February can be a challenging month, especially for those of us who are lucky to live in an area with four distinct seasons. Sometimes when it’s frigid, icy, windy weather—which we’ve had a lot of this year—I don’t feel so lucky. But it definitely reminds me of the impermanence of all things, including whatever mood I might suffer as a result of being cold and cooped up, waiting for a resolution to whatever plans I’ve made, or dealing with a myriad of things beyond my control.
I ran across the two quotes below in a document tucked in a folder on my computer and thought they were perfect for my mood today. I hope you find something in one or both to help ease your burden.
One thing is for sure: Spring will be here in the very unpredictable month of March!
“When we look at our lives we see that we tend to just go round and round in our habitual patterns and negative tendencies. Occasionally we might feel inspired to do some practice and emerge from our habits a little bit. But then, habits take us over again, we lose our momentum and inspiration, and we fall back into the same kinds of patterns and traps. Then we try to get out again, but it seems so difficult and we lose heart. This is samsara.
Samsara is not life itself, but the neurotic way we live, driven by hope & fear, which are the mechanisms of samsara that perpetuate suffering.”
Sogyal Rinpoche
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. … No artist is pleased.
Martha Graham
great quote by Graham, with a great intro by YOU!