Just Make It Better

Photo by: Tony George

Over at my 84 Things to Live By post, Leimrod commented that he didn’t see how yoga is essential to life.

I suppose he has a point. Yoga’s recent travels into the westernized world has definitely poo-poohed yoga’s authenticity. There are hoards of Lululemon adorned people lugging mats to studios hoping to find divinity or at the very least, a good workout. Many of these people are just posers, bending into pretzels, feeling hip and trendy with every stretch. These components (as others) could make one wonder, as Leimrod has, why is this essential to life?

There’s this fabulous park a few blocks from my office.

The place also has a little dog park, it is sectioned off but I like to watch them play, burning with my puppy envy.

It’s been warm and sunny the past few days and the place was overrun during my lunch hour today.  It was glorious, basking in the sun and people watching.

But today, the wind had to blow doggy urine smell right smack into my blissful park bench.

It was dreadful and strong, whether freshly created or a remnant of other day’s play date, it was difficult to ignore.

I practice meditation rather poorly. Unless guided in a class, creating mental stillness is not my forte. So when my girl-friend mentioned Gabrielle Roth 5Rhythms class, spouting its fabulousness with enthusiasm, I figured the $20 and two hours was worth its possibilities. The class is made up of five core elements of music each opening you up to all forms of Being. You go into a room and dance with complete strangers for two hours while music is played, freeing your inhibitions and mind.

Basically, it’s dancing as a form of meditation and it was fucking awesome.

The funny thing about stuff is that once you’ve gone long enough without acquiring more of it you stop wanting any of it.

Ever since I’ve freed myself from American consumerism, I’ve noticed the feeling of freedom increases with each day. Like any other addiction the more you feed it the more you crave it or the farther you are from it, the more you wonder why you ever needed it. A year ago I would never have guessed the huge release it would bring. My wish list was excessive, as is the majority of Americans, and it was one of the causes of my stress and unhappiness.

Ever hang out with someone and feel anxious to get home? Does being around them make you feel drained, annoyed or stressed out? You’re not quite sure how it got like this, but you can’t shake the feeling you want to “break up with them”?

Toxic Friends.

They infiltrate your life like a searpeant, slithering their negativity in and unexpectedly smothering you with it.

A long time ago I came to accept that I am idealist. I believe in the way the world could be rather then then what it is. I often look at situations and find that when there’s something unfitting about it, there’s almost always a better way for me to manage it. There doesn’t seem too much in the world that can’t be changed; whether through the work of many, the unadulterated passion of a few, or the intention of one.

Idealism isn’t a weakness. Remember, what is greatest in history are those that changed it.

I’ve never really been too much of envious person; usually holding tight to the idea that “their success is not my failure”. Recently though, as I struggle to find my place in this writing/blogging world, I find that I am often detered by what others have accomplished. Inspiration and determination has not been springing within me as I am often deflated by the rising success of others.

The green dragon really likes to unexpectedly bite you in the ass, doesn’t it?

In not wanting to be an envious and hateful cod, I’ve forwarded my thinking to understanding why.

When people ask me where I live I often tell them Little Korea.

Technically NY doesn’t really have one of those, but since I happen to live in a predominantly Korean neighborhood I like to refer to it that way. I moved in without any real attention to the surroundings. I was in desperate need of a new apartment and the only things I cared about were: 1) safe 2) convenient to the highway. I’ve lived here for slightly over two years and besides remnants from the old life, I’m one of the few non-Asians in my surrounding blocks. Next to the McDonald’s around the block there is an Asian Market filled with Korean signs and fish so fresh its practically just been pulled right off the boat. For most people here English is not their first language (sometimes not at all) and their cultural influences are more Korean than American. Despite these obstacles, we communicate without too much confusion.

“We came to see that, in the long run, it is more honorable to walk in dignity than ride in humiliation.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As it is another year celebrating the late Civil Right’s leader, I am reminded of the people who were responsible for some of the most incredible acts of bravery in our nation’s history. I personally can’t imagine what it was like to be even alive during a time when segregation was legal, let alone be a black person fighting it.

It seems our people have been tamed into silence. Unlike the wild horses we once were, determined to have the life we demanded.

I’ve spent the last few years of my life participating in standard marital celebrations. All my experiences have been similar but after one such party I felt the full impact of its redundancy; something I think many people can relate too.

Since the announcement I had not seen the newly betrothed girl so I walked up to her and gave the expected congratulations. As we pulled away from our embrace, she shoved her left hand in my face with such tenacity I was humorously taken aback by her forcefulness. I glanced at the ring and smiled, knowing her intentions were laced with excitement and not bad mannered. As she rambled on, sharing the story of their engagement for no doubts the hundred and sixth time, I analyzed her joy.