Thursday

 Thursday 

Daily Reflection – IRE (Happiness)

Good morning 🌞. Today began at 3 a.m. By 3:10 I was already on my yoga mat, moving through my sequences. My back felt tired, yet I could feel new movement and release—wonderful progress. Looking up at the sky, filled with stars, the first word that came to me was IRE, Yoruba for “happiness.” Then another phrase rose within me: I choose to live to honor You.

After writing my affirmation, three words came forward: self-love, self-surrender, and self-patience. My yoga has become more than movement—it has become prayer. I followed it with meditation for 20 minutes, and in total, the practice stretched nearly three hours.

From there, I went jogging, straight into church. I’ve been amazed—going to church every single day now feels like a blessing. Today’s reading from St. Paul to Timothy spoke of all Jesus did, and it filled me with gratitude.

Now I sit in the park, reflecting before my next meeting. What I carry from today is this: to release and to live in the moment. Yoga and meditation can heal, but only with discipline. It means rising when the world sleeps, choosing the practice again and again.

And for that, I am grateful. 🙏🏾

Daily Reflection – Healing Through Discipline

Today reminded me of something important: healing is not passive. Whether we like it or not, the body must move. Walking, stretching, breathing—these are not optional, they are necessary.

I’ve lived through pain, homelessness, divorce, even a stroke. In those moments, talking to someone could not heal me—but moving my body, stretching, breathing, and practicing yoga did. Yoga became my prayer. Meditation gave me clarity. Through pain, discipline, and surrender, I began to heal.

I believe recovery is more than just avoiding substances. It is emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual. It is the awareness that everything is connected, and the discipline to rise when others sleep, to breathe when others complain, to move when the body resists.

Running my first 100 miles taught me the truth: the body holds limitless strength. What most people think is impossible is already within them. No one told me I could do it—but I did. That’s why I believe yoga and meditation are the way to true healing.

Discipline hurts at first, but on the other side of the pain is freedom. 🙏🏾

Daily Reflection – Discipline Over Excuses

Today I was reminded of something: it’s easy to say, “I tried everything,”but the truth is, most of us stop before we really give our full effort. Healing is not found in shortcuts, and it is never a quick fix.

Many times, people give up on their bodies too soon. They talk themselves into believing their pain is permanent, instead of pushing through it with patience and discipline. But I know from experience—after stroke, after being hit by a car, after homelessness—that this body can heal. Yoga, meditation, and running have proven it to me.

What struck me today is how easily discouragement can spread when people give up on themselves. But instead of letting that energy pull me down, I chose to let it inspire me. It reminded me why I must keep training, keep practicing, keep believing.

Healing takes discipline. Discipline hurts. But discipline also transforms. And I refuse to give up.

Daily Reflection – Self-Honesty

Tonight reminded me of a simple truth: without self-honesty, there is no healing. Many talk about recovery, but few have done the physical work that clears the mind—walking, running, yoga, meditation. Movement rewires the brain. It can give the same release people chase through drugs or distractions, yet many don’t see it.

I notice how healing can appear strong when people are in pain but fade once they feel comfortable. Healing that depends on mood or season is not real healing—it has no roots.

I’ve also learned that when people question me, they often reveal more about themselves. When someone asks if I’m lying, it is because they are not being truthful with themselves. My task is not to argue, but to meet them with calmness and love.

True recovery is not about choosing one path over another. Every path is a school of thought. Wisdom can be found in a church, mosque, temple, synagogue, yoga studio, AA, NA, OA, meditation circles, Tai Chi, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity—every tradition has something to offer the mind and spirit. When you separate, you limit yourself. When you are open, you heal.

Even running taught me this. The first marathon feels exciting, like a high. But it’s only after many marathons that running becomes spiritual, when it stops being about quick results and becomes about endurance, patience, and surrender.

And that is the heart of it: when you surrender, self-honesty arises. Without honesty, there is just noise. With honesty, there is healing.