This morning I dragged my broken body, beaten up by paddle board, waves, and rocks, to Bikram yoga. We stood to begin pranayama breathing and I noticed my two purple bruises right below my left knee. I thought, “What was I supposed to learn from these lingering marks?”. Then, the teacher, my dear friend Shirley, said her theme today was the Wizard of Oz. Brains, heart and courage, all of what you learn in Bikram yoga.
I used to think courage and bravery were one in the same. After my paddle boarding experience, I now think new and different thoughts. Yesterday when I hopped up on that board and hurried to try to stand and promptly fell to the fate of the sea (even if was only 2 feet deep), was what I call bravery. I put this huge board in the water, put aside my fear and hopped on. Bravery, but no brains. Then I tried two or three more times to stand up, my husband steadying the board. I didn’t fall, but gracefully slid off into the water. Getting brains. On my fourth try, I knelt there and said to him, I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this. No courage. I let my first devastating fall destroy my confidence. That’s when my husband suggested just kneeling. He urged me to try it. To take my time. Stay close to shore. But he never said quit. Found courage – it comes in small steps. I followed his lead and had a wonderful time. As I paddled my way up and down the shore, appreciating maneuvering the board, enjoying the calm sea and quiet morning, I found heart.
Courage is not blasting into something quickly. When you are on the brink of doing something hard that you know you have to do, take one small step. That’s courage, brains, and heart all acting together.
This week my fading purple bruises will remind of the lion, the scarecrow, and the tin man, and how I, like them, possessed all three – it just took something like paddle boarding and my teacher Shirley to help me see that. (Awesome, energizing class today Shirley – thank you for the practice and the wisdom!)
And so, as another day goes by, please stay open to trying new things, have a wonderful holiday, and….I have written.
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