<p>Thanksgiving day is one of the holidays that my family diverge from the norm. Instead of consuming turkeys and gravy, we substitute our Thanksgiving dinner with organic vegan dishes with respect and gratitude to God. I was born and raised by health conscious vegan parents who emphasized greatly on spirituality. The spirituality lifestyle that they first forced upon me was taken for granted, but as I later experienced roadblocks throughout the latter part of my life I began to open my eye up to consummation of spirituality. When I helped prepare for my vegan thanksgiving, I realized the importance of igniting gratitude and thanks for both my parents for raising me up the way they did. By indenting a vegan and organic lifestyle, my parents not only helped me limit the destruction of my body but also cultivate an awareness of my environment and the necessities that it offers. Because my mother was on the verge of death in several cases after my birth, my father made the decision to become more aware of the food that our family consumes. In order to do so, my father became very mindful and conversant about the health impacts of the food that we consume in our daily lives and therefore would always begin the morning by bantering on about how the ingredients in our food can either be our redemption or our sin. Although I had heard of this statement a million times in my head, I still keep those words in mind. As I sat at the Thanksgiving table, I stared at the organic tofu braised curry contemplating about how identical I found the process of food and the cycle of life. Listening to my father’s lectures about healthy living, I epiphanized a greater reverence for the the food that traveled onto my plate from the process of hard work through the farmers hands and onto the machines. As I gradually learned to follow my parents’ footsteps in an environmentally friendly lifestyle that includes recycling, planting greens, driving priuses, and taking our daily actions toward the environment into account; I became intrigued to explore and further grasp the sustainable lifestyle within my society. Having an green friendly environment within my family has impelled me to keep searching and continue using greener alternatives. Every time my father encouraged me to avoid the seemingly innocuous chemicals inside food or home products such as BPA. microwave radiations, and GMOs I find myself in inquisition about all the other consumers out there who should be allowed to to have the knowledge of these chemicals. Because my father has significantly helped me limit the destruction of my body, I am deeply motivated to help others realize the importance of an more environmentally green lifestyle. </p>
<pre><code>The day I was introduced to yoga changed my life and continues to change my lifestyle in such a fulfilling way. When first stepped foot on the mat, I felt lost and inadequate and had no clue of where the practice of yoga would lead me to. I felt a deep pang of inadequacy as my mom bended fluidly into a pigeon pose while evoking that deep calming breathing rhythm that I always heard in the morning. I lucidly remembered that my uncertainty had ruled my life, leaving me like a boat stranded in a vast sea with absolutely no sense of direction. When I incorporated a weekly yoga routine into my schedule, I brought in a profound meaning into my life. Yoga was a safe haven for me, it was my prayers through movement that helped me focus my energy into a positive manner. Additionally, yoga brought in some spirituality elements that I never before cared to unravel or questioned. When I practiced yoga outdoors, I experienced an uplifting and peaceful sense of awareness to my surrounding environment and since I felt more connected to my environment, I felt more motivated to revere and care for it. Igniting a connection between my breath and mind led to a greater connection between my life and environment. Each movement was a challenge that threw me to the ground. With each new pose was a new risk that I dared to take and in return helped me develop my inner strength. The tensions that I eventually learned to release on the mat also helped me let go of the building tensions in my life. There were times when I never wanted to practice yoga but forcibly hopped onto the mat with a sense of void that I often felt when I lacked social. I had crawled reluctantly into the poses only to discover halfway through the session that my mood had noticeably lifted. Consequently, I developed a commitment to stay on the mat comparing myself with nobody to see if I was adequate enough. By leaving my judgement behind me, I felt open to be who I really was. There was little space for mind chatter, which dissolved as I danced in sync with my breaths feeling my energy and flowing rhythm transform my low moods into feelings of euphoria and bliss. Once so concerned with how I looked, I gave more concern to how I felt. Yoga prevented the pessimistic view of my life from becoming the lens in which I perceive the world. Yoga also taught me to listen to my mind, drop my judgement, and focus on the present moment at hand. Most importantly, I learned to value my life and body with a strong desire to live life with higher regards toward limiting the destruction of my mind, body, and environment.
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