I woke up yesterday feeling the effects of my newly feng-shui’ed bedroom.  My eyes popped open, and I was hopeful and excited that it was election day.  Most of my friends and students warned me that I would be waiting for hours at the voting precincts because I had not voted early.  My response was always, “I’ll take my chances.”  I love the whole feel of election day…the hope, the excitement, getting out and making some choices.  And, when do I ever do anything before it’s time to do it? 

Election day, I began my morning in the small studio with my first student of the day.  To my happy surprise, there on the altar was Ganesh!  Ganesh is the elephant-deity, the archetype of New Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles.  I found my white marble Ganesh when I was in Park City, Utah, at an Anusara Yoga Teacher Training.  He has been gracing my home and studio altars for the past couple of years, before he went MIA a few months ago.  About the same time I “lost” him, my second Ganesh statue (you can never have too many elephant-gods of protection), shattered on the floor, because I was trying to do too many things at once. 

I put it all into perspective.  One missing Ganesh, the second one missing both arms.  What is this all about?  Maybe, obstacles can be good things?  The obstacles are always there, I have understood that it is my work to see them for what they are.  Lately, the bumps in the road have been staring me strongly in the face, as if to tease me like an elementary school kid on the playground.  I see even more clearly that in fact, we are making significant choices every day, every moment, not just on election day.  I can choose to let the obstacles stop me, or I can choose to navigate life based on the lessons from the hurdles. 

Standing in front of my ballot in the elementary school around the corner from my home, I stopped.  Before I made my selection for president, I paused and took it all in.  I wanted to remember where I stood, how I felt and the significance of this choice for so many.  I closed my eyes, said a prayer and voted with a resolve to do my part, not just look to someone else to fix the problems and obstacles that lie before us. 

And, with that, I remember that every day is a new beginning.  Just by waking up and choosing the direction to drive, the people to greet and the actions to fulfill, we vote for our future, one moment at a time.