Love can only be lost because it was once found.
- Rachel Brathen
Things feel hard right now, I know, dear. That's because things are hard.
It's a lot, and if it feels like too much, it's because it is too much.
There's a lot going on. There's a lot going on in the world and there's a lot going on in your world. There is heaviness and pain and suffering that we all bear witness to every day, and there's a whole lot more that remains unseen—the stuff we keep close to the chest: the loneliness, the fear, the grief.
If you're worried you've been desensitized by all the pain and fear and suffering in the world, you haven't, love. Your heart is still soft, trust me. It's still just as fragile as when you were a child.
So take care. Take care of your heartbreak.
Put your phone down and remember what's real. (Seriously, put your phone down.)
Follow the path home—to yourself. Let there be stillness and silence around you so that you can watch the movements of your own self—so that you can be quiet and listen. Tell me, what do you hear?
Remember that you can't do it alone. The weight of the world isn't yours to bear on your own—it's ours collectively. And when we each take a piece of the pain, it's more manageable. When we each take a piece of the pain, we can turn that hurt into action. That's how we succeed. Healing happens when you no longer have to do it alone.
You can't do it alone and you can't do it all. Carve out a little piece of the work, do your best, let that be enough, and let yourself rest. You need to rest. You need to recharge. You need to take care of yourself first so that you can then take care of others.
And through all this, remember that you are already healing. Even just in the knowing of your pain, the recognition of the hurt, you're stepping closer and closer to wholeness.
It's a process. It takes time. Your heart can only be broken because you loved.
When it feels like too much, know that you will find the light again—I promise you, dear, you will. It might take a week. It might take a year. It might take a day, but it will come.
In the meantime, remember that you are healing, you are growing, and you are enough. ✨
Yoga of movement ✨
I'm teaching online and in-person this week:
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 the recording in your email.
I'm also available for private and corporate classes. I'm offering complimentary corporate 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 September donation will go to The Anti-Racism Daily, a free daily newsletter that reports on current events through an anti-racism lens and provides action on how to build a better future. Every week this month, I'll highlight some readings and actions from the newsletter:
Learn how to protect abortion rights
Support eight organizations helping Texans can get abortion care
Donate to organizations protecting abortion rights in your state
Get educated on the current abortion restriction laws in your state
Have a suggested charity? 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.
Take a 15-minute walk outside without your phone. Name five things that you noticed and write about them when you get home.
Feel free to share what you've written by clicking the link below. Of course, you’re also welcome to keep this practice as just yours.
Other musings ✨
Reads: Yoke by Jessamyn Stanley (GoodReads)
Holding onto summer with this salad (NYT Cooking)
Vote: The tale of California's recall election (The Daily)
Embrace the diversity of Indian food (The Anti-Racism Daily)
Live event: Dr. Gail Parker on healing from racial distress (Eventbrite)
Our favorite scented candles: "we spent 27 hours researching and testing 32 candles" (The New York Times)
“I’m incredibly grateful for my two heritages, my two cultures, my mixed identity. [...] Now it’s my duty to empathize and educate. I want our family story to be known for generations to come.” (Kind Red Packet)
On repeat: Hymn of Healing by Beautiful Chorus (Spotify)
I'm here for you—for class, for advice, for anything that 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!