We don't outgrow the basics.
I scratched my entire email this morning (Monday am) and started fresh.
Super annoying.
When my intuition tells me a new download has come through I’ve learned to just get out the way.
Again, super freaking annoying.
You do not outgrow the basics.
One of my yoga mentors spoke to this concept in my first authentic teacher training circa 2008. Any guru, mentor, leader or teacher that denies the basics has lost the plot. I laugh because when I initially heard this statement I was HELL BENT on getting to the 2nd series of my Ashtanga yoga practice because obviously if I made it past the Primary series than I would be more enlightened, deeply healed and generally a better person than I was when I started my asana journey. Talk about losing the plot.
Spoiler Alert: I never made it to second series and no level of yoga practice guarantees non-A$$hole-ness. *this photo is 2008 Nicole doin’ the most.
What I did learn was that the shiny objects in life will change as your experience and desires mature but they never really disappear. They morph. Shiny objects being Eka Pada Sirsasana or a new Cyber truck. My prayer is that we gain discernment to know what the DESIRE of the shiny object represents.
Coming home to the basics of who you are, what you need to remain healthy and hopeful, and moving “on purpose” are not aspects of yourself that you OUTGROW.
Rather, these are the seeds you fertilize.
As I observe our world navigating another election year, (please remember the circus is CIRCUS-ING) we are high on emotion and short fuzed by a collective undercurrent of fear mongering and division.
This is the human condition: Entertaining Fear.
We are wired for it.
We are wired to stay on guard and identify the enemy.
Let’s go back to the basics, shall we…
At the core of who we are, we want to be seen, and heard, and loved with our basic needs met.
The outside world does a piss poor job of reminding us what we need is inside job.
Wait, did you hear me: IT’S AN INSIDE JOB Y’ALL.
And yeah - it would be super cool to blame all the outside people and factors (don’t worry - you still can) but in doing so, you tread water and become more enmeshed in the ‘non-basics’. The stronger choice is loving yourself enough to a) forgive yourself and b) take intentional action.
Propaganda is embedded in our society like the air we breathe. (At least since the 1950s - thanks project mockingbird. Just google it. Or don’t.)
We can’t distinguish this propaganda from reality and hell - thanks to AI - it only gets more complicated from here. In order to make butt loads of money, the powers that be will continuously plant messaging that divides us and simultaneously brainwashes us into believing our healing is OUTSIDE of us.
If you’re reading this email, you likely have the basics in place. You have a device that connects you to the world. You found me which means you have connection to community of some kind. You are free to type and respond which means you can be heard at a moments notice. You are loved because you’re here - and I LOVE YOU AND I TELL YOU THIS EVERY WEEK (lol). You have food, water, and shelter because all of that precedes wifi and the Substack app, I think …
So now what…
Well, the moment we take some ownership of our personal experience, the doors swing open for exquisite, life altering transformations that we are absolutely worthy of experiencing.
Dare I say … it’s our duty.
You owe it to yourself.
The sheer odds of you being born into the 21st century with these skills and these talents, not to mention the trillions of cells in your body that organized themselves like clockwork, - it’s astounding.
Return to the basics.
Be seen.
Be heard.
Be love.
In fact we’re all better when we return to the basics with curiosity, kindness, and ownership. Frankly speaking, it’s much more satisfying than grinding your way into the second series of Ashtanga only to realize what you really needed was a meditation practice all along. Speaking for myself, of course.
*this photo is 2020 Nicole doing a lot less.
Don’t let them fool you.
We do not outgrow the basics.
We get wise and return to them again and again.
OKAYILOVEYOUBYEEE,
xx
Nic.
ps. * Tuesday QUICKIE YOGA 12-12:30pm pst. $10. A well rounded music based mobility focused yoga flow. This was created as a community class and if you ever need financial assistance to attend - please just reach out or use code NEWFRIEND to try a class for free. Sign up here.
* Saturday AVIATOR NATION YOGA FLOW 9-10am, 10:15-11:15am. In person, in Santa Monica. Come on out. Sign up here.
* Sunday AVIATOR NATION YOGA FLOW. 10:45-11:45am. In person, in Santa Monica. Come on out. Sign up here.
pps. We have 2 more WALK N TALKS this week (6:30-7:15am pst). Wednesday will be Gratitude and Grief and Friday will be Gratitude and Next Steps. They are free. All are welcome. Sign up here.
ppps. If you joined our WALK N TALK yesterday, we randomly touched on crows. I got chills reading this and had to share with you. Thank you to Kim for emailing me this blurb after our walk:
The Rainbow Crow is a character from Lenape (or Delaware) Native American folklore. This story is often told to explain the origin of the crow's black feathers and its croaky voice. Here's a summary of the tale:
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**The Tale of the Rainbow Crow:**
Long ago, the world was covered in snow and ice, and all the animals were suffering from the cold. The Creator had not yet given the animals fire, so they had no way to warm themselves. The Rainbow Crow, who was then a bird of many beautiful, iridescent colors, with a voice as lovely as any song, decided to help the other animals. The Rainbow Crow flew up to the Creator, far above the clouds, to ask for fire.
The Creator was touched by the Rainbow Crow's bravery and selflessness. The Creator gave the Rainbow Crow a burning stick of fire to take back to the Earth. The crow carried the burning stick in its beak and flew back to the cold world below. But as the crow flew, the fire burned hotter and hotter, and the smoke from the fire darkened its feathers. By the time the Rainbow Crow reached the Earth, its beautiful feathers had turned black, and its once-melodious voice had become hoarse and raspy from the smoke.
Despite the loss of its beauty and voice, the Rainbow Crow was proud of its deed, knowing that it had saved all the animals from freezing. The Creator saw this and decided to make the crow's black feathers shimmer with a hidden rainbow sheen, only visible under the right light, as a reminder of its once-vibrant colors and heroic act.
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This story is a beautiful example of how Native American cultures use storytelling to explain natural phenomena while imparting lessons about bravery, sacrifice, and the importance of helping others.
pppps. SEPTEMBER FIT 2024 IS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION. IYKYK: Sign up here. If you don’t know, click here to learn more.
ppppps. EPISODE 36 of SHOCK AND YALL IS OUT NOW with my high school buddy, sports agent, attorney and prayer warrior JAMETTA WHITE. This woman is a legend at Clemson University and in the Birmingham community. She is brilliant, heart driven, a hustler and Jesus’ favorite. It’s one of my great blessings to have women like Jametta in my life and in my sphere. She talks about prayer being her love language and it gives me so much hope to hear her speak about the power of prayer. In the meantime, watch this clip and LMK what you think…..
OH WAIT. You’re still here … could you, would you, pretty please leave us a review on Apple podcasts. Just click this link, scroll to the bottom to leave your thoughts and “stars” and I’ll send you an energetic HIGH FIVE along with my sincere appreciation.