Reconnecting with My Roots

The new campus "centre." Amazing!

Yesterday, Ben and I visited our alma mater (and the place that we met!), Centre College. It was a complete blast from the past to be back, and as I'd anticipated, the campus looked stunning (just as I remember it), the weather was perfect (again, as I always remember it), and I teared up/almost started balling about 5 times (as I always do).

Ben didn't understand why I was so emotional being back, but I wasn't surprised because this is what always happens for me when I revisit a place that was special to me in the past (see my first trip back to NYC). Why? Because these places represent so many memories of happy times. College, for example, was probably one of the most formative places and times of my life, and when visiting Centre I'm taken back to this time where I spent so much time growing, learning, having fun, making life-long friends, and of course, meeting Ben, and it just feels so special to me. Cheesy enough for you? I know, but it's oh-so-very true for me, and I think a lot of my friends would say the same thing.

I also get somewhat emotional when I visit places from my past because I know that they're over and never will be again. It's not a deep sadness, because I love where I am today and all of these places helped me to get there, but it is a sense of nostalgia for what was and for these parts of my life that will never exist again. Things change--nothing is permanent (!)--and visiting important places from our life journey can be a very powerful (and often somewhat saddening) reminder of this. And yes, my fellow yogis, I'm still and always will be working on non-attachment ;)

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The infamous flame--a sculpture on campus ;)

But you know what? This past weekend I was also reminded  how invigorating it can be to reconnect with your past--with your roots--and with the people and places that were a part of it. For me, visiting KY, my friends there, and my old home, Centre, felt very recharging. It reminded me of where I've come from and put so many of the "highly important" daily issues back into perspective. The big things in life, and the relationships and lessons that you learn along the way are what matters (not checking an errand off of your to-do list!) and remembering the past can be a great way to be reminded of this.

So today? I'm going to work on finding my way back into my "normal," everyday life, without letting go of the free, appreciative, and connected feeling that I felt walking around Centre yesterday. I felt such gratitude and love for this place, and I'm going to hold onto that feeling as I embrace the present moment today!

Thanks for a wonderful weekend and reminder of where I've come from, KY (and everyone there!)!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

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