On Wednesdays I go to yoga after work. I’ve come to appreciate this time and the way it transitions me from my work day to my evening at home. I come home a more relaxed and happy woman on Wednesdays. My husband asked me a few weeks ago if I could go more than once a week. I wonder what he meant by that.
Tonight, after yoga, I turned the corner of the on-ramp toward Highway 18 and was greeted by a snaking river of red tail lights stretching as far as my eyes could see.
Oh great.
As I eased into the right lane and nodded to the kind driver who let me in to the red-light parade I switched on my CD player. I bought a new Sarah Brightman CD over the weekend when I was driving to Canada to attend the adoption workshop. I stopped to do some shopping and the most beautiful music was playing in the shop. I asked the clerk what it was and when she pointed it out to me on the shelf I picked it up right away. It’s beautiful.
But, back to the freeway.
I inched along along with the rest of the traffic wondering what the cause of the heavy traffic was.
For a split second I began to feel impatient, frustrated that my post-yoga mellow mood was threatened.
I should turn on the radio to see if I can get a traffic report.
But as Sarah serenaded me with Time to Say Goodbye I felt a shift in my thoughts. I was carried away by her voice, her beautiful, melodious voice.
Why, I thought. If I turn the radio on and find out the cause of this traffic will I get through it any faster?
Of course I wouldn’t. So I made a conscious decision to sit back and enjoy the opportunity for a few extra moments of solitude while listening to Sarah’s beautiful voice. Suddenly the momentary inconvenience of heavy traffic turned into a small blessing, a tiny piece of the day I had to appreciate the kind of music that calms and uplifts me at the same time.
I arrived home relaxed, happy, and at peace.
The moral?
For me, yoga + the right music = peace of mind.
And a good evening.
What a lovely scene you paint in my mind, the traffic jam and the peaceful music, a happy body and soul. Indeed how much of our state of mind is chosen rather than imposed upon us. Thank you for the reminder.
Linda, I love this because it really shows how, if we are present in the moment, we can alter our moods.
Karen
Hi Karen, it’s true isn’t it. We have so much more control over our experience than we realize. And I know you appreciate the way music touches us too.
Ann Best recommended your site and as one who recently started a new memoir blog (in addition to my others) I thought I should watch what you are doing.
For me music is a must when I’m on the road. Around town I like talk radio, but the long hauls or the stressful times like you describe call for good music.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Please see my guest post at:
So You Want to be a Writer?
Hi Arlee, thank you for stopping by! I’m hopping over to your site now! P.S. Thanks for following too!
Linda,
I love how you show music altering the moment and how we can change our circumstances by the choices we make in those moments. I could hear Sarah’s beautiful voice,too. I have her CD and have also been swept away in the beauty of her voice. Music helps us transcend the mundane,aggravating moments in our lives!
Kathy