As I’m sure was the case for many of you, the images of smoke billowing through the stained glass windows at Notre Dame left me with a feeling of low-grade grief.
I never got to see it, and as a history
Well, looks like maybe not so much…at least not the beautiful original. Despite having been restored over the years, it will never be the same.
So, there are two ways to look at this tragedy:
- We have lost a cherished symbol of our collective history and consciousness which is totally irreplaceable.
- There was an inevitable destructive event in an ornate building that we all liked because it was really old and beautiful.
oth are a little correct, but after watching the video of the collapsing spire with a little whimper a few times, I reminded myself that that big beautiful building was never meant to stand forever.
How Does This Apply To Me, Yoga Teacher?
Nothing lasts forever, and the collective despair that reverberated through all of Western Civilization yesterday is indicative of a very human flaw: we hold onto everything.
Whether it’s latent trauma, loss of a pet or loved one, breaking your favorite coffee mug or the death of a beloved celebrity, all of us fall into the trap of assuming that things will always be this good (or bad).
We are all beholden to history; we can either embrace things as they are now, or we can dwell in the remorse or anxiety of the past or future.
In reality though, for better or for worse, absolutely nothing lasts forever, including the body that you call home. Cherish it while you have it, admire yourself, take care of yourself. Most importantly don’t neglect it and then feel sorry for yourself when it’s gone.
Everyone has heard the old adage that “your body is a temple”– well, today your body is an 850-year old cathedral in Paris. Instead of despairing when it’s a shell of its former self, embrace, enjoy and love it as the amazing gift that it is TODAY.
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