Wisdom In Life's Little Disasters
The other day, I got my toe caught in the ceiling fan.
Yes you read that right… I’m sure you have many questions.
How did I get myself into this ridiculous predicament?
In my weekly yoga class, I often teach my students poses and stretches they can practice in bed to relax and fall asleep, or first thing in the morning to wake up and start their day. I try my best to practice what I preach, so I often do yoga in bed as well. On this particular morning, I was having a very hard time getting out of bed. I did my usual “gentle wake-up” poses and found they really weren’t cutting it.
This is not me, but someone with an equally beautiful three legged down dog, for those of you trying to visualize. Photo Cred: FitSugar
I still REALLY did not want to get out of bed. I decided to try “downward facing dog.” Still not doing it for me. Maybe “three legged downward dog?”
OUCH.
That was the moment I realized my “three legged dog” is SO spectacular, with one leg so straight and high in the air, that I can actually reach my ceiling fan…. Yay?
Before you get too worried, my poor little piggy is fine (just a little bruised and scratched) and no medical attention was required, thank God— can you imagine trying to explain THIS to a doctor?
A few years ago my reaction to this would be something along the lines of “F my life!” or “I am such an idiot!” or “the weirdest, unluckiest stuff always happens to me!”
Years of practicing gratitude and shifting my focus towards constructive thinking yielded these two responses instead:
“THANK GOD I DID NOT CHOP MY TOE OFF. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am SO LUCKY this wasn’t worse.”
“what is this (bizarre) situation trying to teach me right now?”
Further contemplation made me realize that perhaps I needed to heed my exhaustion and be gentle with myself rather than forcing myself to feel energized when I really didn’t. Sometimes simple acceptance of what is, without trying to change it, is the best thing you can do for yourself. Giving yourself love and grace is the first step to rejuvenation when you are simply spent.
I also considered whether I would have made the same mistake if I was fully present in the current moment rather that so up in my head that I lost all awareness of where my body was in space.
So, in addition to this being a PSA against doing three legged dog too close to a ceiling fan, all of this is to say, there is something to be gained from life’s little mishaps.
When little disasters arise, (i.e. spilling coffee all over yourself on the way to work), instead of getting stuck in the slew of expletives going through your mind, perhaps take a moment to ask yourself what that situation is trying to teach you. Do you need to slow down? Carve out more time in your mornings so you don’t feel rushed? The wisdom could be deep (I need to deal with what’s really bothering me so I’m not so distracted) or fairly superficial (I need to de-clutter the kitchen so only the good, spill-proof mugs are left).
Life presents us with endless opportunities to either:
a) get pissed, stay there, stagnate, and get bitter
or
b) learn something and shift your life for the better
Which will you choose this week?
With love, always,
Allison