My old friend contacted me earlier in the week to say, “I broke up with my girlfriend and I didn’t handle it well.” It’s not his first relationship. Shouldn’t he know better?
My new friend contacted me a few days ago and said, “I have trouble with my eyes and sometimes I don’t handle it well.” She teaches yoga and is spiritual and evolved. Shouldn’t she know better?
I’m in my home office on a rainy day trying to dive into this community-building thing I’ve taken on in a town where I didn’t know a soul only three months ago. I’d rather be teaching ESL through improv on Isla Mujeres. I’d rather be exploring Cuba before mass tourism reaches the island. I’d rather be photographing feral cats on the Greek Islands. I wanted to come to a small seaside community to create my own adventure, but I get impatient and long for a far away adventure instead. When things seemingly move too slowly for me, I don’t handle it well. I help people transform personally and professionally, shouldn’t I know better?
Sure, we “should” all know better. But should is a silly word that just creates expectations. And, the truth is that we’re all human and we all have emotions that affect how we handle, or, mishandle things. And, we all have our issues. One of mine is patience. I know I “should” have patience, but I also have a vision for where I want to be. Small victories become hard to celebrate because they seem so far away from that grand vision. And then my neighbor reminds me I’ve only been here three months. And then my massage therapist reminds me I’ve only been here three months. And then the fudge guy reminds me I’ve only been here three months. Maybe they’re on to something!
“Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.”
What aren’t you handling well? Shouldn’t you know better? Maybe. But, you’re a human being too, so give yourself a break. Find an adventure in the small things, so there’s less pressure to always be more, do more, achieve more. And when you don’t handle things well, remember that you’re not alone because we’re all not handling something well.
PLAYSHOP: Laughter Yoga
Enjoy a mind-body combination of laughter exercises, deep breathing and relaxation techniques to enhance your health — and happiness.
Wednesdays, noon – 1 pm
Now & Zen Yoga & Pilates Studio (St. Augustine, FL)
and
Wednesdays in May, 7 – 8 pm
Jewish Community Alliance (Jacksonville, FL)
CLASS: Improv Basics
Designed for both actors and non-actors, the class is designed to help students build self-confidence and explore creativity using the fundamentals of improvisation.
Wednesdays, February 17 – March 23, 6 – 7:30 pm, Limelight Theater (St. Augustine, FL)
