The Conspiring Universe

"And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." -- Paulo Ceolho, The Alchemist
"Beginners Luck" as it is sometimes referred to.

That was the thought that came to mind tonight. Admittedly, it has been a bit more of a struggle than I had hoped or imagined building a new network of friends and associates. Perhaps my expectations were just a little too high about how quickly I could build a group of folks around me.

I'm at more a disadvantage than the average Joe. We often times use our work associates to help us build up our associations outside of work. A friend or friends of a co-worker comes along and now you know 4 new people. But because I am not going to the office, I don't have that.

So I've been a little frustrated with the situation but have tried to remind myself that more time is needed.
[fast forward]

So tonight, a group called dana (downtown austin neighborhood association) had a little gathering in the park a few blocks from here. I decided I would go to it (actually I've decided to go to as many events in the area as I can). Met a couple people. Met a local bartender at the Lucky Lounge, bumped into a couple folks from the complex and got to listen to a great beatbox group (very entertaining -- and they play every Tuesday night at the Lucky Lounge, (ask me how I know that)).

So, overall -- it was good to get out even though I wasn't 100% up for it. But wait, there is more to this story. I signed up to be a member of dana. As part of it, they had a raffle. Well, long story short, I won a $50 gift certificate at a local pub. The membership was $25, so I came out $25 ahead.

Perhaps the Universe does conspire to help us along our path -- if we let it.

I'm the Gingerbread Man!

I went for my first run along the Town Lake Trail. It's a great trail - but I've got a long ways to go to make it around the entire 10 miles. I haven't run all summer (which means the last time I ran was the summer of last year). I left at 9:30 am -- it was cool, perfect weather.

Within 15 minutes, the combination of running and the sun coming out from behind the clouds make it super hot. We're talking not even 10 am and hot weather. After a little under 1.5 miles, I turned around. Better to run <3 miles today and be able to come back tomorrow (or some such).

Not that it was unexpected -- but often times we imagine ourselves a little more ready than we might be. That's OK though -- we deal with the rough waves of the ocean and make it through, hopefully growing in the process.

So my goals are now to get back to around a strong 3 miles a day in the next couple weeks and then start building up to 4 and 5 miles. Run, run as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!

The Alchemist

I have just finished The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

It was recommended to me by a friend of mine. "Get this right away" she said. I did. Putting aside all other books in my collection. I went out, got the book in the store the next day. Now I'm not as fast a reader, so it took me a couple days to complete, but it was definitely worth it.

If you're seeking, you need to read this book.

We shouldn't believe, but we want to (sometimes)

MY HOROSCOPE

Quickie: Once again, the road has split. Only you can decide which route to take.

Overview: Better rest up, because the evening hours look busy -- and quite strenuous. You're radiating confidence, control and a very quiet, very sexy power. Definitely wear something sleek.

Most of us don't really believe the horoscopes we read are real, but we read them anyway. We try to put them in the best light, believing them if they sound good and calling them foolish if they say something negative.

I'm not qualified to say whether or not Astrology is valid. But I think by our very human nature, it has an implicit validity. We are naturally suggestible beings, what we might call self-fulfilling prophecies. Think something bad will happen to you, and you'll find something bad that has happened to you. Think something good is coming, and you'll see something good. The events don't necessarily change, but our perception of them does. And that's all it really takes.

Struggle with the Best

It's hard to deny yourself "The Best". We are taught in our society to always strive for the best, never settle for less than the best. And Madison Avenue uses this against us.

Would you like Model A, or Model A-Deluxe. Well, of course I should have the most, best that I can possibly afford, so bring on Model A-Deluxe. But wait, we just got in the Model A-Supreme -- is that something you're interested in? Why yes, I can see the need for having a Model A-Supreme, not sure what the need is, but I'm sure I have it.

Stepping away from this mentality is extremely difficult. Intellectually, I am well aware that I really don't need the A-Supreme, but it's only $50 more. What if I find I need one of the features it has? What then? Even as I intellectual try to move away from having to have the absolute best, I get sucked back in. It's a very clever trick.

I had to buy a microwave for the apartment. Do I buy the .8 cubic ft microwave, the 1.0 cubic ft, or the 1.2 cubic ft (thankfully I had ruled myself out of the 2.0 / 2.2 cubic ft microwave ovens). The .8 is adequate. The 1.2 is actually mid-range and the 1.0 is the top of the line here. Stainless steel, industrial design. Lots of options.

After an extremely long struggle (I think I went back and forth at least 4-5 times), I thought I had settled that all I really "needed" was the .8 cft microwave. But was it big enough? What if I couldn't fit my plate in it? And it had half the power of the 1.2 cubic ft micro. I ended up getting the 1.2 microwave. 1.2 cubic ft, 1300 W, black, lots of options. It was at least $10 cheaper than the 1.0 cubic ft stainless steel microwave, but $30 more than the .8 (which is probably all I needed).

Let me restate: Stepping away from this mentality is EXTREMELY difficult. I felt like at least I didn't get the most expensive one. That's a positive step in the right direction.

The Small Tree

[Sent to me by my sister]

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one ton truck refused to start.

While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again." "Funny thing is," he smiled," when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

Provoke Thought!

Well, it had to happen some time. I've decided to create another blog to do my venting. So I've created Provoke Thought.

