by Erica Settino • Huntington, NY

To replace the old paradigm of war with a new paradigm of waging peace, we must be pioneers who can push the boundaries of human understanding. We must be doctors who can cure the virus of violence. We must be soldiers of peace who can do more than preach to the choir. And we must be artists who will make the world our masterpiece. Paul Chappell

Every one of us is an artist. Born with the innate ability to create and shape the masterpiece that is our life. And we do so—consciously or not—every single day; with every thought we think, word we speak, and action we take. But because life can be so hard we forget just how gifted of an artist we actually are. And instead of feeling strong and capable, we end up feeling small, and oftentimes, quite powerless. There’s just so much stuff for us to navigate. There's so much injustice and accompanying despair that at times we lose sight of how magnificent this one, holy life actually can, and quite frankly, should be. But if we're lucky, if we choose to walk around with our eyes and hearts wide open, we just might catch a glimpse of the reminders. The setting sun as we race home for dinner, or a family of deer grazing on the side of the road, or in my case, right now there is no better gift than the sound of my son's sweet laughter. Whatever it is in your life that causes you to catch your breath and want to pause time so that you can revel in the glory of that instant forever, well then, that’s the necessary awakening needed to realize that not only are miracles possible, but that they exist right here, right now, in the shape of every single one of us. We—me, you, and every other living being on this planet—are all, without a doubt in my mind, the result of some cosmic miracle so outlandish and otherworldly, that for the majority of the time our brains can't comprehend just how spectacular we truly are.

And to that I say, thank goodness for yoga! Thank goodness for any and all of the opportunities—often seen first as obstacles—that push us past and well outside of our comfort zones and demand for us to wake up and take a good look around. For without them we'd surely be stuck and we'd be in trouble. And hey, maybe we're still in trouble.

But the fact is, no matter how bad things may seem, we are never without the profound power of choice. And that in and of itself is a miracle to behold. We can choose each day to show up in our lives in a way in which will contribute to healing our wounds, and those of others around us. We can paint our lives with the hues of love and compassion, tolerance and acceptance, faith and forgiveness, and yes, peace. For that is the kind of artist that I aim to be. So, I'll show you mine if you show me yours. Together we can color a world in which all living beings can be seen, respected, and appreciated. What a sight that will be. 

Long-time yoga teacher, activist, and published writer, Erica Settino is the Editor-at-Large of Creations Magazine and Founder and Director of the non-profit organization, Karuna For Animals. She teaches weekly yoga classes and offers various classes, workshops, and events through her organization throughout the year. Visit her websites to learn more.