Resourcing the Revolution

world changing

On Gratitude, Uber, and the Magic of the Everyday

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It’s surprisingly easy to look at the negative in a situation, especially when the circumstances are stressful or otherwise outside your control.

Take this past weekend, for example.

We were on our way home from visiting family. It was a 90+ degree day, and we had the dogs with us and a cooler full of food in the truck. We stopped for gas about halfway home, and when we got ready to leave the gas station the truck wouldn’t start.

Nothing. No click when we turned the key. Not even a jump start worked.

It was past 5 pm on a Sunday, which meant that most businesses were closed for the day, if they had even been open in the first place. We were stranded in the middle of nowhere, far from home, with two overheating dogs and a cooler full of melting ice.

And there was nothing that we could do to change the situation.

Sounds like the setup for a really crappy evening, right?

The way it really happened

Every piece of information you just read is true.

But that’s not the experience I had.

Yes, it was stressful. And I will admit to sliding briefly through a “woe is me” moment or two as the situation unfolded.

But instead of being overcome by the stress of what was happening I got to witness the beauty of humanity and technology, and perhaps experience a bit of serendipity.

The first person we asked at the gas station was more than happy to take a few minutes and try to give us a jump start. Even though it didn’t work, he was friendly and gracious and wished us luck.

We called our insurance company to get the truck towed home. Score one for roadside assistance.

And as we were considering the prospect of getting two people and two dogs home in the back of a tow truck, I had a brief flash of hope.

Uber: fallibility and the flip side

There’s no lack of controversy when it comes to Uber. From stories of sexual assault, sexism, and misogyny to cutting driver earnings and getting banned from cities around the US, the company isn’t exactly earning public trust or a stellar track record.

But in a situation where your options are few and far between, sometimes even the bad guy can ride in on a white horse.

As you will recall, we weren’t stranded in the middle of an urban center. It wasn’t completely the middle of nowhere, but the chances of me finding an Uber driver in the area were slim to none. As a company, they’re fairly new to Charlottesville and we were at least 30 minutes outside of the city limits.

I opened the app, and saw a driver. Singular. The car was 10 minutes away, driving in the opposite direction.

And I wondered, “what is the pet policy on Uber?” After checking, and seeing that it’s totally up to the driver, I requested a ride and gave her a call.

Telling her the details of our situation and explaining that we also had two 50 pound dogs with us, I told her that I totally understood if she didn’t want to accept the fare.

She told me she would be there in 15 minutes.

I’ll admit that I got a little teary right that moment, filled with gratitude. The dogs and I would make it home. We didn’t have to wait long in the oppressive heat, and our ride wouldn’t be the back of a tow truck.

Our knight in shining armor turned out to be a middle-aged lady from Baltimore driving a Lincoln. She just happened to be in the area visiting her boyfriend, and had decided to take a drive while he was at work.

The kicker: she had turned around to go home for the evening but decided to keep her Uber app open for a few more minutes. Even a short amount of time later, and she wouldn’t have been around to drive us home.

Stop, and reframe the experience

Add to this story of a tow truck driver who waited around with my partner until animal control came to pick up a chihuahua (that he found wandering around while he was waiting for the second tow truck of the day) and you have a set of circumstances that renewed my faith in the inherent goodness of humanity.

The world feels like it’s a wild, scary, and out of control place these days, but we see so much of the ugly that we sometimes forget about the rest of humanity…

The decent, honest, and friendly folks just trying to make their way through the world. The majority you never hear about, who spend their days living quiet lives and sometimes bringing joy to the world with random acts of kindness.

Our neighbors offered to lend vehicles and give us rides while the truck was in the shop. And the neighbor who was taking care of our garden over the long weekend had mowed our yard while we were gone, just because.

Instead of enduring a terrible, stressful experience I ended the day with a heart full of gratitude and a story to tell.

Finding magic in small moments

As I wrap up this post, a note: I realize that I live a life full of very real privilege. Being a well-educated white female, I don’t experience the same prejudice that others face. I don’t know what it’s like to experience life from any perspective but my own.

