I’m really not great with choices.
I’ve always liked the one from Column A and at least one from Column B approach…actually, make that at least 2 from column B.
When I can’t decide what to wear, I wear Everything.
Presidential election time is the bane of my existence.
Being asked to select just one mortal for the top job is a chore and in some years, an actual dilemma.
I’m sweating profusely as I spot the big “V” over 11/6 on my calendar.
A year before the big day, I devote the predominant share of my time to marinating in the “news.” I read everything, watch everyone, and go everywhere someone is protesting something, wondering if I agree with the issue or if I’m simply being codependent.
As the rumble of politics amplifies significantly around mid-September, becoming more forceful and frightening, I begin to actually listen – not to the words, statistics nor disputed facts presented all around me, but rather – to my heart.
Back to the tough choices…
Around 2:00 every afternoon, I pretend I can’t decide what to do, then go dutifully to a 4:15 yoga class.
It’s the one choice I’ve made for 15 years and probably the one that best defines me; yoga is my orientation. Once in class, I choose to surrender all that I think to all that I feel and am.
Exhale…
Today I realized that I’ve spent 90 minutes of 280 something days with a group of “Voters,” who, like me, have elected to come together simply to listen — to love, to hope, and to each other’s breath — so that together, we may join our sounds and hear the peace of mind and heart that lives in our collective space.
We come back to this room in order to unfurl, process, and integrate, knowing that though each of us has arrived here as a result of taking different roads. Once at this sacred destination, we’ll slowly move in the same direction together, away from the noise of the day or election year, and towards a deep sense of dynamic stillness, freedom, understanding, and much needed connection.
From this place of greater clarity and truth, we seem to make better choices, whether at a salad bar or when voting. We try to be present enough to discern, listen, and mindfully witness what truly has meaning and impact in our homes and lives.
My favorite part of each day isn’t difficult to decide.
It’s in the quiet focused moments after savasana, when I sit together with my conscious community and bow my noisy head to the wisdom of my heart.
Then and there, in the stillness, I can hear the “right” answers to the big choices that present in my life and in the voting booth. It’s a good knowing.
This year I’ll Vote with My Heart.
Register to vote to participate in the November 6 election before October 22. For more information about Voting with the Heart and participating in YOGAVOTES, the yoga community’s effort to increase voter participation, visit: yogavotes.org.
This year again, I partnered with be present to celebrate freedom of choice.
We created the VOTE 2012 t-shirt line, featuring the om sign in place of the letter O of vOte. The graphic is meant to connect us so we may recognize each other’s soul and perhaps choose to engage authentically and respectfully about ideas that serve to optimize the quality of life for ourselves and our global family.
We are purposeful people by nature; elections allow us to be proactive, positive and present and to align our values, vision, voice and votes: www.bepresent.com
Tracy Columbus is an entertainment & strategic marketing consultant in Los Angeles.
