Settling In...

Let me begin with this~

 

" If you have anything really valuable to contribute to the world it will come through the expression of your own personality, that single spark of divinity that sets you off and makes you different from every other living creature." (Bruce Barton)

I stumbled upon or was lead to this quote a couple years back and it is one of my favorites.  I have been sitting with this quote, thinking about it, reading and rereading it and sharing it with others.  I feel that part of what I came away with from my time with John last week is that it is so important to trust my experiences both on and off the mat and to absolutely trust my expression of my experiences.  I know that we are supposed to teach from our experience but I understand this in a deeper and truer way now than I did before.

When I arrived on the first day of the teacher training, I had those first-day-of-school butterflies.  I was excited and grateful to be there but a little nervous too.  On day two, the emotions rose to the surface along with some doubt.  Things always get stirred up for me at these events.  I see these moments more like a purifying process rather than a major pain in my ass. The fabulous part of this is that  I recognize how I am feeling and take note that there is still some cleaning to do, some shining on the mirror of my heart that must be done and gets done while in the process of learning and practicing.  

This Sunday following the end of the teacher training,  I felt different within and even while teaching.  This week, I feel good.  I feel new and fresh, pretty appropriate considering it is soon to be spring, and excited about where I am headed and how far I have come.  

This is why this quote has been so good to sit with.  I believe with my whole heart, body and soul that we all do contain within us that "single spark of divinity that sets us off and makes us different."   It is so important to remember the wonder and beauty of that special something that lies within us and that we have something of great value to offer to each other and the world.  

Even if you came into this world knowing your gifts or that thing or those things that set you off and make you different, you still have to figure out how to express those gifts.  If you don't have the first clue what your single spark of divinity is, you have to take the time to figure that out by investigating the range and depth of your own heart.  The beautiful thing is that it, that single spark,  is there.  Just knowing that opens things up and offers great hope to us all as we continue to discover the gems that lie within.  

With a Bright and Hopeful Heart,  

Marcia