Friday, November 18, 2005
Some Friday Zen for You
A few nights ago I got off the 6 Train at Spring Street. Inside the token booth was a white board, and on the white board was written the following:
When the student is ready, the teacher will come.
It's an old saying and a pretty common one, but nevertheless important. I thought about it in yoga last night, while hanging in some upside down position. I've tried yoga many times before and it never stuck. Yet for some reason now I can't get enough of it.
I can only speak for myself on this one, but I think it also applies to writing. Any writer can tell you about the horrible feeling that arises after sitting at the keyboard for hours on end, staring at the empty page. No matter how hard you try or how much coffee, etc. you pour into you, nothing comes out. Sometimes it's not until you step away and go do something else that the inspiration and readiness to create comes.
Last night we were doing some handstands in class, a task that seemed daunting because I was sure that I would bash my head against the brick wall. Eventually I got up and hung for a bit, and I must say that watching everything topsy-turvy was exhilerating. Try it!
Speaking of topsy-turvy...
If the first quote in this entry was too new agey for you, try this one on for size. It's from my personal guru, Cab Calloway:
I'm a striver,
From up on striver's row.
And I'm jivin',
The very best i know.
Hard times got me topsy-turvy
From "Topsy-Turvy (Hard Times)"
