There is an App called Next Door that was designed to help people connect with the other people in their neighborhood. Folks post things like furniture for sale, a high schooler who will cut your lawn, or information on local government races, etc. For the most part, it is filled with information coming from good intentions. But occasionally, it appears to be a forum where people can just crab about their neighbors not being good neighbors, or simply people poking their nose in something that is not any of of their business.

Recently, someone had posted a comment about a dog being unleashed in a public park and how terrified this made them feel. In the story posted, the “pit bull” did nothing but walk over to the people, the owner said "sit", the dog sat, and then it was leashed. I wholly support dogs being leashed AT ALL TIMES in public. There is no debate about that. But the person who wrote the comment took the time to label the dog, a pit bull, when I am not sure it mattered at all what kind of dog it was. As someone else pointed out, I doubt he would have written “a golden retriever”. As the owner of two pit bull mixes it struck a chord with me. I never post anything on this site, but I replied to this post. I think we need to be careful about labels and inciting fear where it is not warranted. A fire storm ensued. A 139 comments later…everything from supporting my comment that by labeling the dog it continues to perpetuate a negative bias for this breed, as well as quite a few comments supporting identifying the dog and that indeed all pit bulls are risky business.

Considering what is happening in the world we live in, it left me unsettled that we would allow any judgment because of a label, in this case breed, but in a human context race. I want to support speaking up against racism or any kind of communication that would make someone feel unsafe, for any reason. My good friend and podcaster Lauren Massarella along with her sister (The Sister Project) posted a great podcast this week about speaking up: how to do so safely and in an empowered way. We all need to continue to do the work to recognize our lines of thinking and encourage ourselves and supoort one another to speak up. Take a LISTEN.

Consider not only your outward conversations but your inner dialogue. Be aware of negative self talk or discouraging attitudes to your own self or your own body. Any negative thought is an act of violence. One of the tenants we learn through yoga philosophy is Ahimsa, or non-harming. Ahimsa begins with each of us individually. New science shows us that our mind creates our body, or at least it’s processes. How we think, our stress levels, and how we feel about ourselves literally creates how our body responds. We can choose to expand our awareness outside of our own selves and allow there to be the possibility of our collective minds creating the world as well. Together our actions, interactions and consciousness can raise the vibrations and continue to do the work needed.

LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKINHO BHAVANTU
May all beings everywhere be happy and free.
(but dogs on a leash please)

xoxo

JK

P.S. Don't tell yourself you don't deserve a yoga retreat. You do. I have two rooms left for Mexico May 24th - May 29th: one single and one double room. It is heavenly and you are all clearly invited. Send me a note and I will send you the details.