Awareness

I’ve started my dear friend and collague, Sarah Lee’s Mid-Year Mindfulness Reset: 31 Days of Guided Practice over at my yoga and fitness business Aetheria Movement. I’m writing this having completed just three days of the 31, but I wanted to share some insights had in even this small amount of time. Before that, a scene setting…

Photo of me with a rare sunset reflection during rainy season, San Jose, CR July 2025.

I’m also writing this after the US Congress approved a terrible piece of legislation pushed by the Executive branch titled with silly, meaningless adjectives that ultimately continues the downfall of the country of my birth and my parents’ and grandparents’ birth. The slashing of government funding for so many social services that people rely on will undoubtedly have devastating consequences.

It’s heartbreaking.

An environmental justice leader I follow said this in her recent newsletter “I’m nauseated.” Then she went on to give so many practical examples of how you and I can (and she is going to) act moving forward. I then read that the bill increases the ICE budget from $4B this year to $45B in 2029 - much more than the budgets of any of the programs whose funding was slashed. That on the heels of reading and seeing two many articles and images of the “new” shoddy ICE facility in the Florida Everglades. As many people have pointed out the similarities between this “detention facility” and Germany’s labor and death camps during WWII are eerily similar. This also makes me think of China’s labor and detention camps - cities - where Yughurs are held inhumanely. I’m sure Russia’s labor camps are similar. This is the reality of the United States in 2025. It’s heartbreaking and nauseating and infuriating.

I write about the current reality that is causing despair, sadness, and anger, in order to anchor to a reality of now. To not bypass it and pretend all is well in the world. All is very unwell. 

I write about this to set the meditation series in context, and remember what an anchor it is in these chaotic and inhumane times.

While a part of me says this is a frivolous endeavor in these times, most of me realizes how healing and powerful any introspective practice is during times of chaos and suffering. I’ve heard it and said it many times myself over the past decade or so: doing the inner work really does help us show up better out there - in our homes with our families, in our jobs with our coworkers, in our social circles with our friends and on and on until you get to showing up as a kind-hearted, compassionate human out with humanity. 

Some 💡 from these three days:

• Breath really is microcosm of the cycle of life and death;

• Breath is a teacher of impermanence;

• I am waking up to ways I’ve not shown up well at home and the ability and desire to change - to be the loving being at home I aim to be out in the world;

• Slowing down - a breath before reacting, pausing before answering, or just simply listening - creates space for a life lived awake;

• I want to live life awake;

• Awareness is a powerful, simple tool.

• Gentleness to self.

What are some reflections you’ve had in turning inwards, especially in difficult times? What commitments are you making to yourself and humanity to show up in right relationship to each other and the natural world? Comments are on - I’d love to hear from you.