I am a little obsessed with Elizabeth Gilbert's book Eat, Pray, Love. Every time I read it, I feel like I am on a pilgrimage/ great adventure. And so I have read it way more times than is probably normal...
So there is this part, under the "Pray" section where she's in India. She is staying in an ashram, a sort of Indian, yogic monastery. She follows their practices, goes to bed early, and wakes up (at 3:00 am) for a time of prayer. There's this one prayer she just can't get on board with. It's an hour and a half of chanting in an ancient language. It's a hymn of love, but there is no love in it for her.
Then one morning, she decides to dedicate this practice to her nephew, Nick. And so she does. It's a powerful experience for her and for the first time, the hymn flies by.
"The hour and a half was finished. It felt like ten minutes had passed. I realized what had happened - that Nicky had carried me through it. The little soul I'd wanted to help had actually been helping me." (p 169)
There is the cutest little boy waiting for a sponsor where I work. His name is Marvin Adrian. I seriously can't believe no one has sponsored him yet. (I am not sure if it is kosher for me to post his picture on my blog.) So tonight, I dedicated my yoga practice to him. When we were doing core work, our awesome teacher encouraged us to tell ourselves, "I can do hard things!"
Well, sweet Adrian, I sent that message over to you. I already know I can do hard things. But you are only four. And the world is going to tell you otherwise. But know that you can do hard things. You've got a lot of odds stacked against you. But you can do hard things. You can grow up healthy and strong. You can change the world. You know what else? We believe in you. And we have an awful lot to learn from you and your sweet smile.
So while I sending out these prayers and messages to Adrian, guess what happened? We did some crazy core work. I don't even know what we did, but I made it my offering. And you know what? Adrian carried me through it. And before I realized it, it was over.
As E.G. said, "The little soul I'd wanted to help had actually been helping me."
So there is this part, under the "Pray" section where she's in India. She is staying in an ashram, a sort of Indian, yogic monastery. She follows their practices, goes to bed early, and wakes up (at 3:00 am) for a time of prayer. There's this one prayer she just can't get on board with. It's an hour and a half of chanting in an ancient language. It's a hymn of love, but there is no love in it for her.
Then one morning, she decides to dedicate this practice to her nephew, Nick. And so she does. It's a powerful experience for her and for the first time, the hymn flies by.
"The hour and a half was finished. It felt like ten minutes had passed. I realized what had happened - that Nicky had carried me through it. The little soul I'd wanted to help had actually been helping me." (p 169)
There is the cutest little boy waiting for a sponsor where I work. His name is Marvin Adrian. I seriously can't believe no one has sponsored him yet. (I am not sure if it is kosher for me to post his picture on my blog.) So tonight, I dedicated my yoga practice to him. When we were doing core work, our awesome teacher encouraged us to tell ourselves, "I can do hard things!"
Well, sweet Adrian, I sent that message over to you. I already know I can do hard things. But you are only four. And the world is going to tell you otherwise. But know that you can do hard things. You've got a lot of odds stacked against you. But you can do hard things. You can grow up healthy and strong. You can change the world. You know what else? We believe in you. And we have an awful lot to learn from you and your sweet smile.
So while I sending out these prayers and messages to Adrian, guess what happened? We did some crazy core work. I don't even know what we did, but I made it my offering. And you know what? Adrian carried me through it. And before I realized it, it was over.
As E.G. said, "The little soul I'd wanted to help had actually been helping me."
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