Today is going to be my peaceful day.

“Today is going to be my peaceful day.”

I hope you are continuing to follow the venerable monks from Dhammacetiya in Fort Worth, Texas on their Walk for Peace to Washington, D.C. (and of course, Aloka the Peace Dog :) ).

The Venerable Monks are making their way through North Carolina - here’s the update.

It has become part of my nightly ritual to check in and listen to their latest talk at their night rest stop. The message is similar each time — mindfulness, peace, compassion, forgiveness and lovingkindness — with some new anecdotes sprinkled in (about gardening, family, or updates on Aloka ;) ).

Repetition alongside novelty … kind of like our yoga practice :). For example, there are about 80-100 traditional yoga postures, with a multitude of variations. The traditional postures provide foundation, stability, and discipline-building … while the variations provide novelty, accessibility and progression/regression. Both repetition and novelty — in the monks’ message and in our yoga practices — provide benefit to us physically, mentally and emotionally.

What do you appreciate about repetition in your life? It could be a morning routine, your yoga practice, your work schedule, a family tradition or a spiritual practice … any of these can provide a sense of stability, centeredness and/or peace in the midst of a rapidly-changing world.

What do you appreciate about novelty in your life? Maybe you travel to new destinations or seek out unconventional experiences. Maybe you love an unpredictable schedule. Maybe your yoga practice is different every session (I know mine is!). Being open to a new experience or way of thinking can keep our minds and bodies from stagnation, allow our brains to form new neural pathways, and empower our spirits.

May we all be well, happy and peaceful.

Thank you, Selina, a yogi in our community, for sharing this inspiring adventure!