Be The Change You Want to See

Over the Labor Day weekend I got a chance to make the drive up to Steamboat, Colorado with some friends and family, it was lovely. Tubing down the Yampa river in a tube made for snow and then dipping in the shallow warm water of the Hippie springs was quite the adventure. Boating at Stagecoach reservoir and eating at Beau Jo's downtown were also great highlights and I had the pleasure of great company to enjoy it with and the accommodations of an appreciated condo. It was a great weekend to wind down the summer with and welcome Fall.

Lately I've been working on my meditation in final savasana at the end of yoga class, resting in a natural floating aware feeling of equanimity. Along with the tender moments of sleeping and waking to the love of my life, they are the most liberating from despair and uplifting minutes of peace. There's this breathing exercise I like to do, with each inhale and exhale I concentrate on the words and my breath to fully feel joy in each moment. I believe that whatever gives you peace and marries your body and mind that brings about positive changes is worth practicing for yourself and for others. Recently I went to Louisville, CO to check out the Colorado Yoga Competition at the Farmer's Market and caught an hour and a half of the women's series. It's good to know that the ultimate expression of a posture is a goal and not an expectation as I've heard some teachers say. This national champion's standing bow pose pictured above was truly an inspiring sight as were all yogis who participated.

A few of days ago was the September 16 Mexican Independence Day. On that day in 1810 called "Grito de Dolores", Father Hidalgo rang the bell in the town of Dolores, signaling the beginning of a Reform and revolution to severe ties with Spain spurring a "liberal" movement during which sadly communal land ties of the Indigenous were lost. Octavio Paz in 'The Labyrinth of Solitude' reflects on this - "The war began as a protest against the abuses of the metropolis and the Spanish bureaucracy, but it was also, and primarily, a protest against the great native landholders". The decidedly positive achievements were "Hidalgo proclaimed the abolition of slavery and Morelos broke up the great estates." However, a second revolution from what turned out to be an oppressive military regime orchestrated largely by dictatorial Porfirio Diaz, was necessary; a "regime heir of colonial feudalism: the ownership of land was concentrated in a few hands" and "could produce nothing except rebellion."
The intellectual revolution started with the Plan of San Luis in 1910 and from that "a new generation had risen, a restless generation that desired change." This desire for change was bravely shown by Emilio Zapata and the EZLN, truly inspiring people who have presented the voice of their unspoken struggle to the world since 1994 in Chiapas in protest against oppressive NAFTA policies and class discrimination. For throughout the brutality and opposition they gained some human rights and positive international support, "retaining their distinctiveness due in part to the importance of indigenous Mayan beliefs in Zapatismo thought." While still ongoing with their struggle they remain an important part of Mexican history, of modern true revolution mostly through nonviolent means, bless their beautiful hearts.

My sister Angela and I and some cousins, participated in the El Grito 5K race in Denver on September 11th, 2011. Angie and I finished in 27 minutes, not bad! In all it was a beautiful day to exercise and to be with family and loved ones. The money raised by the race goes to a scholarship for a high school student who excels at cross country and track. It's a great cause and was a respectful day to remember lives lost in the 9/11 U.S. terrorist attacks, as well as remember lives lost in Chile's September 11th.

Also recently, I went to a protest in Boulder organized to bring attention from local businesses and citizens that the planting of more Genetically Modified seeds besides corn, which is currently allowed, in Open Space lands is being opposed. Please watch the Future of Food documentary to learn more about GMOs. Plant pathologists, small farmers, scientists outside of Monsanto and concerned consumers all give a damn and if you do too please make your voice heard and also let the President know you do not support Monsanto super lobbyist Michael Taylor as FDA Food Safety Czar. It has been shown that Big Agriculture is not necessary to feed the world, and if 1/3 of our food produced and processed is thrown away anyways why not buy food from farmer's market outlets occasionally or even generate food in your own backyard to lessen the demand? I can't afford to buy all organic everything all the time either but we can't give up our rights to the resilience of our food and at the possible risk of our health (infertility, weakened immunity are GMO animal study side affects) without raising some eyebrows, some voices and signs.

I can't wait for October this year, there's much to look forward to. Amon Tobin, Portishead, a trip to visit Phil's family and friends in Wooster, Ohio, which is lovely in fall, our friend's Evergreen wedding, Sandra's visit, Lisa and her baby. Change seems to be the only constant, why not accept it, try to change the things you can for the good and enjoy.