Fog, Bluebirds, and Self-violence

This morning the fog was so thick I couldn't see the Pond. It was like looking at a big wall of cotton. But now it is clear as a bell and a lovely day is developing - in more ways than one. I just finished my oatmeal and taking photos (through the kitchen window) of an Eastern bluebird perched on the feeder stand - later I'll work with them and select the best to post tomorrow. Before that I spent about an hour studying - preparing for The Art of Doing Nothing by searching for self-inquiry topics. And, I found a truly revealing one: Self-violence. Think on it. What do you do that violates your self? . . . eating too much, drinking too much, sleeping too little, blaming yourself for everything that goes wrong. . . In yoga terms, the sutra (threads - precepts) of yamas (abstinences) including non-violence and pratyahara (sense withdrawal) provide marvelous take-off points for study. Most often we ignore the self when we consider non-violence - but perhaps this is the most needed aspect to consider? How can we truly be non-violent to others when we are not to ourselves?