I stayed with a gentleman in Irving who hosted me and that was truly an enriching experience. He's a teacher and a member of the Turtle Creek Chorale, raised three children on his own as a single parent, and is now living alone in a small house with three dogs. The house is in quite a state of disrepair and was, in areas, quite dirty. Like so many Americans, he has fallen victim of the obesity epidemic and battles a wide range of problems, including diabetes. He works hard and is gone much of the time. In the meanwhile, his three dogs stay crated in the living room, so, needless to say, they were quite happy to have my company and freedom from their crates. One of the dogs is a Shiba Inu and extraordinarily handsome and bright. I totally fell in love with him. We played, went on long walks, he lay down next to me on his back and let me rub his tummy. He captured my heart with the way he stared at me and behaved towards me. I would love to offer him a home out here but I don't think that will happen. But I wish it so. I have already contacted the Shiba Inu Rescue Society to see if perhaps I might find a Shiba that needs a home.
I ran a few errands this afternoon after unpacking and washing clothes. At the grocery store I got in line behind a woman who was having quite a conversation with the cashier, but it didn't bother me at all. I knew the talk was slowing things down, but so what? I had nowhere to go and practicing patience is always good. Then the woman told me that she was so very sorry, but that all her groceries had to be rescanned! I had never heard of that. I smiled and practiced. When it came time for me to be checked out, the cashier was very apologetic, told me the woman was a friend, and her daughter had been in an accident and was still in the hospital two months later having suffered severe head trauma and brain damage. I was touched, and told her it was so good of her to listen and be there for her friend, that often we need to just listen to people and that in itself can be healing. She looked at me oddly, checked me out, and said, your total is $$ Mr. Kind Gentleman, and again she apologized. I told her she had nothing to apologize about, she had done a really good thing and I appreciated what she had done. She was so stunned she started crying. Then I could feel my eyes watering. It was a sacred moment. We were standing on holy ground in those moments, in the grocery check out line at HEB. There was a moment of transcendence, of a blissful connectedness, a deep understanding, not a lot different from the way I feel when I practice Maha Mudra or contemplate the inquisitive eyes of a Shiba Inu calmly staring into mine.
I am wondering if it is possible to find that inner peace when dealing with someone who is angry or bitter or very much on the offensive? Maybe, but I'm not sure I will ever arrive there. I haven't talked to one of my sisters in a very long while, and I called her tonight and within no more than five minutes she slammed the phone down, leaving me clueless as to the source of her anger. It has nothing to do with me. I think this can be a very important mantra, as well as "there is nothing I can do to change this" other than "be an example." I suppose one can rest calmly in seeing clearly, acting mindfully, being truthful, and staying present. The yamas and niyamas are the foundation of yoga, and when we let them guide us we can acquire a firmness to stand on shaky ground and be okay with it all, and in doing so set forth an example for ourselves as well as others.
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