kindle e-reader.

5. World peace tied with a really good haircut ;-).

6. Teens who don’t argue.

7. Good health for all of my family and friends.

8. A trip to Ireland.

8 Things I love:

1. My husband and our children.

2. My mom.

3. My cousins, Jeff’s family, and our dear friends.

4. Our wild & crazy pets.

5. Dunkin’ Donuts raspberry coffee, light.

6. GPS…I am no longer lost all the time.

7. Fresh sourdough bread.

8. The first snow !

8 things I can't stand:

1. Traffic and long lines.

2. Watching the news and knowing I can’t do a thing about it.

3. Reality TV, other than the ones I listed.

4. People who don’t like animals.

5. Bland food.

6. Wet socks on a cold day.

7. The wrong pillow.

8. Mean people.

8 People I am tagging:

1. I don’t know if enough people follow my blog to name ! So, jump on do this too, if you’re a reader and think it’s fun !

2. ?

3. ?

4. ?

5. ?

6. ?

7. ?

8.?

"The name is Bond. James Bond."

“The name is Bond. James Bond.” I don’t think any catch phrase from any movie has had the kind of staying power that those six words--six syllables even---have had. The first James Bond picture, “Dr. No”, premiered in 1962, three and a half years before I was born. And, yet, I could probably recite the script word for word. One of my earliest memories is that of going to the drive in, in my pajamas, while my parents watched “Diamonds are forever”. I remember fixating on the idea of James Bond…whether played by Sean Connery or the newest Bond, Daniel Craig…as being the archetype for the uber cool, dangerously chic Englishman. I realize that every Bond fan has a ‘favorite Bond’, but honestly, I think each actor has made the role his own, and has stepped into the very large shoes of the very large character.

So, what is it about James Bond that makes every woman swoon, and every man want to be him? Is it the impeccable Saville Row wardrobe? Or the extraordinary cars? What about those unbelievably ‘imagineered’ gadgets that Q seems to come up with next? I believe that all of these are true, and yet, there is more to the appeal of James Bond than dapper dinner jackets, witty come backs and the latest Aston-Martin. There is the mythology of a strong man, doing his best to save the world, and coming up against incredible odds. Despite the fact that I’m a particularly “girly girl”, even I’ve always wondered how I would fare pitted some of Bond’s nemeses. I think it’s fun to imagine crossing intellectual paths with Goldfinger or testing my strength against Jaws….or even what holding a Walther PPK would feel like in my hands…and I’m pro-gun control. Because good always does prevail in Bond movies, you know that Bond will always triumph. And, through him, we can envision our own triumphs against unseen, wicked forces. It’s a very powerful feeling to be able to put yourself into a place of complete surrender to a noble cause. And, through James Bond, we can do this in our pajamas with a DVD without ever having to leave the safety of home, thanks to Netflix. Those villains can devise complicated assassinations and challenging scenarios for maximum destruction, and we can defeat them…from the safety of our local movie theatre, or even our own living rooms.

Good against evil has been the earliest told story. The snake appearing in the Garden of Eden. Cain and Abel. Pharoah and Moses. The Romans persecution of the early Christian church. But our Judeo-Christian traditions aren’t our only source for Good Vs. Evil culturally. Almost every civilization has this same theme in its roots. In South America, the ancient god Mayan Guinechen fights the evil god Guecufu in a never ending battle for the enternal safety of the universe. In ancient Persia, the Zoroastrian concept of good and evil came in the form of Ahura Mazda and his twin, Angra Mainyu. According to texts, these brothers fight for the souls, the safety and the very nature of the universe. Globally, we are human beings eager for understanding the conflict, and the concepts of good and evil. We believe that by understanding the conflict, we can overcome it. When it comes right down to it, I am just as afraid of evil as the next woman. But, I have a deep and abiding faith that all will well in the end. I believe this is one reason why James Bond has such a strong appeal. James Bond, as we know, is far from perfect, but he always triumphs, no matter how dire his circumstances appear to be.

In Yoga, one of the reasons I enjoy practicing inversions is the sense of mastery over gravity. Inversions are incredible for your body in many ways: they help improve circulation and the immune system, as well as assist in overcoming sleep disorders. Shoulder stand is an incredibly empowering pose. I try to offer it at least once a week in my classes. In shoulder stand, the yogini is required not to look to either side but straight up, against the flow of nature. One’s core strength is built, as well as one’s sense of accomplishment and confidence. Shoulder stand literally sets one apart from the usual ‘stand on your feet’ posture. It’s an overcoming of the laws of nature, as we know them, and it’s all within our control. I have to admit that the first time I attempted shoulder stand, it was not a pretty sight. My shoulders felt unbalanced, my belly felt weak and my legs began to shake. I was sure the entire class would point and laugh. But, within a very short time, I discovered this was one of my favorite asanas. Not only does it feel great for your back and core, but it always leaves you with a heady feeling of triumph. Although I’ve been practicing Yoga for many years now, I still want to come out of shoulder stand and clap in victory!

Like James Bond, we all have the possibility to accomplish "good" over a wrong in our lives. It’s unlikely we’ll need to speed away in a car chase on the French Riviera, but every day we’re presented with choices. Some are ‘small evils’…such as having that caffeine late in the day. Others are big ones…such as overcoming addiction. But, we are all faced with the inevitable consequences of our actions. How we decide to choose good will be an individual decision. And, goodness, as a choice, is not always easy. But, when you’re pressed to do what’s ‘easy’, as opposed to what’s ‘right’, imagine yourself to be James Bond: strong, powerful and able to overcome all difficult scenarios. Look deep into your character and ask yourself, “Is it right or is it wrong?” before making your decision.

And, then, hop into your Alfa Romeo and drive away into the sunset…or better yet, to see the “Quantum of Solace”.