Another lesson in acceptance

How generous the Divine is with me! She has once again given me an opportunity to practice acceptance! I am grateful for the practice because I am far from mastering this strange concept!

One of the few benefits of having a kapha body is that I typically am aware of the natural strength of my body.   That, unfortunately, has not been the case this week.  During Monday morning's practice what I felt was tired and the absence of strength was what I was aware of during Surya Namaskar (sun salutations). What could I do? - practice acceptance.

I have obviously not been listening to my inner guidance which was telling me I've been pushing too hard.  Since I wasn't listening, the Divine had to take drastic measures.  This drastic measure resulted in me spending the next  3 days in bed unable to function.  Really?   Did I really need to get sick when there is still so much to do before Christmas?  - What could I do? - practice acceptance.

My intention this week was to go to Shiva Das' Inner Fire Yoga morning retreat on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then spend the rest of those days doing Christmas shopping, wrapping, sending Christmas cards, blah, blah, blah..... You know the drill.  In other words, doing too much so as not to "waste" the last 3 vacation days of the year.  

You know the saying "Man plans and God laughs"?  Well God must of been rolling on the floor with laughter as I was making my plans for this week.   What could I do? - practice acceptance.

So here it is, less than 10 days till Christmas and I haven't finished anything.  Haven't finished shopping, wrapping, baking, Nothing.  Needless to say, don't be looking in your mailbox for my Christmas card - it won't be there.  What can I do? - practice acceptance. 

As I woke up this morning I felt the gentle nudge from the Divine calling me to the mat.   Physically I still wasn't feeling my normal strength level but my body was smiling.  It was time to get back to my yoga practice.  There was a brief moment of guilt when I realized that it had been 3 days without sadhana but then I remembered that it was my sadhana to practice acceptance.   What else could I do?

I did feel guilty for having to cancel my Monday night yoga class and I felt bad that I couldn't sub for Shiva Das on Tuesday but I could not ignore the Divine "brick on my head" telling me that REST was what I  required.  Once I chose to practice acceptance I was able to get the rest I needed.  Perhaps the fact that I didn't push myself is the reason why I was able to get back to mat after only 3 days. 

I'm grateful that this lesson was a brief one and I really hope I earned a gold star.