Theme/Mantra: “I am”
Reading:
I am Nobody by Emily Dickinson
I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there ’s a pair of us—don’t tell!
They ’d banish us, you know.
How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!
Meditation:
In meditation today, find a comfortable sitting or standing position and relax your body. Ponder the meaning of Nobody-ness and Somebody-ness. When do you feel like you are nobody? When do you feel like somebody with worth and value? Be aware of your feelings, and who triggers them, and where.
Physical Movement:
Mountain Pose with 5 deep breaths
Stand erect, legs hip-width apart, feet parallel to one another and perpendicular to your hips.
Contract the muscles at the top of your knees.
Tuck your tailbone.
Lift your head up, and hold your shoulders down and back.
Inhale deeply as you raise your arms over your head, palms facing each other.
Relax your shoulders.
As you exhale, release your arms back down to your side.
Repeat.
Reflection from Malinda:
Brandi Carlile has been one of my family’s favorite artists for a few years now. The Story was made famous on Grey’s Anatomy many years ago. One of the things from the lyrics that sticks with me is the idea that to look at my face you will see who I am. I am not one to obsess over physical appearances, however, I don’t think that is what this idea is about. No matter how physically attractive (or not) the world deems our faces to be, we can show kindness and goodness in them. We can express love and compassion in our expressions. And that is how our faces show our true character. If you have a minute today, I encourage us all to look in the mirror and see what we see. Perhaps look at a photograph and see what other people see. How can we evidence what is in our hearts through our facial expressions? How can we practice and cultivate the values we hold dear in our actions- and through the faces that others see when they look at us?
Song: The Story by Brandi Carlile
Lyrics:
All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true, I was made for you
I climbed across the mountain tops
Swam all across the ocean blue
I crossed all the lines, and I broke all the rules
But, baby, I broke them all for you
Oh, because even when I was flat broke
You made me feel like a million bucks
You do
I was made for you
You see the smile that's on my mouth
It's hiding the words that don't come out
And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed
They don't know my head is a mess
No, they don't know who I really am
And they don't know what
I've been through like you do
And I was made for you
All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
Oh, but these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true, I was made for you
Oh love it's true, that I was made for you
Until Tomorrow- Peace