Speak of Joy

My Tuesday morning yogis showed up.  Big time.  They brought energy, power, and rejuvenation into this space and their practice.  I feel so honored to be able to lead them once a week.

I shared this conversation from Danielle LaPorte during hip openers.  I read it a few months ago on Peanut Butter Runner - a blog where Jen, a Charlotte based yoga teacher, shares details around her yoga classes, and this essay spoke to me.  I couldn't help but pass it on. 

"We need you to tell us your good news.
Tell us how deeply in love you are.
Tell us how your life is rocking.
How free you are these days.
Tell us how wonderful your family is.
How many opportunities are coming your way.
How great it feels to make your work in the world.
How lazy, luxurious, or revitalizing your holiday was.
Tell us how fulfilled you feel in your job.
How sexy you felt on the dance floor, on your bike, in the interview.
Tell us how well you’re being loved.
How delicious your dinner was.
How healthy and sturdy you are these days.
Go ahead, tell us how lucky you are.

Do you feel so utterly blessed at times that it blows your mind?
Tell us about it. Please.

Even if you have to stretch to find the one golden thing in your existence right now, accentuate that. And give it to us.

We need you to light up our realities. Don’t shrink from sharing the story of your good fortune. Give us examples of well-loved living. Give us evidence of the rewards of courage, that it pays to hold out, or to go wild, or to burn prayer candles.

Declare your fulfillment without restraint.

Create conversations of fulfillment so we can step away from the shadows of media madness
and habitual, repressive, dampening complaining of the day.

Forget about arrogance and your britches.

Never mind potentially envious reactions — envy can be a positive agitator.

Yes, be gentle in the face of another’s lack, but still, let them know that certain happiness is possible — you’re living proof.

Tell us what’s good in your life so that we can believe in it for ourselves, so that we can reach out and join in.

Speak of your joy.  Whatever it is.  Often."

I love her advice here.  Why hold back?  Speak of joy - without restraint, without a fear of arrogance, without worry.  Someone needs to hear it; someone may need a little hope. 

After yoga, I came home and whipped up a quick fruit smoothie. 

Frozen fruit, almond milk, sunflower butter, and chia seeds.  Simple and delicious.