The reaction of change

I know with every change comes a reaction.

And change, whether we like it or not, is one of the few constants in life.

As I made my way up and down a winding road through the Blue Ridge Mountains and back into South Carolina to see my child, I had an epiphany.

Maybe it was because I truly had no idea where I was, where I was headed, or what was around the next curve. And naturally, my brain decided this was the perfect time to offer up some ridiculous thoughts:

What if my GPS disconnects? What will I do? I’ll be lost.

What if something happens to Debbie, my truck? Will I have cell service to call for help?

What if I run out of gas because there’s an accident or construction and I have no way to turn around? I will literally be stuck.

Do I really need to go any further? LOL.

And then came the revelation...

We are never really lost. We are exploring new, unknown territory.

And damn, if that doesn’t apply to just about everything in life.

Grief.

Tragedy.

Birth.

Career.

Moving.

Health.

Relationships.

All of it.

Some of us, myself included, actually love change and constant movement. I think it vibes with my creative side. I love building, creating, shifting, and knowing something can always be altered.

In Ayurveda, this movement is expressed through the Vata dosha.

Others absolutely despise change.

They like things predictable. Routine-oriented. Steady. Give them a schedule, their favorite chair, and the knowledge that tomorrow is going to look somewhat like today, and they can move right in and get cozy.

Those qualities can reflect both Pitta and Kapha.

Discipline, organization, and routine are very Pitta qualities.

Settling in, nurturing, grounding, and getting cozy? Very Kapha.

So, how do you feel about change, routine, and nurturing?

Here’s the fabulous part:

We need all of it.

We need movement.

We need discipline.

We need rest.

We need creativity.

We need stability.

And every one of us will probably have to work a little harder at some of those qualities because they simply don’t come naturally.

Once you begin to recognize what already feels comfortable, the self-inquiry becomes:

How can I invite some of those other much-needed qualities into my life?

Because let’s be real.

My fears while driving through the mountains would have been completely valid about ten years ago.

But this wasn’t ten years ago.

I had GPS.

I had a reliable truck.

I had a phone.

I didn’t have a deadline.

I didn’t have anyone else in the vehicle to worry about.

And I knew I needed Mama Nature to blanket me in her brilliant colors, textures, sights, and sounds.

Taking the scenic route was going to feed me.

I needed to hear those fears.

I needed to feel those fears.

But I didn’t need to believe them.

So I allowed my GPS to guide me, even though I couldn’t see the entire road ahead.

And there was another little lesson hiding in there.

So many of our beliefs were formed through a lens from the past.

A lens that may not fit who we are today.

When was the last time you cleaned your view?

And I’m talking about something much bigger than your glasses, your third eye, or that amazing inner knowing.

When we are actively participating in life, have you ever convinced yourself that where you were, who you were with, or what was happening was okay...

when clearly it wasn’t?

Yeah.

Me too.

We can talk about relationships.

Careers.

Family members.

Friendships.

Health choices.

Fads.

Beliefs.

Hell, probably a few hairstyles.

The bigger question is:

When you realized something no longer fit, what did you do?

Shame.

Guilt.

Fear.

Doubt.

Apologize.

Leave.

Change.

Nothing.

Sweetie, I can only share what I know.

I know that over the years, many people have moved on from Yoga DiVita, aka Dawn DiVita.

And I also know that I am exactly where I am today because I keep showing up.

Not because I keep making the same choices.

Quite the opposite.

With each change, I am trying to evolve as a human being, teacher, parent, wife, and friend.

My voice is getting clearer because my needs, purpose, and desires are getting louder in every area of my life.

And apologizing isn’t required for that.

For more than 20 years, I have been learning, practicing, creating, questioning, exploring, screwing things up, trying again, and sharing what I’ve learned along the way.

Most of my teachers have offered some version of the same sentiment:

Carry the traditions, tools, and wisdom into the world.

They are meant to be lived.

They are meant to evolve.

And they are meant to be passed on.

If you’ve read this far, thank you.

If you’ve been walking this path with me for any length of time, thank you.

And if something I share makes you laugh, question yourself, roll your eyes, get uncomfortable, feel seen, or decide it’s finally time to make a change...

Good.

I hope that by sharing my authentic, sometimes messy, sometimes crazy, completely human self, I give you a little more permission to be vulnerable, courageous, curious, and strong enough to do the same.

One act at a time.

One choice at a time.

Let go of needing to know the outcome.

Leap into the unknown.

Trust yourself.

Trust your community.

And yeah, you can trust me to keep showing up here too.

Just remember the epiphany from somewhere on that winding mountain road:

You are not lost.

You are exploring new territory.