Objects May Appear Closer Than They Are

There I was driving home from yoga, my windows open to birdsong and warm breezes. I was happy to slow to the 20 mph school speed limit and roll along taking in spring. So yogic, so in-the-moment. Or so I thought.

I began noticing the Magnolias and smiled at their pink saucer petals. I blinked past the glow of Forsythias, breathed in the sweet scent of crab apple blossoms, marveled at the play of sunlight on so many shades of green.

I glanced in my rear-view mirror and, poof, the moment vaporized. Following me — on my tail,  actually — was a hearse.

Oh man, how cliche can that be? While I’m enjoying life, death is creeping up behind me.  I sped up a tad. Checked. Still there, still too close. I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. My eyes flicked toward the mirror once more, twice. It had come closer.

At the next intersection, I looked again. Gone. It had turned.

Still cliche? Maybe. But it did occur to me that I’d allowed the fear of what I thought was coming take me out of the delight of what was actually there.

P.S.    Speaking of moments… allow me a moment of shameless self-promotion: you can find information on my DVD, A Companion DVD to Yoga for Movement Disorders at www.limyoga.com