This morning I drove my daughter to school. She gets really anxious if we are running late on any level and to her, on time is late. It can be quite stressful to drive her anywhere and the deal we have brokered is she cannot get a driver’s license until she sits patiently with breath through lights.
Our experience lately has dramatically shifted because she has found a “Jeopardy” – like game on her phone. Mornings are now filled with her playing trivia. She asks me when she doesn’t know the answer. So, I get all the questions no one can answer and, of course, I get them right at least 85% of the time. She thinks I’m a genius.
- Which one of these is not a capital?
- Which one of these is the currency of?
- Where was this famous composer born?
- What is the current location of “major work of art?”
- etc.
Now, I don’t really know the answer to most, but I’m great at dropping into a moment and feeling the answer. That’s part of the magic of Yoga. But alas I digress, as this is not a blog about magic. It’s a blog about perspective.
So, this morning the questions was “How many countries border Niagara Falls?” I told her one…The US. She told me one…Canada. The answer is two…Canada and the US. We both laughed. You see, I was standing in Canada looking at the falls when I answered and she was staining in the US. Not only did our answers reflect our individual relationship to our own country, but it really highlighted how ego-centric we are and how limited we can be by our own consciousness.
I think a lot about how I relate to others. After all, that is the real yoga. I can honestly say I don’t know much of anything about anything anymore. People are a fascinating mystery and the more you dig, the more you discover people are firmly planted in Canada or the US. I wish I could see myself. I wish I could see me through some narrow lens and understand why my first reaction is to stand in Canada and look at the Falls. It seems so small, I know, but I wonder about all the places I stand and all the things I see and how I might just be missing the bigger picture.
Where do you stand? What are you missing? OM, Pamela
If you’d like to study yourself further, Pamela offers a multitude of ways. Learn more about our upcoming events and workshops for mediation, mindfulness, cleansing, Ayurveda, and more.
*The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda, yoga, and meditation. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.