Blinders OFF.

800 Miles into a cross-country trek to a live in a new city racing to make it on time to close on our new home, the wheel on our Uhaul trailer blew out and it required commercial tools to replace. We were stuck. WTF.

My immediate reaction probably should have been red. Anger. Frustration.  And, understandably so. It was early July and hot as hell. We had an overnight drive still ahead of us in order to get to closing!  Stress. Stress. Stress.

But strangely that day, with my husband and my dad on the road with me, the first reaction was unexpected - we all laughed. Going through the experience together made this weird detour an adventure. All of the sudden our race to the finish line became a team effort. While we waited for the service mechanic to arrive we rerouted our drive, made a plan for our way forward. That unexpected detour on our drive down became a highlight of our trip - a story we tell over and over.

I wanted to get down there fast. I wanted to be in my new home. I wanted a seamless trip.  I had it all mapped out. 

That's not what I received. I received a crazy day, changed plans, and the blessing of bonding hard with loved ones on an unexpected, frenzied adventure to the finish line.

Life doesn't go how we expect it to. Understatement of the year, right?

But, clinging to what you wanted can put  more suffering in already crappy situations.  Yoga teaches us that our path is less about an outcome and more about our reaction to situations. We learn how to be with ourselves during these detours AND we learn how to be in relationship with others. With that mindset detours on our way can be where the best lessons. Taking our blinders off we can see that the most love is often found when we step off the fast track. Open your eyes to what and who is right next to you. You're not alone and this is life is not a straight line.

We can practice BLINDERS OFF experience by stepping into lateral movement - the plane of service - and by practicing this mantra.

"May I find a lesson in detours and stay open to others."