unwind

"There are many paths through the Ring of Life. They are a constant movement toward self-fulfillment through growth of your mind, expansion of your experiences, widening of your senses and growing your spirit. It’s ceaseless and constant throughout one’s life.”

- Frosty Wooldridge, Golden, Colorado

   

Rewind

     I love this quote. it reminds me that life is a process, not an object.
 I've been putting forth a great and focused effort in my genetics class, and some moments it feels as if it is to no avail.  Occasionally the fearful thought that all this book learning is far removed from, or maybe distant from,  the real life I want to be living. but it is because I am living in these thoughts that I am not truly engaged in the moment to moment act of living.... not because of the class or the work.
I have been literally worrying myself sick!

Restriction enzyme map of a bacterial plasmid DNA. Yeah, this was stressing me out!

  Thankfully I am beginning to feel better: (thank you yarrow, tulsi, bubbly water, ibuprofen, cough drops, hot showers, sleep, and Sriracha sauce....)

Yarrow tea.. medicine translucent in the sun.

Enjoying a freshly picked pear and wearing the wonderful turquoise bamboo velour mermaid pants my awesome sister gave me is probably the best medicine.

I hate to rest is what it comes down to. But my body imposed a (reasonable) limitation on my process, and I was forced to spend time doing absolutely nothing. Oh it felt so terrible! I felt bored and then anxious about how if I ended up liking this whole slacking off thing, I might never end up motivating myself again.  it was really a good time to look at my deepest motivations, and assess my priorities.  I don't know why I fall into the illusion that external things define me (ie.. jobs, grades, clothes, my yoga practice, what I eat)  but for now I can see through that bullcrap, to the light that says I'M OK JUST AS I AM! sheesh!

My homie,  the dalai lama, always bringing a smile to my face:). 

 I am so grateful to feel this freedom of being. And I am grateful for that microscopic flu/cold/whatever virus that lead me, by the breath, cough, sneeze and snot, to the light.

Slowing down to enjoy the moment.  Walking to class through one of christchurches many beautiful, arborous (new word?) Parks.

 Sometimes life brings you a big pause when you're not going to do so yourself.

Play dough, given to me as a way to learn about DNA recombination,  illustrating for me the concept of change and unconditional love instead.