the view from my mat

Today started out very normal, but slowly began to get stranger and stranger after about noon.  I was happily headed home to eat a delicious lunch I’d picked up after my Monday meeting.  In my garage, like an idiot, I was carrying multiple things in my hands (even though I have plenty of pockets  everything in my backpack).  So when my phone buzzed I of course got startled and threw it on the floor of the parking garage.

In a battle of iPhone vs. cement floor I’ll give you one solid guess as to who won.  So with a crack in the screen of my phone I headed up stairs to eat my slightly less exciting lunch.

The rest of the afternoon went as planned, I was able to get some work done and hang out with my roommate and the cat.  Then it was about time for me to head to teach in South Miami.  Dressed in my yogi finest (read lululemon Wunder Unders & a Funky Yoga burnout tank) I headed to the elevator atrium of my building and waited patiently while gazing upon the cracked screen of my formerly flawless iPhone 4s.

As the elevator bell dinged and I looked up, the doors peeled open and who should I see standing there but a happy short-haired 2-year-old in a fancy little dress.  This wouldn’t have been out of the ordinary had she had anyone with her.  Unfortunately she was standing there very calmly all by herself as if to say: “Well, I’m off to work, how about you?”

I couldn’t help but laugh and ask her: “Hey there, what’s going on?”

She looked at me with very alert little eyes and said nothing.  I’m not too comfortable with kids, but I’m guessing she knew better than to talk to this stranger.

When the elevator got to the lobby I found a couple of guys waiting to get on.

“I found this in the elevator,” I said gesturing over my shoulder to the little girl while holding the door open.  ”I’m thinking I should take her to the front desk?”

We all agreed this was the best course of action, however little Miss-2-Year-Old wasn’t having it.

“Papa,” she said pointing out the door.

“Where’s papa?” I asked her.

She didn’t seem too eager to say.  She just kept repeating the name and nodding her head.

What does one do in this situation?  Certainly you can’t just leave the child in the elevator.  And she was in no hurry to exit, I tried to pick her up but she made it very clear that such an attempt would make her cry and I again, I don’t know what to do with a calm child, let alone a sobbing one.  All the while I knew that we were working against the clock, the elevator alarm was going to go off shortly and the doors were going to close of their own accord if we didn’t get Little Miss-2-Year-Old to come out.

Much to my relief before I had to do an extraction mission that would inevitably result in a very unhappy toddler her Papa showed up on the scene and was very grateful that we’d all joined together to ensure his child’s safety.

So, back on track I headed off to teach.  And wouldn’t you know my random haphazard day was not over.  Thirty minutes into my lengthy commute traffic began to move and so did I.  I only wish the woman in front of me had gone with the flow – because instead I flowed right into the back of her car.  While there was next to no damage from this fender bender at all she’d already called the police and couldn’t take it back.

As it wasn’t a devastating accident we were both in good spirits and chatted in a friendly fashion until the officer arrived.  He immediately realized that this wasn’t an animistic accident and he followed suit and joined in on the party.  He was clear and to the point and very helpful.  Very professional, but also very nice.

So, slightly frazzled and wondering what has changed about my driving techniques in the past 2-months (I’ve had my first 3 accidents ever in the duration of 2.5 months) I got on the road again.

Of course between the tiny child I found on the elevator and my car accident I was 10 minutes late to class, but here’s what I love about yoga: everyone’s so understanding.  My students were happy I was ok and more than happy to kick off a sweaty class nice and fast.

And here’s the point: After teaching, despite my day, despite broken phones, despite sure to sky-rocket insurance premiums and lost children, I had a great day.  I taught my students, I gave them only my most positive energy and they gave it back to me 10 fold.  Life throws you curve balls and sometimes your attempt to go with the flow can be interrupted by a stopped car or a lost child – but yoga helps me move on and deal.

How do you turn a weird day back around?

XO
Heather C