26/01/2026
The world feels extra heavy right now. It’s undeniable. So much tension, division, unrest.
The practice helps. I honestly don’t know what state I would be in without it.
I showed up on my mat yesterday in a bad state. Irritable. Heartbroken. Angry at the state of the world. As some of you know, I’m Persian. And while things have been bad in my home country for as long as I’ve been alive, somehow they are worse right now. Having no contact with family is terrifying. Not knowing if your loved ones are safe, or even alive.
We moved to the States when I was ten as a refuge. An escape from a harsh government. But lately, things have felt harsh and scary here too. The news is heartbreaking, and it’s easy to slip into hopelessness and despair.
And yet, it’s especially during times like this that we must not lose hope. We have to do the work of tending to ourselves so that we can tend to others. If we allow fear to rule us, we are in real trouble. Fear blinds us. It leads to poor decisions. I believe fear is what drives so much of what we’re witnessing right now. Fear of difference. Fear of scarcity. Fear of questioning authority, even when it contradicts morality, even when it costs human lives.
It’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to be outraged. But we cannot be afraid. We must do better. We must be guardians of love and of hope. And the only way to do that is to tend to the light within.
The practice helps. I showed up angry and heartbroken. I walked away feeling steadier, more resourced, more able to stay human in inhumane times.
Sending so much love to you and yours. 🤍
