: Like : Me

I seem to have run in a great circle, and met myself again on the starting line-

“I feel a little queasy this morning before class. What if it’s cancer of the liver? What will happen to my mat, my car, my phone – if I die in class?!?”

“I haven’t heard from my friend since yesterday. What if he was hit by a car commuting to work?!?” He’s in a ditch I just know it

The most unimaginative “things” in this thing called life do happen, and they create real and lasting pain in our cruel world. Although, when left to our devices, the imagined fantasies above cause senseless suffering in our hearts and minds, whether there is a once of truth in them or not. Why do we bathe ourselves in worry with “what if” thinking?

Daily Meditation:

I caught myself this morning causing my own suffering with “what ifs” … The trick to easing my own self induced pain, is acknowledging my pesky thoughts, smiling, and then moving on. I hope this post greets you with a smile as well – Have a wonderful weekend!

CultFit Moving


It Is Enough

To know that the atoms
of my body
will remain

to think of them rising
through the roots of a great oak
to live in
leaves, branches, twigs

perhaps to feed the
crimson peony
the blue iris
the broccoli

or rest on water
freeze and thaw
with the seasons

some atoms might become a
bit of fluff on the wing
of a chickadee
to feel the breeze
know the support of air

and some might drift
up and up into space
star dust returning from

whence it came
it is enough to know that
as long as there is a universe
I am a part of it.

Anne Alexander Bingham

CultFit Up


The Fight

It was over a girl,
One boy had spoken to her,
Had asked her out, the other
Had been feeling with her
The twitches of something serious.
It was a misunderstanding,
Something that might have been fixed,
Talked out or around,
But the whole school had turned out
To watch them settle it.
It was too late for talk,
It was no longer just their fight,
Something irrelevant and impure
Had entered it, honor, looking
More upright than the other,
Things which had nothing to do
With the girl, or desire,
Or what she had whispered to one of them
One night in a car.
So they faced each other,
Bringing their anger up
By saying what finally did not matter
But loudly enough so their bodies believed it.
There was a sudden coming together,
There were fists flailing
While everybody, hundreds, watched.
One was cut above the eye, the other’s
Knuckles were bloodied against teeth.
It lasted half a minute until
One of them pulled back and said
Something like “This is stupid”
And the other dropped his fists
And watched him walk away

– Gregory Djanikian

CultFit Fight


Out : Sick :

The reason many people in our society are miserable, sick, and highly stressed is because of an unhealthy attachment to things they have no control over-

Gripped by the harsh reality of being diagnosed with the flu this past Friday I, along with many of you reading at home, are going through the tedious stages of not being able to do what we love to do.

I am in denial Surely these pesky symptoms will subside rather quickly, just like they have in the past. I am angry at myself this morning: This is a definitely a setback and an attack on my personal well-being. Thinking out-loud to myself as I rolled out of bed sore and stiff: If I could attend yoga class before work and get it out-of-the-way while I still have some energy? I would truly be one step closer to becoming healthier. Finally Dear Readers, I was depressed at the thought of not being able to do what I love to do.

Daily Mediation:

The flu, injuries, and the everyday occurrences of “life” do not reveal our best sides. Although, maybe the absence of compassion and kindness is adding insult to injury?

CultFit Compassion


The End of This Year

The best place to be is here,
at home, the two of us, while

others ski or eat out. It will be
quiet. We won’t watch the ball

fall, the crowd in Times Square.
They will celebrate while here

there is this night. Tomorrow
some will start over, or vow

to stop something; maybe try
again. Here the snow will

fall through the light over
the back door and gather

on the steps. We will hope
our daughter will be safe.

She will wonder what
the year will bring. Maybe

we will say a prayer.

Jack Ridl

CultFit End