Have you ever met a woman who you just know has a real sense of self? Maybe she's not even the hottest kitten in the litter, but she definitely has something else going on, something bigger, something emanating from her. Shining. Blazing. Drawing you in. This is a ninja living from her center, regardless of the exterior - living from her essence. This essence is our most true self - the unadulterated, unguarded, playful, fierce, damn fine self.
In my quest to achieve ninjahood, I've been reading the Shambhala book, "The Sacred Path of the Warrior." In it, Master Chogyam Trungpa talks about how each of us has essential goodness within. (Yea, deep stuff!) We are born with this vital good, and once we realize this we no longer have to convince, embellish or dress up our sense of being: we already are. All right, Trungpa, I can jive with you, meditation man. I have this basic goodness within: I am good. There I said it.
Master Trungpa says to see your good qualities and accept your flaws as a beautiful part of being human, even if every meal you ate today just happened to be a six-pack of powdered doughnuts you bought at the corner Chevron. Even if it is four in the morning and you swore you'd never call your ex ever, ever again. Learn to love yourself in the raw, unconditional, profound way that you love your big sister or your BFF. Know you'll never, no matter the circumstances, leave her side for one solitary second. This is the way of the ninja, to love yourself that ceaselessly.
Ok. That's all fine and dandy. But self-love? I've been accused of being "slightly disorganized, even "peculiarly challenged." It seems to take me longer than most to learn the basics, and it's taken me even longer to embrace all of my shortcomings and misadventures of the painful kind. It's taken several years to fully embrace my body "as is." But I'm still left with a question mark above my head when it comes to the real self-love. The stuff all the talk shows, magazines and self-helpers expound upon in between commercial breaks, selling me well-packaged promises for face, butt, thighs and everything in between..
But according to what I've read by Master Trungpa, apparently the most intimate, sensational relationship we are all capable of isn't the one with Prince Charming - it is the one we can have with ourselves.
Well, that's all I feel like sharing today. I think my journey into ninjahood is well on its way... So, until I feel like being all philosophical again I leave you with these ninja words to ponder:
Happiness doesn't knock once you've finally become perfect. Happiness knocks down your door once you realize that you already are.
Until next time...
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