Kindness on an Unexpected Journey

"Every minute of every hour of every day you are making the world, just as you are making yourself, and you might as well do it with generosity and kindness and style."
― Rebecca Solnit

As I prepared to leave on a short summer vacation, I decided that making the time and effort to go to a yoga class in the midst of what I call the "rah-rah-rah" of getting ready to go would be a good thing.  I needed calm, which would be kind not only to me, but also to my family.

When I arrived at the yoga studio, there was a sub instead of the regular teacher.  I tried to let go of my attachment to my expectation (not entirely successfully).  The sub was very nice.  Small and perky, she had a voice that reminded me of a cheerleader.  She also had not an ounce of fat on her body -- hard as I tried to find it.  I tried to go along for the ride.

Not surprisingly, as I let go of my expectations and attachment to a certain experience, I found myself in a terrific yoga class.  At the end of class, she asked us to join her in a call and response chant.  To my surprise, this young woman had a deep, earthy, soulful voice that took me on an unexpected journey to a universal, spiritual place.  In the midst of preparation madness, I found myself singing and feeling "shanti" -- peace -- with a renewed appreciation for what happens when you can even partially let go.  Kindness.