Yesterday, I was flying from New York to LA very early in the morning. The plane was packed. And the young man who squeezed into the seat beside me was not really respecting personal space boundaries. I felt irritated, but instead of focusing on what I imagined might be a very long and uncomfortable flight with someone fidgeting next to me, I decided to metta meditation. May you be safe. May you be happy… '
A little while later he asked if we could switch seats, so he might have the aisle. He wasn’t feeling well and thought he might have food poisoning. A woman on the other side of the aisle offered me an empty seat in between her and another passenger. The other woman in our row asked the stewardess to find her another seat. We were both worried that he might have the flu and didn’t want to catch it.
It was such a nice surprise to witness the events as my own experience shifted, and notice how everyone ended up with what they needed easefully. The young man got an entire row of seats to himself; he stretched out and slept most of the way. I was much more comfortable in my new seat. And I’m guessing the other woman was in hers, as well!
As we stretch out into this 4th and final week of the Challenge, I'm so grateful for having had the opportunity to challenge myself with a commitment to mindfulness. And to have been a part of this wonderful and mindful community.
These next few days I'll be busier than usual - travelling, driving, visiting with friends and soaking up inspiration at an arts symposium. Finding the time to sit will be more of a challenge. But I am determined to find those sacred moments of breath no matter how short. No matter how fleeting.
I'm sure driving in L.A. will give me plenty of opportunity to practice!