But I do believe there’s a magic to the everyday, if we just allow it in.

If you had put me in this situation 10 years ago, I’m fairly certain my reaction would not have been the same.

I’ve been practicing yoga for about six years now, and meditating regularly for the past two and a half. The high strung, type A+ personality is still there, but it’s been tempered by practices that allow me to have space between my thoughts and emotions, my body, and the world.

My morning meditation (a Pilgrim meditation from Britt B Steele, an amazing teacher from Portland) includes this:

There is a knowing that bubbles, rises, and reveals each day, each moment as choice, not chore. This revelation is laced with potential, possibility…”

Sitting down to meditate while I waited for my partner to make it home that evening, I was struck by that line.

Choice. Not chore.

Life is a series of moments, each with the potential to be beautiful or terrible (or if we’re being honest, somewhere in between).

So in those moments where it’s easy to find the negative, can you find the choice hidden in the situation? Can you open yourself to possibility? Can you find the good in the world?

It’s not easy and it’s not something that comes naturally at first, but I believe that our lives – and our world – will be better for it.

The Power of Choosing Love

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Confession: I struggled with this post.

Whether to write it. How to write it. What to write.

It’s tough out there. We live in this beautiful, amazing, vibrant world, that’s sometimes full of grief, sorrow, rage, and unspeakable tragedy.

And when tragedy strikes, in whatever form, sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond.

Sometimes it’s hard to find any words that can even begin to express the depth of what’s in our hearts.

The media fans the flames by focusing attention on the biggest, baddest, boldest — there’s something to be said about the power we give something negative when we focus so much of our energy on it.

I’m not saying that we should bury our heads in the sand, or that it’s wrong to feel whatever emotions we happen to be dealing with.

So during weeks (months, years) like this, I choose to fully feel the sadness in my heart, in my gut…

But I also choose love.

Love, for the amazing diversity of life in our universe.

Love, for our global human family.

Love. Full stop.

I end every yoga class that I teach with this, from the Integral Yoga tradition:

May the entire universe be filled with peace, and joy. Love, and light.”

Just, love.

7 Self-Care Hacks: An Insider’s Guide to Political Action

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In honor of the People’s Climate March taking place this weekend in New York City and around the globe, I want to share some tips I’ve learned in my years of being involved with large-scale political action. (A note for those of you who don’t get involved with this type of thing, you can also use these same ideas when you’re traveling to large conferences.)

Let’s face it: being involved in days of large-scale action doesn’t exactly lend itself to an environment that is beneficial or conducive to self care. In fact, it’s often exactly the opposite. Long days, most often outdoors, with a stressful lead up… that often end up with us crashing afterward. We push ourselves so hard getting to the finish line that our bodies often collapse right after, leading to sickness and general exhaustion.

But what if there was a way to alleviate some of this stress, and make our participation in days of action a little bit easier on our bodies, and a little bit more fun in the process?

That’s where I’m headed with this post today, and I hope that you can make use of some (or all) of the ideas below as you head to New York or one of the solidarity events this weekend (or the next time you’re out getting your world-changing on).

Plan Ahead!

1. Do your research. Find out how you’re getting to the event, and give yourself plenty of time to get there. Maybe even build in some extra time. When large groups of people converge on an area, there’s often traffic congestion – and that includes not only traffic on the road, but public transit and pedestrian traffic as well.

Giving yourself extra time will help to alleviate our number one issue: stress. Less stress getting to the event = a good start to the day!

When you’re making your travel plans, also make sure to do at least a little bit of research about the area you’ll be in. Take a minute to see where things like restaurants, coffee shops and grocery stores are, just in case you need to make a pit stop at some point during the day.

Along these lines, it may help to have a plan that’s just slightly off the beaten path. Have you ever tried to stop at a coffee shop where thousands of other people are converged? Sometimes walking half a mile can make the difference between standing in line for an hour; plus as an added bonus, you’ll get your body moving!

