Practice Off The Mat

Vol 1 Issue 3

“Only I didn't say ‘Fudge.’ I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the ‘F-dash-dash-dash" word!’ -Ralphie in the film A Christmas Story

You know that feeling when you do the work – set up the things, plan it all out, all lined up. And you walk away feeling proud that you managed to get it all squared away and can’t wait to see it unfold.

But then, you find out later there was a key important detail that you skipped. So none of that work actually completed? Or it was wrong.

No? Only me? I am guessing that is not case.

I am sure you can recall a time when you rushed through something and forgot one important detail. Didn’t click “send”. Forgot to “save” the spreadsheet (or the – ahem – MailChimp settings). I bet those details are still crystal clear.

A few weeks back I had preset these emails to send out at a regular cadence. Pre-written thoughts, schedules, etc. All to send automatically at a specific time. Or so I thought.

After using the last couple of weeks of the holiday season to take a pause, I returned to the email schedule this morning. That was when I saw I messed up the email plan. I am not sure what happened - I never actually set it to “go”? Did I delete it when cleaning up some back end things? I have no idea.

Well done, Byrne. Well. Done.

There were a few moments where, like in the movie, I wove “a tapestry of obscenity that as far as we know, is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan”.

But then I took a few deep breaths. Paused for a beat. And then...

I laughed.

A lot.

Why laugh? Because why not?! Frankly, this mistake feels pretty on brand. Wrapping up year two of exhaustion from living in a pandemic. A to-do list 8,972 things long. Stressors are extra juiced due to the holiday season. End of year for the business. End of year for the Day Job. And so on, and so on, and so on...

The emails didn’t go out. Does it really matter? Do I need to unpack why it happened? More to the point – is there anything I can do about it now?

I know from my Day Job at MegaCorp that there is an operational / business argument that the "why" and "how" matters. Yet, the practices of yoga and mindfulness reveal important lessons. Tearing apart what might have happened only takes us out of the present moment. It makes us relieve the stress of the event over and over. It becomes harder for us to let us go and to move on and move past it.

But here too, the Wisdom comes forward and offers to help us. We are reminded over and over and over: we can simply start again. The next breath. The next heartbeat. The next moment. All are our friend, warmly inviting us to join them in starting again.

So while I re-organize and redo my plan for the next few weeks here, I know that I will be doing so being present in the work.

(And hopefully remembering to hit the “save” button this time.)

*****

As the calendar year winds down this week and we prepare to turn the page – I am wishing you and the folks in your circles – humans, spirits, and animals alike! – a safe, happy, healthy new year.  May your aspirations be bright, light, and inspiring.

All the love, compassion, and gratitude that is within me, sees and honors the same in each of you.

Take good care,

Chris