Today is No Ordinary Day

My views on MLK Day, Inauguration Day, Snow day, Monday and yoga.

This morning, my alarm went off at 5 a.m., just like every other morning. I checked the temperature, and it was 15 Degrees. I thought it was interesting to let my kids in Italy know, so I converted it to Celsius and sent it off to them.

Today is no ordinary Monday. Besides being cold, it's a snow day, Inauguration Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day all wrapped up into one.

This morning, in the kitchen, I start my morning ritual. I feed Nola, my yoga dog, grind and brew coffee in my little Italian pot, and then prepare to go out. Bundled in two pairs of pants and two winter coats, I step out into the crisp air, settle into my lawn chair, and gaze up at the sky. I do this every morning. But, today, as I gazed up at the sky, in the stillness and calm of early morning, It was the significance of today's occurrences wrapped up in one that got me thinking. I couldn't help but reflect on its symbolism, and as a yogi, I started to think about it in more ways.

At first, I thought of Dr. King's legacy and his dream of unity and equality. That dream still inspires me. His words and vision of a world where people "will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" remind me we have a long way to go. Dr. King even talked a lot about compassion for people with whom you disagree. MLK always talked about operating out of love. As I contemplated Dr. King's legacy, I tried to add a yoga perspective. In our yoga studio, we strive to embody his principles. We welcome all individuals, regardless of their political beliefs or backgrounds. Whether someone supported Vice President Harris or former President Trump, all souls are cherished within our walls. The studio serves as a neutral ground where we can come together, breathe together, and maybe, just maybe, understand each other a little better.

Compassion is in our best interest. I listened to Dan Harris this morning. He is a journalist, retired from ABC News and now has a podcast called 10% Happier. He tied compassion into MLK's beliefs and talked about MLK in light of today's Inauguration. Dan Harris put it so well as he gave Buddhist advice about compassion for those who disagree with you. It's not like we have to invite them to dinner, but he mentioned that if we came out of the same womb they did, and lived the same lives they did, then we might say and believe the same things they do. It's exactly what Dr. King believed, and it's in our best interest to search for compassion toward those who have differing viewpoints and operate from a place of love and not fear or anger. It calms us down, and therefore, we can become more effective. Dan Harris also said, "Compassion is a cleaner - burning fuel than anger." I love that!

In my personal yoga practice, I never know how stepping on my mat will unfold, and that's a good thing. I step on it anyway and go for the ride. I've learned that I enter a space of potential change and personal growth each time I step onto the mat. We may not know how the practice will unfold, but step forward anyway.

Later in the morning, I took Nola to the pond. The untouched snow in front of us seemed almost like a clean slate, and I, not Nola, hesitated to step on it, to make my imprint on its perfect surface. Then, the yogi in me also realized that this hesitation is what I feel when I face new beginnings or uncertain futures. I realized that moving forward often requires us to disturb the perfect stillness to leave our mark. But it's through these actions, mindful and intentional, that we create paths for others and for ourselves.

The snow, the inauguration, MLK Day, and Monday all seem to whisper of new beginnings and the ongoing work toward unity. Every day offers us a chance to step onto our mat - literally and metaphorically - and grow. We all have the opportunity to make our imprint on the fresh snow of possibility that lies before us.

These are just my observations on this unique day. As I move forward, I hope to move with extra compassion.