Consider The Possibilities! (the “missing” Sunday post) September 13, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Changing Perspectives, Donate, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma Yoga, Life, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Rosh Hashanah, Volunteer, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 1 Samuel, 988, Cristian Mihaila, David, Emily Dickinson, Enkutatash, faith, High Holidays, KISS MY ASANA, Michelangelo, Rosh Hashanah, Shmuel I
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“L’Shana Tovah U’Metukah!” to everyone celebrating Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays. Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This “missing” compilation post for Sunday, September 13th, includes new content, a series of excerpts, and a picture. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“I dwell in Possibility –”
— quoted from the poem “I dwell in Possibility (466)” by Emily Dickinson
Imagine a giant, ginormous hunk of “badly blocked out” marble. Imagine it is so massive that people, ironically, refer to it as “Il Gigante” (“The Giant”). Imagine it was expensive — expensive to purchase, expensive to transport, expensive to store, and expensive to commission someone to turn it into a masterpiece.
Now, imagine the endless possibilities….
Consider that if you have the tools, the talent, and the resources, you could make anything. You just need a plan…. maybe even a backup plan: a Plan B.
You also need time… and determination (because, sometimes, even Plan B doesn’t go according to plan).
“David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart….’”
— quoted from The First Book of Samuel (or Shmuel I – I Samuel) 17:32 (NIV)
Today was the second day of Rosh Hashana, “the the Head of the Year” on the Hebrew calendar, and the second day of the High Holidays. (I also just learned that it was the third day of Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year!) This is an auspicious time, when people make plans for a new year of life. It was also the day, in 1501, when Michelangelo was commissioned to create a marble statue of David.
Photo by Cristian Mihaila on Pexels.com
As I mentioned a few days ago, Michelangelo’s masterpiece was unveiled on September 8, 1504. The backstories about David and about how Michelangelo came to create the statue can be inspirations for any day, but they are particularly important on the new year. They are stories about underdogs who used their resources and their time wisely.
Keep in mind, however, these are also stories about things not going according to plan. Neither David (the person whose story inspired the statue) nor Michelangelo (the artist who eventually created the masterpiece) were part of the original plans… neither were either of them the Plan B. They were “The Other Plan B”.
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLES BELOW FOR MORE.
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”
— quote attributed to Michelangelo
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Rosh Hashanah 2021”]
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHY I WANT YOU TO KISS SANDRA’S ASANA!
If you are struggling, thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or need a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
You’re Invited to Bend… & To Take The Deepest Breath You’ve Taken — On Retreat!
September 25 — 27, 2026
LIMITED SPACE FOR HOTEL DISCOUNTS!
### MAY YOUR NAME BE WRITTEN & SEALED IN THE BOOK OF LIFE ###
EXCERPTS (with picture and links): “Revisiting ‘The Other Plan B’” September 13, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 1 Samuel, 988, Cristian Mihaila, David, faith, Michaelangelo
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May you be safe and protected. May you be healthy and strong. May you be peaceful and happy. May you know what is inside of you.
Photo by Cristian Mihaila on Pexels.com
“David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart….’”
— quoted from The First Book of Samuel (or Shmuel I – I Samuel) 17:32 (NIV)
The following excerpt is from a 2022 post:
“Today, I offer you a story about David. It’s actually two stories… about the same David – even though it is simultaneously the same story about two different Davids… with a little side note about two additional Davids….
To clarify today’s offering(s), the first story and the first David is the one from the Bible, specifically the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. You remember that David?
People love the story of that David, because it is the story of the underdog. When faced with the towering figure of Goliath, David used his inner resources. He drew from the experience he had as a shepherd (rather than being preoccupied by the experience he didn’t have as a soldier). He focused on what he could do (not on what he was ‘trying’ to do). His inner strength, courage, and wisdom were what he took into his reign as king. Yes, King David made mistakes – he was human; but his legacy is firmly established by the story of his victory against Goliath, his son Solomon (who is considered the ruler with the wisest heart in the history of the world), and the statue by Michelangelo.
This brings me to the ‘second’ David and the second story: the story of Michelangelo’s David.”
Click on the excerpt title below for the story about how Michelangelo’s commission, today in 1501, was “The Other Plan B.”
Please join me today (Saturday, September 13th) at 12:00 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09132020 What Is Inside, II”]
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es). Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.)
### DREAM. BREATHE. DREAM. BREATHE. ###
EXCERPT (with picture and links): “Revisiting ‘The Other Plan B’” September 13, 2023
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 1 Samuel, Cristian Mihaila, David, Michaelangelo
add a comment
May you be safe and protected. May you be healthy and strong. May you be peaceful and happy. May you know what is inside of you.
Photo by Cristian Mihaila on Pexels.com
“David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart….’”
— quoted from The First Book of Samuel (or Shmuel I – I Samuel) 17:32 (NIV)
The following excerpt is from a 2022 post:
“Today, I offer you a story about David. It’s actually two stories… about the same David – even though it is simultaneously the same story about two different Davids… with a little side note about two additional Davids….
To clarify today’s offering(s), the first story and the first David is the one from the Bible, specifically the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. You remember that David?
People love the story of that David, because it is the story of the underdog. When faced with the towering figure of Goliath, David used his inner resources. He drew from the experience he had as a shepherd (rather than being preoccupied by the experience he didn’t have as a soldier). He focused on what he could do (not on what he was ‘trying’ to do). His inner strength, courage, and wisdom were what he took into his reign as king. Yes, King David made mistakes – he was human; but his legacy is firmly established by the story of his victory against Goliath, his son Solomon (who is considered the ruler with the wisest heart in the history of the world), and the statue by Michelangelo.
This brings me to the ‘second’ David and the second story: the story of Michelangelo’s David.”
Click here to read the entire post about how Michelangelo’s commission, today in 1501, was “The Other Plan B.”
Please join me for a virtual yoga practice on Zoom, today (Wednesday, September 13th) at 4:30 PM or 7:15 PM. Use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09132020 What Is Inside, II”]
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es). Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.)
A Joyful Practice 