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Finding Beauty in the Ordinary

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“The ordinary is the extraordinary,

The simple is the sacred,

The small is the vast,

The humble is the divine.

You are already home.”

— Jeff Foster



It’s been a while since I last reached out, and I wanted to take a moment to say hello and share a health update, especially because so many of you have reached out concerned for my health.

As some you might know, I had a rather unfortunate ski accident back in March while on a family holiday in Italy. I was literally taken down the mountain by skilled medics, strapped to a stretcher, like something straight out of a movie! Thankfully, I didn’t injure my spine or head, but I did partially tear my adductor muscle (groin area), which meant no yoga practice or any other movement I enjoy. And as if that timing wasn’t challenging enough, I had a 17 people yoga retreat in Sri Lanka to lead in just two weeks time. With the help of some wonderful friends who stepped in to demonstrate postures when I couldn’t, I somehow managed.

 

Then in May, an opportunity arose to see one of the best microsurgeons in the field, and I decided to move forward with a procedure to help restore my lymphatic system, which had been affected ( partially damaged ) by cancer treatment years ago. I call it “collateral damage” because sometimes, in the process of saving our lives, some long-term consequences occur. The procedure required a trip to the US for consultations and, ultimately, the surgery.

 

It’s now been 5 weeks since the operation, and I still have about 2 months left to fully recover and the nerves are back to normal functioning and I can get back to my usual activities, or at least some of them. This means that sadly, I won’t be able to host the online yoga gathering this summer as I originally announced. :(

 

Meanwhile while my recovery continues, I’m finding joy in the simple, everyday moments—organizing my kids’ rooms, making batches of granola and kombucha, snuggling with my dog Goldie, watching a movie with my beloved, driving my kids to camp daily and playing trivia games with them.

At times, (more than I'd like to admit) I catch myself thinking I’m not doing anything worthy and I am falling behind on everything (especially my fitness level and yoga), but then a song like "Ordinary" ( by Alex Warren) pops on the radio, and makes me smile and brings me back:

 

“...So if our time is running out,Day after day,We’ll make the mundane our masterpiece.”

 

 

It’s a beautiful reminder that even in the “ordinary,” we can find our masterpiece, if we’re truly present for it. I’ve come to appreciate the small, mundane things more than ever: the smell of granola baking in the oven, the softness of Goldie’s fur, or the way her nose twitches as she sleeps beside me. Making breakfast, cleaning, organizing, driving...it all holds beauty and peace when I’m fully present and most importantly when I allow it. ( because to be fair, we all fight against it, seeking more special, extraordinary moments.)

 

Maybe this softness comes with age, or perhaps it’s a gift from the quieter, slower pace of recovery. But I’m learning to savor it. There’s wisdom in these seemingly small tasks, and a deeper peace that comes from noticing the beauty ( and purpose) in them.

 

You may have heard the Buddhist proverb, “Before enlightenment, carry water, chop wood. After enlightenment, carry water, chop wood”. Same same, but different. It is basically saying that the tasks of daily life don’t disappear after a spiritual awakening. The only difference is how we approach them and how deeply we’re present with each moment.

I’m nowhere near to being enlightened, but I can feel the shift when I approach these daily acts with more presence and awareness. The dishes, the driving, the cooking...it’s all sacred.

 

How about you? Are there areas of your life that feel mundane but when done with reverence—no matter how cheesy and fake that reverence might feel in the moment, could lighten your heart and bring joy?

 
 
 

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