GYPSY GIRL'S GUIDE

Oh, yes! The realization that one can start over anytime sounds so simple, but it is profound freedom.

Alex, my yoga instructor said yesterday, while we were all in tree pose, that to fall over was a beautiful thing because it gave us a chance to find our balance again... a second chance as it were. We take what we learn and apply it to the next situation, knowing that we can always come back to center again, because it's always there for us. Like in tree pose, we balance, we fall, we balance again- and we are so much better for the trying...
I am so happy that you are finding your path and balance in your life, sweetie...

"This was such an eye opening phrase to me. How often do we make resolutions and fiercely go through our lists until suddenly, life happens! At first, our "wanting mind" sets targets that are crisp clear and very ambitious. Soon, reality kicks in and we get overwhelmed, we miss our marks, we become frustrated and possibly even give up on our dreams."

Yes!!!

Smile ... I think if starting over / profound change is supposed to happen, the soul knows when to open the door and walk through it. The way you are searching ... it has to happen! I love change (perhaps to much).

Do you mind if I put a link of your website on mine. Actually (i have to be honest), I just did because I want others to see your wisdom and journey as I think it has real healing qualityes. Please let me know if you don't like such things.

great post! you are so right--being the perfectionist that I am, I always find that I have set unattainable standards and goals for myself. It seems like a recipe to fail--perpetuating old patterns of self-defeat. But the right attitude is to 'Start Again' as you said. Life is a process--not a "to do" list. I recently had another insight about this--to remember that there is Divine Timing, too. I think I get so impatient with my life sometimes and want everything RIGHT NOW--but there is a bigger plan and things happen when the time is right and when we are ready to integrate them. Sorry for the incredibly long comment. Love your blog--hope to keep in touch!

Can I just say that I LOVE your long comments! And the short one too... I just learn so much from each and every one of you. You just put a huge smile on my face. To all my pals: Yuuumm! Your comments are delissh!

ah'..a welcome reminder...thank you...

I think that when you acquire the skill to bounce back or to start over, feeling stronger and more content is a sign that you are not wasting your life.

I remember reading a study about emotional IQ which showed that people who are most successful in life are those who fully embrace this notion of starting over. People with high EQs when confronted with setbacks (instead of being discouraged and locking themselves in a room), bounce back and start over. How many times have we all failed at things because we havn't been willing to start over? Perhaps if we had, we would have been assured of success.

Natalie Goldberg said that at any moment we can leave our frozen selves and start over.

I need to work on concentrating during namaaz, for instance.

Or concentrating on history lectures.

My mind needs to learn to focus, basically. That's why working out @ the gym makes me study bettter afterwards..cuz I've been concentrating, focusing on the "burn" and all :)

Thanks for sharing these epiphanies with us. The photo is super, too!

permission to start over--so simple, yet so revolutionary! i think i may need to purchase a copy of that magazine...i could use this article myself

many many areas where i need to start over. i had just woken up this morning and decided to do so and then i come across your delightful post. just the sort of encouragement that i needed. thanks

Alex- I forgot to mention that my yoga instructor is Brazilian! She's fabulous just like you!

I connect with every syllable in this post! I certainly know I could do much more to distinguish each new day from the last. I know I have treated too many days as if I have less choice and power than I really do. Lately I have been more motivated, inspired, committed, and able to usher in each new day but its still all very new to me, letting the "frozen self" thaw out a bit and just melt away.

i read that article too. i liked where he said that the shift in focus is an attitudinal one "you simply do what you care about as well as you can". simple on one level but very powerful.

I have found myself on occasion saying or doing things in a work context that aren't true (i don't think) to the person i am. there are lots of reasons for that.. fear, ambition, insecurity. i love the idea that each moment is an opportunity to be mindful, start over and put out the kind of contribution that makes my soul happy.

thank you for sharing your lovely, thoughtful posts

take care,
amy

Oh yes. Absolutely. I even have to keep starting over in my journey to understand and practice the art of starting over!

My friends tell me I am the most disciplined person they know - I decide that I will run 10kms four times this week, and so I do. I vow to cut out all snacks in between meals, and so I do - most of the time.

But somehow, this determination actually makes it all the more difficult for me to accept it when I don't follow through.

But I am noticing that as I get older, I get better and better at accepting the deviations from the path I prescribe for myself and seeing those apparent detours as part of the journey.

I'm learning to embrace the opportunity to start over. Insightful post lovely Alex!

mmmm, thank you for such an inspiring post! there are many areas i would like to start over in... food... wine.... exercise... procrastination... i'm learning not to beat myself up when i 'fail' - instead i chose to treat myself with kindness and understanding... 'i can start over' is a fabulous mantra to have
S xo

The best thing I ever learned too was that I do not write with indelible ink--that just because I put it on paper or it appears in a cloud on the screen in front of me does not mean that it is permanent...

...Alex, it is never too late to begin again...

I've just been doing some yoga in my room here in Badghis and I keep coming back to your words and my response to them. I keep thinking that what I need to do is to let go, so I can start over. I hold on so tightly to my plans, my goals, my expectations.

Starting over gets easier when I loosen my grip. So let me take that and work with it - together with your suggestion about using a sense of being grounded to allow ourselves to stay open and soft.

I have so much I can learn with you!

xx

Lovely stuff as always. What I need to start over is my blog: it has no purpose or direction... lol

Thank you for this...

It's exactly the reminder I needed! All the best.

~M

Oh yes, I do that to myself too...all of the time, but I am learning to cease and desist on that type of behavior, because I am only hurting myself.

I too adore many of the articles in Yoga Journal...so many times they ring to true to whatever I am feeling at that time and they are usually profound and perspective altering.

This idea of simply starting over is quite freeing. And really, who is to say that we can't? No one except ourselves we are being overly critical and beating ourselves up.

You took this concept and handed it to us so clearly and beautifully...thank you for this wonderful gift tonight!