About two weeks ago, I received a package from Amazon. The book ...And I Breathed by Jason Garner was inside. I flipped through the pages and set it aside. I started to read the first couple of chapters that night and quickly found myself transcended into Jason Garner's life story. I'm normally not the kind of guy who finishes a book in its entirety. I scan the chapters and find what looks interesting. I finished this novel in four nights and made sure to soak up every detail I could. This novel was an inspiring story of Garner's life, "from flea market parking attendant to CEO of Global Music at Live Nation." We often hear about success stories and the hardships that people go through before they obtain their successful positions as editor of a magazine or owner of their own prosperous business. I have listened, read and heard many of these stories, but I have never related to any life story as much as I related and connected with Jason Garner's.
The first chapter is called "My Myth." He talks about losing his job and how at that moment he felt hopeless and afraid. He had always been afraid of failure and had a constant voice inside his head telling him that anything he did was not good enough. He needed to do better. When I read, I always make sure that I have a highlighter next to me so I can mark anything that stands out as meaningful. The first sentence I highlighted was "When I woke up that day with no job and no fancy title to mask the feelings, I was forced to stare head on at my life and realize that I had no idea who I was. I knew what I had done, but I didn't know me."
I am a believer in meditation and yoga. I started my own path towards spiritual awareness three in a half years ago when I decided to try yoga. I walked out of my first class at Yoga West feeling alive and free, I knew I was home. I was walking out of my Thursday night class, about two in a half months into my practice, and noticed a large crowd of people entering the yoga studio. I asked "where are you going?" Someone answered "Guru Singh's class!"I looked up and saw a tall slender man walk in. Next Thursday night I showed up for his 7 o'clock class and have been a student of his ever since. Guru Singh has changed my life in many ways and has taught me so many life lessons that you can not learn from a textbook. He has inspired my interest in spirituality and the cosmos. Garner describes the first time he met eyes with Guru Singh. "He looked into my eyes. Holding my gaze. He looked at me. I looked back at him. Not like a stare, it wasn't threatening. More like a warm hug drawing me in, followed by something deeper." Garner explains how he felt at home and I am right there with him. The first time I took off my shoes and laid down my mat, I felt like I was in the right place. I felt as if I had known Guru Singh for years and we were just two old friends catching up over coffee.
Garner wrote this book to share his journey. He says that "you can have happiness and money. You can have fun and be spiritual. You can care about the world and still care for yourself... And you can change the world from your desk at work as easily as a guru can from an ashram." I believe that this is true and can be done.
This novel inspired me in many ways and I highly recommend it. The 26 chapters in this novel impacted me in a positive and unique way, and I hope it will do the same for you.
As Jason Garner says
Big hugs of love and gratitude
Jason Garner's Website: http://jasongarner.com/
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