Motion

I am moving again.

This time it's a bit less dramatic than the last.

I am simply moving bedrooms, in the same house.

Just a bit of a shimmy downstairs and voila, living life on a whole new level...

My flatmate is moving out and in with his girlfriend, and I have decided to 'downsize', taking a smaller, cheaper room - mostly because it is cheaper, but also because it's nice to shake things up a little bit, and I wouldn't mind initiating a gradual process of culling over the next few months, which smaller spaces seem to demand.

So I guess that's the other big news. I will be returning to Canada for the first time in more than three years this June, for the intended duration of four months, before returning to Auckland in October. More about that later.

It's amazing how much of the energy of moving is still present even in such a seemingly insignificant shift. The subtle buzz of inspiration, the anticipation, the moments of reflection.

I was clearing out a drawer just now and just when I thought I was done something shiny in the corner caught my eye. It was my Peace Corps passport (which I sort of vaguely remember should have been surrendered to some government official at some point)...and with just a touch of nostalgia I picked it up...a little ceremonially.

Evidence the dream was real.

I look for that sometimes. When I was on the island I used to dream of the city, and would wake up wondering which universe was real. Recently I had a dream I was back on the island, but things had changed. There had been more "development", and some of the familiar sights were almost unrecognizable. But the thing is, the coconut trees were lower to the ground.

I reached up and plucked a fresh green coconut with one hand and expertly sliced it open with a nearby bush knife, and as I tilted my head back and lustily drank back the nectar I thought to myself, "Thank God this is real. Thank God this coconut is real."

And then I woke up.

But that was awhile ago, and today as I thumbed through the pages of the passport, reread the dates and airports on all the stamps, searched my eyes in the picture for the innocence I claim to miss, with a sigh I thought to myself,

Who knew?

You know?

Like...who knew I'd end up here?

I've had a recent epiphany about my physical health, which may indeed have psychological and even spiritual ramifications.

I have discovered almost accidentally that I have probably been deeply dehydrated for a very long time.

I did a bit of a cleanse a couple weeks ago, a pretty casual self-directed apple fast, followed by an actual fast with some kriyas (yogic cleansing practices) and some relatively intense meditation and chanting practice. Throughout this period I was extremely conscious of staying hydrated, setting myself little goals for water intake throughout the day.

But I found that once I started drinking I almost couldn't stop. I was incredulous at how much water I was consuming, craving, absorbing. You know how people say when you dramatically increase your water intake you are always running to wee and you feel really bloated and stuff? I just didn't have that. All that water was going somewhere.

I'm not saying it's the be all and end all of all my health problems but it's been a fascinating and promising water-logged week since.

So here's the trick, right? To encouraging the habit of regular hydration. Here's the epiphany...

Before when I wanted a glass of water I'd fill it up, drink it, and put it down, right? And then the next time you want a glass of water you do the same...right? Like this is how you drink water, right?

Wrong!

Fill it up, drink it, FILL IT UP. Immediately. So then the next time the thought even STARTS to cross your mind that MAYBE you want to drink something, or perhaps your eyes fall on the glass as you're looking for something else, or whatever...your glass is already full when you need it.

Think about it.

Far out, right?

I hope now you understand how my world has turned upside down for the better recently.

There is one more thing I'd like to share. Some of you with experience 'in the field' may have already made this connection.

You may or may not be aware that fresh green coconut water is one of nature's most effective, efficient, and fast-acting rehydrative solutions. So, like, if you're dying of thirst even a little green coconut can save your life.

I'm just saying it's interesting is all...