I was out early Monday morning with my husband and we were driving past the early voting place in our district and noticed there wasn't a line so we walked in and voted. It was a nice set-up, lots of laughing and safe procedures in place. I have gotten better at following procedures; safe social distancing that may seem simple but it does take time to really process. We can think things but we unaware. They noticed I was standing close to my husband and because we don't have the same last name they didn't know we were together. I quickly told them "its ok, he is my pea! We are a pod". I told them I do appreciate them watching out for this. Some of the women there said "Being married it is ok to break the social distancing then" but I said "Yeah but sometimes we need more distance from each other too...and that is definitely more than six feet" LOL.
We then went to Trader Joes and I remember back in April waiting in a line around the parking lot and how scared we all looked. With the mask on you can't see my smile but it is there. The staff decided to play some 70's music which had both of us dancing in the isles while we shopped. Even my very introverted husband was dancing! We then went for some breakfast and slipped on masks on, lathered up the hands and went into the shop; gotten quite used to keeping my hands away from my entire face till I get home and wash my hands.
There is much to process and as human beings experience change we can resort to a lot of reactions of denial, blame, anger and rage. It can be easier to do this than face certain facts. Admitting the facts isn't easy because it may threaten our existence.
I know as a school teacher that we are often examining ways to communicate and bring out change. Telling someone what to do isn't as effective as having them experience and acknowledge on their own. When someone is in a rage our reaction may be to do the same but if you think about it, you aren't going to get through to them. Instead you are better off using words like "What I think I hear you saying is..." "I noticed when you said this that...." or "Tell me what you mean when you say"... This helps us invoke change to happen.
These are not ways we are used to responding and we can use yoga and meditation to practice a deeper awareness and understanding. Of course this will help us in our wellbeing, health, nutrition, sleep and life decisions. Often people think yoga was about practicing the physical poses but that isn't the principle point of yoga. It is normal though that we loose track, maybe hurt ourselves doing it, and are reminded of ways to return to the main point which was to reconnect.
I hope you will return and reconnect with me and let me help you discover what this is for you right now. Not worried about what once was and will be later - but what is here. Learn to welcome right now even if that means saying "hi" to some pretty challenging times.
In the meantime please vote because it matters to you and to others.
"Have a good day for no reason!"
---Paige