Why You Should Love the Process, and Let the Universe Guide You

Yoga says we should never worry about the outcome.

I grew up in a bubble.

My parents were unaware of American sports culture, and that meant so was I.

They lived through a war where their main goal was to stay alive. As you can imagine, they didn’t spend much time playing or watching sports.

While the rest of the American kids were playing basketball or watching football, my exposure to sports was swimming lessons at our local YWCA. My mother had never learned to swim, and after crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a ship from Germany, she feared the water.

She was the catalyst for the lessons.

My swim instructor Derek was not a man you could say no to. We had to swim laps and could not stop for a rest in the lane. I remember thinking I'd never make it, but then I'd hear Derek's voice yelling, "Go, Ilona, GO!"

I was afraid I wouldn't make it to the finish line, but even more fearful of disappointing Derek.

His words kept me going, but so did the fact that I knew if I stopped, he'd make me start over and do it again.

My dad loved Derek's mantra for me and adopted it whenever he thought I was wavering. He always told me I was capable of doing anything I wanted to do. The world was my oyster.

I've said the exact phrase to my kids when they've been discouraged. Forrest Gump got similar advice from his best friend.

The mantra has served me well, especially in this phase of my life. I've been writing this newsletter in its various from for almost three years since COVID derailed my job as a yoga teacher for the recovery community.

Whenever I read something old I've written, I can see how far I've come in my writing development. Sometimes a reader will give positive feedback, making me feel like I’m on the right track. Mostly I'm alone in my head, wondering if I've written anything worthwhile. I’m forced to rely on my inner compass as a guide.

I live with a lot of mystery about where I’m going.

Yoga teaches that we should do our practice for its own sake, without the expectation of tasting the fruit of our efforts. Just keep going.

I keep this thought close as well as my mantra.

Recently, a wonderful lady supported this newsletter with a monthly pledge, and I can't tell you how thrilling it is to know someone thinks my words have value.

Thank you, dear Kathy!

Writing has taken me on a different path, one that has helped me process my past and which inspires me with ideas for my future. I rarely feel like giving up on it now, even the difficult, boring parts. The process of writing has become a part of who I am, even though I don’t know where it’s leading.

I’m ok with not having certainty. I’m in a sweet place in life where I have fewer responsibilities than I had just a decade ago. I will bide my time honing my craft, practicing yoga, and letting the universe guide me.

The pandemic has positively changed my life because it’s helped me become a better writer. How has it changed things for you? I'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment below!

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I wrote this piece on Medium for Father's Day in honor of my dad. Click here to read it for free, and I hope you enjoy it.