I would have called it ""Rants" -- but that was already taken! :-)

Hopefully it will provoke some thought over the course of time -- I don't expect every posting to provoke a thought, but it gives me a good venting opportunity.

Relevency?

As I write this before heading out to see what is happening on a Friday night in downtown Austin, I have wondered about what topics are appropriate for this blog.

You'd think with a name like Yoga Path, I should focus on spiritual thoughts and insights. And if that's the case, what's with the earlier Duran Duran promo I squeeze in?

Well -- for me, I think the Yoga Path is the path of life. It includes not only the spiritual insights, but all the little tangents and distractions along the way. So, if you thought I'd post some breakthrough thought or some such, you'll have to move on.

That said, I don't see myself posting my political views of the world here (stay tuned, I've been thinking of creating a parallel blog for that). Instead, I see this as a place to have thoughts about the simple joys of life (whether it be listening to music, a TV show, movie, Yoga practice, or a bike ride -- well, you get the picture).

Just so we're clear on what you're seeing. Not that I expect a ton of people to read this -- but it does help me start the practice of journaling and getting back to writing.

Profitasana

Very interesting article about a couple guys that are looking to sick capitalism on Yoga in the article titled Assuming the Profit Position.

Will this ultimately end Yoga as we know it? Probably not. Yoga seems to have survived many of the trendy fads it has been associated with, but the landscape could be much different in a few years from now. As much as I have to credit YogaFit for getting me started in the teaching process of Yoga, I feel that YogaFit seems to promote more the feeding of the body, leaving the soul hungry with no source of nourishment.

Sadly, Yoga Works could do the same (at least in the short term). Ultimately, the hunger of the soul will need to satisfied and so journey that is Yoga will continue on.

(Reach Up for the) Sunrise

For those that don't know -- I'm a huge Duran Duran fan (and have been for a very long time -- since 1985). The original gang is back with a new album and their first radio single since Ordinary World & Come Undone (in 1993-1994).

The song is getting good reviews and as I've always done in the past, I continue to push the Duran agenda!!

Here is a link to the VIDEO

On your mark, get set, ...

The movers arrived yesterday. Most things made it intact. Unfortunately, a dining room chair and a plant stand did not survive, breaking beyond any repair.

Cable is sort of hooked up -- they claim it is on, but it doesn't work (the building is supposed to be wired such that they don't need to send out a technician, turning it on and off from the central office). A technician is coming out tomorrow. So much for technology.

You don't realize just how much crap you've accumulated until after you've packed it, shipped it, and unpacked it. I've managed to get about 80% unpacked. Only a handful of boxes left. It's starting to feel like home.

One of the nice things about moving is that you can see just how much baggage you have as a person (because they weigh it). It turns out I've got about 6700 pounds of baggage. I blame it on the Italian furniture that I bought. Pressed wood is always heavier. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

Moving sucks

It's been over a week since my stuff was packed up and shipped off. Unfortunately, I still have nothing to show for it. The movers are supposed to be here Tuesday morning. It's been a very frustrating experience, magnified by the dollar cost of the whole process.

And at this point, I'm at their mercy. They'll hold my stuff hostage unless I meet whatever demands they come up with. I don't like the Federal Gov't getting involved on most things, but interstate movers is the exception. They are now completely unregulated and to make things worse, you are powerless to go after them because they may be from another state (keeping it out of the courts jurisdiction). The whole point of movers is to make things easier. So far, I don't think they're doing a great job -- especially for the cost involved.

Melting

It's 6:48pm. The temperature is 94 degrees (but it feels like 97 with the humidity). It's definitely going to take some getting used to this weather. Hopefully my blood will thin out in the coming months to make the next some much easier to handle. It's almost like having Bikram yoga built-in to everything you do. :-)

YogaPath.net

I now have http://yogapath.net pointing to this blog.

Less typing is always better.

My Empty Home

Well, my stuff won't arrive until next Tuesday, so the weekend will be spent in an echoey apartment. It's starting to hit me that I may have actually done this. Go figure.

I won't be able to oder Cable until after my stuff arrives. They definitely make it hard to get cable (you'd think they'd want to make it easy -- but no, the goal is to make it as difficult as possible, or at least that's how it appears).

Slowly beginning the process of settling in..

Yoga! Yoga!

It's as though the Universe heard I was arriving and offered me a taste of Yoga in Austin.

http://www.freedayofyoga.com

On Monday, September 6th, Austin has having dozens and dozens of free classes throughout the city. It printed up as 12 pages worth of classes [ed. no, I don't plan to take every one of the classes ].

Where's my groove?

It's hard getting into the groove of things, especially when you don't have any of your belongings yet. They should be arriving soon, so hopefully that will help.

Spending most of my time filling in the items I didn't have (or needed to replace) as part of the move. I tell myself I should be doing more, but the reality is that there's not a lot that can be done at the moment. It's hard to go about your normal, daily, routines when you're living out of a suitecase.

It will be nice when my internet connection is available in the apartment (and I have a chair that I can sit on), I find it strange to spell out my thoughts on a stranger's computer.

First Day is Done

Well, I'm finishing off my first day here. Getting a little bit of the worries, but that is to be expected. I know I'm spending a lot of money to do this adventure. I think setting the money aside and making it a non-issue will be the solution I need to deal with it.

Wandered through the outskirts of town. Trying to find a Bed, Bath & Beyond or Linens-n-Things had me going all over the place. The roads take some real getting used too.

Still, not too bad for the first day.