A Step in Her Footstep

My aunt is one of my favorite people in the whole world.

(Along with many others who may read this-- love you too!)

But back to my aunt.

She's such a beautifully kind human being and I love her so much.

In my life I don't have very many positive role models. At least not living, breathing, tangible ones. Or ones that I can call my friend, my teacher, my family. But she is all of those things.

I'd always been interested in yoga and then my aunt was certified and I learned more about the practice and developed even more of an interest.

The catalyst to my passion for yoga came when I was hospitalized last March. That was an extremely rough time for me and maybe some of the people around me as well. One day while I was there, it was a Friday and apparently that meant it was also "Video Fitness Day." A yoga video was one of the options and I adamantly tried to convince some of the other patients to choose that one. We did. After it was over, I felt calm. And relaxed. And better about myself for a moment. And like my shoulders weren't weighted quite so much. All feelings I hadn't had in a long time.

It meant the world.

And I knew yoga was for me that day.

Soon after my release from the hospital I took measures to get enrolled in a yoga class. I took the class for a few weeks and into an even deeper love I fell. 

It even gave me the desire to someday get certified myself and pay it forward to others like myself who need yoga in their lives.

Now several months later, while this wonderful aunt of mine was visiting me at school, we went to a new yoga studio. The Funky Buddha Yoga Hothouse. Needless to say it's an amazing studio with very inspiring teachers. My friend Katie joined us and we all fell in love.

My wish to be a yoga teacher has intensified and someday I hope to save up to study under Baptiste. (Also, just for an update, I recently changed my major to photography.)

The past few days I've even had sugarplum daydreams about being a part-time yoga instructor and photographer. About being happy with two things that make me passionate and feel good.

That would be nice.

And I owe it to my aunt for encouraging me to pursue yoga, to go for what I love.

She's changed my life.

And along with that, the presence of her family in both mine and my sister's lives.

It's eye-opening to see such love and goodness in one family.

To feel so cared about when they really don't have to.

To feel welcomed.

To feel like a part of the family.

You guys mean a lot to me.

Thank you. For everything.

All because one day in a movie theatre she sat next to my uncle.

I thank my lucky stars for her wonderful presence.

I love you, Auntie.