“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.
