venezuela on my mind

For weeks, Venezuelans have been flocking by the busload to San Antonio del Tachira, a border town of some 62,000 residents, fleeing as President Nicolas Maduro consolidates autocratic power. The Simon Bolivar International Bridge is the avenue for an outpouring unprecedented in the history of this oil-rich nation. Crowds stream toward the bridge, attended by street hawkers selling juice, fried pastries and bus tickets and men who ferry their meager possessions to a new life. According to Colombia’s migration authority, the number of foreigners entering Cucuta, the first major city across the bridge, more than doubled this summer. Over 50,000 came in August, up from 22,700 in June. The numbers don’t reflect dual nationals returning to their homeland, or thousands simply crossing into Colombia without passing official checkpoints.

- Bloomberg

courage, compassion, humility, integrity

the humanity a young child can display

article: victim's grandmother showered with love on flight to orlando

On Tuesday, the grandmother of Orlando shooting victim Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo -- who was gunned down at 20 years old -- boarded a JetBlue Airways flight to Orlando to join her family to mourn her grandson's death. But what could have been a standard, anonymous flight experience turned out to be something much more. In a Facebook post, flight attendant Kelly Davis Karas described how the grandmother's flight unfolded. "JetBlue employees made sure to be at her side every step of the way," she wrote. "Melinda stood quietly by her wheelchair while we waited until it was time to board. Kellie, the gate agent, boarded with her and helped get her settled. Melinda and I gave her a blanket, a pillow, a box of tissues and water so she could be as comfortable as possible. She was understandably distraught, but met us with kindness and gentleness. And gratitude."

[ ... ]

Upon landing, Karas made her standard landing announcement along with the added words "JetBlue stands with Orlando." Then, at the request of several passengers and with the grandmother's permission, the plane held in a moment of silence in Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo's memory. As the passengers deplaned, every single passenger stopped to offer the grandmother his or her condolences, Karas wrote. "Some just said they were sorry, some touched her hand, some hugged her, some cried with her. But every single person stopped to speak to her, and not a single person was impatient at the slower deplaning process," she said.

- CBS News

This article is "chicken soup for the soul" if you have been impacted, as I have, by the recent horrific events in Orlando, Florida.

to free ourselves

Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.

- Albert Einstein 

ask for others as you ask for yourself

What is the most powerful thing you can add to the process of creating what you want? Ask for others as you ask for yourself. An easy way to do this is to ask for ALL, which of course includes you. Ask for a good life for all, peace for all, abundance for all, health for all, love for all, and happiness for all.

When you ask for others, it comes back to you, so the law has it ALL covered.

- lessons from The Secret

practice patience and compassion

One of the important lessons of Yoga Sutra I.17 is that you are not supposed to be able to master everything immediately - and no one else is either! Shift a pattern of being critical of yourself or others by noticing when that judgmental voice starts to pop up and immediately countering it with a true and positive thought. If you find yourself getting impatient at the checkout line because the cashier is slow, focus on the fact that she is thorough and careful. If you are feeling critical of your child's teacher for not responding to emails in a timely manner, think how great she is in the classroom. And if you are frustrated with yourself because you are having a difficulty with something, remind yourself of your valuable skills.

You can also try this more formal practice: Sit comfortably and take a few relaxed breaths. As you continue breathing comfortably, allow the mind to settle on one person or area where you are feeling impatience, criticism, or judgement.

Over the course of the next few breaths, acknowledge this situation or person "as is" and try to look at the seeming deficiency from a more positive angle. If it is a quality in yourself that you are unhappy with, examine your choices. Instead of feeling down about yourself, do you want to put in the effort to change? (Take a class to improve your computer skills? Spend time practicing your Spanish?) Or can you be content with the skill level you have and be free of self-criticism?

If you are frustrated by the lack of progress in your yoga practice or in any other endeavor, cultivate patience and self-compassion by reminding yourself that insights and change will come in their own time with continued diligence.

This practice, whether you do it formally or simply reflect on it periodically as you go about your day, can help counteract the perfectionism, impatience, and high expectations that keep you from being patient and compassionate with yourself and others. Ultimately if can lead you to greater peace of mind in the midst of all your pursuits.

- Yoga Journal

Learn more about yoga at Paya Bay Resort in Roatan, Honduras.