Hello and welcome.
My name is Carolyn and I am truly honored to be your guide.
Today is all about honoring the teachers that have come before us.
In 1675,
Sir Isaac Newton made his famous statement,
If I have seen further,
It is by standing on the shoulders of giants.
We are all standing on the shoulders of giants.
All of our understanding,
Our personal advancement,
Is because of the people that have come before us,
Because of our teachers who inspired us and showed us the way.
Today we dedicate our practice to those teachers,
Guides and facilitators in our life,
Who are not necessarily actual teachers,
But could be friends,
Family members,
Or just people who came into our lives at just the right time,
When we needed them most,
Who have taught us,
Who have believed in us,
Who have ignited that fire in order for us to be able to reach and pursue those once seemingly unreachable heights.
And perhaps even more difficult is to pay respect and homage to those teachers we didn't want,
Of those lessons that were really hard to learn,
But truly without them our full transformation towards our highest and greatest self would not be possible.
So to the extent that we can,
Let us thank them too.
And we'll start that practice right here,
Right now,
With a kindness and gratitude meditation.
So sitting well,
Finding that comfortable place where your sit bones can feel fully supported,
Your spine can find a little bit more length,
You have the option to bring your hands to your heart center and close your eyes.
And in your mind's eye,
I invite you to bring forth an image of one of your teachers that has truly ignited your path.
A person who,
When you think about them,
You have so much love and gratitude,
Perhaps the corners of your mouth lift.
And to that wonderful teacher,
Facilitator,
Guide,
Silently repeat,
May you be happy,
May you be healthy,
May you be at peace.
And then with all that sweetness,
All that kindness and gratitude in your heart,
You'll need it for this next one.
In your mind's eye,
Bring forth a teacher who perhaps taught you a very hard life lesson.
And to that person,
To the best that you can,
In your mind's eyes,
Silently repeat,
May you be happy,
May you be healthy,
May you be at peace.
And last,
But certainly not least,
To the being that is taking all these life lessons and transforming into highest and greatest possible self to you,
Sweetly say in your mind's eye,
May I be happy,
May I be healthy,
May I be happy,
May I be at peace.
And then slowly,
Sweetly,
Perhaps opening your eyes,
Feeling that gratitude for all of your teachers that taught us the good and hard lessons,
And especially sending thanks to the ones that made our life that much sweeter just by being in it.
And now my invitation is for you to go forth and be that good spark in somebody else's life.
Pay it forward and be the reason that somebody believes in themselves.
Be the reason that somebody believes in the goodness of people.
Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide.
The light,
The love,
The teacher in me truly sees,
Honors,
And respects.
The light,
The love,
The teacher in each one of you.
And I wish you all a blessed day and namaste.
