Crossing the bridge

Its 2:30 in the morning here (I think 4pm in bmore?!) And I'm wide awake. I heard lots of noice outside my window - not sure what... Maybe monkeys! But now that I'm awake my head is buzzing trying to absorb all that I've taken in so far. I thought writing this blog would be easy but we go non stop from 7am to 7pm everyday so far and by the time I get back to my room to wash some of the filth off and have dinner I don't know what to write - my head is buzzing with a 1000 things that its hard knowing where to start.

On our first day, after flying for 20+ hours and a bumpy, loud, honking ride thru the night on the back of a bus (half out group gets car sick so I'm always in the back) with no heat for 8 hours I hadn't slept for a day and a half, was cold, hungry, tired and yes grumpy... We arrived at our town in the morning and the first thing we had to do to get to our hotel was cross the bridge. Easy enough for me so I thought - I'm not afraid of heights. But others in my group are and they have to face that bridge several times a day. And what's crazy is how crowded it gets and motorcycles flying and swerving through full speed ahead. And the monkeys all the while just for added stimulus! I saw a little Indian girl get her candy stolen out of hand by a monkey on the bridge - of course the little girl screamed and cried! I was warned to keep my purse and camera away from the monkeys! Those crazy monkeys! I like them though. And its hard to stay away!

Anyway, when we got to our first lecture we talked a bit about courage and obstacles (kleshas)... How courageous people are not unafraid - how they too are scared to death but they face their fear and do the scary thing anyway. That we of course have the option to not "cross the bridge" - to turn away and take an easier path. But the thing is the self confidence it builds - that inner strength from deep within that over time builds and says "I can do this"... If u cross one bridge u can cross the next. And if u turn away in fear that too builds, but it also has a way of eating at u. Its always in the back of your head... What if... Fear is all in our heads.

So as we crossed that bridge the first time, in my mind all I was thinking was 'holy crap this is so cool'. I was in a daze from no sleep so my thoughts weren't deep. But last night after the ancient cave meditation I had a little more clarity and I walked across by myself instead of chatting and giggling along the way... And I realized the symbolism of it all... The stepping out of the comfort zone and facing obstacles, crossing bridges, doing the hard stuff with a calm open mind with the hope for a higher sense of awareness and self confidence - transformation. That's yoga. That's India. That is why I'm here. And You are why I'm here. Yes I'm here to full my own cup, for an adventure, culture, philosophy and wisdom, to share it with others. I have only been here 2 nights but I feel a deep sense that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be doing exactly what I'm supposed to do. And I am so happy, so grateful, so peaceful, and so excited to cross more bridges!

Here, everyone says 'namaste' like hello or aloha...
Namaste - I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you of light, love, truth, peace and wisdom. I honor the place in you where, when you are in that place and I am in that place, there is only one of us.

Although I am so far away I feel very connected to my home, my family, my friends - you! Pause for just a moment to smile and breathe.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry