2016 will begin in just one day, and as I get older, the turn to January 1 on the calendar means less. Every day passes by, the same routine. Wake up, go to yoga, go to work, come home, cook dinner, sleep, repeat. I can't be alone on this one, right?

In my last post I mentioned that I learned I was going to be laid off at the end of January, and that I had successfully applied and was offered a new job. The thought of a change in my normal routine was exciting! Was being the operative word. Well, that's the reason for no posts since November 10. The job isn't really going the way that I had hoped, as in I'm NOT loving it. *insert sad trombone*

So, what the heck? Routine is lame, but change in some cases turns out to be worse than the bland lifestyle that was before. Fortunately, my yoga journey has showed me how to (or at least try to) find the light in everything, even when things aren't rainbows and sunshine.

In October, I attended a session at the Yoga Journal LIVE! conference with Sadie Nardini. Her session was titled, "Operation Transformation: Three Yogic Steps to Shift Anything and Everything for the Better". Um, YES PLEASE.

Tapas (top-uhs) - the fire of transformation
Svadhyaya (swah-dee-ay-uh) - self study/inner inquiry
Ishvara pranidhana (ish-war-uh pran-ee-dawn-uh) - the choice of high quality decisions and actions

You know that burning feeling in your belly when you are fired up and determined? That's tapas. Turning inward and acknowledging that fire and determining you're going to take steps toward feeding it, that's svadhyaya. And making sure that you've got a well thought through plan to total own it, that's ishvara pranidhana.

When I started my yoga practice 2 years ago, I've felt a little tiny flame, like a match, burning in my belly. Through the development of my asana practice, my spiritual journey of finding myself and not caring what anybody thinks about it, and bringing it all together through learning the classical teachings and origin of the yogic traditions in my 200 hour teacher training, the flame has grown larger, brighter, and hotter.

So, in finding the light in every situation, I realized the forced change of a job also forced me into svadhyaya. I began to acknowledge the flame and have turned inward to determine why I'm feeling like the normalcy of my life and indifference toward my new job are feelings that I have. I'm not feeling like I'm living a fulfilled life, or doing what I really feel I was meant to do. I also know that only I have the power of changing my situation. Cue isvara pranidhana.

So I've decided that in 2016, I'm going to make strides toward living the life meaningful life that I love. I've determined that life is way too short to sit back and let it pass me by. I've decided that since yoga is my passion, and the one true thing I love and dedicate all my heart to, that's what I'm going to do.

It all starts with this blog post. Putting myself out there to make connections and share my journey with others. It's scary, you know, that whole "acceptance" thing? But even if it appeals to only one person, it's a win in my book.

In 2016 I'm going to make strides to become the yoga teacher I want to be. To live life with meaning and purpose, and share what I have learned from my teachers with others. To dedicate my heart, soul and time to yoga, not only teaching it, but also practicing it with steadfastness and more importantly, grace.

How long will this process take? Who knows. Will I be successful? We'll see. But starting and failing is better than never knowing at all.

So to anyone reading this, happy new year. If you haven't felt that fire yet, have faith that you will. If you have, allow it to burn bright and take action to make your dreams come true. May all wonderful things come to you and may you have peace and joy throughout 2016. And may you do something that leads you to living your most meaning life that you love.

Namaste.