The world in motion.

Working on this issue, I became absorbed in the movement of my world. I glanced out the window at the gray clouds in motion across the sky. in stark contrast to the solid brick apartment building near my office, carefully designed never to move. I sat in my chair, noticing the rigidity of my body--only my fingers moved as I typed words into virtual reality; the rest of my body, craving movement, was held still by my will. Restrained emotions flowed from my tapping fingers: laughter, frustration, negotiation. Projects were initiated and completed, problems created and solved. Outside my window, the garbage truck clashed gears on the street, cars swooshed by, while all the while the clouds moved silently and a cool wind whispered in the winter branches of trees.

That night, as I got up from my chair at 7:30 with a brief thought for my missed yoga class, I creaked downstairs, settled into my car and drove home at a mad pace. By the time I reached my house, I was boiling over. All that energy that had been rushing around in me all day inadequately channeled out the tips of my fingers onto the flat screen, was still there inside me, tired of being ignored My body ached, my mind blurred, my eyes refused to see clearly.

When I got home, static streaming off of me like a cat, my husband hid behind the couch and waved his hand at me. "Why don't you go for a walk?" he suggested, after I greeted him with a barrage of complaints. I shut my mouth, changed into comfortable clothes, got out my flashlight and headed down my steep hill under the night sky. By the time I was halfway down, I could hear the stream flowing and I went to pay my respects. The stars blinked between the moving clouds that had been calling to me all day. The silence and peace sank into my bones as my feet moved over the earth. All the support and help I had been craving all day was all around me. I took a deep breath and was myself again.

One of the things discussed in this issue is our commitment. It's February, and many of us are painfully aware of the New Year's Resolutions that we made a month ago. I had committed to walking each day, which does me a world of good, but I haven't been doing it. If I can't even keep a commitment to myself, to my own good health and connection to my world, how can anyone depend on me? Maya Tiwari talks about commitment to our spiritual path, and other writers remind us of our commitment to taking care of our bodies. As Spring approaches, I'm reminded to renew, my commitments--to fun, to perspective, to movement, to flexibility and change. Instead of trying to move the world, I will let the world move me where it wants me to go.

I hope you enjoy this issue in the spirit of change and movement with which it was created. Where is life moving you?