If you are reading this, a connection is being made between us and countless others. We are all intricately interconnected at so many levels and this is just a stepping stone. We all have peaks and valleys that we travel in our lifetime. It is when one chooses to consciously awaken their mind and heart to the impact that their life has on others that he or she start to see “the bigger picture”. I am grateful and blessed to have had many challenges to bring me to this moment.

Epilepsy became a part of my life when I was five years old. Medication helped keep seizures at bay most of the time. The epilepsy even stopped when I was a teenager and became a part of the past until I turned twenty-seven. The seizures returned without warning and once again, medication kept it under control most of the time. However, as I approached my late thirties, the seizures took a new life. They came without warning and the medications stopped working. What used to happen a couple times a year, became almost a daily event.

By the divine assistance of the Higher Power, my soul mate and husband Greg, and the gifted doctors at Vanderbilt Hospital, brain surgery was performed and eliminated the epilepsy five years ago. I was so grateful to have been cured of the epilepsy; however, my true revelation did not take place until after I started the journey of releasing my body from the medicines that it had been consuming for over thirty years. As I weaned myself off of the medicines, I started to have panic attacks, could not sleep for weeks, suffered depression, and felt like my body was dying. Worse, I reached a point where I didn’t care if I did. It was when I reached my lowest moment that I realized I had to make a choice. A favorite quote from one of my favorite movies of all time, Shawshank Redemption, comes to mind regarding this epiphany. “Get busy living or get busy dying…you make the choice.”

I realized I had to take responsibility for my well-being and make myself right in my mind and I stumbled upon a fabulous meditation cd that opened the door to my transition.  Meditation taught me how to quiet the mind, feel peace within my heart, and release my biggest internal opponent, fear. Somehow, yoga entered my life to experience and it has never been the same since the first class. I have been practicing yoga for five years; however, it already feels like a lifetime. I felt the desire and need to learn to teach yoga after doing it for three years so that I could possibly help someone else searching for help and not knowing where to turn. 

The circle of life is eternal and we must share to help others so that they can pay it forward on their journey. We are in this journey together. I am grateful for the lessons learned; I am grateful for the people it brought in my life and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back. Like a dear friend of mine says, “it’s all good.”

Val's radio interview with Barbara Rucker from Inward Outlook on Radio A

Click MP3 beside Valerie's Name

http://yogarevelation.blogspot.com

Val's Publishes Articles For Examiner.com And EZINE Articles

yogarevelation@hotmail.com

 Val's Radio Interview

 
Valerie currently teaches yoga at the Maryland Farms YMCA and private clients.