Greetings All ~

How do we continue through the overwhelm of life's challenges? Biologically, it's the will to survive. Sometimes it's simply putting one foot in front of the other. In the Sikh tradition, it's called Cherdi Kala, the ever-rising spirit.

Reminiscing on parts of my life, I marvel at how I got through them:
~ Relationship difficulties with my parents as a young adult
~ Confusion about Life's trajectory, made worse by years of daily substance abuse
~ Questionable choices during early recovery and sobriety
~ Running a small business solo
~ Children (with their own karma and issues)
~ Moving, relapse, marriages, divorces, deaths... all that Life has to offer

At the end of this fantastic documentary, If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast, Jerry Seinfeld says something like, "Each morning, I lie and bed and think, I can't do this. Ugh. And then I sit up. And then I walk to the bathroom. And then I brush my teeth. And then I realize, Okay... I'm doing this."

In this pandemic, we are in a long-drawn-out period of overwhelm. You may think it's your child, or a pet, or a deadline that is your motivation. But it's really you. Sometimes the most mundane thing, what the Buddhist's call Chopping Wood and Carrying Water, will get us through. It is the momentum used to fend off inertia—physical, mental or spiritual. A daily practice, or something even once a week, can get us moving, refreshed, and renewed.

Here is a link to a simple, short set that has stimulated me out of the doldrums.
Link to Kriya for Metabolism & Relaxation

All Good Things,
Vicky Jap Dharam Rose