My Day of Firsts

“The real voyage of discovery

consists not in seeking new landscapes,

but having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust

What to do with a “found” day?  Unexpectedly, I had a whole, unplanned day before me.  After my morning meditation, I was ready to try something new.

Breathe, a local yoga studio, was celebrating the grand opening at their new location.  Free admission for the week.  I missed the chance to visit their original space so I jumped at the opportunity to see the new one.  Beautiful.  Although construction was still underway, I surrendered to the teacher’s guidance through a slow vinyasa class.

After the class, I had a cup of tea at Tallulah and got to chat with my yoga and reflexology friend, Kelly.  She suggested being a tourist in my own town.  It would be a great way to see my world with a new set of eyes.

I thought about that as I went to browse next door at Shop Eco.  Later, after indulging in the purchase of a shampoo bar and some luxurious body oil, I decided on my plans for the rest of the day.

I took advantage of the forecasted rain-that-never-arrived (what a great job…forecasting for rain, only to be correct about 30-50% of the time) to cut the grass for my parents’ house.  It was my first time to get the job done solo.  Nothing like buzzing around on a zero-point tractor mower. Vroom vroom!

A little self-care was next.  I was lucky to reschedule my acupuncture appointment.  Weekly needling for the last month helped my sleep and the dull ache in my left groin/hamstring for the first time in more than a year.  Thank you, Mable!

And then, with the stars continuing to align, I kept up my “day of firsts” by tagging along with a friend to the Detroit Zen Center for their monthly dharma talk.  It was the first time there and to the Hamtramack area.  A small, close-knit Buddhist community that readily welcomed several guests into their evening lecture.  It was a quiet affair, with discussion and tea.  I appreciated their kindness and hospitality.

Of course, good company required comforting food so a group of us went to eat at Mexican Village.  For all the years I’ve lived in this border town, it was my first time to this iconic restaurant.  I couldn”t recall when I tasted it last so I ordered my first Sangria in a long while.

This day was a rare occasion where I stepped into the flow of life that was being offered to me.  I enjoyed it.  I had no reason to hold back.  It wasn’t my landscape that had changed but my ability to be in it.

About downwarddogdvm

Just a small animal vet trying to live her yoga.
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