If there’s one thing I’ve learned from traveling like a nomad and sharing my family and time in various cultures, it’s this:
You never get a second chance to recreate the magic of a moment.
When you think you can thank the kind stranger next time for saving your child’s toy from being forever lost in the airplane seats, you can’t. When you hesitate in asking the lovely goddess standing in the smoothie line next to you where she found that perfect mason jar and glass straw, the occasion will be lost. You could be stuck drinking out of your plastic cup, possibly forever.
This may seem trite. Trivial even. But it’s not. Living with the belief that you can wait until later to ask for what you want or need is like expecting the universe to drop gifts into your lap. And that shit just doesn’t happen, unless you are primed and ready and standing at attention ready to co-create. “Later” doesn’t exist and it took a while for this concept to fully seep into my consciousness.
When I knew I was going to be at Wanderlust Squaw Valley sharing music, yoga and mountain air with Acro Yoga superstar Matt Giordano, I wanted in. I wanted to be flown by an experienced teacher, to sore seamlessly and gracefully. I saw it as an opportunity to deepen my own experience of trust, relationship and risk taking with someone I found extremely intimidating. After a feeble attempt to talk myself out of this, slumped in a comfortable chair after a blissful yoga class – there he was, sitting on the couch right next to me.
I said hi. I made a connection. I asked if he wanted to do some acro yoga with me. No big deal. He was like, “Sure! How about in 10 minutes?” I’d like to tell you that I was super calm and cool and collected but I wasn’t. I spent the next 9 minutes in the bathroom coaching myself not to fall. Just don’t fall.
We walked outside together, arm in arm, just like that, to find a soft patch of grass at the foothills of the mountains.
“Trust me,” he said. “I’ll absolutely catch you, no matter which way you fall.”
I didn’t cascade into a pathetic tumble. I did feel safe and open and vulnerable and free in those moments sharing space and opportunity with another soul – someone equally accessible in their ability to create magic in the moment and to say “yes” instead of “later.”
Oh, and I got the picture to commemorate the occasion, which quite possible may remain as my facebook cover photo for a very long time.
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Often referred to as a little firecracker, Mara Panacci is an international yoga teacher and holistic nutrition expert. She is the founder of Yoga Renegade, your rebellious playground, and co-muse at Accidental Renegade, helping yogis navigate the branding and marketing underworld. Nomadic adventurer and wellness devotee, Mara leads programs and workshops all over the world.