I've been lucky enough to go to a lovely restaurant this week as it was my birthday.
The restaurant we went to doesn't take bookings, so you just have to queue.
Which we did, outside, in temperature just above freezing, for an hour.
It was totally worth the wait though, and we dined on the most delicious food and drank gorgeous wine. The place was buzzing. It definitely will go down as one of my gastro fave experiences.
I was aware of a couple of women who stood in front of us in the queue, one wearing a very thin cardigan and she was visibly shivering. They were both clearly very well turned out with designer handbags, immaculate hair, make up and lip fillers.
When we were in the restaurant they sat a few tables away and I was shocked to see them not eating. Just taking photos of their food. We had almost finished before they started eating anything (and I'm not sure if they finished their plates either).
I love instagram and it's imagery, I am a visual person, I get lots of inspo on instagram. I also like creating content and sharing my own stuff too, whether it's 'Tips on Tuesday's' for yoga, or DIY, interiors and dogs on my other account. I really enjoy selecting a track to go on my reel. It challenges my creativity and I feel I'm sharing a bit of my personality and teaching through it. I can also appreciate how it can grow a businesses.
However, as I'm sure you know, a lot of social media is a show case for false imagery, idyllic, often unattainable lifestyles. Also, sadly there appears to be a lot who crave 'likes' and 'followers', which becomes much more important than the actual experience or sharing something which others might be inspired by. It can become very competitive, even dangerous (especially for young people) as they aspire to keep up with their peers and trends.
One thing I've become more aware of as a yogi, is about being present to the journey, not only of practicing yoga but in life experiences. I've mentioned this before here about one of the key messages in The Bhagavad Gita, about not being caught up in the end result . For me it's working out what we value and what things are important to us. What do we want to be known for? Here's a link again of one of the most recognised shlokas https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/2/verse/47
To quote Kino MacGregor, 'Selfless action rather selfish action, is the path for how to act without attachment'. So, none attachment to the end result, likes or followers, even validation I feel is the message here. How we behave when no one's watching with genuine acts of kindness.
Whether we're savouring delicious food and the ambience of a bustling restaurant, listening to the Woodpeckers and appreciating our environment on a morning walk, or noticing how your body and breath feels in your yoga practice. Being more present with the everyday experiences can make for a happier ride.
Have a lovely weekend X
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