My yoga instructor was teaching at a Buddhist retreat this weekend. She was telling us about a group of people who would be starting a 3-year silence retreat in January. Everyone talked about how amazing and wonderful that is blah blah blah. My face must have betrayed my thoughts because she asked me what I thought.

I said it was selfish. Amazing, true, but still selfish. Much like Siddharta leaving a wife and child.

That, my friends, is an example of how NOT to win friends and influence people at yoga.

But I still think a 3 year retreat is a weird entitlementy kind of thing.

How did you go from nose to boobs?

I went down. I've worked out my lip issues (polish 'em up, stick 'em out), no need to pay attention to my chin or eyes or ears--they're all just boring. So next thing down on the list are my boob issues. WHoa, momma, got some of those. Eternal battle to not have the biggest ones, but to not be flatchested. So as part of making peace with the F cup, can I actually push them up and get cleavage. But then what happens? This could be worse than the lipstick thing.

Oh, and do I need a new swimsuit for Christmas?

Being a girl is hard.

It might not be, depending on what you would be doing if you weren't retreating and what else you're doing while you're being silent. There's inherent privilege in being able to devote yourself to spiritual pursuits, and that can certainly become a very selfish thing.

Hahaha. That's awesome.

I would totally love to do stuff like that, but I feel the same way. I have friends who work at a place that does perpetual prayer and while I respect their devotion and commitment, I feel like it's such a cheat for them to check out like that. I mean, it would be fine if there were nothing that needed *doing* but seeing as how the world is how it is, yannow.

They wanted to come back and start one here, and kinda did, and I was all, well what about an International House of Service (Yes, their org's name was the same as the pancakes: IHOP, just with prayer instead of pancakes. I prefer pancakes in my house.) where instead of people praying perpetually there were people in service perpetually. And you could call if, like, it was three in the morning and your plumbing's gone out and you don't have any money for a plumber but could make do with a handyman's job. Or if you just lost your girlfriend and needed to talk. But there were fewer people interested in doing that.

So yeah, definitely admirable in its discipline, but entitlementy in its execution.

Oh, and do I need a new swimsuit for Christmas?

Maybe a skeleton one? [link]

Oooh, a lemon conversation! I love it.

Lemons halved with salt are also very good for exfoliating crusty, ashy elbows and heels. Just make sure you don't have any cuts!

ita, I think your nose was slightly more retroussé as a child than it is now. Your nose has matured.

Nom, I made pot roast and then cupcakes.

Hmm, I think a 3 year retreat makes perfect sense if you are trying to be a monk or nun or something, or maybe have some SUPER hards issues to work through or repent of...but if you have a family, I think it's...well, not what I would agree with as necessary.

This reminds me that I got sucked into following a bunch of links today, and reading a lot about GOOP, Gwyneth Paltrow's weird site. That's some crazy ass entitlement stuff there, yo.

I think I like that skull swimsuit. Now I need to look at fun two pieces.

I want the leg/hip bones leggings for derby!

Liese, they'll be retreating in your state: [link] I love that they'd like donations for people to help support them.

-t, I agree. Theoretically it all depends on what else they would be doing. During the retreat, the caretakers, not the retreatants, will be providing food and everything else, or at least that's how I understand it.

I don't know. I am much like Liese. A spiritual practice that is so long separate from the world seems like a cop out of some sort. Sure Teresa of Avila was an important mystic, but did she do more good or live her faith more than Mother Theresa? I guess this is why the Franciscans have always been more interesting than the Benedictines to me.

Where does one find fun two piece swimsuits?