Are we there yet?!
Backseat on a road trip, fresh out of snacks, the tried and true phrase that comes through: “Are we there yet?!”
I immediately see my Dad’s eyes in the rearview mirror looking back at us as kids: “Does it look like we’re there yet?”
It seems that as I age, this question boomerangs back in many forms in the “car of life”.
Dear Pandemic, are we there yet?
Dear Equality, are we there yet?
Dear Peace, are we there yet?
Dear [insert goal, dream or challenge here], are we there yet?
I hear this question on repeat in my mind and heart. I hear it in my students. I hear it in the collective.
It really seems like we’ve been on this trip for a while. Shouldn’t we have arrived by now?
As the pandemic surges again, the Taliban has seized control in Afghanistan and I witness women and children attempting to flee, this question echoes. Not just echoes - it ricochets off the corners of my mind. It’s combative, it’s concerned, it’s disheartened and it’s crushed.
Are we there yet?
Clearly, no.
Inhale.
Exhale.
There are so many layers to the teachings of mindfulness and conscious living that are all rolled into one big embodiment.
It’s like an ecosystem with various different critters and creatures - all co-existing and making a functioning world together. This is how I perceive the aspects of my mind, body and spirit values working together in mindfulness.
This ecosystem continues to be my netting to lean back into as this road-trip of life takes shape. Much of this ecosystem has become habit to me, however, when I’m being pushed to new edges - I become hyper aware.
These recent days have been a new edge.
I’m hyper aware and I’m hyper grateful.
When I feel my human-ness being activated, these are the parts of my mindfulness netting I am consciously leaning into:
Arrival has always been and will be an illusion.
This is what people are talking about when they say “It’s a practice”.
Yes, there are pitstops along the way, moments of achievement and times when I look around and say, “Wahoo! This is what I’ve been working toward!”
It’s also never a stopping point or ending. It’s a relationship and practice. Once I get where I have been wanting to go - there are more opportunities to embody love, self-study and conscious living in new or deeper ways. Or, maintain them.
So whether with learning a song at the piano, the pandemic, seeing violence in the world - it’s a practice. I use the muscles and maintain my ability to play the notes, play life the way I’d like.
Arguing with reality is tiring and does not work.
Anytime the word “should” enters the picture - it’s a red light! Somewhere close-by is a truth that’s being denied.
One of the most beautifully impactful pieces of mindfulness that changed my life for the better is the ability to see things neutrally and radically accept reality.
Thoughts like “The pandemic should be over” immediately get discredited because they are not reality! The truth is, the pandemic is alive and well. Instead of being exhausted and running an internal rat race of wishing, denying and resisting, I can simply allow the truth to be what it is.
The liberation this one aspect of mindfulness provides is truly life-changing. And again, it’s a practice.
Seeing things as is can be painful and that’s ok. Mindfulness is a relationship with the truth.
Sometimes accepting reality as is comes with straight up grief, heartache and pain. This is healthy, human and more than ok.
Something I take great issue with in the mindfulness and yogic space is bypassing. It’s an escape tactic from discomfort and in my opinion, it’s out of integrity.
Being in relationship with the truth is a courageous act. Radical acceptance includes the truth in all forms - beauty, darkness and everything in between.
Sometimes this means challenging emotions arise to be experienced. One of the most mindful things I do is to allow myself to feel what comes up when I am willing to be with the truth.
Violence, war and global pandemics are truths that bring a lot to be felt. This is mindfulness.
It’s not about no thoughts - it’s about observing them, choosing them and acting from the ones that line up with who I want to be.
Another superhero in the mindfulness ecosystem is one of my bffs: choice. This is where things really take flight.
Every single human has thought patterns. It’s not about not having weird or wacky or even crazy thoughts, this is being human.
It’s about observing them, choosing them and acting from the ones that line up with who I want to be. That’s it. That is the subtle and monumental practice.
When I can sit in the observer seat, I am consciously creating my life.
Many thoughts pop up. Not all are true. Not all are helpful. Not all have merit to guide my actions.
When they show up, I lean back into observation and choice. In other words, freedom.
The best filter that ever lived is: “Is this love?”
Finally, sometimes the best response is to filter things with a simple question. My question of choice?
Is this love?
Love is a verb. It’s something to be felt, to be embodied, to be created. It’s an action.
Whenever any type of resistance, discomfort or really anything at all in life arises, this one question aligns me. Sometimes it’s tough love, sometimes it’s gushy love - each time I filter to love. And when I falter, each moment is another chance to choose again.
I filter not only my thoughts, I filter my actions. For loving thoughts without loving actions are incomplete.
Seriously though…are we there yet?
A widely known inquiry from young age to old. And yet, a seemingly silly question.
We are not there.
We are simply on the road.
A road with many views.
A road with sunny spots and gruesome lightning shocks.
A road that can be baked with love and mindfulness if we so choose it.
May this mindfulness netting support you as we all continue on the road together. May this mindfulness netting hold you when the question “Are we there yet?” comes knocking.
What if “there” was this very moment, on repeat?
If that’s what “there” is, we are always here together.
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The art and practice of mindfulness continues to change my life for the better in every nook and cranny. Because of this profound impact, it’s my greatest joy to be able to share this in all of my work in Mindful Music piano lessons, yoga and coaching.
Here are the ways you can engage with me and my work!
FriYAY Yoga 8/20 - Conscious Core - 12pm CDT
Each week I do a FriYAY Yoga class via zoom. This week is all about Conscious Core. Not only is it an opportunity to strengthen your physical core, you will strengthen your inner core compass too. The body is a metaphor for life. Meet me on your mat this week for class! One hour long vinyasa flow, replay is available.
1:1 Offerings - Coaching, Yoga and Mindful Music Piano Lessons
My 1:1 containers are high touch transformational experiences in which mindfulness is the bedrock. I work with people through Mindful Music piano lessons, yoga sessions and conscious creation coaching. Any of these peak your interest? Reach out to me here!
*For those of you local in Chicago, I am doing masked/vaccinated 1:1 in person yoga!*
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Thich Nhat Hahn has shared so many revolutionary words. I consider him one of my teachers I have yet to meet.
He says:
“To think in terms of either pessimism or optimism oversimplifies the truth. The problem is to see reality as it is.”
He also says:
“Because you are alive, everything is possible.”
Thank you for being on the road trip of life with me.
Here’s to showing up fully, together and with a love as deep as the ocean.
In love, truth and conscious choice,
⭐️ Adrienne