“Illusion is giving permanence to something that flickers in and out of existence” - Deepak Chopra
I was walking across the corner of Polk and Washington when a very small moment left a very large impact. I saw an elderly woman and an older gentleman; he was holding her cane and helping her take minuscule steps towards some unknown destination. There was an energy of peace and surrender that followed slowly behind. It was in this speck of life that it hit me: my own path within this human form will one day slow down and pass.
Tears start to run down my cheek, an intuitive reaction as I face the truth that awaits us all. I wasn’t crying because I was sad, but because it was in that moment that I remembered the impermanent nature of all things. I felt grateful for this beautiful woman, an angel at peace who was teaching me so much in the matter of seconds.
This may sound silly, of course we are all going to pass on eventually, and I know that. But there’s a difference between knowing and truly knowing with your heart. Or truly feeling is a better way to put it.
It might seem morbid to some, the process of “death.” Perhaps it’s the thing we (consciously or unconsciously) fear the most, but in this moment, I did not feel afraid. I was crying because I felt love and gratitude beyond measure. To be here, to explore, to exist, to breathe, to see, to hear, to feel love and pain, sadness, happiness, ALL OF IT. It’s all part of the beautiful shit-show roller coaster that is life. That is so damn empowering, to know all of these experiences are so characteristic of what it means to be a living human being.
Let’s dance through this life with grace and wild appreciation, for one day it will all cease to be as it is, we will cease to be as we are. But that is the beauty of the human experience, so that our soul can learn and grow.
Life is one elongated moment. There is no yesterday, no tomorrow. And when we can awaken to the present, we can begin to see that even the background characters in our day can completely shift our perspective and allow us the gift of truly seeing, even if just for a moment.
Savasana (yes everyone’s favorite) is a pose that the yogis use to come to terms with the impermanence of all things. I encourage finding some time within your week to meditate in Savasana on this topic, some beautiful experiences tend to arise from this essence of slowing down and connecting. Sometimes it’s a small shift in habit that can lead to a large change in our daily perception.
If you feel called to share, comment below to let me know what you uncover :)