2. Dress appropriately. Check the weather forecast. Several times. Plan your clothing for the most likely possibility, and then check the weather again the night before you leave. You want to have a raincoat if it’s raining, or sunscreen and a hat if it’s going to be hot and sunny. And, you don’t want to have a whole lot of unnecessary gear to lug around – taking the minimum amount that you need is a careful balancing act, but it’s totally worth the extra planning time.

Wear comfortable shoes. Plan for how much walking you will be doing, between getting from transit to the event area, during the event itself, etc. How many hours will you be standing on your feet? This single item may very well make or break your day.

3. Be Flexible. You know that saying about the best-laid plans? Well, yeah. Having a plan is good, but being okay with that plan changing is a must in situations like this. If you’re the uber-planning type, have a backup plan, or a plan A, B and C. But again, be prepared to improvise. Again, we’re aiming for keeping the event as low stress as we can.

And, sometimes the unexpected adventure that finds you is exactly what you needed. Be open to serendipity!

Sleep

4. Get enough sleep before the event. Hopefully you’ll be able to get in solid nights of sleep in the week leading up to the event. (Organizers, I know you’re laughing uncontrollably right now, but hear me out.) I know that there are only so many hours to get a million hours worth of things done in the lead-up, but also remember how much more efficient you are when you’re not running on empty.

Getting a good night’s sleep can mean that you’re more efficient in your execution of the things you have to do – rather than running around in a fog, you can keep a sharp mind, and the hours you have can be more effectively used.

5. Sleep on the way to the event. I know, I know – it’s hard to do, especially if you’re traveling with other people who are also super excited about the event that you’re headed to. That being said, taking a couple of hours to catch some zzz’s on the bus, the train, or in the back seat of the car you’re carpooling in can be really beneficial. Even a 20 minute nap can help.

I would recommend bringing along a travel pillow – one of those that you can roll up or squish into a tiny little bundle and strap to your backpack. They’re low weight, and take up hardly any room, but they make your travel napping so much more comfortable, and probably a lot more restful. No one likes the neck stiffness that comes from falling asleep with your head against a train window.

Or, take along the Yoga Nidra recording I made for you, and do a modified session. You probably can’t find a perfectly quiet place to lay down, but you can still do a good bit of the practice during your travel time. And think how awesome it will be to arrive at your destination all relaxed and recharged!

Nutrition (Fuel for the Body)

6. Take water. Either carry a couple of water bottles with you, or maybe a single water bottle that has a built-in filter. (I don’t travel without my filter bottle.) Staying hydrated is super important to our health, and especially when we’re outside, or traveling, or a combination of the two. Yes, it probably means having to stop by a port-a-potty during the day, but those couple of minutes aren’t worth getting dehydrated over. Seriously.

7. Take snacks. I don’t know about you, but I get seriously cranky if I don’t eat. I never, ever leave home without at least a few granola bars in my backpack when I’m headed to a direct action or large event. Even if I can’t find any other food to eat during the event, I know that I have enough in my backpack to keep me going during the day.

 

How many of these things do you usually incorporate into your routine when you’re traveling to events? Do you have any tips to add?

I’d love to hear them in the comments, and I look forward to seeing you out on the streets!

Calling Bullshit: Changing the Conversation Around Worldchanging

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Last night I was tagged on Facebook by a friend, inviting me to join an environmentally focused activist group that is looking for volunteers. While I believe 100% in what they are doing, there was a line in that call to action that pissed me off. (Enough, in fact, that I pushed the post I was supposed to publish this week to make room for this topic.)

Clear your calendars and keep ’em clear. I don’t care if it’s goddamn yoga night- if you flake out our wells get poisoned.”

I get where they are coming from; wanting to make sure that people are committed to the cause is perfectly acceptable. And sadly, there is a very real tendency for people to enthusiastically overcommit to many projects and then later drop a few balls. However, it’s the way this statement is worded that really gets to me.

