Everyday I am a different person. Each experience and thought is a learning moment for me to grow and change and be challenged to evolve in this body and mind experience.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve listened to the news each morning. And one day I didn’t. And I was happy. I realized all that I am grateful for. I returned to my practice of breathing, and noticed the positive outcomes of breathing — calm & centered. Whether in the midst of a pandemic or in my normal life, I always have the choice to enjoy my breath.
I read a quote by Thich Nhat Hanh, and it reminded me of something that happened when I was in my 20’s.
Thay said, “When the crowded Vietnamese refugee boats met with storms or pirates, if everyone panicked all would be lost. But if even one person on the boat remained calm and centered, it was enough. It showed the way for everyone to survive.”
My boyfriend had invited me to go sailing on the Potomac River. When we got close to the Memorial Bridge, dark clouds rolled in, and we heard thunder. The sailboat was small, had a rudder, no motor, and I had no sailing experience.
We were tacking and coming about and tacking and coming about, and watch the jib, and trying to catch what little wind there was with the sails to get us back to safety. Lightening. Oh no. Thinking we were going to die out there. But I followed instructions and we were slowly making our way back, but not fast enough. The rain was coming down harder, more thunder, cringing, more coming about, more tacking.
A coast guard motorboat slowed down to ask if we were ok, and I imagined he was going to keep going when my boyfriend said nothing, so I called out, “No, we’re not ok!” The coast guard hooked us up and began towing us back to the dock. I burst into tears, releasing the fear I was holding in. I had been in survivor mode — fear and panic were not going to serve me.
On Monday night, we will meet online via Zoom and enjoy some deep relaxation and mindful movement before exploring this topic. In the coming days, I invite you to notice:
What does it mean to you to be calm and centered?
In times of trouble, can you embrace what you are feeling?
How did you survive a fearful experience?