Really sick people.

“If you want to progress on a spiritual path, you must challenge your actions – as to whether or not they are authentic expressions of the love and spirit within you. You must ask whether what you are doing bespeaks compassion or indifference to the suffering of others.” -John Robbins

For nearly two weeks now, I have been battling a wretched cold, laryngitis, other unmentionable offspring and finally, the flu. This is the first time I’ve ever experienced the flu. The first time I’ve ever taken more than two consecutive unplanned days off of work and the first time I’ve done virtually nothing in all of my life. This has been as emotionally challenging as it has been physically challenging. You see…I don’t get sick. I don’t catch the common cold. Nope. Not me. Until now.

Every night, I load up my vaporizer, lather on the Vicks and lay in bed praying that I will get a few hours of uninterrupted, productive and healing sleep despite my plugged up nose, dry coughs and achy muscles. Morning dawns and still I lay there, but in the daylight I contemplate my day: Which jammies will I wear today? Which type of tea will I brew first? Should I juice or drink my Vitamin C elixir? It’s deflating, boring and exhausting all at the same time. There are only so many magazines you can flip through, books to read and films to divert your attention. And don’t even get me started on daytime television…now I know why stay-at-home parents are just a bit cookey!

So all of this time on my hands without the energy or enthusiasm to even organize my files, clean out a drawer or dig into the pile of books I want to read got me thinking about people who are sick. Really sick people: People who are battling cancer or struggle daily with lupus; sick people recovering from yet another surgery or those who sit and wait for dialysis; pregnant ladies confined to bed-rest or elderly attached to a breathing machine, tank and hoses, cords and straps; sick people who spend days in treatment centers for alcoholism, anorexia or anxiety; and those who are terminal…just waiting, wondering and wishing.

Sitting on my couch, I felt lonely. I wanted people to visit. I longed for the laughter between good friends, family to call and check-in, and colleagues who needed my input. And I got all of those things; friends, family and co-workers called day and night. People asked if I needed them to stop at the grocery store, my brother brought me movies and magazines, a colleague asked if I wanted her to bring home my homework, and Howard brought me homemade vegetable soup. And this is just the flu. And this is just two weeks of my life. And I am reminded that I am so blessed with rich, genuine and meaningful relationships. But what about the sick people? The really sick people who don’t have a Howard, a Johnny, a Maria, a Wendy, a Laura, a Michelle, a mom or a dad? What about those who sit in Hospice and wait, wonder and wish?

At the beginning of the month, my friend Amy mailed me an article about a yoga teacher who teaches yoga to young Afghan orphans. The story is powerful, moving, light and lovely. But what moved me more was the note that Amy attached to the article. Her note read: “Hey doll! Where will you spread your love for yoga in 2009?” I’ve been carrying this note around with me for the past month trying to answer the question. Now, I have an answer.

Yoga is not just down dog, Sirsasana or Warriors I, II and III. Yoga is about creating union through compassion and action; taking action to live more truthfully and selflessly in order to make the burdens of life lighter and the darkest moments a bit brighter. It’s not that difficult or grandiose but it does take action. Ingrid Newkirk says: “In order to be kind, one must do. There is no point in thinking good thoughts and not acting on them. There is no currency in wishing things were better but not rolling up one’s sleeves and helping to change them.” So do something. Share your love. Even the most beautiful asana practice can’t enlighten unless you take that beauty off your mat, out of the studio and into the living, breathing world around you. Just like Amy asked me, I ask you: “Where will you spread your love for yoga in 2009?”

“If you seek enlightenment, or even if you seek happiness, go to the cause. Nothing exists without a cause. The root cause of happiness in compassion.” -the Dalai Lama