So I’m calling it:

BULLSHIT.

This is the root cause of so many of the problems we face as worldchangers – the expectation that we have to martyr ourselves for the causes we believe in, sacrificing ourselves for the greater good. Look, I get it. I know that the work, the cause, the fight are all important – imperative, even.

That being said, I wish to counter: the work is important but, damn it, YOU are just as important.

It’s time to change the conversation. It’s time to start standing up for ourselves and our needs as adamantly as we do for the subject or objects of our work. It’s time to cut the bullshit.

And, it’s not going to be easy. This particular mindset has become an expectation, and has almost become a cultural norm. By stepping up and declaring that you’re opting out of this mentality, you challenge the system and the status quo. You become a rebel against the rebellion.

I don’t see that as a bad thing. The revolutionaries in our world have always seen a better future, and have been willing to step forward and say “enough”. It’s time that we honor ourselves – our health, our bodies and our minds.

It’s time.

We are worldchangers and our time has come.

I Am a World Changer (and My Time Has Come)

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RY-Manifesto

How can we expect to create a balanced, sustainable world for ourselves and future generations if those of us who are creating change are doing so in an unsustainable, imbalanced way?

Fellow change maker,

Our time has come.

For too long we have stood by, mired in the fight, watching as the world heaved in chaos around us. With each passing day we dug in deeper, clenched our teeth and put that much more of ourselves into the effort. As time passed, we found that the struggle was starting to wear on us, to create cracks in our strength, and we considered giving up. And we woke again the next morning with the enormity of our task weighing on us: “If not me, who? If not now, when?” We braced ourselves, took a deep breath, and shouldered our burden anew. We reassured ourselves with the thought that we were making a difference, laying ourselves on the line, giving ourselves up for the greater good.

Because, really. Our fight is important. Imperative, even. The future rests in our hands, and we have this moment, this fleeting opportunity to turn things around, to be the change we wish to see in the world. What could be more important? We are but one small piece of a grander vision and if we have to sacrifice ourselves to make the world a better place, that seems to be a worthy way to have spent this life…

Right?

But sometimes we get this flash of an idea, this glimmer that maybe things don’t have to be this way, maybe we don’t need to be martyrs for the cause. We hear a voice that raises the question: what if? We start imagining the possibilities, but then our old ways of thinking win out again, and our imagining turns to what will be possible after we win this fight, what could be, if only this one last step could be completed, this last set of conditions could be reached. If only. And we think – maybe we’ll get there one day, but not yet.

And again I say to you, fellow change maker: our time has come.

What if there is a better way to create the change we wish to see in the world, and what if it’s possible right now? What if we can step outside the current system and create a new possibility, a new paradigm?

I believe that the best way for us to bring positive change into the world is to create it within ourselves.

I don’t have all the answers, but we each have to start somewhere. I invite you to come along on this journey with me, where we can begin to discover a new way of bringing our positive change to the world by first cultivating it in ourselves. Together, we can find a simpler and more sustainable path to creating positive impact.

Gone are the days of us flinging ourselves upon the pyre of our cause, flaming brightly for but a moment before we are reduced to ash, used and burnt out, unable to continue on our path. What if, rather than burning out, we were able to create a sustainable path to change? Instead of the current revolving door model of change making (where on one end, fresh faced and energetic young dreamers come in the door and systematically turn into the jaded, burned out souls who come out the other side), what if we were able to create an ever-growing ocean of balanced, energized and empowered change makers?

My goal for the Rebel Yogi community is to reach out into the world, empowering thousands of world changers to improve their lives through yoga, while also creating a sustainable life balance as they make their lasting mark on the world.

This is the future that I see, the possibility that I believe in – and I can’t do it alone. I believe that, with yoga, we can change the world – and I see the possibility that we can create together by bringing the Rebel Yogi way of life to changemakers all over the world. Thank you for your company along the path, as we create this journey together. The community starts with you and our shared journey as we learn how to increase our impact in the world while decreasing the impact on ourselves, and then share those stories with each other.

