Tribe of Love, Anyone else celebrate Bob Marley's birthday last week? Though he left his physical form in 1981, his memory lives on through his timeless music. Whenever I am having a bummer day, a little Marley always gives me a lift. Especially when I am feeling less than hopeful about the state of our world or my own personal life, I kick on "One Love" and kick up some handstands. Almost immediate relief when I turn my perspective upside down, invite in positive words, and epic musical vibrations help shift my energy. With the Hallmark holiday almost upon us, let's remember to celebrate not only our beloved, kids, or family. Let us not forget ourselves. Let us remember love is universal. We come from love, we are love, and as many wisdom traditions teach, we dissolve back to love. When our love becomes attached to a person, a gift or a feeling we expect to come from outside ourselves, we can be disappointed & even suffer. This year, let us come together as one human circle of love. Let us remember it is not about chocolates, flowers, & an instagram worthy celebration, but the presence of love in our hearts & our lives. To feel love is our responsibility, not to be delivered by someone else or derived from the perfect gift. Love comes from within. Love is a sacred duty to self and to the world. Together let us elevate ONE love this year starting within. In the wisdom of Mr. Marley, "One love, one heart, let's get together and feel alight." I'm down for that; anybody with me? May you know you are love, always; beloved just as you are. I love you. I appreciate you. Happy Valentine's Day aka "One Love Day." xo dana ps- I left you a love poem at the bottom of this email ;) so be sure to read all the way through!
One Love – By Jana Dvorska, from The Poetry of Yoga, Volume 1, Page 132
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Tribe of service, I hope all of your hands are raised. If not, literally stop reading and put both hands in the air for one minute. Breathe deeply and know how precious you are. Now that I have your attention... As most of you know, Embody is a 501c3 that offers its services free of charge to all people to enhance physical and mental wellness and to make the world a happier, healthier place for ALL. It's important to emphasize that 'free' to you does not mean without cost. It takes no small amount of time, energy, finances & service to make our organization run week in and out. People work extremely hard to make the quality of YOUR life better; our board of directors, team of teachers, volunteers and yours truly. And now we need to remind each of you that we too need YOU! Each week you are able to attend Embody classes & events, free of charge, with doors & hearts wide open just for YOU. The only ask is that you give back in community service. This is not just for the organizations we partner with and serve, it's also for YOU and your own wellbeing. Many studies have been done that suggest generosity and giving back positively impact a person's physical and mental health. Harvard research from '09 shows happier people give more and giving makes people happier, such that happiness and giving may operate in a positive feedback loop. This loop is what I like to call the flywheel of perpetual good; happier people give more, creating even greater happiness, and thus giving even more. That is secret sauce of the Embody model! We help people, we help YOU, feel better body, mind & heart, so all are inspired to DO good, thus generating a deeper sense of health and happiness. This is win, win, win... for self, community, world! So ask yourself, how much have your lived out our whole mantra; not just the feel better part? When is the last time you joined others from our tribe to give back? Make this next Habitat for Humanity giveback event one to remember! You are guaranteed to leave not only having served another, but also receiving a gift in return- connection in community and greater sense of happiness at having offered your heart to a world in need. May our Embody of Grand Rapids, February 29 Habitat for Humanity build fill up and have people on a wait list to volunteer. Let us be hungry to give back and make it a meaningful community opportunity. The common misconception is that you have give something up to volunteer and I would like to redirect your attention to all that you get and have need to give. YOU are important. YOU are valuable. YOU are loved. YOU are needed. Please show up to volunteer each month for at least four hours for yourself, our tribe, this month for a family who needs a home and our community that has deep need. Each of us is called to contribute. Will you answer the call? Details for Habitat are below. Reach out if you have any questions to our Volunteer Coordinator, Koral Fritz ([email protected]) or email me. We are happy to support you! Yours in service, Dana
Volunteer/Outreach Opportunities Habitat for Humanity of Kent County (see info in sections below!) Feb. 29 from 12pm to 4pm. **Volunteers must be over 16. **Deadline to register TBD, but do it ASAP! Sign up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F4BA5AF2FA1F94-embody After you sign up you MUST create a login on the Volunteer Hub. ASAP! "Giving is the highest expression of potency...Giving is more joyous than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies the expression of my aliveness." – Erich Fromm |
“The EmbodyGR community embraces and supports, says ‘yes you can’ when the noisy inner voice says, ‘no you can’t’ – Kari Wilson, Community Member Archives
September 2021
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