If you met me today, you wouldn’t guess that I tried to kill myself one year ago. You would see me teaching trauma-sensitive yoga, playing percussion at concerts, loving my Metro commutes, inhaling deeply under flowering trees. You would see my near constant smile and note my “spark of life,” my “inner light” and “glowing beauty.” You would ask about the “.02%” tattoo on my forearm and overlook the telling scar on that same wrist. You would listen to my story and call me “resilient.”
Tag: hope
Jumping Off Of Bridges (From The UYD Archives)
19 JUNE, 2014 A couple of months ago, I heard about a California yoga teacher trainee who committed suicide. Everyone in her yoga circle was completely shocked. They said there were no signs… Last week, I received a gutsy, honest message on my Urban Yoga Den Facebook page about my “Jumping Off Of Bridges” post from March…
When Things Go South
“Grant me strength, as I go from here, to do your bidding.” ~ prayer from recovery programs Today I want to be rigorously honest. Today I want to speak as a person for whom the stars have never miraculously aligned in my favor, simply because I visualized an ideal, or “manifested” an outcome, or even,…
Jumping Off Of Bridges
Five years ago this month, I was scheduled to jump off the Ben Franklin Bridge. I wrote it on my calendar for March 7, 2008: “Philly.” I was planning to drive from DC to see the Irish band Hothouse Flowers, get drunk, and then jump. That February, my fiancé had broken up with me –…
Not Love: Anger, Pt. 2
LOVE: Brief (and maybe not so brief) explorations for our February class focus. (Or maybe not.) * * * First I just want to wish everyone a beautiful Valentine’s Day. Truly, from my heart. I’m sorry that I am posting something difficult today. But this is where I process and come to solutions. * * …
A Warm & Fuzzy Feeling
Today I am applauding the little kid who assaulted me in June. I dedicated my morning yoga practice to this child; I am smiling; and my heart is singing. For the back story, please read “Peace Tools: Infinite Compassion” from June 2012. To summarize – one evening last spring, a familiar kid (about 7 or…
Diwali’s Balance of Darkness with Light
“What is important for a movie? Both – light to make it; darkness to show it. The minute you learn to respect and see both sides of the coin as equally good, you can enjoy both. It is only a matter of understanding and acceptance. Let us have that light of understanding. Accept things as…
The Urban Yoga Den 