True Bravery?

This last week I went to a Poetry Slam event here in Tulum, Mexico.

In case you don’t know what a poetry slam is, it’s a live competition where poets perform their work in front of an audience. If you haven’t gone to one before, I highly recommend it!

That day, I was in the audience taking in all the energy–feeling the nervousness and excitement from all of the contestants.

One by one, people went up to perform.

I watched as one contestant walked up wearing all black, entering the space with confidence, and his chest puffed out. He had on large dark boots, a bandana, an earring, black eyeliner, and an intense look on his face. 

You could tell that he had lived a hard life and was a tough character. When he performed his poem, his voice was strong and controlled. The audience was so engaged that they were able to both laugh and cry. What energy!

He finished his poem, and we awaited the next contestant.

Then something interesting happened:

A girl–who I’m guessing was younger than 25–went up to the pedestal. Her energy was almost the exact opposite of his. 

She seemed very nervous and extremely shy. She had a blue shirt with Hello Kitty on it, with light blue eyeshadow and even blue lipstick to match it. Little bangs & curly hair.

I’ll be honest—my first impression was judgmental. My initial thought was, “Why is she dressed like a little girl?”

When she got up to do her poem, she was shaking. She had prayer beads wrapped around her hand and fingers and didn’t make eye contact with anybody. She stood there rocking gently back and forth.

And when she spoke, I was even more surprised—her voice was so high-pitched that it sounded childlike too.

It was uncomfortable for me to watch.

But as she continued, something started to shift.

The longer she stood there, the stronger her voice became. She began to stand taller and straighter, and her eyes grew fiercer.

When she finished her poem, the room was completely silent for a moment, then erupted in applause.

After seeing and feeling all of this, I compared the two contestants in my mind.

The man before her appeared to be much more self-confident and brave… but I found myself asking–was he really?

After analyzing more, I realized that at the same time that he was performing his poem, he was also performing a version of himself that I’m not sure was a reflection of how he really felt and who he really was.

Appearing to be cool, appearing to have no fear, appearing to be “tough.”

The way he dressed seemed to be for a purpose and to make a certain impression on the audience.

This girl, on the other hand, went up there completely as herself.

She went up there knowing she might be judged, misunderstood, or dismissed.

She showed up exactly as she was—shaking, unsure, exposed—and did it anyway.

And to me, THAT is true bravery.

⬩

Who are you pretending to be, and who are you really? 

Sending love to all of you, 

Ananda

Giving ENOUGH time to yourself is a form of self love.

When you hurry yourself, put yourself under pressure, don’t let yourself relax; you are:

• not priotizing peace within your body and mind

• not treating yourself with love or respect.

Tensing and stressing your body only leads to more tenseness and stress in your body.

The good news is, this is very easy to change!

If all it takes if 5-10 extra minutes a day that you give yourself -

To eat your breakfast slowly and fully chew your food, 

To walk in a calm, relaxed rhythm,

To talk with clarity and peace -

then why not take those minutes? 

Claim them! Claim them for yourself as a form of self love; of self reverence; of self respect. Plan it into your schedule, and re-set your alarms. Take as much time as you need to get your things done, to go slow, to take a breath before you start your day, to say a prayer to end your day.

How do you think others feel when they see you in a hectic, worried, and stressed state?

And how, instead, do you think others feel when they see you in a calm, peaceful, and relaxed state, doing things in your own time with a smile on your face?

Our goal is to go about our daily lives in the most beautiful and most connected way as possible, right? 

So let’s start by giving ourselves enough time.

Let’s take this next beautiful month day by day at a slower, but more conscious pace.

This picture features a cute little flower that took all the time in the world to open up exactly when she was ready, with no rush whatsoever, in her own divine timing.

Sending you all so much love for November,

Ananda

What web are you spinning for yourself?

Sometimes I get really in my head and have too many thoughts, and one of the best ways that I have found to allow things to flow again is through going on walks.

I had been thinking about my role in life, about how I love to create art, that I love to write, that I love to travel, but I at the same time feel quite “behind” in many aspects of my life. I asked the question, “How can I create a life for myself where I live in a state of abundance and love, while doing the things that make me the most happy?”

I looked up and saw a HUGE spiderweb. A perfect spider web; part of it attached to a street sign, and the other to branches of a bush. Right in the middle, sat a large spider. 

I’ve had a slight fear of spiders my whole life (which has gotten better throughout the years) so my usual thought when I see a big spider is a small “ahhhh!” and I step away. However, this time, my very first thought was, “look at how brave she is!”

Despite the road, the people walking by on the sidewalk, the wind, the dust, and the falling leaves, the spider sat there proudly, in the middle of what she had created for herself. Despite all outward circumstances, her tiny size, and her fragile threads, she didn’t have a single fear or doubt. 

(Isn’t that interesting, that only we humans were given the capacity to ‘worry’ about the future?)

I felt in that moment that she was a powerful symbol for me to learn from. 

She created her own world; a master of manifestation. She spins in her own divine timing, then waits diligently right in the center of her masterpiece, knowing that what she needs will come directly to her. The threads of her creation literally made out of a material from her own body. How miraculous is that? 

I felt deep respect for this spider and for all spiders, gave great thanks, and went home.

⬩

What web are you spinning for yourself?

Are you proudly seated right in the center of your creation, or are you hiding off on the side? 

Do you let circumstances distract you from doing your art, your true work on this planet, and if so, why? 

I love you all, and I wish you a beautiful October,

Ananda