I like to rush. Sometimes I forget to say thank you. Pausing is often forgotten. I can often act in a manner which best serves me. That is, of course, unless I am mindful of practicing patience and gratitude. My guru would remind us of this while we were in uncomfortable postures--and now I get to do the same. Holding the pose in Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II) is a great time to remember why I practice yoga. What a good time to remember gratitude for having a car when I am stuck in traffic. How strong a lesson to be patient when I want to find an apartment and move next weekend.
The practice of patience and gratitude is just that: a practice. We forget, we remember, we forget, we remember.... The goal of the practice is that the forgetting happens less frequently and the remembering kicks in a little sooner than it did the last time. When I have tried for anything more, I have become disappointed in myself. From the practice of patience and gratitude comes the gift of being present. I am here now and this is where I am. That alone is a gift and for that I am grateful. The Universe has a map and I can only see what is directly in front of me--for even when I look back my vision is blurry and distorted.
All I need to do is be here. Be here and be grateful. When that becomes my natural state the rest falls into place. Holding the pose becomes an opportunity to mind my breath. Traffic doesn't bother me because I can't be where I'm going until I get there. I have a place to live and all the time in the world for whatever upgrade in living is on the books for me. I am here now. I am grateful now.
On this day...
In this moment...
With this breath...
Namaste
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