30 Years Later, I Still Remember Every Word.

We are not always in charge of who we have in our lives to shape, guide and influence us especially in our early years. Our parents are our parents, our teachers are our teachers, our peers are our peers.

Then, as teenagers, the opportunity to invite in a different perspective arises with the music we decide to listen to. And I thank my lucky stars that me and my posse of fifteen-year-old friends found Alanis Morissette.

It’s only now, at forty-five having just seen her live in Glasgow with my little sister that I fully appreciate the role she has played in my life.

Alanis made it okay to feel deeply, to stand up for yourself, and to be yourself. Qualities that don't come easily to the average teenage girl or come to think of it, the average forty-five year old woman! Even now, I still catch my breath when I hear her lyrics. They go straight to the heart of things. No softening, no sidestepping, just the truth as raw and real as it comes.

Outside influences shape our worlds more than we know. What goes in leaves its mark. In yoga, we call them samskaras - imprints left both physically and mentally from our experiences. Yoga can help soften the difficult ones and deepen the positive.

I love my Jagged Little Pill samskara. I may not remember what I did last Thursday, but I know every lyric to that album from thirty years ago! And when I hear those songs, it sends me right back to a time of deep friendships, blissful naivety, bursting at the seams with hope and determination… Alanis full blast, the soundtrack to it all.

So what’s a samskara that you cherish? One that you had no idea would stay with you for a lifetime? I would love to hear from you, so just hit reply if you don’t mind sharing.

Thank you for being here. Sending love and kindness,

​
Laura x