Each time my Drawing teacher assigns us a “task” I immediately think, “how am I going to do that?!” But somehow, I figure it out. I noticed something similar in my yoga class recently. I was trying to move into a modified hand stand and I was convinced I couldn’t straighten my legs. I even said, “I can’t!” At which point my yoga teacher came over and gently straightened my legs. I then laughed at myself and thought, “okay, maybe I can!”

When I taught meditation in Austin, I would frequently tell students, “you are not your thoughts.” The first time someone said this to me, I was stunned. It hadn’t really occurred to me that I might have a choice - whether or not to identify with the thoughts in my head. After years of meditation and witnessing all of the mundane, crazy, funny, absurd, boring, aggressive, and ridiculous thoughts that have gone in and out of my head, it is quite clear to me that I am not defined by my thoughts. Or at the very least, I don’t have to be.

But, it’s funny. Even after years of meditation, I forget this. Fortunately, I have teachers in my life who kindly and gently remind me.

(What I’m listening to right now: Novo Amor - Anchor)