expressing ourselves fully without fear 🫐

There are blueberry bushes everywhere here in southern NH and Maine. The paths of every nature walk are lined with them.

Bears are one of the animals that rely on these berries for survival. The large bears eat these blueberries by holding onto a branch and methodically scooping each berry off with their tongue before releasing the branch.

They don’t tear the branches or ruin the bushes.

They then disperse the berry seeds everywhere so that next season there is more abundance for not only them, but also for the birds and many other animals in the ecosystem.

The bears are in tune with their surroundings. They are completely aware. They know themselves to be a part of something.

As humans, we have a tendency to forget that we are a part of something.

We feel that our fears, insecurities and doubts are unique.

We tend to think that we’re the only one who’s ever felt this way.

We feel alone and separate, which blocks us off from our innate expressions of unity and love.

This is how we end up ruining that which nourishes us - the environment which houses us, the soil which feeds us, and the relationships which uplift us.

How often do we attempt to give only as much as we feel we’ve received?

How often do we limit ourselves so we don’t seem too needy or desperate?

How often do we wait so that we haven’t texted first twice?

How often do we consider the impact of our actions on others?

The yoga practice is here remind us that we are a part of something.

We put our hands onto the Earth and feel ourselves as part of it.

We take the shape of different animals and plants and feel our relationship to them.

We chant the sacred universal sound OM and feel ourselves as part of a universal vibration.

When we tune into the universal, when we feel ourselves as part of a whole,

our own fears, doubts and insecurities become blessings.

They allow us to understand and intimately feel others in our hearts.

We may even find we’re able to express ourselves fully.