by Suzanne Reisler Litwin
“You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
The people gonna treat you better
You’re gonna find, yes you will
That you’re beautiful as you feel”
Perhaps Carole King said it best in her song ‘Beautiful’. Her words are the encouragement to start every morning with a smile on your face. I start my morning with thanks to G-d for giving me this day to live. I’m simply blessed with the opportunity to write this article. Nothing is taken for granted. Nothing!
Everything can change in a moment. Peace is a privilege.
Recently, I had a glorious opportunity to participate in a yoga practice with Tao Porchon-Lynch, who happens to be 99 years old! She shared her yoga practice and incredible words of wisdom at The Cummings Centre. She shared so many important and helpful mantras. As I was practicing the yoga directions she gave, I was also trying to remember all she was saying. In a soft voice, she said, “It’s all about the breath! Bring that energy in and upward. All the energy you need is in your next breath.”
So, I focused on my breath and the next breath. I filled up my lungs and felt my energy rising. I felt energized.
Tao said something else which was also very important. Every morning when she awakes she says to herself, “Today is going to be the best day of my life.” I suppose at 99 years old, each day has a huge value. This was a reminder for me, which even at my age of 55; each day should also have the same incredible value. When I woke this morning I said her mantra, which is now my mantra, today is going to be the best day of my life.
Her words of positivity were so empowering. As you know from my past articles, I am a positive thinking person. However, learning from a 99-year-old yoga teaching woman was inspiring!
Tao said something else which resonated with me. She said, “Everything is possible!” She said this many times. She stressed that there is always a way to do something and always believe that you can and will. At first, I thought I knew this. I live by this. But… it was good to hear it again and be reminded of how true “possibility” is. With every possibility comes hope!
I left the yoga practice walking on air. I had a huge smile on my face. I felt empowered, stronger, even with some levity! Tao was amazingly spirited and beautiful.
That night I went to my weekly yoga practice with Dorit Hood. She was also at Tao’s practice during the afternoon. At night, we usually do an active yoga flow with mediation. This night we opted to practice restorative yoga or ying. Why? We wanted to let everything we had learned really sink in and channel the depths of Tao’s positivity. We recited, “Everything is possible. Breath. Activate your feet and hands. Feel your energy. All you need is in your next breath. Positivity!”
Positivity is within all of us. Sometimes we just need someone or something to turn on the switch. Perhaps a simple reminder of is all we need. Positivity… Pass it on!
To see more pictures of the Tao and her yoga practice at The Cummings Centre, click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Cummings-Centre-158311974207541/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1644909512214439
Also, treat yourself…
Listen to Carole King’s song ‘Beautiful’, click here: https://g.co/kgs/px7Ebd
Enjoy this day as it is, “The Best Day of Your Life!”
Suzanne Reisler Litwin is an instructor at Concordia University in The Centre for Continuing Education. She is a writing instructor at The Cummings Centre. She writes a weekly column in The Suburban Newspaper and at the West Island Blog. Suzanne is a freelance contributor to The Suburban Newspaper, West Island Blog, Wise Women Canada, The Metropolitain, and Women on the Fence. She is the author of the children’s book, The Black Velvet Jacket. Visit suzannereislerlitwin.com
to read more of her published articles, books, and poetry.
