07/15/2024
Embracing Each Day/Interaction with Fanatical Love
Given the recent state of events in our world, I was reminded of a magical story that touched my heart. For thirteen years, I hosted the Free Yoga in the Park in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Started as a solo journey, by year three I had seven teachers who had joined me in giving back their gifts to the community. Over the years each of us has a memorable moment of touching someone in a profound way. This is the story that will never leave my heart and soul.
It was year four and a woman walked up to me while I was adjusting and testing my microphone in an effort to begin class. She asked if she could have a few minutes with me and I told her I honestly wanted to hear what she had to say but I was about to start class. She said it was really important and she needed to talk to me. I took off the microphone and turned to her and listened as she spoke.
She began to tell me the story of how last year she had moved to Colorado from Chicago, Illinois. She pointed across the street to an apartment complex and tried to show me the apartment that she had rented on a month-to-month basis. She said that her first Saturday she was standing on her balcony and could hear my voice as I began class. “You asked everyone to stand up and to go over to somebody that they didn’t know, to shake their hand and welcome them.” She told me how moved she was by this one little gesture and decided to come the following Saturday and join the group. I thanked her for sharing the story and she said wait, “I’m not finished that’s not what I wanted to tell you.”
She went on to tell me that she had moved here to commit su***de. She wanted to be away from her family and friends when she made that decision. She rented the monthly apartment because she knew she would only be living for a week or two more. And then she said, “something about your voice and the way you introduced your class caused me to came to the park the following Saturday. I did not own a yoga mat or have a water bottle but simply arrived to stand in the grass. When you asked everyone to shake hands and say good morning a man approached me. He not only said good morning but asked if I would join him for a cup of coffee after class. I’m not sure why, but I went with him.” As she stood in front of me, she held up her hand and told me that they got married. She said, “you saved my life.”
I was so moved by her story, held her in my arms, cried for her and could barely start class. I will never forget her I will never forget her or her loving words. I believe in the power of community and how when we just extend a small little gesture to each other we never know our impact on another and may discover a whole universe awaits us.