Be Kind

Yesterday I was at a yoga class examining all the people around me. Usually, I size them up – based on fitness level, flexibility, or pose form. I know we’re not supposed to be judgemental in yoga but we all do this everyday, everywhere we go. It’s natural.

Today was different. I walked in quietly, looking down, trembling, anxious, knowing deep in my bones that something in my life was going to change after this class. I did not size anyone up today. I couldn’t even look at anyone in the face. I was just trying to hold it together. 

I have a myriad of old and new injuries – tennis elbow, achilles tendonitis, and now an aggravated SI joint. I also just returned from a week of vacation. My poses are wobbly, but I can do them well still. I am impressed with my innate athletic ability. The class is not moving fast enough for me, my mind is racing on what’s to come. 

I try to focus. 

I usually compare myself to people at this point. On this day I saw humanity instead. I was curious about my classmates’ stories. What do they have going on? Could they have just rolled their ankle on their walk in, recovering from surgery, or is this their first class back after completing chemotherapy? Did they lose their job today? Lost a loved one?

Nobody knows I have twinges of pain all over. And nobody knows my heart is about to get broken in an hour.

This is a short piece but this is a reminder to be kind – you really don’t know what the person next to you is going through.