I am torn between feeling utterly romantic and sadly cynical about LOVE.
I am romantic when it comes to other people and their relationships and feelings, but cynical when it comes to myself.

It's ironic, since I was born on Valentine's Day and all. Or maybe not, since I celebrate that day only as my birthday and NEVER as someone's Valentine.

At this juncture in my life - in my floating phase, as I like to call it - love is a concept that is taking a backseat. Honestly, it has never taken the front seat. And in order for it to be more important and for it to matter in my daily life, it has to extend beyond a mere concept.

Yoga is actually helping with this. To complement my daily yoga practice, I receive email updates from YogaJournal.com - a daily dose of inspiration, techniques and ideas. The other day they had an article on LOVE, which can be viewed here: http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/1194?utm_source=Wisdom&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=WIS_101

It got me thinking that love doesn't have to be this big, boyfriend/girlfriend, 'till death do us part ordeal - that it can be simpler, more accessible and all around us. I'm not saying that I don't want the eternal love/soul mate thing - that would be nice - but that's not ALL that love is.

In my yoga practice I am learning to take time, breathe deeply and truly appreciate what I can do, what my body can do - and to ease into what it can't. But I am going to take that calm, loving approach beyond my practice and beyond meditation. So I will start small - walking instead of driving a car helps me to love and appreciate nature (and to show the environment some love too by not polluting it as much), giving my mother a compliment because she has lost so much weight, smiling at a stranger, taking the time to talk with my little brother (because I feel good when someone takes the time to actually listen to me), sending an email to a friend that I may have lost touch with.

But love has to start with me first - I have to love myself. I can show myself love by not being pessimistic about my lack of jobs, praising myself when I have finished writing a story, looking in the mirror and liking what I see, eating healthy (because it makes me feel good - also why I do yoga).

So love has to start in the mind. I have to think that love is all around me and in me and that I need to take that love and show it. When I feel love inside (because love should not be some unreachable, external concept) then I will show that love, and in return receive love.

It comes full circle.

"Watch your thoughts; they become your words.
Watch your words; they become your actions.
Watch your actions; they become your habits.
Watch your habits; they become your character.
Watch your character for it will become your destiny."