I started working on the manifesto for Rebel Yogi back in February.

Yes, it has taken me almost seven months to finally give myself the kick in the ass I needed to get it finalized and out into the world. To be honest, I kept falling into the “all or nothing trap,” thinking that it had to be perfect before I could put it out into the world. Long story short, it’s been a struggle to ship.

Along with the manifesto, I have included the invitation that some of you may recognize from the funding campaign that I ran back in the spring. It felt fitting to share the words with you again, since the manifesto goes hand in hand with the invitation to join the Rebel Yogi revolution.

And, please share the manifesto far and wide. Our time has come!

Reflections on Giving Yourself Permission

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These days, I’ve been starting off my yoga classes with a reminder to my students: every time we step on to our mats, it provides an opportunity for us to practice being okay with both where and who we are at this moment.

It’s an opportunity to give ourselves permission to be okay, to take a look at ourselves (bumps, bruises, rough edges and all) and honor that this is the very best version of ourselves that we can achieve in this moment. There is nowhere else we have to be, there is nothing else we should be doing, and to expect more is doing ourselves a disservice.

What’s funny is that even though I speak this truth every time I sit down to teach, I have a really hard time following it in my own life. It’s a fairly classic “do as I say, not as I do” scenario, and it goes hand in hand with making excuses instead of just following my own advice and taking care of myself.

This is where I fall into the “not enough time” trap, or where I end up “trying to take care of myself” instead of actually doing it. We can make all the excuses in the world about why we can’t do certain things, many of them completely viable. But in the long run, we’re missing out on making a positive impact in our lives by making these excuses.

My question is: why in the world do we do it??

Why, when we know that we need to get enough sleep every night, do we cut corners and try to get away with the bare minimum? Why, when we know how good we feel after a yoga class or a good workout, do we procrastinate and end up skipping it? Why?

I think it’s because we’re human. We’re these inherently flawed, yet unimaginably wonderful and capable creatures who are wired for immediate gratification, and our human nature often wins out over the intellectual argument between our bodies and our minds.

And speaking of the mind… we often live so deep inside a constantly active, chattering, future-thinking, past-remembering clump of synapses that we forget about this moment. Remember in last week’s post where I compared the mind to a drunken, scorpion-bitten monkey? It’s no wonder we have such a hard time just being, much less being okay with where we are in this moment.

Toward the end of the last Skype call I had with my business coach, we touched on this subject. Between being in location transition and it being summer, I have the perfect opportunity to really settle in and do my own work. Instead, I’ve been beating myself up about all the things I should be doing, and the fact that I haven’t progressed as quickly as I would like in certain aspects of the business. Instead of being honest with myself, I claim that I’m “trying” to take care of myself. Instead of being proud of the things I’ve accomplished, I beat myself up over what hasn’t happened.

One of the things that I hold dear with Rebel Yogi is the chance to be transparent about the process. Yes, it sucks (a lot) to admit that I struggle as much as the next person. But my hope is that by laying open the dark side of the story, rather than just the bright and shiny side that is usually the only side of the story that makes a public appearance, we begin to see that we’re not alone. We are all on our own twisty journey – the yoga journey (of the self, through the self, to the self) – but we do have traveling companions along the way.

It’s the major reason I started the Changemaker Q&A series – to share the stories of those fellow travelers, to remind us that we’re all in this together. We all struggle, we all fall, and we all have this beautiful opportunity to smile anyway – to get back up after those falls, to dust ourselves off, to find the beauty in the struggle – and to find a way to be okay with where we are, even in the midst of that struggle.

So am I okay with where I am in this moment? If I’m being honest: most of the time, no. But I’m making an effort to be more aware of the times when I’m not, and taking those opportunities to pull myself out of the boiling pot of mind-stuff, to become present in the moment, and to just be.

Our lives are a work in progress. Let’s give ourselves a chance to open up to that idea, and maybe ultimately to be okay with it.

I’m in. Are you?