At yoga class this morning, I learned more than a few new poses.
Our instructor began the class with a story…
The day before as she was working in her garden, her husband unknowingly locked the house door and took their children to soccer practice.
A few moments later, she left her spot in the garden to go inside and start cooking dinner. But she soon realized, she was locked out!
And then it hit her. She could allow herself to get angry about being locked out of the house and unable to keep her schedule by preparing dinner while the kids were out at soccer, or…
She could accept this time as an extra hour given to her to do with as she chose.
She relaxed with the thought of it. She puttered around the garden for a while and then sat down on the porch to read the neighborhood newspaper… something she’d normally never take the time to do.
When her husband and children returned home an hour later, he was shocked to learn that she wasn’t angry with him for his mistake. She explained that instead she’d taken it as a gift of time.
This story stuck with me for the entire yoga session and still hasn’t left my mind.
I’m a terribly impatient person. In fact, much of my stress, irritability or dare I admit… times when my temper gets to me… are because I’m impatient. I want things right away. I know I would have not had such a zen response to being locked out of my house.
But I’m going to try and learn from her lesson.
What a powerful response to having to wait for anything. To treat that time instead as a gift. I live in a constant battle with time, wishing only for more of it. So what if the next time I’m locked out of my house — literally or figuratively — I instead accept the gift of time and do with it as I choose.
What about you?
How would you have reacted? What will you do the next time you’re locked out? I’d love it if you left me a comment to tell me what you think.
(By the way, I took the photo above of the yoga instructor during our Yoga-on-the-Beach session at the Kashi Mom Blogger event last year. She is not the same instructor as in this story.)
Written by Mom Blogger and 5 Minutes for Mom co-founder, Susan Carraretto
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
HOLY COW, I would have been so so mad. But I am really really happy I read this because this is a wonderful lesson. I want to react this way if this ever happens. I want to see the bright side of things rather than getting angry and blaming. Great story!
Isn’t it such a great lesson Rebecca? I’m going to remember this story and constantly try and look at waiting differently.
I’m pretty impatient about a lot of things but I admit I probably would react much the same way she did. That’s how I am, I relish downtime…I build it into my schedule as much as possible. I can go go go go sometimes but when I get stuck somewhere…like at the airport waiting on a delayed plane…I use it to read something I wouldn’t read, call someone I never have time to call, or just sit and think about the big picture.
Fantastic! That is wonderful that you recognize the gift of downtime. I hope to become more like you.
Amazing how such a small story can be so inspiring!
I locked myself out of my car downtown the other day. I wandered around from store to store, but couldn’t find anyone who carried a flexible hanger. Surprising myself, I hailed down a police car and recruited them to jimmy my car door open.
It turned out to be rather fun – I got to ride in a police car (VERY uncomfortable) and chat with the lovely, British officer!
Here’s a picture of the chap prying into my car:
http://www.facebook.com/CarHelp?v=photos#!/photo.php?pid=5146872&id=99249818985
I love that you got photos and everything. How fun.
Honestly, how I reacted would have depended entirely on the rest of the day. I would like to think I would have reacted like the woman in the story–and on some days, I know that I would. Other days, when my stress level is high or my patience level is low or the kids have been behaving like warring factions, I would probably have let it set me off the deep end. What a good reminder to look at trying situations with new eyes.
Great point Donna that how we react to situations can depend on how the rest of our day has been going.
Great story!! I try to maximize every moment and try to make every moment “productive” in some way or another. I need more moments that I take as a “gift”!
Exactly! That is exactly how I am… I really need to take moments as “gifts”.
This is such a great way to handle the situation. Much better than how I would have handled it. I on the other hand would have been ticked. At my hubby and at the situation.
Yes Allison, I think most of us would have been ticked. LOL
What a great post question.
Now that my girls are older, I’m finding myself along a lot more. They are out and about and I’m noticing I need to look for things to do.
I tend to go straight to the computer, but if I was locked out, I would most likely go for a nice walk and just enjoy God’s creation.
That would have been a great idea too!
Susan, I love that picture! (I’m a beach addict) The gift of time – that is such a great way of looking at things. So glad you posted it.
Filing this away – because I know I’ll need it sooner or later.
Thanks Lisa. Yes, I wish I could be at that beach again.
This was the perfect story to read before heading to bed. It helped me set goals for tomorrow and definately make slow to react one of them! Love that photo.
So glad to hear it Ray. Have a great sleep.
That is a great lesson.
I get anxious driving home from work (which is only a 15 minute drive) and then driving the kids around town.
Instead of enjoying the time I have with them, singing to music, enjoying the summer air and learning more about them. I bet that would be better than yelling at the car in front of me.
Thanks for sharing!
I have been known to lock myself out of, and then have to break into, my own house…
Extra time? What’s that?
Actually, I decided yesterday that the funny tan on my knees and feet is starting to look pretty bad next to my chalk-white legs. So, during my kid’s nap time I’m going to start laying out for a while. I thought I’d do an hour today and when I thought surely the first half hour was up and my alarm must have missed it, surely I should be turning over by now, I looked at the time and I’d only been laying there 12 minutes. It’s going to take me a while to learn to just be still and do nothing, but I know once I relax I’ll enjoy the time, and my skin will look prettier and healthier too.
Or, at least, less splotchy. haha
I love yoga! Among other things, it makes me a much better momma! This is a great story and reminder to always find the positive in every situation.