Evelyn Pate

When I'm on FB, I mainly post to my personal page: evelyn.pate23

Here I am in the hallway at my alma mater, St. Catherine Academy in the Bronx, NY. I met with the principal, Sr Patricia Wolf to discuss the launch of the after... school yoga program for the girls. It's happening on March 4th! To say I'm excited (and nervous and humbled) is an understatement. During a tour to meet some of the students and teachers, I was amazed by the programs that have been implemented at SCA. They've been a cell-free school for two years. Since then, grades and community activities have gone up and evidence of bullying has gone down (!). What used to be the nun's quarters in my day is the STEM Lab now. There was a WALL of medals - regional and national winners, and more. Sr Pat and her faculty have a dream of a world with more women engineers in it - and it's happening here. While there, I met the Girls Who Code crew and they were busying clicking away at little devices and creating. These girls are bringing it! I was impressed, to say the least, and I want to go back to high school now. So today was the beginning of a dream I had a whisper of years ago - to bring yoga to students so they can use these tools to navigate every day life. So they can reach for a tool to remember their power and greatness. So when they bump into Beyonce on the street, Bey asks for *her autograph. Sr Pat had dreams of creating more women engineers. And here we are today. Soon-to-be-Engineers and Architects and Dancers and Artists and WhateverTheyWantToBe who are also empowered? Yes, please. I think this happy combo will make for a greater future. Here’s to many more dreams taking flight mine and yours. What are you dreaming about today?

To my 18+ regular students (and one brave newbie) who showed up to class tonight despite the sideways rain, sleet and icy streets: Thank you! I honor and bow to... you. Thank you for your Effort, your Attention and your Sweet Presence shared in class. You lifted me up in ways you could not have imagined. You floor me every time! Here is more on the Hawaiian practice of Ho'ponopono we had weaved in to our asana tonight: * I'm Sorry. * Please Forgive Me. * Thank You. * I Love You. https://upliftconnect.com/hawaiian-practice-of-forgiveness/ May we all forgive and love ourselves higher, Evelyn xo

Please go see the Mister Rogers' documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor?". I cried through the whole movie and left the theatre with puffy eyes. We know as child...ren that Kindness is our inherent nature - to love and help one another, not see differences but to see goodness in another human being. To honor and allow feelings that arise. "I like you just the way you are". The movie's title, his hallmark question, is an invitation for someone to be close to you: "The greatest thing we can do for someone is tell them they are Loved, and are capable of Loving." <3 (I think Mister Rogers was the first mic-dropper.) We learn early on that we are good, kind, and like-able just the way we are....then we forget. Then we remember...then we forget again....Over and over. Over time, events cover up and veil the simple truth and insight of Goodness. Life then becomes about uncovering, seeing that simple kindness is always beneath the surface, waiting to be revealed. One act at a time. "Love is at the root of Everything. All hearing. All relationships. Love, or the lack of it." - Mister Rogers

Kindness. It's our universal language. It gives out and reflects back in. Speak it to someone today. Including yourself <3