"Find your own Calcutta"

For those of you who read similar columns to the one that supplied this blog topic, you may be surprised at the very American notions that line up so simply with the tenets of yoga and life balance.  Follow me for a minute, let's see where this goes...

This afternoon, I was speaking with a student and an intern at work.The student confided in the intern and myself, that he regularly eats fast food because it is so easy.  The intern  said it was tantamount to smoking and began discussing grilling some chicken to carry in a cooler and buying fresh fruits and vegetables.  Whoa, now, intern.  For many, this is just too much change.  Too much all at once for many to stick to, anyhow.

So we talked for a moment about making small changes first.  Little things like healthier snacks to spread out the fast food.  Perfect?  No.  But one step at a time.  And he is going to avail himself of her free personal training services.  Get the most out of the class, one step at a time.

Too much of a good thing can be just that.

It is the same with volunteering our time, or doing any special thing.

It is just SO hard to be all of the things we want to be in this world.  I have often, in the course of our sixteen year marriage, told Charlie that I should be a stay at home Mom.  Each time, he has laughed and told me that if I wasn't gainfully employed, I would still be frayed at the edges, with multiple near-full-time volunteer gigs, and no money to donate to the causes.  Darn, I hate when he's right.

So back to the article I was reading.  The woman had selected a spiritual guru, of sorts- someone she wished to emulate- in order to focus her energy in that when she gave happiness to others, she would feel happier, too.  In the process, she had stumbled upon a line from Mother Teresa, when someone had asked her how they themselves might make the kind of difference she had, in her ministry to the poorest of the poor.  She had told them, "Find your own Calcutta."

Was Mother Teresa being territorial?  Not likely!  Inside each of us, there is that one cause.  That one meaning, or devotion, which moves us to action.  My Grandma volunteered at the hospital for a very long time, then ran women's bible study groups in her retirement home.  I know some who run benefit functions for animal rescue groups, my sister has twice walked the Avon 5 Day Breast Cancer Walk.

Just because it is your calling now, doesn't mean it always will be, either.  But if you were to find that one thing that really moves you, pick that one true thing and son't feel that you have to be swept up in every cause that comes your way.  As important as all those other causes are, you matter, too.  And you will have more to give overall, if you are not pulled in so many directions that you cannot effectively give to what matters most, or manage your day-to-day life.  Find that one thing that really moves you.  In other words, find your own Calcutta.