The guidance that I was given on the island is that I should expect constant change; that I would have to be the calm center of the world in order to proceed. That was two months and half a planet ago.

I've found a path, a way out of hell. I believe that hell is right here on Earth you see. Hell is the life condition of regret and dissatisfaction. Hell is dreaming about tomorrow with no plan or thought for getting there. In short, hell is suffering. I believe that we suffer when we are not living our dream; when we are not fulfilling our destiny.

For me, this imploded economy was a God send. When you are making 120k a year, nobody wants to hear about your unhappiness; nobody wants to hear about how you feel unfulfilled. The poor scoff at the stories of the unhappy rich without heading their warning: "Money does not buy happiness." However (not currently being amongst the monetarily rich) I strongly feel that the counter belief is also not true, that money must bring misery.

With all of that bouncing around inside, the question begs: What is really important? What do I want out of life? What am I trying to accomplish? For the answer to these questions I reach back to my childhood. The thing that I find amazing is how clear I was when I was a child on what I wanted to do with life. I wanted to be an adventurer, an explorer, and inventor and a teacher. I see these desires manifest in various ways in my "adult" life. I've been lucky enough to travel, I create new and interesting stuff (at least, I think it’s interesting) all the time, I teach Yoga. Still, I can feel that gentle tug in my heart that tells me "Still further to go. Still more to do." So I quest. I continue because happiness is just around the corner; not in some new destination or thing that I can acquire. Happiness is made manifest within me when I am on the path. The path that leads to the fuller, truer, more complete me. My heart is my guide and compass on that path. It tells me when I am on track and when I go astray. It helps me to know right action and helps me to act accordingly. Listen to your heart. It will lead you, out of darkness and into the light.

Much Love,

Raja Afrika