Thank you to everyone who came to my St. Louis workshop this weekend! I am so happy to connect with so many of you. I can’t wait to see more of you in January in Vancouver and Tampa! Connection, huh? It’s all there is.
In fact, I just taught an early morning yoga class where the theme was “connection.”
Yesterday I posted something on my @jenpastiloff instagram (I have two accounts) asking what so many of us are like looking for with the incessant and mindless scrolling and swiping. The answers on my Facebook page were interesting and enlightening.
This was was I posted:
I’m at the gym on the elliptical and the girl next to me is furiously scrolling through her feeds as she watches a cooking show and listens to an iPod.
I’m no better. I’m posting this from the elliptical.
I’m no better.
Whenever the plane I am on lands, everyone turns on their phones and starts scrolling. I want to ask, “what are you looking for?”
What are we looking for?
****************
A lot of people answered: connection, that they were looking for connection.
I get that. But I challenge anyone who says that the CONSTANT, mindless, furious scrolling is connecting them to anything except distraction.
I love social media and all the rest (duh) but I’m committed to being more connected. In real life, with eye contact, and touch, and conversation, and presence.
I am committed to being connected to my body, especially now.
I’ve been thinking lately about this phenomena that happens.
Sometimes people get obsessed with me. Sounds weird, I know. But it happens. “You changed my life. You’re amazing. You’re my greatest teacher. I love you.” Etc.
Then, for whatever reason, who knows – I couldn’t maintain the status they elevated me to in their minds. I didn’t return an email, they decide “F this, I can do what she does. Who does she think she is?” Maybe I farted. Or they saw I was just a person. They leave.
They decide I’m no longer “the amazing Jennifer.”
This has happened more times than I can count over the years.
But you see, if my connection to myself, to who I AM, is stronger – it DOES NOT MATTER!!
I’m touched when people appreciate me. Nothing feels as good as gratitude. But I can’t let it make me. I’ve gotten better at this. They come, they go.
True connection stays. @JenPastiloff (Click to Tweet!)
That’s what I’m looking for. It doesn’t matter if we rarely speak or see each other. It’s something deep inside of me recognizing something deep inside of you and falling in love with that something. Sometimes you can find that by scrolling but we’ve got to slow down. To stop the mindlessness – or we sure as hell won’t find it.
What are we looking for? Yes – connection.
If that’s true – then let us really look for it.
True connection stays. Some days people will seemingly love you and some days you’re a “meh.” Stay connected to yourself. To love. Not to validation and likes and who praises you.
This isn’t easy work in our times. We all be scrollin’/ looking for the next best thing when it’s right there within us.
I have a Dec 5th workshop in Los Angeles, finally! I will also be in Tampa and Vancouver in January. Make sure to give me a hug if you come. All workshops here. Also, my New Year’s Retreat in Ojai, Calif is almost sold out so book now here! I will be back at Kripalu in Feb, too. Join me on instagram at @jenpastiloff and @GirlPowerYouAreEnough. xoxo
Jen leads retreats that are a combo of yoga/writing and for ALL levels. Read this post to understand. Click here for all retreat listings and workshops to attend one in a city near you (Atlanta, NYC, St. Louis, London, Chicago & more, are next). Jen is the guest speaker 3 times a year at Canyon Ranch and leads an annual retreat to Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health every February, as well as an annual invite only retreat to Tuscany. She is the founder of the popular The Manifest-Station website. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter. She is the founder of Girl Power: You Are Enough.
