A theme of my journey: overcoming

When I walked dogs for a living people said "It must be amazing getting to play with dogs all day!" Now that I'm a traveling yoga teacher people say "Wow, you must live a life many dream of...."

Looking from the outside, someone's work (or in my case - working lifestyle) can look fun, adventurous, and full of excitement. There is plenty of excitement and adventure but what that looks like to someone else vs myself can be quite different. 

When I walked dogs it was driving around town, making sure I had entry codes and keys, keeping dogs away from other dogs or puppies away from eating things they shouldn't (plastic, blankets, earrings, plates, and plants), and there was so much clean up - throw up, poop, pee, and spills. I used to call myself a glorified poop picker upper. It was also around the clock care. 

Would I trade any of that to have been anywhere else? No way! It was scheduled unconditional love, scheduled chaos, and long days, but it taught me alot and I met so many wonderful pets and people along the way. Did it exhaust me, cover my clothes in dirt and mud, and  cause stress? Yes, but that's a part of life. 

As a traveling yoga (and tai chi) teacher, I'm unable to work typical hours which makes it rough to find work. There's a lot of wear and tear on my vehicle. I meet a lot of folks but few blossom into close friendships due to being on the road, and most of the time I'm resting at truck stops, gas stations, or 2 star motel/hotels so I have enough gas to get wherever I'm going. Thank goodness for Planet Fitness, it allows me to shower when i'm getting funky especially in the summer months. 

There's also smiling faces, new acquaintances and networks, long nights of storytelling and early morning flows, and beautiful discoveries in nature and within the concrete forests (cafes, vegan spots, venues, and parks). All of this makes the journey worth it. It thickens my skin and softens my heart. Allows me to see how people live the same differently and opens my mind to the various ways of life. 

All in all, there's mishaps, chaos, time spent in the sun, or trying to figure out where to find organic burritos in the middle of a desert, but would I trade any of it? No. Do I sometimes wake up with crippling anxiety wondering how I will pay my bills or make it to the next festival to teach? Oh yah, but I am doing what I love. Sharing the message of awareness and practices for inner peace with all whom I meet. I created this life and am proud of the life that's been built. ​