right side up

In your lane.

Grounded.

Relaxed.

Meditated.

Right side up.

So many little sayings for a state of being: staying right side up, together, on point, happy, moisturised and/or headed in the right direction. Because life is dizzyingly weird right now. Some days feel like a rip, dragging me out and under.

And I’m noticing that pull.

I’m conscious of so many conversations about scans, biopsies, scares, urologists, cancer grades, check ups and the like. And I believe its right to pay attention to all this info, but also I’m mindful not to linger there. I can’t be helpful or be supportive, if I’m drowning in it too. So I’m spending a part of each day filling the tank, so I can keep my foot on the pedal, or keep the boat right side up headed to true north.

I’ve even rolled out the yoga mat one or two times. I’m like, is that chapter truly closed? Because gawd, I spent thousands studying and practising yoga so I want to be sure. I realised that, yes the teaching asana has closed firmly, but the philosophy or the wisdom texts live in my viens. The Bhagavad Gita is really the most deep and true book on living an aligned life, that I’ve even come across.

And how does that look now? How do I dip into that and let it be useful to me, living life right now? That book, is one that keeps me right side up. Its a great reference, when I’m in any kinda doubt. Its like a wise elder, there to guide and encourage you. So my rituals and tools for right side up are:

• reading and contemplating from the Bhagavad Gita, the Stoics and other wise literature.

• going to bed early, think 8.30pm some nights.

• more water than ever.

• lifting weights, I can literally FEEL those endorphins kick in!

• sitting with my Love List; values, things, people & places that I’m into right now.

And so I ask you to think about the tools, practices, rituals that you know help you stay right side up? What do you lean on? Is it still serving you? What can you do to support yourself?