I'm not telling you to make the world better, because I don't think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I'm just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it, but to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your own work and take pride in it. To seize the moment. And if you ask me why you should bother to do that, I could tell you that the grave's a fine and private place, but none I think do there embrace. Nor do they sing there, or write, or argue, or see the tidal bore on the Amazon, or touch their children. And that's what there is to do and get it while you can and good luck at it.
― Joan Didion
A note on goals.
It's great that you want to better yourself. There's a wealth of untapped potential within you (there always will be), and you deserve all the things you desire. Setting goals, intentions, and resolutions can be a powerful tool in creating the life you want to live.
At the same time, there is magic in loving the life you have.
We're told not to settle—not to settle for less than we deserve. Don't give up. Don't stop chasing your dreams. Keep going, keep grinding, keep hustling. We're told there's an endpoint, but it's always just beyond reach. We'll get there eventually, they say. When we do, we'll finally be happy.
New year’s resolutions are an extension of this grind mindset. Every year at this time, many of us start to look forward to the year ahead without taking stock of the last 12 months. It feels easy to just put the year behind us (especially this one). To pretend it didn't happen; to attach ourselves to an arbitrary date that promises to change things. New year, don't look back.
This last year was the worst of my life. I lost four family members and a friend, and I grieve them every day. All of this is set within the context of a global pandemic where we are collectively persisting through hardships—dead loved ones, lost opportunities, closed chapters, and other endings. Despite this, the year helped me unearth new potential, awareness, and strength within myself.
This time last year, I was excited to chase new dreams—intent on finally 'finding my purpose.' And then, on New Year's Eve, my dad was admitted to the hospital. I flew to take care of him ten days later. I sat by his side throughout January and throughout his last days. In the weeks following, I stayed close to family, tending to them, tending to myself. While I didn't see it that way at the time, whatever my purpose was, that became it.
Throughout 2021, I vacillated between goal chasing and grieving. The highs of accomplishment contrasted with the lows of heart-aching, heartbreaking despair. In the moments of success, I felt proud, inspired, and strong. Yet, at the same time, I felt sad, nostalgic, and resentful.
In the moments of sitting with my grief, I found myself surrounded by the same spectrum of feelings. I felt proud to be my father's daughter, inspired to channel his guidance without him here, nostalgic for the innocence of childhood, and resentful of others who didn't know how good they had it.
As much as I desired some other purpose—one to which I attached wealth, clout, and happiness—something kept calling me back to this purpose. This purpose of feeling, sitting, processing, and accepting.
And eventually, little by little, I began to realize that the goal wasn't about finding a purpose; it was about being present with every second of life.
I wasn't going to find happiness with another goal or resolution; I was going to find satisfaction right here, right now. If we could stop searching, all that's left is being—being present with the pain and being present with the joy. Our purpose, then, is to settle and soften into all the intricacies of life.
We're told not to settle, as if to settle is to fail. But when we settle, we can finally get settled. We can slow down long enough to see that there's a whole lot around us to love. When we give up chasing a never-ending goal, we can be still and know that good is good enough.
I lost a piece of myself this year and slowly shifted closer to a new version of myself, without doing much other than sitting with my pain and loving my grief. But this story is by no means done. There is always something to dream about, something to hope for, and a goal to work towards.
Before you start writing out your new year's resolutions, start by answering this question: What was the best thing about the last year?
I hope you remember that while there's a lot to grieve from this year, there is also a whole lot to love. So let yourself settle and love where you are. You've made it so far; you've overcome so much, and all that you've survived is a part of you. Love it all. That is your purpose. ✨
I'd like to dedicate this post to Tucker, Ed, Joyce, Fatima, and Kareem. You brightened our lives, and we will forever miss you. ✨
✨ yoga etc. is my newsletter on yoga, social justice, collective wellbeing, and collective healing. Every week, I share a piece of me—a weekly dose of mindfulness—hoping it resonates. The best way to support my work is by sharing this newsletter with those you think might find a piece of them. ✨
Yoga of movement ✨
My class schedule for this week is below. On Sunday, I am hosting a new year class integrating some of the concepts and practices I've been learning over the last six months in my 300-hour yoga teacher training program. I would love for you to join.
Tuesday 28th December ✨ Rejuvenate ✨ a dynamic flow with options for all levels to ignite creativity, fire, and confidence (book)
Sunday 2nd January ✨ New year + new moon Sunday soul ✨ a special 90-minute workshop incorporating asana, journaling, intention setting, mantra, and yoga nidra so that we may welcome 2022 with clarity, strength, and joy (book)
Please try to sign up at least 3 hours before the start of class, and if you can't make it in real-time, you'll get access to the recording.
And lastly, a few recordings for you to try out on your own time:
15 min ✨ Abs in 15
15 min ✨ Fiery Sun Salutations
45 min ✨ Rejuvenating Flow
75 min ✨ Twist + Release
I'm also available for private and corporate classes, and I offer complimentary private classes to nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations. Reply to this email if you're interested!
Yoga of action ✨
I'm tithing 10% of my income from my online yoga classes to organizations that fight against white supremacy. Every month, I'll pick a new organization and highlight it below. If these organizations call to you, please consider contributing (no matter how small).
My December donation will go to SisterLove, a women-centered HIV and sexual and reproductive justice advocacy organization in the US and South Africa. Black people are 3.3 times more likely than white people to die from pregnancy-related complications, and reports have shown that most of these deaths are preventable.
SisterLove provides thousands of free HIV tests every year, conducts community-based research programs with the world's leading research institutions, and empowers and equips women living with HIV to conduct programs in their local communities. The non-profit also advocates and fights for policy change at the state and federal levels for women's rights, women's reproductive justice, LGBTQ rights, rights for incarcerated citizens, access to healthcare, and ending the epidemic of HIV/AIDS.
Have a suggested organization? Leave a comment to share.
Yoga of words ✨
Grab a pen, grab your journal. Have a seat somewhere comfortable. Close your eyes, take a breath in, and let it go. Your weekly writing prompt is below.
What was the best thing about the last year, and do you want to bring with you into the new year? (15 minutes)
Feel free to share what you've written by clicking the link below. But, of course, you’re also welcome to keep this practice as just yours.
Other musings ✨
Travel as healing (The New York Times)
The year in graphics (Blomberg CityLab)
Is it a resolution or is it capitalism? (Culture Study)
Decolonizing the Yoga Sutras sangha sessions (Kripalu)
How we spend our days is how we spend our lives (The Marginalian)
Think before you tell us about your health resolution (Refinery29)
Joan Didion and the opposite of magical thinking (The New Yorker)
On repeat: Tim McGraw by Maggie Rogers (Spotify)
I'm here for you—for class, advice, or anything you need or would like to share. Always a phone call/text/DM/reply button away.
LBC ✨
P.S. If you like this newsletter, please share it with your friends! And if someone sent you this newsletter, you can subscribe below!