As we were having dinner, I was seated in front of the "opinionated" one, and lo and behold he suddenly gave me a very opinionated spiel about writers and how I should stay away from writing because writers have "such a big ego." He said it in a very forceful way and inside I rolled my eyes and found myself a little miffed. I thought to myself, "Well, he is indeed the opinionated one" and turned to talk with the other people. But then something in me made me pause and realize that I too have strong opinions and to be patient with him. I turned back to him and changed conversations. I asked about when he and his partner where traveling again (they are big time travelers) and what country where they going to next? And this was the insight of the evening. Suddenly he turned to me and with watery eyes said, "As long as I have my beloved with me I don't care where I go. I don't care what country we go to. He is my home. I just want to be with him." And at that moment my idea of this person completely dissolved- he was no longer the "opinionated, brash" one. He had given me one of the most beautiful declarations of heartfelt love that I have ever heard of in my life.

I drove home that Tuesday night thinking of how often I limit people as well as myself. And ultimately, people and life will continue to surprise you. How often we think we know exactly how our day is going to go only to be surprised by it. How often as yogis we limit styles of yoga by declaring "This style of yoga is this way," only to take a class by that style and be surprised by how different it was from what you thought. How often we as yoga teachers limit asanas- I do this all the time! "Backbends are energizing." Yes, except that when I do a cobra with a rolled blanket under my groin and excellent alignment it actually clears my back and calms me down. Or, "Forward bends are cooling." Except for the fact that they are the hardest poses for me to do and require major engagement! Or "Sun Salutes are heating," except that in my classes this week I used a sun salute to cool down the body and help move the thighs back after backbends. So it all depends on the intention in which you are doing something!

 

May we have patience with others, with ourselves, with our yoga practice, and with our day so that we can be surprised by it! We are made of an energy that is ever expansive, ever becoming. You never will really know what you will be become and what others will become so may we stay open today!