Sometimes I have days when my body, mind and emotions are in a kind of uproar---an autonomic nervous system storm. My back is screaming at me, my head has weird thoughts, my digestion has run amok, I can't sleep, and everything seems difficult.

In the middle of that, I still know that is not who I really am. I am able to step back, and breathe inside and say "I am more than my thoughts. All my thoughts are just like waves in the ocean, coming and going, neither inauspicious, nor meaningful."

And the funny thing is, that the whole situation passes much more quickly, and I can find my self again. I used to stay in these states of mind for months, or maybe years, kind of paralyzed by inaction, depressed, and drawing all kinds of bad conclusions about myself.


A few weeks ago I had a mother and her daughter visit my Yoga class. The mother clearly wanted to "protect" the daughter, in case I turned out to be too weird or something.
I tried to answer their questions as best I could, and also answered her email questions.
A week ago she sent me this letter; it just blew me away. It seems she got the essence of the thing right away. Wow.

Here is the letter:

Susan,

I wanted to say thank you again for all the wonderful help you have given me.

I also have been very disciplined in my practice of meditation though my mind tends to wonder more days than not I seem to have found a part of my inner self I had yet to consciously shed light on. I have found myself looking upon things differently, like the small things in life actually stand out and I seem more of the goodness in others.

I also find that my day to day life is less stressful, I have become more content in my life and I have also found a new love for myself that I have never felt before. I use to look in the mirror and see a lot of negative but each day I try to find something more about myself I appreciate. Each day it gets a little bit easier to be less critical and more loving towards who I am.

The more I meditate I find new things about myself, like the other day I found the anger and hurt that I had thought I had let go of was still within me. I actually began to let it out I felt as though with each deep breathe I took I breathed in positive things and released the negative. I have never felt as good as I do right now, I have also found my beliefs have strengthened and I stand stronger in what I believe.

The other day I was beginning to do the tree pose and I felt an energy within me I cant describe it. I hadn't felt that way before. I feel it every time I do the pose its as though I'm linked to something within me that gives me extra strength to do anything I need to do and face anything I need to face. Thank You I know you do not know it but you have helped me in many ways. Thank You for helping me live a lifestyle that helps me grow and love who I am and everything around me.

Sincerely,
Melanie